Page:LewisMeriam-TheProblemOfIndianAdministration.djvu/83

Origin of the Survey. In the spring of 1926, Dr. Hubert Work, Secretary of the Interior, initiated a series of informal conferences between representatives of the Department of the Interior and representatives of the Institute for Government Research regarding the possibility of having the Institute undertake an independent survey of Indian affairs, embracing particularly the educational, industrial, social, and medical activities maintained among the Indians, their property rights, and their general economic condition.

These informal conferences promptly disclosed a complete agreement regarding the desirability of having such a survey made by an impartial group of specialists in the fields of health, education, agriculture, economics, family life, and law, working under the auspices of an agency like the Institute, entirely free from governmental support and control. A common understanding was also readily arrived at regarding the broad general methods which should be followed in making such a survey. The Secretary of the Interior emphasized the importance of having the work done promptly, once it was undertaken, so that the results might be quickly available for administrative action. He suggested the desirability of having it completed in six months. The representatives of the Institute, on the other hand, were impressed by the variety of the problems presented and the great distances to be covered in absolutely essential field work. Their initial view was that approximately two years would be required. It was then pointed out that a report submitted in two years might come in too late in the administration of the Secretary to be of any real value to him. As the Institute was more concerned with the production of a report that might be adequate and sound for administrative purposes than with preparing possibly a more finished one which might prove only of academic interest, because of the time spent in its preparation, it agreed so to plan and conduct its work that a report might be submitted approximately a year after field work should be started.