, 1858-03-26

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department applicable to that purpose. =
OF course they base their prices upon past
experiences, aud the result is. that no single
article furnished costs government less than
IS per cent beyond its cash value in mark
ct The principal article required for the
subsistence Of the Indians is flour. Now,
upon diligent inquiry Of -four dealers and
others well acquainted with the market
rates, i have ascertained that the quality
Of -four delivered at the two main reserva-
tions. at an average cost Of about seven
teen dollars per barrel, is not worth more
than four dollars at the mills. At ten dol
lars per ton for transportation, which is a
liberal estimate, the entire cost TO the con-
tractors cannet exceed Eve dollars, or, at
most, slx per barrel. One Of the contrae-
tors told me himself that he paid Eve dol
lars per barrel at the mills for the -four fur.
uished BY him. He said. however, that
with the apparent enormous profit, be made
nothing by his contract, as he had not yet
received his pay. and had to borrow money
at three per cent per month 10 meet his Ii
abilities for the original purchase. Bot the
original purchase, which is also made upon
. credit, is from ten to twenty per cent.
beyond the cash rates. according to the
term Of payment agreed upon.
The same rule applies to all purchases
made in the Territories Of Oregon and
Washington for the maintenance Of peace
and subsistence Of the Indians, including
the falilment Of treaty stipulations 1t is
obvious, therefore, that out of the appro-
priations made by Congress for these pur-
poses, the Indians receive only the benefit
Of from one 10 two-thirds Of the amount
appropriated. Having no voice in the ap-
poihtment Of agents, and no control over
the adjustment Of accounts, such a result
70 them Is tantamount 70 breach Of faith,
for which there is no excuse upon any prin-
ciple Of equity, and which | can scarcely
conceive Is contemplated BY Congress.
Assuming, hoWsveF, that the decision of
The department, IN reference To the non
payment Of past liabilities, unless upon sne-
ci6c details Of the items, Is based upon just
and proper grounds, aud that It is irrevoca-
bic, have respectfully TO recommend the
following as the only means of extricating
the service from the embarrassment under
which It now labors;
That the superintendent Of Indian affairs
for the Territories Of Oregon and Wash
ington be authorized to employ, at COM
psnsation Of s. per day, each, two eompe-
tent clerks, to take down testimony and
make copies or vouchers; to prepare the
detailed statements requirad; to visit each
reservation, and make an accurate COPY OF
the books, prior to the lst Of May, 1867.
That public notice be given to each credit
or, requiring him to furnish bis bill, in du-
plicate, with the necessary naturalization
Of tho agent who made the contract or
purchase, IL case such agent can be found,
Of such other testimony as may be deemed
sxpedient, in case Of the death or absence
ol such agent ~
That, hereafter, the superintendent be
peremptorily directed to make no more
purchases upon credit; but be furnished at
once with the necessary means, upon his es-
timates, TO make cash payments II those
estimates are not made in conformity with
Instructions previously given, let the rene
dy consist IN removal; Il they are made in
due form, and the remittanees are not for
waFded as required by theexigeneies Of the
service, then the department should assume
the responsibility which properly belongs
70 it; and the superintendent should not Be
held accountable for the outbreaks and
final overthrow Of the whole system Of res
ervations on this coast, which must natur-
ally ensue. II necessary 10 insure the
faithful application Of the moneys commit.
Ted 10 bis charge, his bonds might DO in
creased; but il is utterly impossible that he
can state in advance every item Of tho ex-
panditnres necessary to be made in the
branch Of the service under his control
For example; expenses incurred in follow
ing up and capturing runaway bands Of In.
dians; expenses Of removing tribes from
one point 10 another, where it may be nee
essary 10 locate them; expenses Of special
expresses for the Transmission Of important
intelligence; expenses Of replensing stock for
farming purposes; expenses Of supplies lost
By FIRE or shipWreck; and variety Of 9TH
era which cannot be loreseen, but are Of
constant occurrence. 1t is obvious that
some discretionary power must be vested in
the superintendent to meet these contin-
gencies. The estimates transmitted by Mr..
Nesmith, by letter Of June IL, for current
expenses Of third quarter Of 1857, exclu-
siVe Of sum required for ful6lment of treaty
stipulations, were, in accordance with the
instructions Of the commissioner, based
upon the estimates of the several agents
For the fraction Of the second quarter it
was not practicable for him to submit esti-
mates. He took charge of the Office on
the lst Of May, and, Of course, could not
tell, in advance Of the accounts Of the
agents, the amount of provisions and other
supplies on hand. As soon as their re-
ports reached him, he transmitted the esti-
mates. The sums required for the district
Of Oregon were as follows:
Silsiz agency. y............ $54, lis, 81
Grand Ronds. s........ 25,263 90
Dalles 1925 90
Umpqus. $500 90
Salary Of snper'n't to Sept. 80 l,00l As
ErnroG1 messen0er Ah5 %