The daily mountaineer. (Dalles, Or.) 1861-1866, 1866-04-25
1ailg dNountalnser,
INTERESTING PUBLIC. DOCUMENT.

in the Idaho Statesman of the 18th
ints, fully explains itself.
COLLEGE Hill, (near Cinciunati,S Ohio, |
October 25th, 1865.
HoN.JAs MISUNDERSTANDING of the
Interior-Sir: Having just returned
by the Overland route from the States
and Territories of the Pacific, whore
] spent the last summer in investiga>
ting the condition of Indian affairs,
deem it my duty to call your attention
at once to the condition of Indian af
fairs in Idaho Territory. AS you are
aware, the Governor Of Idaho is Ex.
Oficio Superintendent of Indian Af
1airs--one Caleb Lyon of Lyonsdale
and has, for some time, been tho
nominal Incumbent and has drawn the
salary of that Office. For more than
six months he has not shown himself
within the Territory, while every thing
pertaining to the office of Superinten-
dent has been most shamefully neg.
lected The Nez Perces, who are the
most powerful tribe of Indians on the
Pacific coast, are within the bounda.
ries of Idaho Territory. Our Govern
ment has treaty with them, by the
stipulations of which they are entitled
to certain annuilies, to be paid annu.
lily. | find that not dollars worth
If annuities has been paid to these
people for more than two years, and
portions of the tribe are threatening to
resort to hostilitics in retaliation for
the bad faith with which the Govern
msntand its officers have treated them.
/ was unable to find any records in
tho Governors office showing what
disposition had been made of the ap-
pro- riations made BY Congress to fill
the treaty stipulations with this tribe;
indeed, l was unable to find any rec
ords IN the Governors Office in any
way pertaining to Indian affairs, ard
the person who had been employed by
the Governor to act as Clerk or Sec
retary for the Superintendency, and
who had received salary for that
duty, informed me that no records OF
any sort had ever been kept. James
O'Neill, Esq, agenJ in charge of the
Nez Perces Reservation, is compe.
tent officer, and seems to be doing
everything in his power to pacfy the
Indians and protect the interests of
t,e Government, but he is without
dollar of funds with which to defray
current expenses. The wages Of the
persons employed upon the reserva-
tion in pursuance of the treaty stipu.
lations, have not been paid for nearly
two years, and they are forced to sell
their vouchers at from so to 60 cents
on the dollar in currency. The money
disbursed by Gov. Lyons order while
he was pretending to discharge the
duties of Superintendent of Indian Af-
fairs, has been totally and grossly
misapplied and equandered (by the
Governors orders) for objects which
were neither authorized by the treaty
or desired by the Indians. Under this
state of facts and rs q member of the
Committee authorized by Congress to
inquire into the condition of Indian
affairs, I would earnestly recommend
that somc person be appointed to dis.
charge the duties of Governor and
Superintendent of Indian affairs in
Idaho, who has, at least, some claims
to common sense and common honesty.
The change cannot be made too soon
for the protection of the Government,
and The preservation of peace among
the Indians. / regard Caleb Lyon,
Of Lyonsdale as an improper person
70 ha narmittad To run ut lar0a among