The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-12-31
INDIAN FRAUDS.
Herald Reporter Has an Interview with VIII
liam Welsh, OF Philadelphia Shameful Frauds
on Poor 'Lo"-Immediate Steps to DO
Taken to Abolish the Political Gys-
tenn" Of Indian Appointment
The Herald Complimented.

PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 80, 1870.
The representative OF the HERALD IN this city
called on Mr.. Welsh at his residence this morning to
get some additional facts IN connection with the stu
perdous frauds recently brought to hight 10 his mt
welsh,s) department. Mr.. Welsh returned from the
scene OF his labors about four weeks since, since
which time he has been very busy IN perlccting re-
ports and ''aying the wlres'' for an exposition Of
the manner In which Indian affairs have been car.
ried on for many years past. Your correspondent
found MIR. w. immersed III plle OF reports, just
completed. which he was busy Wrapping and fcg.
wardng TO their res pective destinations.
On announcing my business Mr.. Welsh remarked
al have In mind very quick piece Of WORK Gone by
the HERALD Bureau IN Washington. went TO the
Washington CiuOncie once IN company with
a friend, and gave them copy OF my report From
there went TO the HERALD Bureau and gave them
a copy also. Next morning the HERALD had the
whole thing published. L merely mention it, Sir
AZ o specimen CT that enterprise that has been
nuenilal in giving the HERALD the leading position
IL now cnjoysr
REpoRTER-I have called, sir, 70 procure some
additional points III the Indian fraud expose; some
tning that does not come srickly within tn limits
OF your Official report, yet would he OF general In
terest rs showing how the affairs OF the Indian
Bureau are beings conducted ~ the agents OF Tie
government.
Nj. WELsH-This is n question mat requires
good deal OF oyerhauling. The frauds have
doubedly been in practice ever since the Indian
Bureau has been IN existence, and agents have been
appointed through political influence. There Is
much be done yet before the affairs o! Tie bureau
will be conducted with honesty and justice to the
indians; but think we have al last made a right
beginning. You are aware that Indian agents have
always been appointed by the Governors OF Terrific
ries. 1t was condition Of affairs that was most
certainly pernicous. Like ali political appointments,
the recipients get them simply to make fortune.
The term OF Office lasts four years and the salary IS
81, 500 per year; yet every Indian agent has made
fortune How did he make this f0rtuneY There Is
but one construction. / will give you q in
"A t wnos soe o. GnnPewa, a Indians Were re-
get their annuity OF three dollars and half each,
when the law requires the agent 70 pay the annu,-
penses this model agent required those
And this same man left q business paying him
$4,000 per year and paid money TO help elect the
Senator that appointed him agent at u salary OF
$1,000 per year. There's patriotism with ven
geancel And yet this man is but an example OF
the whole-not ali exception.
REP0RTER-Can you give me the mans name2
Mr.. WELSH can; but lie begged and pleaded so
hard when got IL on him that rather than have his
name pubished-1or they have all committed fraud
lwlll say nothing further Oh him.
REPoRTER-what was the condition OF affairs on
the Missouri r1Verf
MIR. WELsH-Bad, bad. found Indian agents
and employees at the Crow Creek Agency, Dakota
Territory, living In open concubnage with indian
squaws. The agent al that place-an officer In the
army--was living with two squaws A settlement
just outside the stockade set apart for squaws was
called
from the fac, that every employe. agent and all.
REPoRrER-Tnat Is surely not the state OF affairs
al presents
stopped new agent mas been appointed. The
.Squaw MAN, as the former military agent as
known, together with all others known to have
lived with sqnaws, have been driven from the
reservation aud left orders with the present agent
that all men, either In the employ OF the government
or civilians found living with squaws must either
marry them or leave the reservation, ami the order
viii be enforced.
agents?
Mr.. wELsH-Yes; some Of them are worse. Not
cies to sell some cattle. They first got the agent
full OF whiskey and champagne mixed, and then
trotted out The cattle; they drove them around and
contiguous hill three different times, and the
agent Induced to give his receipt Tor Just three
times as many head OF cattle as were actually
brought In. asked one OF these traders what his
profits were; he replied, about 1873 per cent?
thought that q very fair profit.
REPORTER What 10 Red Cloud doing with him.
Mr.. wErsH-Red Cloud, Spotted Tail, and all the
Sioux and Ponca Indians AZ DEVILS Lake and Lake
Traverse are under control Of the Missionary De-
parlment OF the Episcopal Church. The agents. un-
der the new plan we have adopted. are nominated
Y,
Graut appoints. The Senate Will confirm all APP
p0lntments made In this manner. would like to
call your attention TO the following paragi aph from
letter from Robert Campbell to the Commissioner
OF Indian Affairs. Mr.. Campbell and Mr. Bruno
nave recently returned from conference with Red
Red Cloud told us that II any traders among his
braves other than those by him Cloud would
take their goods and send them o,lt OF the country.
Now, unless the hal-civllIzed Indians under
Spotted Tail and the SIN less civilized tribes under
Red Cloud are treated wen, the barbarous and un-
civilized tribes OF Sioux ana umpquas IN the North
five thousand in number, VIII render the coDstruc
NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD
matter almost OF imposslbility. They win inter-
pose the most serious obstacles and VIII murder the
that the government win he required TO 90 to war
with Them and such q war would cost from
FIFTY TO ONE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS.
As 10 lighting them, our soldiers match for
them whatever. There IL bur one time that we can
turing their women and children. they wil then
come to terms, and that Is the only thing that will
bring them around. E
INDIANS on TIVE MISSOURI
laugh at our infantry. They say mounted m IN
cheap run fast, but walk soldier get Sick they
are not very well satisfied with the manner IN which
they have not been getting their PROVISIONS OF late
years.
at Washington sends up boat fun OF provisions for
Ijun. company OF soldiers along TO
guard ~ II; but before mum ger it soIter eat II all
up and then go back for more.n
LETTER FROM SPOTTED TAIL
TO Mr.. william Welsh Will show the desires OF the
Indians In his tribe. Spotted Tail has, for some
time past, been the fast friend Of the whites Every
Indian on the Plains could be won over-not TO
civilization, perhaps, but could be MADE the friends
rather than the enemy OF goyernment-il the
agents and traders did not almost invariably fai 10
keep their promises. Many outrages have made
the indian suspicious and savage; II ls but human
nature to retort In Kind
WB.rsrosf, D. T., Nov. Is, 1870.
TO Mr.. WILLIAM WELSH y
Ny p, S you |; 70 send a.
tons here - recommended il, We wish only 10 winter
here the White river We wish early IN the
10 our White