The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-02-11
OFFICIAL ROBBERY.
THE PEoUL<T1oNs OF TIE NOW
JAMES H1RLlN.


His Connection with Perry Fuller ard his
Partner-Thievery amona the Indians.
Correspondents The sun.
WASHINGTON, Feb. SIN former letter IL
was shown how Senator Of the United States,
when Secretary Of the Interior paid his household
expenses out Of the various contingent funds OF his
department. This letter will set forth, from the
records. how he began his Official career, 80 far as
the one subject Of Indian contracts IL concerned.
Two weeks before Mr.. Harlan entered upon his
duties as Secretary OF the Interior lie had friend
OF hls-Elijah Sells. OF Iowa-made superintendent
Of Indian Affairs for the Southern superintendent
The salary was t2000. lie resigned $500 posi-
ton here to take 1t. In that superintendency were
several agencies. A cousin Of the Secretary had
one. brother.in-law another, and son OF Sells be-
came n partner OF Perry Fuller n Co., Indian con-
tractors. In the territory assigned TO Sells were
lot Of returned rebel Indians and several thousand
who were loyal. These Sells represented to be In
destitute and starving condition.
On the 2ist Of June be telcgraphed the Commls-
sioner OF Indian Affairs as follows:
Hon. I'm. p Dole, Wqsstroioa
supplies Tor subssting Indians for third quarte, must
open market viii be in Washington in July. Answer
supt Indian Affairs.
Buying 10 open market meant purchasing OF
Fuller q Sells without ADVERTISING
Mr. Dole immediately referred the matter TO tho
Secretary for Instructions.
"a sells despatch:
IN aw require, puTshases 70 he made sfter adver
Oe made. wig
ON the Goth Of June Mr.. Sell, seemed to under:
STAND the hint about "Cnergency, and telegraphed
the Commissioner as follows from Lawrence:
The 1udians viii be destitute Of r,tloLs sfleT ne oh
ot Juno, and TO advertise under the law VIII delay more
tng, but TO 10 so viii % siafyaton TO he Indians 1t
WIN be 70 the Government 10 bay for The In
dams at Fort Gibson for ful quarter. ~ We issue no.
thing but hslt ratoqs Of -four lor The mouths on august
should greatly prefer 20 buy bv advertising hut 70
DO so vl. DO Salvation to the Indians. VIVA, shall
terior.
MIR. Dole did so report and was directed by Mr..
Harlan to telegraph the following reply:
viii concur " ''''
MIR. Harlan and Mr. Cooley then united in an
est euort 70 get large appropriation from Congress
10 cover sefs's enormous purchases
Mr.. Cooley sent an estimate TO the Senate Com
mittec for S1,1S5,O0O Of: which ssos.otN was for
All Of this was in excess OF the customary annual
appropriations for the same Indians.
On the sixth working day OF the session, namely,
December l3 lsG5, Senator Doolttie reported joint
resolution to meet the which had been previous
" forwarded TO the Committee BY the Secretary OF
the Interior. II authorized the fresiiant to divert
$lOOO,OO0 from the fund Of a., 90,OJ0 appropriated
to carry into effect the act for the suppression OF the
slave 'rade. aud apply II 10 the Immediate subsist
ence and clothing Of destitute Indians and Indian
tribes"
This was referred 20 the proper Committee. and
reported bach cut down to s5O0p0O, but with pro-
viso that the money should all be expended WITHIN
the Southern superintendent. Both Mr.. Harlan
and Mr.. Cooley were very earnest ~ working this
through. In presenting the cuse Mr.. Doolttle SAID:
" The whole estimates are Tor $ilS5,O00 MIR.
President we have here the urgt mt recommends.
ton OF the Commissioner Of Indian Aiairs (Mr.
cooleyl for the appropriation OF the sum Of
tl,OO,0OO for this purpose We have the urgent re.
Commentator OF tue Secretary OF the lnterisr IIr-
au) not precisely speci'yng any particular unit,
ut mrsng we necessty OF Cnr mmedia'e acton on
thought t500,0DO, economically expended. would re.
licVe Ill present wants and that II found necessary
later in the session another appropriation could be
made. The views of he Committee were sustained,
aud the resolution pussed. The records show that
IN November Sells forwarded statements show NJ
that he had expended Si77,OO over what he had re.
Indians III Ju.y 81. isor worii rtguire silicon
The character OF the vouchers now on ne in tA1
Indian Once for tue ruroha SOS under this despatch
Of Mr. Harlan Of June "a 1876, IS indicated Dy the
following specimen;
The United s'l'cs ,r Perry IuUcf : Co.. Dr..
SCI s. i,6s, pg,e w xg.nt az ~, : % q,
Tie tifciaics "a: M W
ilgA 'he IeIll-t'i-ld Of H.. A14,rs u i .le z,
t,.,,,. an ,o,o. 'arc-a'e9a % o, Ia az tn's.
Rr1 'Het fru that have .Ot Hy. tus .gtu DAY "! DO
c.a.i.'t lHt. i44 ..s .i..vs-.t til 100
s.p,ur,., ai 1al ii'I.. sfGi II .,
1he Uaitei sta.ss p. Perry lu,,ar a Co. Dsa
VS ~. o. ',n., Nh,ai ai t........t'OH g
the ColHrs5uer VI Indian -\lar.. ~ Jane n, i.s5
yase1 srperu,,nacahit Il A. AZ .5i lsi,r,
AMI ei 81. Sa on , e9PIr ii s' ' ao2e s:SsSf
coa5cris 6a.d d am5aoI'l t.t '.'n Gay Of De-
sr.''a,,ri i',, I. i1d :,l. Aas;irs.
The Un.tcd state. 70 II r. G'..~e < Co.. d..
ct ~. IT D. O = ftnFH q g
cof-m.''.o0tF o'lndiii Aa1F' %, ,'1nSS iSI
,.,. -. saper!a,eldel, indian Aiir..
lc an jlst lui ma lave acu1iy ihs Sth IA, q
Aeee-'oe'' s. ra'd the amount ileTTgiGfi, 800
supcr.mcndciiit..I i a. ar AIiii7iii..
Tho Unncd states to II i y kceG o. ipD D.,
"G .. ~ ysssN, no io S"sh t1 - ~
COmn's.onyr OF Ia iian AGllIs Jr.e 2, le'
su 5E', Of iaa. 4mL a r,
eerii(, on honor, !hai tle an3ye eeyoa.! !. cor.
December 1913, pad lie l6ouai t4,rt5t
superintendent shl}A 'I'a Sf Rdaii..
SCOUT .II ~uru llt.udeucy.
N.N..ti- 'utprls'.ug % know how uuch NJ
s,.s I.'l Tor cot, ON this s.mc apm Of U,cru'rr
wh.n 'e bgu!hl oi einer paiAga uan those 10 f..
lis youchcis ten al about If:
Tue OGiei ,i..-s 10 jH'. ,.r, Dg.
Wv 20 ou.ne. Of ca,a, At @ cea,.......... "a %
Dec 80 bu'i,s % ,n. AZ B. cns..,.'..'.'... i D
,.l, cl'f, or n9r,r ia' me .1naye a,.,.ogl II,
tLtJAH Spills,
sa4'.i- ;eaaa,SasA,H"aa'i;;ay
f.-.. '.s' go. q,et /. correct niJust," can tie
Urcciyni q rl.sh SOILS ~nr.rt0fcr lont ~ ,,i,,
AFFAIR uue d9 ar aid elrg' come I,s 'trrc ou.hrs u
! U,t' q la Elk. Ii 'l -.,,' ~ ~ H'l- 81 Gen