The New York herald., 1871-01-13
The BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIR."
Commissioner Parker's Defence of
His Administration. II
Explanations Respecting Alleged
Frauds.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. +,

y
attend the General Council OF the Indian tribes or
that Territory, letter addressed TO you by Mr.,
William WEIGH, OF Philadelphia, was published In
many CT the daily prints, alleging frauds in the
purchase and transportation OF goods for
the Indiaa service during the past wear.
I etd not see this letter until my return
TO the States. near the close OF December.
also subsequently learned that the Appropriation
Committee of the House Of Representatives had
been ordered 10 investigate the same. / deem II.
therefore, ny duty, in Justice to myself to briefly
reply 10 some OF the allegations In said letter and
respectfully to request that the reply De flied In your
department. The allegations of fraud relate pr,nc
paily TO contracts entered into for beef and four
and the transportation OF Indian goods 10
points on the Missouri river, principally for
the Sioux OF Dakota. The charges are very
general and cannot therefore be answered as spec-
caay as might be desired. To proper and fair un-
derstanding OF the acton OF tins ONCE in entering
into contracts for beef ana -four 1t Is necessary to
explain that an arrangement existed with the com.
mtssary branch OF the army TO feed Indians the Sioux
OF Dakota not included, until July /, $780, the same
70 DC paid for out of the appropriation OF Apr
10, 1862, OF S20oo,o0o ito enable the President TO
MAINTAIN the peace among and With the various
uioes pahos ana parles Of Indians, and TO promote
civilization among said Indians, bring them where
practicable. upon reservations relieve their necessI-
ties aud encourage their efforts at self-supportn
The Sioux of Dakota, the Southern Cheyenaes
and Arapahoes and the Kiowas and Comanches,
whom the Peace Commission OF 1867 hoI
located about agencies they had est.o
nshed, received most of the benefit OF this
arrangement Ali familiar with Indian afa will
admit that these tribes OF Indians are amJng the
widest and most warllke OF the remaining Indians
o. OF lhe United states. jhe Inducement ned ont 10
tucli 10 cesise tier warfare against tpe clilHenS
oi Tue United States and settle ppon feseI-
vat'ons was that they should be clothed
arts pertaining to cyil zed life. large por.
ton OF these Indians mad Leen thus lcated and fed
to July l, 1870, and DUNG tDat tinte comparative
peace hal been maintained a.oag tle western iron,
tier IL was kncwn ana admitted by all who had
dealings with them thai II was onV the lood ana
Clothing that kept them abont the agencies;
and 1t was the unceas ng allprehens on OF all
that the moment Their supplies ceased they
would abandon Their agencies, ana AT once re-
sumo their nomadc habits, taking from ciuzens
whatever they might ianty ard lnaueurating awar
II deemed TO their advantage. Ia lne month ol June
last but little prospect existed of passing the Indian
Appropriation bll before the lst Of July at which
time the arrangement with tne Commlssary Depart
Cloud, spotted TaIl ana other S oux visited Wash
lngton TO secure better Understanding WIN the
future They were assured that II they stayed
npon their reseryatiops and renamed at peace
then complained thsit they hac not been either well
fed or suf1clenuw clothed. No positive promise
behalf Of the Indilan ONCE as everything depended
upon the action of Congress on the Indian Appro-
Was patent 10 the indian cfce and ali amilar With
lelat ons to the Indians above named that un.
ence after the lst OF July, that they would very
soon theI eaiter abandon the agencies around
and again commence their Predatory habits The
luctan agents then IN Washington stated posi-
fthe Indians would commence depre lating AMI per-
maps inaugurate general Indian war. Such
I.suIt was net to b; desired. IN, large expeadi.
hah tltA7
IN producing a comparative and safety
along most Of the indian frontier, was not TO
De reckiessly thrown away. The Indian ONCE
felt that the country demanded tnit peace should
continue 10 exist, and that the horrors attendant
upon AN Indian war should pe avertcd. There was
but one sentiment respecting ndi affairs, ana that
was the continuance OF peace To obtain subsist-
stipulated certain supplies for them, and they de-
manded II IN person a well as through their agent.
Cne treaties with the Southern Chesennes and Arapa-
noes and the kiowas and Comanches embrace
no stipulation OF Subsistence Tor them aad
is a serIoas overs ght. without 1t peace cannot
long be maintained. Up to June 15 $50 no Indian
appropriations had passed and deenng 1t OF the Ut
most Importance that immediate steps should be
taken TO Keep up The indian supplies looked about
20 Gnd some respons HE party who could furnish
Tie necessary supplies within 4 limited time, and
take the risks OF appropriations Icing made to pay
for the same.
THE CONTRACTOR, HIs WORK AND PAY.
Among the many persons who were either recon-
mepded by friends or applied IN person to 40 the
CURED work rel cted Mr. Bssler had no particu
sented 10 me as having at different tunes supplied
the army posts on the Missouri; had also had some
dealings with Tue Peace Commission In the
matter OF furnishing supplies Tor them
during their NEGOTIATIONS with the Indians
and was generally familiar with every dill.
Gully 10 be overcome In contracting on The Missouri
river The manner In which lie executed his con-
tract fully justdes the confidence the oice placed
In him. An abundance of good provisions was soon
supplied. The Indians did not abandon the
agencies, and an apprehended expensive Indian war
was arrested But IL IS alleged that the prices for
beel and nour were TOO high. TO this l can
tnen pOSSeSsei, tUey 0G not seem eytIayQgalI.
Preceding July 1853, General Harney. acting under
the sanction OF the Peace Commission, pa Tor beef
79o-loo ceDs per pound. gross weight. Tor feeding
these same Indians. The same commission paid 9
for ed that the Commissary Department were pay
Ing cents for beef at Fort Randall: g0l0J cents
At Fort Rice and had at times paid as high as
had been paid for the eeef IN Sioux City, and in
1853 The Commissary DEPARTMENT under It's
beef Tor 44-lo0 cents. In 1867 the Peace Com
mission paid Tor nour Sc per 100 pounds; in 1868
100 pounds, delivered at lie Ponca ana y YapS pS
ton ton, Agencies; 50 at Grow Creek; sll at Fort
nov. located, ana So so at Fort Rice, near which
is the Grand River Agency. superintendent S. NJ
the S2ntee Agency, 50 80 per 100 pounds General
Harvey, while in charge OF these Indians had paid
cents delivered at the Milestone Agency. / was
also Informed that the Commissary Department was
loo pounds, thereabouts. No oarranrement beyond
July ]. 1870, could be made with the Commissary
Oepalli2tLb lOT ltcuiilg JuuldnS. Tbey would
make no agreement untt assu ed by an atlpropria-
tOn by Congress III bulk, which the result SHOWS did
not occur. Hence II was evident that there was an
emergency demanding not only immediate action,
but action which wouid not properly be subject |
To the rule OF ordinary purchases or contracts,
because tile time within which large |
amount CT beef and nour must be de- |
lvered a. points remote from the depois |
Of supply was very short, less than month"; and a |
large amount Of capital, some 5000 600 must be |
risked upon the contingency OF future appropra-
fion-an investment winch would not be made at |
any rate by majority OF those governed by the reg
uar rules OF trace; aud While other contracts and
purchases Ia tie same locality are presented as CIV
ing scale Of prices, and tins purchase IL sub !
Estted without bestaton 10 their test, II should |
be borne In mind that they were made in the |
main when there were funds In the hands |
OF the parties contracting or applicable for their
payment. Such beng my general information and |
ImCiessiOns at the tame IN arranging terms with Mr..
Busa ar feel confident that The bargain was not q
bad one As before stated, he promptly executed |
No has, hpxap nd ,haI IN