, 1873-05-20

Tho ChntrIn an Oh iii Q t7Onru OF Indian
Com I'll iRsiorcrn Courts investigation
Mt tho h1niiils OK tho Secretary Of tile
1nterf0r--flOsv Contracts Aro Now
Made 10 supply Provisions To tho
IndfnfNs
PHILADELPHIA, ra, hfny 10, 1879.
Tho following lottor was sent today to tho
Secretary OF tho Interior:
Lfon {. Deano, Secretary Of the Interior, Washing
s1n: My attention aa Chairman Of tho pur-
chasing Committee Of tho Board OF 1n1inn Com
misaionors llas boon calod to charges of unfair
dim supplies, and having loarnod that 1t is your
intention to Investigate any casos in which COM
plainsR arc made, write in bohnlf Of nyHolf
mud colleagues to Hay that full and thorough
prevail Tho Doard Of Indian Co,nlniaaioncrs.
nothing to hide, dosro that ail tboir
ae.ions shall be opon to tho public, and
md totally unfoundod, rs thoy arc in the present
caso We ask that tho fullost opportunities be
givon to NIL parties to lo heard, and the result OF
such hearing DO Givon to the press. 1t may ho
made by us by Inv, aa they ,aro REQUIRED to be
7, Smith. md not by our Board, Which Ia IN ad-
yisory body: We ear are glad to say, however, that
of our COMMITTEES, consisting Of Meaars. 1sobort
Campbell, Of st.r Louis; John Y. Farwoli, Of
ohicago; William F. Dodge, Of Now York aud
myself, aud also Of Nlossrs. FELIX
Bishop, Of Now York, membors o'f tho T Board, who
wore present. Tho Representations OF the Into
rior Department, consisting Of Hon, B. r.
cowan, Assistant Secretary Of tho Interior, and
others associated by you with him, most cordiul-
ly concurrel in tho decisions Of tho Commission
in every award. In no case WIS IN award mado
without the unanimous approval Of thcBo throo
bodies, representative Of tho Government.
When our Boarl WAS called upon to supervise
The awarding Of tleso 1ndiau contracts, ,wo found
a acoro Of bids wero received, aud half . dozen
Y Wo found nd. powerful ,. rings opposing
to open competition, and to DO this e It was noe %ss
oesRry to remove all suspicion Of unfairneaB.
With this cnd iii Wow, the receiving Of bids md
awarding of contracts were removed from Wash
ington to Now York, the largest market in tho
country, whore bids wore opened and received in
public. And after full comparison Of bids and
samples awards were made, Which wore pub
lished in the caily papors, tho contracts being
open to anyone wishing to compete for them.
Tile following clause ia part Of all tho adver-
tiBomcnts:
rh 4 sysfss to s5 t G. m r fa1 t.,
Interest Of tho Government.
Our Committee. acting in concert with their
colleagues, exercised this right 30 far rs thoy
deemed it necessary to protoct the Government
from persons, eithor as principals Or. pnrtners
who have In tho past been connected with or
been mombers Of old "1ndinn Rings" who wore
afraid to bid in thcir own names, coyortly using
tho names OF others.
In regard to awards nc. would say thnt in every
case they were made to tho lowest and bost bid
ders. Az to tho result Of the prosont systera
Of letting, it is only necossary to Aay that 283
bids, representing Sgor 200 different firms and
individual bidders, were received, and seventy
seven contracts wore awarded. As to the prices
obtained, compared WITH tlsono ranf1nr tho old
systou, beof ranged from 81 90 to s2.7o por 100
from, o, ' SI5o T. 10 $a5o so poT 10 ioo ~ aganss
prices at the s"nao sgenciou ranging
other articles were at almost as marked a differ
encc; That ,pnrtios who have i, the past sup
piled tho Indian Department with goods at these
prices should DO dissatisfied WITH tic present
| system ia not to be wondered at.
Expressing again tho wish that every oppor-
tunity for investigation may be given to all por
sons who are dissatisfied with tlo awards, and
knowing that your action in the premises will
meet With our approval, nm, with much re-
p speot, yours truly, dEonoE Il. STUART,
Of tho Indian Commission.