New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-01-29
lBI TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE


WASHINGTON, Jan. 2s.-Inspector General Davis
has no great admiration for the management Of the
Indian Bureau. In a late interview with the House
Military Committee. he said
And with regard TO the instruction OF the Indians
have been informed by men who have lived at Indian
agencies the schools which reported being in
very successful condition really amount to little or
nothing. They Will at times have feast and get large
number OF children TO come In, and then they report
large attendance whereas the usual attendance very
small The children irregular coming at odd times,
so that they really learn little nothing. Take
Indian child and he may be taught by example than
by precept lie may be taught the OF the whites.
to dress, and live, and work little, and you may bring
Indian children up as to be industrious and self
supporting; but the you expect Of the older
Indians to control them, to prevent them doing dam
age, and to protect them In their rights.
The following information about the military
strength of some of the Indians is interesting:
Question. Can you state with any de1niteness 10
the condition Of these Sioux Indians their military
force, &c. Answer. Quite number Of them armed
with the best improved muskets They have the Henry
rife, or the Winchester. They have Of
Springfield bTeechoading arms and Remington's, and
many OF them well supplied with Colts and other
revolving pistols Some of them have muzzle-oadng
arms, but a great many OF them have the improved
breech-oading arms, with metallic ammunition.
@. Where do they get themi A. They get them from
traders and in some cases. think, Indians, not Sioux
were furnished by the Indian Bureau by direction OF
the Government.
O. What traders do mean post traders or indian
traders A. Indian traders, and perhaps, post traders
and others. The Mountain Crows, was told, were
we'll armed with breechoaders and with 800 rounds OF
ammunition to a man. They were furnished at their
agency. Arms shipped up the Missouri River by
boats and traders. At all events, Indians have them
and use them.
@. DO you know anything OF their supply OF smmuni
toni A. 1 do not know how much they have. only
know that they have ammunition. In the issue OF
rations they count men. women. and children; say,
thousand Indians and they count for
many rations Ofentiues. not half that number OF In
dams there to draw them 80 am told and believe.
II you ask the agents where they are they IL is i'm
possible count that the Sioux do not wish TO be
counted; that II is bad medicine :" but IL 1t IL bad
medicine" to count them, IL bad medicine to Issue
Iaons for them when not present / asked the qucs-
tiop, how i. that beef at certain places
trscted for low q rate foI Indansi The gentleman
was speaking to asked me how long had been the
Indian country. 1 said twenty odd years. He tad,
"Then il necessary to explain 70 how 1t Is you
are probably well posted" Well had my own views
In regati TO the matter presume that the scales
which they weighed the beef according 10 their pur
chase not the which they weighed II ac-
cording to their issue.
Mr.. Thorr burgh-You think the scales 6octored
Gen Days-I think they DO not issue what Is reported
10 be issued.
OF the discrepancy between the number OF rstions
Issued to the Indiansi
Gen Da'is-HoE oan an Indian agent with 1850 a
ysar salary make 10000 year, more or less altar
supporting biRlselfi