National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-06-10
THE BOARD, OF INDIAN COMAIS-
GIONERS

SIONERS.
This board is enormously called "Peace
Commissioners" By law its true title is
the Board of Indian Commissioners I"
This board, as an organization, has not re-
signed, and statements in the public prints
to that effect ar erroneous. The board
consists of ten members, who serve with
out compensation, but whose expenses are
paid by the Government. Il has o score
tary, Thomas z. Cree being the present
incumbent, with salary Of $4,000 It has
also employed, until recently. clerk by
the name of Samuel Walker, at scompensa-
ton Of 81, 800 per snnum, and copyist and
messenger. Six of the ten members only
have resigned. The remaining four have
been called together for the purpose of re-
organizing the board. The vacancies occa-
stoned by these designations will be filed by
the President, as far as necessary, with the
best men he can select who may be willing
to serve and who are in harmony with the
present Indian policy. 1t is not doubted
but that good and useful men can be found
to fill al vacancies necessary to be filled so
as in no manner to disturb the progress of
the work embraced in the peace policy.
@ The letter of resignation, prepared it is
understood by Mr.. Brunot, was, it is be-
Geved, furnished to the press Immediately
on its receipt by the secretary Of the board,
Mr.. T. K Cree. without consulting with
the Department or making known to the
Department his purpose in this respect.
The reasons for the resignation, as given in
this letter, are in some respects inaccu-
rately and enormously stated. Such state
ment requires correction. Mr.. Brunot de-
sired to make the Indian Office a separate
Department, to be placed under the exclu-
sive control of the Board of Indian Com
missione.s, with provisions of law continu-
ing them in Office certain period of time,
absolutely and beyond the power Of re-
moval by the President he desired this
10 be done pending 6 severe attack upon
the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, and
while an investigation of his conduct by the
Committee on Indian Affairs of the House
OF Representatives was in progress. The
Secretary Of the Interior was not opposed
" NAMING TIC 4LtAAAA OlllSC al
Department, and the President by letter so
informed Mr.. Brunot; but it was not deemed
advisable by the Secretary, after large part
of the session Of Congress had passed, and
when too late for the probable success of the
effort, TO advise its introduction, and this
opinion was strengthened in view Of the
fact that every effort was then making
which could be exerted to break down the
administration of the Commissioner of In
dian Affairs
These efforts, however, have now ex-
hausted themselves, and with results which
will soon be made public, highly favorable
and honorable to the Commissioner of In
dian Affairs. 1t is not deemed advisable
now to allude to the authors of the charges
against the Commissioner nor to their mo-
tives. 1t should also be remembered that
limo event would the Secretary have advised
the creation Of board with any limitation
OF their Official existence, placing them be-
yond removal by the Pr .ident at his pleas.
ure. How far the efforts against the Com
missioner may have resulted from report
made last fall by clerk Of the board. Mr.
Walker, in relation to affairs at the Red
Cloud and Milestone agencies, it is not our
intention here to say, but we feel author
lied TO state that the report was made by
Mr.. Walker upon an appointment made by
Mr.. Brunot, as president of the board !;
that afterwards the whole subject of Walk
ers report was examined by commission.
composed Of Right Rev. Bishop Hare, Of
the P. E. Church, and missionary bishop of
Niobrara having for his associates Rev. s.
ID. Hinman, Indian Inspector J. d. Bevier,
and T. H. Smith, q member Of. the board of
Indian commissioners. Thefepovof these
gentlemen establishes beyond doubt the in
accuracies and errors of Mr. Walkers re-
port and the results of the examination be-
fore the Committee on Indian Affairs, here
tnbefore referred to, confirm thsconeiusions
of the report of Bishop Hare's commission.
1t Is not our intention to say or to inAnuate
that these results have had anything to do
with the resignation refer7ed to. The mem
bers of the board who have resigned are
gentlemen of character, and having served
the Government without compensation, I'VE