New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-12-17
IN INVESTIGATION THAT NEEDS INIES


1IGAIING.
Among the many things to which the present
Congress may prOftably address itself in the
line of investigation, there is nothing which
can be more interesting to the general public
or more conducive to the public good than an
inquiry into the methods and the processes of
Investigations themselves as pursued under the
regime now closing. There are many things
that need to he looked into carefully, that have
not yet been touched by the exploring hand
of committee or commission. But it must
not be forgotten that there have been in
designations so many and so searching that
they have been Dragged of in platforms and
dwelt upon on the stump, and to such a
degree that the party of the Administration
has quite plumed itself upon being
party of investigations party
that investigated itself; that put to
itself the test of rigid inquiry that allowed
no scandal to be covered up and that never
permitted any sort of rascality to be covered
or concealed by its vOluminous skirts. Simple
people have believed these professions; thou
sands of honest Republicans, alarmed at first
by charges, that seemed well founded, OF
maladministratiOn and corruption, have been
treasured by the fact that Investigations
have been ordered and carried on with apparent
earnestness and thoroughness, when the party
charged had all the power to suppress inquiry
fit was really bad, and conceal Its olcnses if
disposed. 1t will not be amiss, then, while in
quires are prosecuted i'll directions which have so
far not been indicated, to make ADMINISTRATIONS
already had a subject of philos0pllic examina-
ton, so as if possible, to discover the princi-
pie upon which they have been organized and
the method upon which they have been con-
Quoted. To do this will not only throw much
needed light upon the past but also furnish
a warning and a lesson for the future.
Here is a well-bOund book of 929 pages,
bearing the imprint of the Government Print
ing Office at Washington, entitled the Re
"port of the Special Commission appointed to
Investigate the affairs of the Red Cloud Agen-
"cy. July, 1875; together with the Testimony
"and Accompanying Documents" 1t is an In
vestigation one of The investigations. That is
to say, that is the name of it; what it goes
for. The public so receives it; IA such
the Government pays for it; pays for the book
itself, type-setting, paper, and binding Tor
folding and postage; for stenOgTaphlc report
ing; for the travelling expenses and services
of the Commissioners, its authors and cOmpliers;
for expenses of witnesses; in short, W every
thing connected with it. Who. ordered 1t
For what causef The first page of the book
and the first document on the page tell
the story. Columbus Delano Secretary
of the Interior, writes to Clinton b. Fisk,
Chairman of the Board of Indian Commits
sioners, whom he appointed, saying, " am
"deSirous of appointing a Commission from
" the members of your Board to investigate
certain reports put in circulation by MIR.
Marsh relative to the Indian service at
the Red Cloud Agency" and asks
that the Board name Commits
sion of three members from their own
number or "some other suitable persons" to
make such investigations That is to say, the
Head of the Department in which it is charged
that there has been maladministration, re-
onests the Board OF Commissioners through
whose conniyance or negligence the of
lenses must have been committed to
appoint Commission preferably of
their own number to institute an inquiry
whether or not they had neglected their duties;
and the disposition Of the Department is eX
hibited in this official description Of the com
plainant az "a Mr.. Maish," repeated afterward
in letter of Mr.. +. III. Smith, Secretary Of the
Board of Indian Commissioners. but which little
later came to be in the official correspondence,
"Mr. O. G. Marsh, Professor in Sheffield
Scientific School, Yale College," and after
ward in the Commissions Report, Prof. q.
&C. Marsh of Yale College, "A gentleman of
"hgh reputation in the scientific world" an
Comment and public-spirited citizen" and
ga gentleman Ill no wise connected with the
"pOltics of the day."
III was thus the Investigation began, and 1t
is thus the Report opens. When an officer or
Department is vindcatcd it is interesting to
know the origin of the court which heard
aud pronounced, and the motive in which
it was born Now as to the process. In
Prof. Marsh's letter to the President
embodying his statement regarding affairs
at Red Cloud Agency, he frankly said that
he had no confidence in the sincerity of See
retary Delano or Commissioner L. 7. Smith,
for the reason that they had seemed more
anxious to find out the extent of his informa-
ton concerning the abuses than to take steps
to correct them, and he added that the evil
dence in his possession reflected unfavOrably
upon both In this state of things, nothing
could be more refreshing than to find in
this book, made, printed, and bound at
Government expense, not only the letter of ap
pointment from Secretary Delano, but letters
of instruction also rs to the duties of the Com
mission and the method Of investigation, from
those two unsophisticated children of nature,
Secretary Columbus Delano and Commissioner
Z. p. Smith. II may be also remarked that
Commissioner Smith, in his fercencss to he
investigated, takes special pains to tell
the Commission what Prof. Marsh's testi
mony will be, and TO annotatc it for
their instruction. Did ever an accused