Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-07-17
The Alleged Indian Frauds.
ANOTHER STATEMENT From THE COMMIT
SIONFR OF indian AEEAIrs


The Commissioner of Indian Affairs saws
that, the inquiry into the Red Cloud A gency
affairs being in the hands of competent gen.
tlemen for Investigation, with Instructions
ID take the freeSt range of inquiry and find
whatever wrong exists. the facts will now
undoubtedly be reached, and if they disclose
frauds in the service. no one eau be more
interested than himself in getting such facts
The statement that these ALLEGED frauds
nave been frequently reported to him here
tolOTe without receiving attention he pre-.
nounces absolutely false. CHARGES similar
10 those now made, quite as serious, ami
rather more bitter Were male AGAINST this
agency some eighteen months since. wnen
the Secretary of the Interior immeIiateIy
required an investigation throusn a COM
mission, OF which Bishop Hare was MAZE
chairman, the other members being Rev. s.
ID Hill man, the well known M SSiOnary and
Sioux interpreter; j. u. Devier, u. =. Indian
Interpreter, and +. III. Smith, President of
the Young Mems Christian Association of
washington, mcmSCr OF tile Board OF
Indian Commissioners, and sent by that
board when Mr.. BrunOt was chairman. This
commission visited Red Cloud A gency and
made thorough investigation into the
charges. Bishop Hare aud Mr. Hinman are
officers OF the Protestant EpiSt opal Church.
which, by accepting this agency and nOni-
mating the agent, has become morally re-
sponsibfe 10 the government and before the
people for his honest administration of
affairs. 1t would be monstrous TO suppose
that such commission would desire to
cover up any fraud. Their full and unani-
completely eXOnerateS A gent Saville from
wrong intent, but declares that the charges
against the agent were mean boJn in their
origin and in their spirit.
The report says "that some OF the ALTA
Wits which seemed to reflect most upon the
character OF the agents were such partial
statements that they amounted to a culpl-
ole @'llTesS5O reit; and that some OF the tesii-
mony on which was based the most dam
aging attacks upon their administration, was
the testimony OF well-known deserter aud
thief
Facts cited 10 the discredit of the agents
which were CLEANED at the agencies during
their absence, and which they then had no
opportunity TO account for, We're, when
brought TO their notice, satisfactorily ex-
planned. Practices which were Irregular
were shown To have been unavoidable in ,lr
peculiar circumstances in which these agents
were placed. AID transactions Waicn at
first sight seemed suspicious, and TO which
a criminal intent had been imputed, were
shown To have been characterized by entire
good TAI In, to have been carried on in broad
daylight, and, where not justifable, TO have
been not wTOng-dOing. but the mfStq l<pS of
men new IL an Office where, peculiarly, the
IEcun. bent can learn only from ex! ,riica.
The commission indOrSe the replies OF the
agents In all their material points, and give
As The result OF their prOl pnged inveSt "a lion
into the points touched upon in Nr.WalkerS
report. and the result also of their inter
CT Use with the agents, and their personal
observations OF men and things at the agcn-
cles. the entire RELIEF of Agents Saville an.
Howard from the suspicious cast upon their
characters and their administrations. and
the earnest conviction that these gentlemen
have performed their duties during a time of
great trial and in the midst of great enhar-
easements with energy. honesty, and entire
ndellty 10 the interests of the government
and the Indians, and That they deserve the
co lhdence and cOnnenidtiOn OF the depart
menJ."
On this report by persons whose judgment
and findings he hal a right To deem cOlupe-
cent and every way reliable, the Commits
sioDer has acted. Respecting the Paxton
contract for beef at the Red Cloud agency
winch the commissioner is charged To have
uaudulently made III March last, he states
that IL was made by him in strict cOlfOrmi-
" with law, and. as the records aOuudantty
show on the advice PDi recOnment Ia ZION q;
the Board OF IGliau Comm SiC iers after
careful Inquiry by that board iutO the facts
and neces>i ties Of the case. As to The other
aud Indefinite charges OF fraud or coanivance
win WIOrg doing IN any way on his part
Commissioner Smith makes the most Iy,Si-
tive ami comp ehenSi"c denial. and saws ne
desires nothing SO much just now as the Sc
Yerest scrutiny of his official acts by fair
minded men.
Respecting the charge against Secretary
peianO OF completely with frauds AZ the Rel
Cloud agency, the Commissioner says tn4'
is but the simplest act of fairness Tor him -
state that he has no knowledge Of any sue,
completely on the part of that Off ,er, and
FHOWs OF nothing tending 10 show lt. That
on I e contrary, so far a. he knows the a,
ton OF the secretary in all matters pertain
ing to Red Cloud agency during the past
year has been Only the ordinary Off .iaI ron
tine action of the department upon matters
submitted by the lDdian Office, generally an
proving the SuggeSt iOHS of the Comm lSSio-ter
and never In any way diCtati1gor even M k-
ing suggestions as to purchases or contracts
or pccuniary transactions Ofany sort.
ANTI-TRFATING SOCIETIES -Tna nust,.,