The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-05-06
DELANO'S DoINGs

COMMENTS MADE BY MEN CONvERSANr WITH
TEE MANAGEHENT OF INDIAN AFFAIRS IN
TIE INTERIOR NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF
THE OLD BOARD OF INDIAN COMMISSIONERS
POSITION OF THE PRESENT BOARD.
No department of the public service is of
more vitslimportance to the public at this
present time than the management of the
affairs Of the department of she interior. The
New York Tlibune's conscientious. Wash
ington correspondent lets light upon
Delano's doings as appended: The interest
caused by the expected retirement of Secre-
tary Delsno, and the agitation in regard to
the management OF the department Of the
interior, have called general attention to the
workings of that department, especially in
connection with Indian affairs. It is be-
heVed byathOse conVerSant with the ways Of
the department and the manipulations OF
the Indian ring in furnishing goods and sup
plies, that the suspicion of the former
Indian commissioners who resigned
were based on good foundation. IL is as
serted that those commissioners believed
that the department of the interior was so
thoroughly corrupt that the board could not
do anything to purify or improve it. Ire
commissioners resigned, therefore, being
unwilling to permit Secretary Delano to use
their good name to aid him in covering up
the frauGs which he must have known were
going on in his department.. The old COM
missiJners, it is stated, also became satisfied
that the more faithful they were in trying
to ferret out wrong doings and to correct
them, the more the secretary of the interior
found fault with them, and on several occa-
siOns he censured them in language any,
thing but polite. Assertions are made
that certain members of the pres
ont commission are as much dissatisfied on
account of the affiliations of the Indian ring
with the department OF the interior, and on
account of the management OF Indian af
fairs, as were the former commissioners who
| lefs the board. Tt is claimed that the inte
/ TiOr department now has controlling in
/ fluence in the board and that the secretary
OF the board is in sympathy with the Indian
| rings. il is understood that his clerk also
| is identified also with these rings. The OPP
pOnents Of the present system say, when
| the controlling power of the commission
is working in harmony with the COM
missioner of Indian affairs, who, for long
time, has been believed 10 have derived
large
PROFITS FROM RING OPERATIONS,
why. should any one be surprised to hear
that the Indian department Is spending the
moneys appropriated to the Indian service
in ways which enrich the friends of the de-
partment?" This is done in various ways
T. p. Smith, the commissioner of Indian al
fairs, controls the letting OF the annual con-
tracts, which provide for the expenditure of
81 900 900 or COO 0C0 1t is said that instances
| have been shown where contractors highly
recommended by Mr.. Smith have received
contracts for over 81, 900 600 in all, and then
practically have suDlet these contracts to
men widely known as having cheated the
Government and Indians in previous
years. 1t is claimed by the friends of re-
form in the Indian service that the depart
ment must have known this, for, it is said,
whSn facts proving certain frauds have
been laid before the secretary of the inte-
rior, he has sent out special commissioners OF
his own appointing, who were quite sure not
10 see the wrongs complained of, but were
sure TO bring back vague and apologize
| report in regard TO the agencies which had
been accused of fraudulent transactions. In
stances have occurred where a majority OF
the former commissioners complained to
the secretary of the interior, that contracts
for large amounts, which had been let TO men
recommended by the commissioner and other
officers OF the department, practically were
filled by men notorious for their completely
} ia the frauds perpetrated on the Indians,
and the secretary has replied that he could
not prevent it. 1t was we'll known that the
board of Indian commissioners had passed a
resolution refusing to recommend the Civ
ing of contract to any person who had
been guilty of fraudulent practices in f1r
nishing Indian goods or supplies, and for
bidding & contractor to subles any part OF
his CONTRACT without written permission first
obtained from the secretary OF the interior.
Il is said that several of Commissioner
Smiths particular friends who received
contracts practically sublet them 10 the class
of men referred to- and TIA secretary OF the
interior lodged the responsibility OF inter
fering by saying that no formal application
} had been made to him for the permission.