The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1875-10-27
EAS Rcd Cloud .Investigatfon Cen.
7s- .eltaded. -. .~s...y -

y 0.~Se~A AAHSsNANy r. OASA4 ca AkAluSt u .
y. Saville, Indian agent at Red Cloud
agency, and recommend his removal. but
exonerate him from the imputation Of
dishonesty and point to him as one In
dian q gent who goes out Of Office poorer
THAN he entered. ~
As to the alleged frauds in count and
weights of cattle, DR.. Seville being q par
ty, the commission discredit the charges,
| and from their personal investigations are
assured that the herds of Texas cattle
furnished for the Agency will average
about as.receipted for by the Agent.
e The commission also find that -four Of
inferior quality, which Major Long was
| directed to inspect, slipped through with
out inspection, and got to the agency in
manner which has not been explained,
but they calculate that the department
erred in awarding the contract for -four
to j. II. Martin, who was mere specula-
| tive bidder without business responsible
~. An attempt at fraud was also dis
covered on: the part Of D j.: McCann, by
putting only SO pounds of -four in each
sack, which was required to contain 100
pounds.
The sugar, coffee and tobacco furnished
the Indians by the government were of
low grade, but designedly so, and no
abuse was ever discovered in the matter
Of their supply. Red Cloud evidently
adulterated the -four, and picked out bad
grains in making up the samples he gave
to Prof. Marsh. -.
The commission recommended that
hereafter, instead Of letting the contracts
FIR -four in the city of New York, they
be let at some suitable point in the West,
where, in the valley Of the Mississippi,
among the extensive Touring mills, it is
believed an active competition may be
created, and -four be obtained of better
quality and at cheaper rates than is now
furnished by middlemen or spectators.
Whatever suffering there may have
been among the Indians was traceable to
their own improvidence and the severity
Of the winter, instead Of any delinq uency
on the part Of the government This
suffering is believed not to have been ex-
IRENE, except in the case of some remote
bands, who resorted to killing their ponies
for subsistence.
Extensive frauds we're discovered
which had grown out Of transportation.
d. s. Mccain, = heavy freight contrac.
tor, had over.estimated the distance from
Cheyenne to Red Cloud, as we'll as mis-.
stated the number of teams and days en-
ployed by him in removing the property
of Red Cloud from the old to the new To-
cation. They recommend that legal
proceedings be instituted against him for
the restoration to the government of
money thus fraudulently obtained. The
commissioner of Indian affairs misappre-
hcnded the legal force Of the arrangement
by which he allowed settlement with
McCann while the question Of distance
Was pending,
The commission offer some general OBJ
servations on the result Of their reaec-
tioas upon Indian affairs. They believe
that the time has come when the policy
foreshadowed IN the recent act Of Con-
gress against further treaties with the In
dams should be vigorously enforced. The
Indians should be treated as individual
Inhabitants Of the republic. and
that absurd fiction of tribal SOY.
ereignty be abolished. The COM
mission express great satisfaction at
the successful operation Of the schools
and missions among the Indians, recog-
MIXING the first grea.: necessities to civil
cation AZ intelligence and individual re-
sponsibility. The community of prop
erty now existing in the tribes is seri.
Gus check on the efforts to better their
condition. The commission recommend
the establishment Of courts for the ad-
ministration of justice among the Indians,
in places where their number warrantsit.
They criticise the existing oath.stipula.
ton. by which they exclude white people
such contact Of the Indians With the in
fuences of civilization as would tend. to
impress them favorably with it. As an
| additional stimulus toward the desired
end, it recommends that the mode of
clothing take the place Of blankets in
government supplies to them.
BoLDER POLICY
in the treatment of the Indians is espcc-
1ally recommended. because the Indians
believe the. present conduct Of the gov.
eminent toward them is dictated by cow .
ardice. With all our munifcence in their
behalf, extending to an annual expendi-
ture Of eight millions Of dollars, no sent
iment of gratitude touches their hearts.
The commission look, however, with dis.
favor upon the proposition that the man.
agement of Indian affairs be transferred
to tie war department. though the pres.
~ence of military officers at the inspection
and delivery Of supplies would be desira'
bic. The suggestion is thrown out that
the young men of the friendly tribes
might be utilized as soldiers in regions
occupied by the Indians.
! III conclusion the comnissi ''ners reca'
pitulate their resolutions, namely, that
, Agent Saville be removed that j. WI