The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-07-15
TELEGRAPHLC.
INDIAN FRAUDS.
Letter of Prof. Marsh to Presi-
dent Grant.
HIS KNOWLEDGE OF THE COR
RgPTIoN OF THE INDIAN
SERVICE,
Indisposition Of the Interior Depart
nent to Check the Frauds.
HOW THE NATION AND THE IN
DTANs ARE sYsTEMArT-
CALLY ROBBED.
A Chapter of Mighty Interesting Read
ing.

| NEW YORK, July he Tribune to-
morrow publishes the following letter from
Prof, Marsh of Yale college to President
Grant,
SIR: In two interviews | had with you
on Indian affairs was impressed with
your earnest desire to do justice to the
Indians and with your broad and philan-
thropic views on the whole Indian ques-
ton, This must be my excuse as pri
vate citizen for coming again to you to lay
before you statement of the wrongs COM
mitted on the Sioux Indians, mainly under
my own observation during recent visit
to their country. My visit to this region
was wholly in the interests of science. with
40 intention or wish to investigate Indian
affairs. The frauds | observed we're
brought to my knowledge by Red Cloud
who refused to allow my party to enter
the Bad Lands until l had promised to
submit his complaints to you in person.
: Since my interview with you upon this
subject | have been informed by the CON-
missioner of Indian affairs of the appoint
ment of a committee to investigate affairs
at Red Cloud agency, and invited to lay
statement of facts before them. This |
am quite ready to do whenever the COM
| LAllCO ACHuCot II L Lbu uCCltuC, lUHCf0Is
to give my statement to the interior de-
partment alone for the following reasons:
l. | have no confidence whatever in
the sincerity of the secretary of the inter
iOr, or of the commissioner of Indian af-
fairs, when they publicly announce their
wish and determination to correct the pre-
! sent abuses in the Indian management, be-
cause | have reason to know that they
have long been aware Of these abuses and
have made no sincere effort to reform
them.
Z 2. In all my intercourse with these two
: officials their object has manifestly been to
3 find out, not so much what the frauds ac-
A: tually were, as the extent of my lnforma-
| ton concerning them SO as to prevent by
8 every means in their power all publicity or
0 exposure of them.
3. The evidence in my possession re-
fleets unfavorably on both Secretary De-
lano and Commissioner Smith For these
!; reasons have thought it best to lay be-
e fore you, to whom, in accordance with my
l. promise to Red Cloud, [ made my first
communication, the accompanying state
ment in detail, in full confidence that the
evidence presented will meet with the con-
f, sideration its importance demands.
In the statement which accompanies
e this letter have given the results of my
y investigation into the affairs of Red Cloud
n agency. the largest and most important in
d the West These results clearly indicate
!; both mismanagement and fraud, especially
(. in the following particulars:
'e |. The agent, j. j. Saville, is wholly
y y untitled for his position and guilty of gros:
frauds upon the Indians IN his charge,
3. The number of Indians at this agen
Icy has been Systematically overstated fol
n purposes which can only result in fraud.
3. The lastissue OF annuity goods which
| witnessed was suspicious transaction
and in part, at least, fraudulent.
1T f. The beef cattle given to the Indian:
o. have been very inferior, owing to systema
IN tic frauds practised by the agent and bee
le contractors.
el S. The pork issued to the Indians dur
i, ing my visit was not suitable for human
II fare.
16 ~, 6. The -four is very inferior and tha
!" there is evidence of fraud in this article i
.E conclusive.
- 7. The tobacco, / observed, was rotte
and of little or no use to the Indians.
re s. In consequence of fraud and mis-
he management the Indians suffered greatl
le- during the past winter for want of food an
ms clothing
ng 9. The contract for freighting fror
Ter Cheyenne to Red Cloud agency was fraud
M uient, as the true distance is 145 miles
nr- while the contractors were paid for 81
miles,
.Sn l would especially call your attention t
ht. evidence of fraud in beef cattle, as preser
hv ted in the accompanying statement. Thi
,at subject | investigated with great care. g
to- beef is the principal article OF food OF tn
or, Sioux Indians, and the frauds | observe
.u- have caused great suffering among ther
en- as we'll as great pecuniary loss to the GOV
les ernment The statement have prepare
hat is supported in all its essential parts +
ch, the testimony OF officers of the army VII
'od were with me in my expeditions. or at Re
ted Cloud agency. Among these officers al
its several personally known to you and a
'ed are gentlemen of high character. Shoul
len any part of my statement be seriOusl
mic questioned l trust you will allow these gel
- tlemen to be heard. If the commandiu
officers of all posts near Indian agencies
other equally trustworthy and disintere
ted observers there could likewise testif
| think it would be found that have bI
- family indicated the corruption pervadir
. Indian affairs.
~ nave purpoSely c0nnned mySelt IN Tn
statement to single agency and main
to the time Of my visit without referenC
s. to much other testimony which has con
ort to me incidentally in the prosecution
my inquiries, showing frauds of equal ma
nitude at other points,
-O This corruption, which is consta
=. source of discomfort and hostility amor
- the Indians themselves, is, in my jud
c ment, the natural result of the prese
loose and irresponsible system of furnis
ing Indians with goods aud supplies
system that tends directly t. invite frau
I do not believe that anything but
r radical change in this respect will preve
IS the continued decentralization of the
= dian service. You alone have the will a
n the power to destroy that combination
" bad men known as the Indian ring who a
debasing this service and thwarting
, efforts of all who endeavor to bring to
full consumiuation your noble policy
. 20 peace.
2eb, Very respectfully, your obedient serval
ST re- o. C. MARSH,
is YALE COLLEGE, July 10, 1875.
sus- I. The sugar and coffee issued are I
ooo1 olkhorob bokkor fhoD okbar ounrE