New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-07-19
PROF. MARSH'S CHARGES.
A REPLY BY MR.. SMITH.

I
CHARGES MADE EIGHTEEN MONTHS AGo-AN
ENUMERATION BY BISHOP HARE's COMMISSION
THE EPIsCOPALIANs RESPONSIBLE FOR Mr.. sA-
vILLE-DENIAL OF COMPLETELY.
| WASHINGTON, July 1.-THE Commissioner OF
| Indian Affairs says that the inquiry into the Red
Cloud Agency affairs IL in the hands Of gentlemen
competent TO investigate who have instructions To
take the frecst range Of inquiry and find whatever
wrong exists. The facts will therefore now be
reached Ii they disclose frauds in the service, no
one can be more interested than himself in obtaining
the facts The statement that these alleged frauds
have been frequently reported to him heretofore
without receiving attention, he pronounces abso-
lutely false. Charges similar TO those now made,
quite serious and more bitter, were made against
this agency some Is months ago. The Secretary OF
the Interior required immediate investigation at
that time through u commission, Of which Bishop
Hare was chairman, the other members being tho
Rev. s. d. Hinman tho wcll-knolwn Missionary and
Sioux interpreter J. ID. Bevcr United States Indian
Inspector and J. II. Smith, President of the Young
Mems Christian Association Of Washington, MEN,
Der Of the Board of Indian Commissioners.
This Commission vsited the Rcd Cloud Agency and
made thorough investigation. Bishop Hare and
Mr. Human are officers Of the Protestant Episcopal
Church. which, by accepting this Agency and nomi-
mating the Agent has become morally responsible 10
the Government and people for an honest admins
traton of affairs. 1t would be mOnstrons to suppose
that such a Commission would desire To cover up
any fraud. Their unanimous report to the Commis-
sioner OF Indian Affairs completely cxonerated
Agent Saville from wrong intent, and declared that
the charges against the Agent were mean in origin
and spirit. Their report says:
some Of the aifilayts which seemed 10 reflect most
upon the character OF the Agent were such partial state
ments that they amounted to c,iabe snppressto rer
and OF the testimony on which were based the most
damaging attacks uon the Admin iIon was inc tes.-
mOny Of welnown deeerter aud thief Facts cited 10
Agencies during their absence, and which they
had opportunity Ia account for, were, when
Practices which irregular were shown to have been
unavoidable in the peculiar circumstances in which
these Agents placed. AMI transactions which &c
first sight seemed Suspicious and Ia winch criminal III
tent had been imputed were shown To have been char
in broad daylight and, where not jusiihable, 10 have
been not wrong doing but the mistakes of M now IN an
Office where peculiarly the incumbent can learn only
experience The Commission indorsc the replies of
the Asenis st al Timer their l praon pi nve @a
into points touched upon In Mr. Walkers report and
their personal observations OF and Things at the
Agencies, the entire relief Of gents sa'e and Howard
administrations, AMI the earnest conviction that these
gentlemen have performed their duties during time Of
WITH emery r honesty and ene fidelity 10 the interests
Of the Government and the Indians ami that tey de-
the confidence and commentator Of the Depart
nient.
On this report. by persons whose judgment and
findings he had right to deem competent and every
way Trustworthy. the Commissioner has acted.
Respecting the Paxton contract for beef at tho
Red Cloud Agency which the Commissioners is
charged to have fraudulently made in March last,
he states that it was made by HIM in strict con-
formity with law, and, as the records abundanty
show, on the advice and recommendation of tho
Board of Indian Commissioners, after careful in
qury by that Board into the facts and necessities *
the case As to the other and indefinite charges Of
fraud or cOnnvancc with wrong doing in any way
on his part, Commissioner Smith makes the most
positive and comprehensive denial, and says he
desires nothing so much just the severest
scrutiny of his official acts by far-minded men.
Respecting the charge against Secretary Delaao OF
completely with frauds at the Red Cloud Agency,
the Commissioner says that is but the simplest act
of fairness for him state that he has no knowledge
of any such completely on the part Of that officer,
and knows of nothing tending to show it, That, on
the contrary, so far he knows, the action OF tho
Secretary, as to matters pertaining to Red Cloud
Agency during the past year. has been the ordinary
official routine action of the Department upon mat
ters submitted by the Indian Office, generally APP
proving the suggestions of the Commissioner and
never in any way debating or even making sugges-
tons rs to purchases or contracts, or pecuniary
transactions OF any sort.
THE ARMY OFFICERS TO DE ANSWERED.
McCANNS CONTRACT
WASHINGTON, July 1S.-commissioner Smith i'm
forms his friends that he will soon prepare reply to
the letter which Gen. Pope and other army officers
printed some weeks since. Ii now appears furthc-
in regard to one of the Mccain contracts for trans
porsation to the Red Cloud Agency, that he was M
derbd on the basis Of the proposals. as advertise.
he "a
notifying the lowest bidders, gave the contract t.
McCann for transportation from Omaha to TIA,
Agency, instead Of from Cheyenne. The Union
Pacific Railroad made low terms with him, in view
of the fact that If Government transported the goot
from Omaha, the road would lose a large cash pay
ment, and thus the Indian Office became party to
paving for transportation Of freight over that road
when it was not necessary.