New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-09-22
INDIAN SUPPLY FRA UDS.
A DOuBLE PAYMENT TO BOsLER.


CAPT. FRENCHs RECEIPT FOR CATTLE-ANorhbh
RECEIPT FOR THE SAME CATrLE-rHE con-
TRACTORS PLAN OF COMPROMISE.
IRON An OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRiBuNhI
WASHINGTON, Sept 1S.-AmOng the many
instances of Encouragement OF Indian anairs Drought
10 light by the investigation OF Prof Marshs charges
the following worthy of especial notice. Az the tne
that President Grant appointed army officers to indiah
agencies, Brevet Capt. w. H. French, jr, was, IN May
$40 detailed as Indian Agent at Creek Agency in
Dakota Territory He remained there until November
1870 when relieved Shortly before his successor
took charge the beef contractor Bosler drove up herd
Of cattle TO the agency, but Capt FRENCH oeIhS
about to leave, did not wish to receive Them he
however. weighed them, and gave memoran-
dum recent for 4221O0 pounds of beef leav-
ing the herd in charge of the contractors
herders did take the beef upon his papers, nor
invoice his as he only desired 10 secure
the beef for agency without in any way becoming re
sponsibe for it, Subsequently. when Capt. French ap-
Piled for certificate of nonndcbtedness to the account
inc officers of the Treasury he found that BOser had pre-
septed his receipt and paid Sl6,039 so thereon
Further investigation showed that Boser mad also OBJ
tanned receipt for the Same LOT of cattle from capt
French's successor and paid that Astounding
two payments for the delivery OF cattle AT this
time Boser's name not on the contract. yet the
records show that he the who got the money
These two payments were approved by the Indian Office
and would have passed undeeced, at least without
the Government having chance TO reimburse ITSELF II II
had not been the vigilance of Auditor French OF tie
Treasury.
II is now proposed to compromise the matter by per-
hitting Bosler to at the Crow Creek Agency an
equal weight of beef with that which was twice paid for
This mode of settlement il in favor of the beef con-
tractor and is believe Illegal In the first place. beef
cheaper than 1t then was Secondly by the act OF
1877 no part of the Indian appropriation for that or pre-
vous years he used to feed Indians for the present
year. BY delivering the beef this year there is VIOLA
ton of this law Thirdly, the amount not being credited
TO the appropriation of 1s70l, Capt French stu Is
charged with the amount-ve1y unjusty-while Bosier
escapes with the use OF the money all these years.
1t would seem to simple justice to compel Bosler to
refund the money with interest and also 10 reimburse
the young officer whose confidence he abused The In
dian Office has possession of the facts for nearly
three years vet action taken until II was forced
by Brevet Maor-Gen. W. II. French, L. $. A., who has
been unceasing in his endeavOrs to have his sons ac
counts settled The following letters from the ndlan
Office throw some light on its action:
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, OFFICE OF ISD,AN
SIR am in receipt of your letter of the I'm ut re-
pectng the charge AGAINST You IN your accounts as ,ah
beef and asking to be informed what proofs Will be
to enable you to adjust these @
Of beef In reply have to STATE that IN my Jndsm ro
his own statement that he received it from you and he
fails for it, by taking it on his pToperyro
/
resp saffSH ~ &C., signed EDWARD SMITH
To VIM. NJ French, ir.. late Indian Agent, &c.
The above is co1oboIated by the following;
DEPARTMENT OF THE ISILRIoR OFFICE OF OF Is9,S
AFFAIRS. WASHINGTON, ID. C., March "A, !SI4. J.
DEAR SIR: in receipt Of your letter Of the lsth
inQuirng to the prospect Of the na settlement OF me
Agency In reply, have to state that the prospect OF
that the aclnowledgment on the part OF agent eh
Livingston that he received the cattle from Agent
relieve Agent French by charging them to Agent Iiv
ngstons account But in the belief that the contractor
Agent French and also by subsequent RECEIPT or ane
cattle given by Livingston the Hon. second Aad
money paid his receipt until steps have been taken TO
compel the contractor to return the excess received IN
made Of livingston TO which an answer Is expected IN
few days and Teest nf Si s be-
that the cattle have actually been paid 1or twice IL Is
fecled but can only pledge the Office TO use all possible
dispatch in relieving your son IRON me enDafrassnen's
in which he finds himself L n very ssIfg
To Wan. Fl. French, Brevet Major-General, L. s. A.,
Fort McHenry, Md.
After tie lapse OF four months response was made 70
another application, as follows:
DEPARTMENT THE INTERIOR,
OFFICE OF INDIAN AFFAIRS,
WASHINGTON, d. c., July 30, 1874.
SIR have the honor to acknowledge the receipt OF
your letter of tho 27th relative to the settlement OF the
accounts of your SOD, First Lieut. French as indian
Agent and in reply referring to my letter OF the 24th
Maycb Inst state that inquiries made OF Agent
Iivugston to establish the fact that the cattle
for which Lieut. French gave receipt to the contractor
were subsequently receipted for to the contractor
by Agent Iiyin both OF which receipts the con-
ire ctoI seems have collected from the Government
ard he has acco din :y been called upon under date OF
July 23 max good the amount received III excess OF
Wha. was due I'm.
10 this domand no reply has yet been received.
According TO Il decision OF the Second Auditor, until
some settlement is made Of this double payment the
accounting officers will hold both Agents French and
Livingston for the cattle.
There seems To be question but that the receipt
Which Agent French gave in the ordinary form OF
received from contractor NJ the ord
nary indeed Agent French does mot claim TO the con
traTJ. though does claim, and believe with entire
correctness that he did not intend that the receipt should
used other purpose than as memorandum 10
show where the cattle were. -
know objection to the course proposed ny yourself
ta Lieut. French through an Investigation by the
War DeplI tment through Congressional legislation
Very respectfully, &c,
ISiguedl EDWARD p. SMITH, Commissioner.
To Win. H. rench, Breyet MajorGenera, u. S. A, Fort
McFIerTy, Maryland
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, OFFICE OF ISDlANl
AFFAIRS, WAsHTEGTOY, ID. Co. Oct. 81, 1874. :
SIR receipt OF your inquiry the 9Th instant
relative The adjustment OF your account for beef at The
Crow Agency and in reply have to state that fea
contractor Morrow who called to settle with the
Treasury for duplicate pay Inent has not replied
Very respectfully, DC
fsignedl EDWARD p. SMITH, Commissioner.
To WIN. II. French, jr, late Agent, &c.
From the foregoing letters it will be that for years
the Indian Department took to protect the
agent and that finally Bosler s allowed 10 settle the
In way that loss to the Government In every
point OF view.
ucrCTc IN HEAVEN