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


ment Of afalrs at the Red Cloud Agency. Gen. FISK
added, that, having been forced into accepting the
Presidency the Indian COMMISSIONS most thank~ss
Office requiring great deal Of time, constantly SUBJECT
TO criticism and without any emoument-he iutendedto
have q thorough examination OF the charges made oy
Prof Marsh, without fear favor, hurt whoever II
may.
IL was remarked by Gen. Fisk that 1t would require
very positive evidence convince him that Edward r.
Smith was guilty OF completely in defrauding either tine
Government or the Indians He had known commas
sioner Smith fifteen yearshs faithful and untrng
service all through the war and subsequent 10
the war his abors behalf Of the freedmen, aud be dd
not believe that Mr. Smith could be guilty OF fraud
Fraud or no fraud, however, Gen. Fisk intended
TO have the truth. For Prof. Marsh no RAD tine
highest respect his sincerity and trutfuness no one
could doubt He confident that Prof Marsh WAS
perfectly sincere in his belief in the rustworthness Oh
the statements which he had addressed 10 the
President. For long time Gen. Fisk had been under
the conviction that good beef could not be- fur
nishrd the Indians at the prices paid ny the
Government, and no had been surprised AT
the earnestness and anxiety with which the
beef contracts had sought by old Indian contractors
The present Board OF Commissioners intended 10 see
however, that both the quality and quantity OF beef TINS
year should fuf entirely the specifications and require
ments OF the contract made.
METHODS OF swINDLING IN BEEF SUPPLIES.
A gentleman whose position gives him the
most thorough acquaintance with the subject sad that
there are "a number OF old contractors whose very
names carry with them conviction or rraun'
and consequently they debarred from becoming Did
ders for new contracts their bids would not be enter
tanned by the Board OF Indian Commissioners. When the
Commission adyertises for proposals FOR sup
plying tho Indians with beef. these men
who from long experience, are thoroughly
acquainted with the muttudinous modes OF cheating
both the Government and the Indians, proceed 10
make their combinations which have so far succeeded in
getting Of every Commission. no matter how
carefully the contractors watched. three OF four
confedcrates whose in many instances were pre-
yiously unknown to the members OF the Commission
make their proposals at prices ranging from the ex0r-
bitant to the medium. Should an outsider come IN aud
make low bid in good faith the combination Mt once
proceed buy him oas done this year. his pro-
cess continues until the contract ia finally secured
for the Ring who OF course get 1t at Agh
figure. Cases have occurred where bidder in making
his proposals for the different agencies at prices
ranging from one to three cents has struck
All average OF - 20 per hundred pounds %; ana
subseaurnfly having been bought on by the KING,
he has gone before the Commission and stated mat
he had made a mistake in his figures, as he
actually occurred last spring IN the csse on D. d. Du
and the Government would undoubtedly hayo , peen
sw!ndlcd but for the wachfnness OF H. A Hiyt ciSir-
OF the purchasing COMMITTEES. - 49,, -,
Upon receiving the contract the SUCCESSFUL Ddoer AZ
invariably disappears, and when tho time comes
for delivery OF the cattle at the Agency the Old con
tractor appears upon the scene Inc i must
Bossler, who for number u years has successfully
dehed the Commissioners AZ the Agency tne
fraud still continues The cattle, after being DEW
cred By the contractor. who thereupon receives
hls receipts from the agent, are clrac'i near
the Agency In many instances It mas occurred that
has been stampede, and some OF the same cattle
which have been once accepted by the Government
are again sold to the Government This. said the
gentleman who gave this information, " can prove