The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-10-19
The Red Cloud Investigation.

WASHINGTON, Oct. Is.
The following is an analysis of the re-
port just made by the commission COM
posed of Messrs. Fletcher, Harris. Faulll-
ner and Anterior, appointed to investigate
and report on the charges of mismanage-
ment and fraud at the Red Cloud agency
made by Prof. Marsh. Adopting Prof.
Msrshs letter to the president setting forth
charges of fraud and mismauagement in
Indian affairs as their starting point, the
commission take up his allegation seria-
tum examining all available sources OF ev-
idence and scrutnizing all records and doc
umentarY proof which might, in their
judgment, throw any light upon the SUBJ
ject. The printed testimony SO taken COM
prises more than 800 octave pages. The
commission sustain the charges of official
incompetency preferred against ]. j. Sa-
VILE, Indian agent at the Red Cloud agen-
cy, and recommend his removal but exon.
crate him from imputations of dishonesty
and point TO him as one Indian agent who
goes out of office poorer man than when
he entered. With reference to the charge
that the number oil Indians at the Red
Cloud agency had been greatly over-esti-
mated for purposes or frand, the commits
sioners notice the fact that army officers
concur with Prof. Marsh in this belief. aud
that there were moi SO many there as had
been represented, but in support of the
charge an opinion merely has been offered.
The enumeration of Indians was attended
with great difficulties and delays, such as
their determined opposition to being
cohnted, and the fact that the northern or
wild Indians were liable TO visit the agency
aud demand goods and rations.
The census of last year shows there
were 10, 423 at Red Cloud agency. This
result was believed by the commissioners
to have been obtained through the best
means within command of the agent. The
commission find that the system of keep
ing accounts at the agency was exceeding
| ly loose aud defective and for this reason
the Indian Office is justly censurable. They
|
treaty of 1868. requiring the presence of
an army officer at all issues of goods had
been utterly disregarded, but could not
conclude from that in the absence of other
proof that fraud had been practiced. The
| spaciiic allegation that on the 18th Of
| November, 1874, the Indians were charged
with 81 bales OF blankets while only 25
bales were issued to them is pronounced to
be wholly without foundation.
The furnishing of beef cattle, by far the
| most extensive branch of the Indian
| service, received attention from the COM
mission, commensurate with its Importance
and large portion of their report is de-
voted to the consideration of that subject.
| j. w. Bosler, who has charge Of the carry
| ing out of most of the contracts for the
| supply Of beef cattle for the Indians, and
who has combined capital, skill and many
years experience in the conduct Of tue
business, is made the object of Prof.
| Marshs most sweeping charges. Bosler
| placed his private books and papers at the
command of the commission for their in
spection and information, showing the
| number of cattle purchased, delivered and
lost; the cost of herdiDg: incidental eX-
penses; amount of capital employed, and
net profits realized. The total cost to the
government of beef for one year was
| 800, s54.4S, and the net profits to the
contractor 7,5l0.18. The commission
were satisfied from the evidence that that
profit was perfectly fair and legitimate.
They find that the facts completely ex-
| onorate Bosler from every imputaton and
| charge of fraud and they accord him the
character of IL perfectly fair and upright
business man.
| The allegation that the cattle furnished
| the Indians were small and inferior was
found to be based solely upon the irrespon-
sble statement Of Red Cloud and two
other Indians, while on the contrary the
commission demonstrate by actual observa-
| ton the superior quality of the cattle. On
| the 18th of August they witnessed the
weighing of 3,117 head, which were de-
| liyered that morning The scales were ex-
amned by the commissioners and balanced
before the work began all the cattle were
weighed except three which broke through
the partition dividing one part of the corral
from the other. One of the commissioners
took down the weight of each draught
| fro,., ba pna1a haon, nfbpr m
being present watching proceedings. The
average weight Of the lot proved TO be
1853 pounds each. Many of them weighed
more than 1900 and some over 300 lbs,
but in order to be certain that this
lot had not been selected for the occasion
the commissioners visited and carefully
inspected contractors herd from which
there had been taken and where there were
still $500 head. They were fully satisfied
that those weighed were fair samples. Pro
visions were withheld from the Indians for
by Prof. Marsh, but only for the purpose
of compelling them by hunger to consent
to be enumerated.
This action OF the agent is commended
by the commission. The charge of frauds
not only gigantic but long practiced, grow
ing out of the system OF stampeding cattle
from the government herd TO that of the
contractor, from which it 10 claimed they
were re-delivered and receipted for the
second time, is not supported by shadow
of proof.
In concluding their report on the subject
of beef, the commission say they find no
sufficient evidence of fraud, but recon-
mend as safeguard against the possibility
of collision between corrupt agents and
contractors, that deliveries of beef be made
under the superyision OF the commlssary