The Indiana State sentinel., 1875-08-05

A correspondent of the New York Herald
at Washington has devoted himself to un-
esrthing some ofthe villanies OF the Indian
ring OF earlier date than those covered by
Prof. Marsh's charges. The transactions
described in the letter to the Herald occurred
during the existence of the old board of
Indian commissioners, appointed under the
act of April 10th, 1869, to exercise Joint
supervision with the secretary of the in
terror over the disbursements of appropria-
tions for Indian affairs. The main points in
the story are the allowance by Delano and
Smith of claims disspproved by the board,
and the quarrel between the secretary and
the board over the action of that
body in. sending out Walker to- in
vestigste alleged frauds at Red
Cloud and MILESTONE agencies. In
illustration of the latter phase of the busi-
ness, two gentlemanly but rather warm let
ters, are given, one from Delano, and one in
answer from Felix r. Brunot, chairman of
the board. The former complained because
an agent had been sent off secretly to ex-
anime the condition of Indian affairs, and
because his report had not been SUBJ
at the earliest possible minute, and attacked
the character of Walker, closing with the
curt remark: "In conclusion am prompt
ed to make these suggestions by the con-
viction that the success of the great work
in which we are engaged requires the hsr-
monious and confidential cooperation of
all its friends, and especially those having
official connection with the same" The
latter retorted by an explanation Of
the circumstances attending Walkers
mission, and in answer to Delano's assertion
that he was the representative of the presi
dent, to whom alone the Indian agents were
responsible, Brunot quoted the act creating
the board, and then Indignantly declared his
disgust with the way in which his efforts in
behalf of the Indians were treated. He said: :
" The president, in his desire to carry out his
Indian policy and to effect reform in the
service, exercised his discretion by appoint
ing the board. and, passing by the ques-
ton OF Joint control with the secretary
'of the interior over the ex-
penditures being made, it is, at
least, not too much to assume that the
board rightly represented the president in
sending an agent to ferret out frauds which
he had reason to believe were being perpe-
trsted at the Red Cloud agency. Neither
can there be any reason to doubt that the
effort of the board in this direction accords
| with the intention of congress, and is with
in the power il meant to grant. Never
tbeless, If the president should, from any
cause, be IN sympathy with the manner
and tone of the words have quoted from
your letter, even in the least degree, or was
aware of its contents before being sent,
will be greatly obliged If you will inform
me of the fact, in order that 1 may at once
resign position which has hitherto, so far
as my relations to him are concerned, been
one of the most sgrees BILE character to me-"
The letter closed like Delsno's, with a
desire for harmony and cooperation among
the friends Of the great work in which the
board was engaged, and a remark that the
secretsry's letter was the first intimation
that such harmony and cooperation did not
exist. These letters are valuable as showing
that the opposition Of the department to all
interference and investigation is no new
thing. Others have been met and over some
by the same stubborn spirit before which
the Yale scientist has not yet yielded.
The most tangible evidence of the antago-
nism between Delano and Commissioner
Smith, on the one hand, and the Board of
Indian Commissioners, on the other, is,
however, the list of vouchers rejected by the
latter and paid by the former. 1t covers
expenditures between March 1, 1873, and
January /, 1874. The record is very for
midable one, and needs no comment to add
emphasis to its figures:
NAME. ARTICLE. AMOUNT.
Durfee & Peck Transportation .-.......s $50 20