New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-29
SECRETARY DELANo'S METHODS.

COMMENTS MADE BY MIN CoNNERSANI WITH TIE
MANAGEMENT OF INDIAN AFFAIRS IN THE lNfL-
HIOR DEPARTMENT - ATTITUDE or TIE OLD
BOARD OF INDIAN OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES or
TIE PRESENT BOARD.
The interest caused by the expected retire
mcut Of Secretary Delano ana the agoton in regard to
the narag mon; Of the Department Of the Interior have
called general attention t. the workings of that Depart
ment especially connection with Indian Affairs II is
believed y those conY rIsaut with the ways OF The De
partmcnt AMI the manipuations Of the Indian ling
in furnishing goods AMI supplies. that the sns.
picons Of the former Indian Commissioners who resigned
were based on good foundation Itisassercd that shos"
Commissioners believed that tho department. Of the INTO
ror was 50 thoroughly corrupt that the Board could n'
do ANYTHING to purify improve IT, The commissioners
resign d. therefore. being unwilling 10 permit secretary
DranO their good name 20 All him III covering up
the which he must have known were going on IN
bis Department. The old Commissioners it is stated
also became satisfied that the more faithful they were
In trying to ferret wrong oins and 10 correct them
the more the Secretary of the Interior found alt with
them, and ON several occasions he ccnsuicd them III
language any ding but polite.
Assertions are M that o,rtan members Of the pres
cnt Commission are as mach di,sali-n Il account OF
the affiliations Of the Indian Ring with the Department
Of the Interior and account Of the manascm mt OF
Indian affairs, n were the form r Commissioners who
left the Board. II is claimed TINT tine Interior Depart
ucnt now has a controlling influence in the Board, AMI
that the Secretary Of the Board il in sympathy with the
Indian Rings 1t is understood that his clerk also IS
len flied with these Rings I'll opponents Of the pres
ent system say When the con ro ing power " The Com
mission is wording in harmony with tn Commissioner OF
Indian Affairs who, for long tins" has been believed to
have derived largo profits from the Ring operations
why should any he surprised to hear That the Indian
DEPARTMENT spcnlng The moneys appropriated 10 ihc
Indian service in which enrich the Friends OF the
DEPARTMENT. 2" Tls is done ~ variouS ways j. +
I'LL. "a
letting of the ANIMAL contracts whi;h provide for Oh"
exp,nditrre Of 100000 or $5O)D.0)). 1t il said
that Instances have been known whore contractors
highly recommended by Mr. smith have received CON
tracts for ~ 900 OJ0n a and then aiicaly have
snblet those contracts widely known ~ having
cheated the Government and the Indians in previous
years IL is claimed by tho friends of
reform in the Indian service that the Depart
Inent must have known this for. it ia said when facts
proving frauds have been laid before the Secre-
tary Of the Interior he has out special commission
ers of his appointing who quite sure not 20 SIC
the wrongs complained Of but sure 10 bring back
vague AMI apoogetic report regard 20 the agencies
which had been accused of fraudulent transactions.
Instances have occurred where majority oi the former
Commissioners complained to the Secretary Of the In
terror that contracts for large amounts which had been
let to men recommended by the Commissioner and otncr
officers OF the Depart Eent practically were filled by men
notorious FOR their completely in the frauds porctIsel
on the Indians and tine Secretary has pped that he
cOud not prevent H.
II WAC well known that the old Board Of Indian Com
ms5ioners had passed resolution refusing To recon-
mend the giving Of contract To any person who had been
g,ty OF fraudulent practices in furnishing Indian goods
or supplies and f0rbiddng contractor 10 subct any
mart OF ms contract without written Emission fire.
Obtained from the Secretary OF the Interior IL - sad
thai several Of Commissioner Smth's particular s1cn
who received contracts practically snbnt tucn 10 Inc
class referred and tc secretary 0t the Interior
dod gud the responsibility Of interfering by saying a no
formal application had been made TO him for the permits