Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-05-07

Then there was the modest little sum Of
$4,000 for lighting the capitol and execu-
tive mansion and $4,000 for repairing and
extending water pipes and cleaning the
springs that supply the capitol and execu-
tive mansion. 1t is certainly to be hoped
that on his present salary of $4,000 and
contingent expenses" our chief executive
may be able to make strap and buckle meet.
The poor, half-starved congressman voted
themselves an increase, to enable them to
meet their necessary expenses, but unfortu-
nately they placed little too much conf
dence in this ungrateful republic and includ-
ed the retroactive section in their BILL and
the independent press with which, accord
ing to the st. Johnsbury Caledonian, this
country just now is "cursed," made such a
fuss about it that those innocent and suffer-
ing congressman found it expedient not
only to repeal the act increasing their salary
but many of them found it necessary to dis
gorge a portion of the plumber already
taken.
a little overhauling Of the transactions
under the commissioner OF Indian affairs has
made considerable STIR but it is far from
probable that the rattenness covered up
there will be cleansed. 1t has been known
for years that the Indian agents, as a class,
were no more nor less than band Of avari-
cious robbers, whose swinding, being done
semi-legally, and at the expense of help
less race, was winked at by those 10 authori.
ty, and the late revelations are but single
ripple on the surface of vast ocean of cor
ruption. One little transaction will serve
as a sample of the way our great and mag
unanimous nation allows its helpless ward;
to be plundered.
In the fall of 1879 the commissioner OF
Indian affairs authorized the sale of the pine
timber standing on ninety-twO thousand
acres of land in Wisconsin, belonging to q
band of the Chippewas of Lake Superior
VIM. A. Rust of Eau Claire became the pur-
chaser.
Rust was to pay $4,000 in five yearly in,
stsllments Of $4,000 each for $4,000 acres Of
most valuable pine timber, or about So cents
an acre. The reservation was estimated tC
contain Mt least 200, 900, 900 feet of pine, and
probably much more, and was valued at the
time ut about 100000 ! The agreement fol
the purchase was drawn up by the partie.
interested, who were upon the spot, knew
the exact value oil the pine to be cut, anC
were familiar with the methods of captur,
ing officials and cheating Indians.
But this contract had to be signed by
Clark, and indian agent, and the enormou.
hot he
by Rust and the market value of the timber
was so marked that diplomacy was consid
cred necessary, A certain G.. ID. Gilmore
well known to the interior department as I
pine operator, was conveniently ut hand
lie took the paper to Clark with the assur
ance that it was "all right" And in orde
to remove any doubt on his mind, he pro
posed meeting between Clark and Johl
Delano at Chicago, adding by way of en-
couragement that tho the completion of tn
agreement would insure $4,000 to the pres
ldential campaign fund for Grant.
Such arguments were invincible. Tn
contract was signed on the I'd of October
1872, and hurried of to Washington, withou
any accompanying consent from the poor
vicumized Indians The ring knew hoy
their approval could be obtained with few
presents and liberal supply of the wors
whisky, with which these "wards of tn
nation" are civilized.
1t required about eight days for this pape
to reach the department from the agency o.
Lake Superior. 1t was executed on the 2
of October, and the utmost despatch wa
used 10 consummate the bargain, which con
trasts remarkably with the delays and diff
culties put purposely in the path of citizen
seeking their rights in the same department
When the nature OF the contract becam
known, there was burst of indignation an
excitement in Wisconsin, and the stronges
representations were made TO annul il o
the ground of outrageous fraud,