New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-12-17

,lminary documents, it is interesting to know
that some communications not less important
than those printed in this volume passed be-
tween Secretary Delano and Mr. Fisk, which
are omitted, and that Secretary Delan0s
statement in his letter of July 20, where he
says Prof. Marsh made reply to Com
missioner Smiths letter of July /. is contra
dicted by the Professors letter of July 3,
which appears on page of the testimony.
As to the further contents Of this book, we
need call the attention of Congress when
seeks information upon the subject OF nves-
tigations to but one or two features OF It, 1he
readers of THE TRIBUNE are already reason
ably familiar with the report and the testi-
mony on which it is based. When the Com
missioners say at the outset that they
have examined "overy witness" whose
name was furnished by Prof. Marsh,
when that witness was within their
reach, we presume they forget the gentleman
who gave to New-Yorl1 journal an account of
an issno of cattle at Red Cloud Agency which
he personally saw; who expressed willing
ness to make affidavit to his statement and
whose name was given them by Prof. Marsh, but
who was never called. Very possibly there may
be other omissions. The Chairman of the Com
mission was acting as newspaper correspond
emf, and his time being so occupied, some
things may have slipped his memory. One
other feature OF this investigation is illustrated
in The last two pages of the book. Commits
siOner +. p Smith. who instructed the Com
mission how to investigate himself, was wit
ness. After his testimony had been given
he interpolated in the printed volume
a statement concerning Prof. Marsh which
that gentleman said in letter to the Commits
sion was not only an Interpolation, but untrue.
Mr.. Smith has the last page Of this singular
volume for his reply and takes it all. He does
not deny that he inteIpolated the statement re-
forred to- he does not vouch for its truth or with
draw it but only says - Whether the statement
"that Professor Marsh carried Rcd Clouds lie
"abOut his blankets to the President is untrue
cor not is a question to be settled between
"himself and his friend, the reporter of the
"New-York paper" With this no speaks
of the Professors "trying to recover
"himself from the wretchedly sorry posi-
"tion into which his foolish credence in
d" Red Clouds twaddle has placed him." and
Saws it " will hardly save his case from the
"discredit which must hereafter attach to it."
And the very last sentence in this public doc
ument speaks of Prof. Marsh's making the
" grossest charges of fraud against public Of
"ficers, which on inquiry have been found ut
"terly baseless. and without even preteNt
"fOr Justification"
It's an uncommonly queer book. We read
the vigorous dcnunciatiOns of Prof. Marsh with
which Commissioner +. p. Smith closes the
volume; we turn back to the contemptuous
"a Mr.. Nlarsh," with which Secretary Delano
opens it; we read the imprint of the Govern
ment Printing Office; we half wonder who
was on trial-whether it was Mt Prof
Marsh after all we dimly remember that De-
lano has resigned that Chandler has brought
in an era of reform that Commissioner f. Z.
Smith has been succeeded 10y another Smith.
and that he has been transferred to a conf
Dental clerkship near the new Secretary and
ont of all the confusion of it we make out
only that this was an investigation which
ought in the interests Of science to be itself
investigated.