New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-05-31
WASHINGTON.
INDIAN GRIEVANCES.


eo,rnesIoNER SMITHS STATEMENTS ABOUT THE
ISSUE OF CATTLE AT RED CLOUD AGENCY FALL
no THE GRouNp-RED CLOUD MsREPREsKNTED
The CERTIFICATE OF GEN. BRADLEY AND
OTHERS A TRUTHFUL ONE.
10y TELEGRAPH rRIBuNvl
WASHINGTON. Nav 30.-The publication in THE
rp,p,ryE of Thursday of the certificate signed by
Gen. Bradley Col. John Mix, and Lieut. Hay, saying
A az they examined head of cattle al the Red
(1oud Agency last Fall at the request of Red Cloud
and Red Dog. that they were undersized and puny
Nat their average weight was not more than 1858
,ounds and that Red Cloud, two other Indians, and
sue of the herders asserted that these cattle were
not smaller than those turned over for siaugh-
Ger on any ordinary Issue day, caused great
CONSERVATION in the Indian Bureau, aud Com
missioner Smith took the first opportunity,
the next morning, to explain it away. He
aid First that the cattle spoken Of belonged to the
contractor; secondly. that they were sick, some of
them with broken limbs thirdly. that they were
ma. issued Ia the Indians and fourthly, that there
,vas no intention of issuing them, simply because
xhey were in such poor and sick condition. Mr..
Smith further asserted that Red Dogs statement was
incorrect and that Red Cloud informed him that
porning friday that Red Dog he'd when he told
Che story 10 Gen. Bradley and Prof. Marsh. On the
same afternoon the Commissioner, in the interview
With Red Cloud which occurred at the Department,
spestioned him about these cattle, and Red Cloud
apparently confirmed, in some particulars, the as
sertons made by Mr.. Smith in the morning.
Yesterday Prof Marsh, in order to learn the exact
facts about these cattle called upon DR.. Savle, the
agent at Red Cloud, in company with the Rev. e d.
Human, the official interpreter of the Indian
Bureau, and asked him about the cattle examined
nv GEN Bradley and the other officers. DIR. saviDe
.ad that the cattle did belong to the contractor
hut the Government, having been accepted by him
from the contractor and having been left over from
forrrer ISSUE and that subsequently all except two
sfthem were issued the Indians He said, further,
thai they were the only cattle at the Agency when
Gen Bradley was there that they were
not sick. nor had any of them broken legs.
He might have told the Commissioner
that they were broken down. with
the journey, meaning that they were fatigued.
Prof Marsh also called on Red Cloud, and he alb
,ol,telv denied that he had held any conversation
with Commissioner Smith about these cattle that
FRIDAY morning, or that he had told HIM anything
about them: and all of the Interpreters now in the
eity through whom alone such a conversation could
b. held. agree with Red Cloud that no such con-
yersation with Commissioner Smith occurred that
day Red Cloud also thinks that he must have been
Misunderstood in the Council OH Friday afternoon.
In regard 10 these cattle he did not mean TO say that
they had been rejected by the Agent, but SIMPLY
that. at the time Gen. Bradley saw them, they had
not been issued to the Indians, but had been LEFT
over from former issue.
From these facts it will be seen that Commissioner
Smiths explanation falls to the ground. 1t appears
10 have been invented simply 70 throw dscredi'
upon the letter of the army officers, and without any
effort TO arrive at the truth This habit of lnvente
ordinations of damaging disclosures for IT has oc
cured SO often recently as to have become habit
is shaking the confidence of even those who were
Inclined to believe that the management OF lndian
Affairs is reasonably honest. When Prot' MARSH
brought to him samples of Red Clouds rations, MI
Smith said that the flour was some that had been
left over from that issued two years ago. Agent Sa
Vile told Prof Marsh yesterday that dark tour
was issued about the time of the latters visit to
the Aaency and there is abundant proof from otAeI
sources that the sample Prof. Marsh brought "a
Washington WAS Just like that which the Indians
were then using. A few days later Col Hatche's
dispateh was printed, disclosing the outrageous
treatment of the Indians in the southern part OF the
Indian Territory and Immediately MIR. Smith pre-
tended 20 have received letter from Gen. shanks
EXPLAINING that the roads had been so bad ana the
seson so Indictment that it had been impossible foi
the contractors to deliver provisions. week later
Gen Shanks sees this statement IN the newspapers
and telegraphs East that he has written no such let
Ter that the roads have been good all WINTER ano
that the failure 70 supply the Indians was crime
And now. when an army officer Ike Gen. Bradley
t.stfes 10 what he himself saw, Mr. Smith hastens
IA make AN explanation which is shown to be faise
in every particular within IS hours after IT Is maze
Spotted TAIL in his first interview WIN the Iresl
dent seems to have described the Commissioner o.
Indian Affairs very accurately.