The New York herald., 1875-07-18
WASHINGTON.
GENERAL WASHINGTON DISPATCHES.

The Commissioner OF Indian Arairs saws that
the inquiry into the Red Cloud Agency AFFAIRS
being in the hands OF competent gentlemen for
investigation, with Instructions to take the freest
range OF inquiry and ind whatever wrong
exists. the facts will now undoubtedly be reached,
and II they disclose frauds in the service no one
can be more interested tnan himself in getting
such facts. The statement that these alleged
frauds have been frequently reported TO him here
tofore without receiving attention he considers
absolutely false. Charges similar to those now
made, quite as serious and rather more bitter,
were made against this agency some eighteen
months since, when the Secretary OF the In
terror Immediately required an investigation
through commission, OF which Bishop Hare
was made chairman, the other members being
Rev. y. ID. Hnman, the well known missionary
and Sioux interpreter; J. D. Bevier, United States
Indian Inspector, and :. H. Smith, President or
the Young Mems Christian Association, OF Wash.
ington member OF the Board OF Indian Com
missoners, ana sent by that Board wnen Mr..
Brun0t was chairman.
This Commission visited the Red Cloud Agency
and made thorough investigation into the
charges. Bishop Hare and Mr. Hinman are
officers OF the Protestant Episcopal church, when,
by accepting the agency and nominating the
agent, has become morally responsible TO the gov
eminent and before the people Tor his honest ad-
mnstration or AFFAIRS. 1t would be monstrous to
suppose that such commission would desire TO
cover up any fraud Their full and unanimous
report 10 the Commissioner not only completely
exonerated Agent Savile from wrong intent, but
declares that the charges against the Agent were
mean both in their origin and in their spirit
Their report says. THAT some OF the aflda-
Wits which seemed to reflect most upon the
character Of the agent were such partial state
ments that they amounted to cupahle suppress
sio reTt, ana that some OF the testimony on which
were based the most damaging attacks upon their
administration was the testimony Of well-known
deserter and thief Facts cited TO the discredit OF
the agents, which were CLEANED at the agencies
during their absence. and which they then had no
opportunity to account for, were, when brought
to their notice satisfactorily explained. Prac-
tices which were irregular were shown to have
been unavoidable. in the peculiar circumstances in
which these agents were placed, and transactions
which at first sight seemed suspicious and to which
a criminal intent had been impnted, were shown
to have been characterized by entire good faith
to have been carried ON in broad daylight and
where not justinable to have been, not wrong
doing, but the mistakes OF men new In an
once where peculiarly the incumbent can learn
only from experience. The Commission indorse
the replies OF the agents In all their material
points, and give, as the result their prolonged
investigation into the points touched upon In Mr..
Walkers report ana the result also OF their in
tercourse with the agents ana their per-
sonal observations OF men ana things at
the agencies, the entire relief OF Agents Savile and
Howard from the suspicious cast upon their char
acters and their administrations and the earnest
conviction that these gentlemen have performed
their duties, during time OF great trial and in
the midst OF great embarrassments, win
energy, honesty and entire fidelity to the
interests OF the government and the Indians
ana that they deserve the confidence ana COM
mendaton Of the department On this report
by persons whose Judgment and findings he had a
right to deem competent and every way reliable,
the Commissioner has acted. Respecting the
Paxton contract for beet al the Red Cloud Agency
which the commissioner is charged to have
fraudulenty made in March last, he states that It
was made by him in strict conformity with law
and as the records abundanty snow, on the ad-
vice and recommendation Of the BOARD OF Indian
commissioners, alter careful inquiry by that Board
into the facts and necessities of the case As to
the other ana indefinite charges Of fraud or con-
nivance with wrong-doing in any way on his part
Commissioner Smith makes the most positive and
comprehensive denial. and says he desires
nothing much just now the severest
scrutiny or his oficial acIs by fsIr-minded
men. Respecting the charge against Secretary
DeanO OF completely with Irauds at Red Cloud
Agency. the Commissioner says that 1t Is but the
has no knowledge OF any such completely the
part OF that officer. and knows OF nothing
eentrnpy so far as he snaMs the sc,oe oe
OF the Secretary, all matters pertaining TO
Red Cloud Agency during the past year have been
the ordinary Official routine action OF tle Gepart-
mont upon matters submitted by the Indian
Onice generally approving the suggestions Of the
minissioner, anu never In anY way debating or
even making suggestions as 10 purchases or con-
tracts, or pecunlary transactions OF any SORT
ORDER OF THE POSTMASTER GENERAL AS TO
PACKAGES SUSPECTED oF CONTAINING ARrI-
Giles LIABLE 10 CUSTOM HOUSE, DUTIES.
AT the suggestion OF the Treasury Department
a modification has been made by the Postmaster
General OF the postal regulations governing the
OF letters and packages suspected OF CON
tanning articles liable TO customs, as lollows:-
when letters or sealed packages the wrappers Of
trom 4 foreign country are received through The mails
at any post Office and the postmaster has reason
to customs duty he SHAH immediately Dolify
his oftce is iocalcd or the customs oficcr
aled & Sy ne secrey no d 81 ~ u 70 naHe a.
rtving from foreign countries OF the receipt OF
whom the addressed. retain letters or
packages reasSRaPe ee e 0i se g1pofs % aSwng
tered ordinary or packages or sealed The
them can only be opened by the partIcs addressed
and when soch letters or h4Snlses .sr are re-
as hereafter provided, the parties addrcssei
shall be Mortified by the postmaster the ohice
livery such letter package has been
Ofcc believed TO contain arrcles liable TO duty and
that the same win be returned to the ofhce
of the whence unless the
pcrsOn to whom Il is addressed shall appear
al Post once time in the said notice 10 be desig
mated exceeding twenty daVs the date OF
notice, and receive and open the said letter
in the presence OF officer Of the customs and post
masters hereby Instructed and directed 10 extend
10 Custom House officers all proper facilities
permit officers specially designated tor
thar purpose bv Secretary the Treasury have
access at all times their respective offices
the purpose OF examining maI matter received
countries. III order 90 protect the
customs revenue from frauds praetised through
the mails. provided. however that nothing
herein contained shall authorize allow customs OH
Gers take possession OF letter package
while is In the custody OF postmaster,
I'll and the has been delivered 10 the person
whom IL Is addressed unless the package when exam
ined, found 20 contain articles liable TO customs
duty; provided further that letter or package
which we'd contain artlCee liable 90 duy shan
be detained at intermediate ofllce when the dis
covery inducing that belief Is made such oce
than twenty-four hours, at the Office OF delivery
longer period OF time than be necessary Tor the
TO whom such letter or pack age may be addressed