New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-07-16

whereas there were not more mt the On'slue
than -8,4OO. One band, which the Agent
placed at 1000 or 5000, so as to correspond
with his provision returns, was ascertained ny
actual count to consist of 40 lodges, or $50
souls.
g. Prof Marsh was present ut the issue OF
blankets to the Indians in November, 1874.
when the whole number distributed was IL
bales each containing so pairs. Saville, how
ever certified to the Interior Department that
he had issued 35 bales, and it appears that
the true number shipped to tho Agency that
year was 81 bales, or 1850 pairs-of when
the Indians got 900 and the Indian Ring 800.
4. The largest frauds were in connection
with the issue of beef cattle The contractor
was required by his contract to furnish cattc
Averaging $50 pounds weight for the inst nan
wear, and 900 for the second. Prof. Marsl'
Col. Bradley, Capt. Mix, Lieut.. Hay, Major
Burt, ard other experienced judges examined
the cattle at tho Agency and found them to
be OF the most wretchcd qualty-poor, thin'
under size, many of them yearlings, one
lot averaging about $50 pounds III
weight. and the ether not more IMAM
$50. Savile, on being questioned, insisted
that he had weighed part OF the herd
and estimated the rest. and the average
was AS high as $50; but this was the highest
figure he claimed 1t appears, however, from
his accounts, which Prof. Marsh obtained from
the Treasury Department, that he certified the
actual weight of these beevcs to be 1,O4O
pounds each, and was paid for them at that
rate. All the cattle received daring the year
are set down as equally large. The swlndie
amounts to nearly 81 on each beef. Inc num-
Der of beevcs receipted for during the last
ouarter of 1874 was 2,719 and if that was a
fair ratio for the year the annual theft was
obout $4,000. This year the Issue seems to
I've conducted on the same plan, except that
the contractor gets 80 per cert more.
:. There is reason to suspect great frauds III
the number of cattle as we'll As in the weight
According to Savillc's official returns he ought
70 have had on hand Nov. II, 1874, 170 head
of cattle, weighing 1S4,905 pounds. In reality
he had only 7, weighing about $500 pounds.
But this allows him credit for an issue which
he declares he made Nov. 3, whereas no such
issuo took place. If we deduct this fictitious
credit, we find that there are not less than
444. 900 pounds of beef to be accounted for
6. Cattle that have been delivered by the
contractor to the agent are sometimes STAN
peded and return to the contractors herd
The same animals a9o then sold to the United
States second time.
z. The quality of the provisions and other
goods issued to the Indians is Infamous. The
blankets are too small, and are branded with
some material that soon destroys the cloth
The pork is rusty and unfit for human food
The -four is dark and entirely unlike the
sample. The tobacco is black, sticky, rotten,
and unfit to smoke. The Indians complain
bitterly of all these goods, and allege that the
distribution is habitually fraudulent.
s. Goods and supplies are transported by
wagon from Cheyenne to the Red Cloud
Agency, and the freight contractor is paid so
much per hundred pounds per mile. The dis
lance charged for and allowed by the Interior
Department is 212 miles; the actual distance,
As determined by the Land Office surveys of
the same department, is only 40 miles. The
ovcrpayment is more than $4,000 Il year.
These are the principal reports put in cir
"culaton by a Mr.. Marsh and it should be
noted that they are given with great crcum-
stantiality and fortified by the testimony of
very respectable witnesses. Now it remains to
he seen why Prof. Marsh believes the Secre-
tary and the Commissioner to be accomplices
in the abuses. In the first place-and this
alone is cnough-the character of Agent Sa-
Vile and the nature of the transactions at Red
Cloud Agency have been known to the De-
paitmcnt for some time through the reports of
United states Indian Inspector lievier and va
rous Special Commissioners OF the Interior
Department. and there has not been the least
attempt at reform. On the contrary, when the
beef contract ran ont, Commissioner Smith
last March privately made new one at a
much higher rate with the same contractor
without advertising for proposals, "a the law
rcouires The Ostensible contractor, Paxton
was only dummy for one Boser, who was
excluded from the competition by the printed
regulations on account of his notorious frauds
in former contracts. But, to pass over vari-
Gus suspicious circumstances which Prof Marsh
observed in his investigations, there is certainly
ample cause for distrIst in the peculiar per-
formances of Messrs. DcanO and Smith since
the Red Cloud Agency scandal became public.
We'll established facts have been denied with
the most reckless audacity, ana explanations
have been given which slight examination
shows TO be entirely destitute OF truth.
Now do the Secretary and the Commissioner
understand their own positions