New-York tribune., 1875-05-20
INDIAN APPROPRIATIONS.


AeENCIEs-AN ANALYSIS OF STATEMENTS ABOUT
WANDERING INDIANS.
tFRoM REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRibuNEl
WASHINGTON, May 12.-Congress at Its last
session amended the regular Indian Appropriation bill
Nv adding as proviso "that hereafter purchase OF
hoods, supplies. farming implements, or any other
article whatsoever the cost Of which shall exceed 81 600
shall be paid for from the money appropriated by tins
act unless the shall have been previously adver-
sed contracted for heretofore provided by law;
and no payment Of any part OF the money
appropriated by this act heretofore appro-
pristed for the expenses OF the Indian De
partment, shall be credited to any Government officer
until the proper vouchers thereof shall have been sub
mted to, examined, and authorized by the accounting
officers of the Treasury" An enactment like this needs
explanation. Its object simply to prevent the
Secretary Of the Interior, the Commissioner OF Indian
Affairs or any other of the Indian Ring who be-
longs department from making private contracts
with members Of the Ring outside, and although,
literally construed il refers only 10 the money appro-
praed by the of which 1t part or which had
been previously appropriated an honest construction OF
would extend s limitations to all moneys used in the
support of the Indian service But the Indian Ring
allows outsider TO compete fairly with when
prevent such loss Of money and the action
official partners awarding certain contracts since
the passage of the already quoted strkngly illus
trates this fact.
One the tricks Of the Ring TO divide its apprOpra
tons among many bills possible Members of
Congress who would be startled and mid when called
upon appropriate eight millions OF dollars in
bin. for the Indians have no hesitation in voting
much larger piecemeal The Secretary OF the
understands this, and in making his
nua estimates he only includes such sums as are required
fulfill treaty stpulaons and TO support the ordinary
machinery OF the Indian Bureau, few sums that have
appeared in the regular appropriation bills for several
years and few items. But everybody knows that
the annual estimates which habitualy cut down by
Congress always fall far short of the sum which the Sec
retary Interior thinks he ought TO have, and no
surprise caused by the receipt, at irregular intervals
during the whole session. OF additional estimates Some
times these based the reports of Indian agents III
charge Of the Indians for whom the additional ap-
preparation is asked, although in such cases IT is
no uncommon thing for the Secretary the Commits
Of Indian Affairs to increase the estimate much
by the agent who is the ground and
sught best what the needs OF the Indians are
Sometimes the need Of these extra appropriations is not
discovered in the Indian country at ALL and the first that
heard of il estimate which originates in the Indian
Once in order sending out special commission to
hunt up tribe of Indians never heard Of before When
the very urgent one the President himself IL
induced to send special letter 10 Congress or
Committee having the matter in charge. The Ring
unusually successful this year in obtaining these
appropriations BY the united efforts OF the Presi
Secretary Delano and by disappearing the
purpose of the Government obtained $4,000 for the
subsistence Of Indian prisoners who soon as the money
was obtained were put into the hands Of their
agents and their agencies, where ample provision
had been made for them.
SEEKING AN APPROPRIATION.
Another unusual appropriation Of $120.O00 for the
subsistence and support of the Northern Sioux Indians
have collected at the Red Cloud and MILESTONE
Agencies in Dakota" inserted in the Annual Def
cheney Appropriation bill at the last session Of Congress
Finding that after the exposure of the Teton Sioux
swDde would be impossible to obtain another appro-
priaOn for that mythical tribe the department allowed
IL to drop quietly out OF the appropriation bills anu out
of the reports of the Indian agents. But magi
nary disappears another rises TO take its place
and TO eat up appropriations so that no one was sur
prised when. the 17th of March, 1874, Secretary
Deiano sent to Congress the following letter;
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
SIR: have the honor to transmit herewith copy OF
letter from the Commissioner OF Indian Affairs, dafed
instant in relation to supplies for the Red Cloud
and MILESTONE Indian agencies II VIII be observed py
snTn,es OF beef for these agencies will
lat of April 1t will also he observed that thls l
at these agencies of accessons from various
Northern bands of Sioux Indians during me past year
who had not heretOt0c gone to the agencies IO te re-
ceipt of provisions. II will be seen also that me con
tractors Tor supply Of beef at these agencies decline
10 furnish any more beer at the price HAea h @ I,e
present after the herds on hand Tor the pr
connection what is "a wellkuown fact, that the Sioux
Indians are numerous powerful ana S WaTae ana
Cans Arcs, and Unkpapas they have been on fendy re-
inereased disposon 10 20 upon reservations
permanenfy IA peace. This disposition has been in
creased and continued by the expectation tha the Gov
ernment wOud furnish them supplies and subsistence
the time that they trying 10 learn te arts OF
ernmcnt to comply with the expectations which the In
dans have Justly formed on this subject VIII almost GER
tainy produce a very general feeling OF hostility among
have before been friendly; and II feared 10y
the Indian Office and this department that should me
friendly Indians Will leave their reservations abandon
agencies and unite with the wild and warlke tribes
heretofore named, who have not hitherto snoWh uspo
sitiOn reservations.
deem H. therefore of the utmost importance econom
iealy well morally, that the Recommendation OF the
Commissioner appropriation TO continue feeding
these Indians be complied with at the earliest posbe
moment greatly TO be feared and almost certainly
10 DE anticipated "A failure make this apprOria
Will result in producing the general un1rlehdy I'
which have alluded. with all the sioux ana II
is more than probable that this would end in general
war expensive than the small amount askedOr
the purpose Of preserving peace single regiment
of soldiers In month would eXpend the S2OOOOO re-
qurcd and produce probably good result Ideem II my
duty therefore. invite the attention OF Congress IN
the to this subject and TO request
the urgent terms suitable that the approprla
tions requested by the Commissioner be immediately
made. beg that this communication may be referred
To the Committee Appropriations AT once and II any
further explanation personal or otherWse IL uesfSa %
from the Commissioner OF Indian Affairs or frOn the
department IL shall be furnished as soon as requested
fransm copy this letter the Committee on lndan
Affairs the senate, with the request that De ld
the Appropriation Committee OF that Dodx al the
ohedient servant c. DELASo, Secretary.
Commissioner Smith also urged the appropriation in
letter which the Secretary ncOsed, and gave the follow
ing
The estimates beef for these agencies upon which
he wa made. based upon information
number of Indians 10 be fed was about IOoOo
or 1000 al each agency The number was noweaer h
largely increased by accesslons from northern
tribes aud bands. The contractor has
consented to continue the delivery of beef at
weight until his herd OF cattle is exhausted. which
Will probably be about the 1st OF April proxmo after
which date ne advises the department that cattle cannot
be purchased and delivered at the same price.
IL estimated that there will be $1,000 Indians al the
Ia ne lbsigf