Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1875-07-17

submit his complaints to you in person.
Since my interview with you on this subject,
have been informed by the commissioner
of Indian affairs of the appointment of a
committee to investigate the affairs at Red
Cloud agency, have been invited TO make
statements of fact before them. am quite
ready to do 80, whenever the committee re-
quest must decline to give my statement
to the interior department alone, for the fol-
lowing reasons:
First-I have no confidence whatever in
the sincerity of the secretary of the interior
or commissioner Of Indian affairs when they
publicly announce their wish and determine
ton to correct abuses In Indian management
because have reason to know they have
long been aware of these abuses and have
made no sincere effort to reform them.
Second-In all my intercourse with these
two officials their object has manifcstly been
TO find out, not so much what the frauds
actually were, as the extent of my informa.
ton concerning them, so as to prevent by
every means In their power all publicity or
exposure Of them. m ...,.- u... a..
Third---The evidence now ia my possession
reflects unfsvorably on both Secretary Delano
and Commissioner Smith.
For these reas0nsI have thought it best to
lay before you, to whom, In accordance with
my promise to Red Cloud, I made the first
communication, the accompanying statement
in detail, in full confidence that the evidence
presented will meetwith the consideration its
Importance demands In the statement
which accompanies this letter have given
the results of my investigation into the affairs
at Red Cloud agency, the largest and most
important In the West. These results clearly
indicate both Encouragement and fraud. es
pecially in the following particulars:
First---The agent, j. J. Saville, is wholly
ufitted for the position and guilty of gross
frauds upon Indians In his charge. and the
number of Indians at this agency been sys-
tematically overstated for purposes which
can only result In fraud.
Second-The last issue of annuity goods
which witnessed was suspicious, the trans
action In part at least fraudulent. g:t,..
Third-The beef cattle given to the Indians
have been very inferior; and owing TO sys-
tematic frauds practicea BY tho agent and
beef contractors. ;,, -
Fourth-The pork issued TO the Indians
was not suitable for human fare. ..,..
Fifth-The -four was very inferior, and
evidence of fraud in this article conclusive.
Sixth-The sugar and coffee issued were
not good, although better than other sup
plies. -,i'.,. 'tta -
Seventh-Tbe tobacco observed was rot
ten, and OF little or no Use to the Indians.
Eighth--In consequence q frauds aud mis-
manag cement the Indians suffered greatly the
past winter for want of food and clothing.
Ninth--Tlie contract for freight from
CHEYENNE to Red Cloud agency was fraudu-
lent. as the trne distance is145 miles, while
the contractor was paid for ere. miles.
Iwould especially call attention TO the evil
dence of fraud in beef cattle as presented in
the accompanying statement. This subject
investigated with great care, as beet is the lin
n,,,nl or4;clo +af fNnh f,f thu, 2iot,x Tubtoua
and the frauds observed had caused great
pecunary loss TO the Government The
statements have prepared is supported in
its essential paris by the testimony of officers
of array VIA were With sne aud myexpedi
ton at Red Cloud agency. Among these
officers are several personally Known to you,
and al. gentlemen of high charactar. Should
any part Of my Statement be seriously ques
TONED, trust you will allow these genileinen
to tbe heard ]. 10 epmmaadil8 40 cers 81 All
posts near agencies; or other tflistwgfth and
disinteresicd observers there, c0uId llkew1Be
testify, l think Il would be foHndI have bat
family indicated the corruption pnrvn1idg
Indian affairs. have p,up0sely confned
myself In this statement to single agency,
and mainly to the time Of my VISIT without
referring TO much other testimony which has
come TO me incidentally In the prosecution
Of my Inquiries, showing frauds Of equal
magnitude at .p0ints This corrupt and con-
slant source of discomfort and hostility
among the Indians themselves, is In my
Judgment. tho natural result OF the present
loose and irresponsible system OF furnishing
Iadiansr goods and supplies system that
lies directly 10 invite fraud. / don't believe
anything but a radical change In this respect
win preycnt continuous decentralization OF
the Indian service You alone have the will
and power to destroy that combination Of
had men known rs The Indian ring, who are
debasing this service and thwarting the Efforts
al all who cadeavor to bring TO . full Goa
summation yournoble policy ofipeace, j,
Very respectfully your obi serv't. ta 7
q. c. MARSH Yale College.
Psor. nrapss.,s Letter Makes a Flutssr.
WAsniNGToN CRY, July 1a.---Tae commits.
sioner OF Indian affairs makes the following
statement with regard to the letter OF Pro
fessor Marsh, published this mornipg; Some
time ago Prof Marsh returned from a West
ern tour, during which he visited Red Cloud
agency. About rthe time of his return, 'nu
merous charges Of misconduct in office
against agent Ssville, Of Red Cloud agency,
which involved the character of the supplies
and the manner Of their. distribution, ap.
parently to affect the Ipdian office and the in.
terror department, Prof. Marsh came to
Washington, called on me. and presented o
sample Of supplies, which he claimed came
from Red Cloud agency, but which he had
not verified personally. He did not call upon
the secretary of the interior, nor did he com.
municate him In writing He was presented
by the postmaster general to the President,
andreiterated, these general indefnate accu-
Stations. To all this the secretary made no
reply, as nothing had been presented 10 him
definite enough to Justify an answer. During
the visit of the Sioux delegation 10 Wishing
ton in May last, Professor Marsh made his
appearance. and after remaining several days
In the city without Calling onthe secretary,
heiattes being told be was present at one Of
the Indian meetings, Introduced himself and
asked the professor 70 call at bis ONCE. The
him to give hinl In writing, any grounds Of
complaint he might have against the Indian
service ut Red Cloud agency, in order that
he might examine and investigate. This