Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-08-12
The Alleged Indian Frauds.
HON. WIN. WELSH AS AN ALLY OF PROF.
MARSH.

MI. W M. welsh, eX-chalrman OF the eX-
Indian commission, is out in letter to
Prof. Marsh, promising the latter aid and
support In his war on the so-called Indian
ring. We pr mt the following extract from
the letter in r, I renee TO the history OF the
Indian commission, and the difficulties IL
had 10 encounter: The Indian commission
sprang from suggestion made to President
Grant twenty days after his Inauguration
by committee of citizens comprising Eli
X. Price, VIM. Strong, Geo. II. Stuart, sam
nel X. Shipley, John S. Hilles and VIM
Wtl-h, chairman. The then Secretary of
the Interior was also present, and the com
mittee said TO him, as appears by their re-
port: lyon must he aware that the Indian
department has been prostituted to the most
Migrant abuses to increase political patron
age. What has been before will be again
unless some plan can be devised To protect
the Secretary Of the Interior aud the Indian
department from the claims for patronage
by political leaders, which through uSance
are well nigh Irresistible" The committee
proposed thatan unpaid commission of men,
who had entitled themselves to the conf
dence OF the people. should be appointed by
the PRESIDENT, under the authority of Con-
gress, to have joint control with the Interior
department over the expenditures for the
Indian service. The design was virtually 10
give these Indian commissioners one KEY To
the Treasury IN which was to re kept all
indian appropriations, the other KEY To he
Kept with the Interior Department, that
there might be joint control without disar
ranging any government machinery. This
proposal which, If carried out faithfully,
would have reformed the Indian Office, met
with favor by the President, by the Secre-
taTy of the Interior and by Congress.
An Indian commission was appointed by
warrant OF law, comprising JOnn V. Far
well, George II. Stuart, Robert Campbell,
VIM. F.. Dodge, T.. :. Tobey. Felix K. Bru-
not, Henry =. Lane and VIM. Welsh who
was appointed chairman. Before the com
mission was convened two OF its number
were requested 10 examine the goods in New
York purchased for Indians after public adj
yertisement MeSSrs. Stuart AMI Dodge ex-
pres sed their willingness To perform this
service, ana they procured a vacant ware
house In which to examine the goods free OF
cost TO the government. When the ring
then In New York, heard that supplies for
Indians were 10 pass through such an ordeal
they dispatched General Parker, the then
commissioner OF lnuian Affairs, by a mid
night train to Washington, TO get an order
rom the President TO have the goods exam
med in the warehouses of the purchasers
This order was made by the President under
the assurance from the commissions that
the delay Tor examination elsewhere would
be too great MesSrs. Smart and Dodge. of
course, refused to contact an eXamina lion
where the goods might be changed the next
moment. The board was first convened on
the 10Th of May, 1869, hut no Joint control
over any part Of the Indian ipnropriatlnp
was entrusted to 10. Before the next meeting
Notified the President of my unwillingless
To- retain the commission that he had sent
me but assuring him Of my continued in
terest in Indian civilization, and OF my
readiness as n private citizen to render ac-
i've SERVICE dI my own cost. i was unWlll-
Ing 10 incur the responsibility of the Office
without the only power to correct abuses
indicated in The act Of Congress. / also felt
that l could not with propriety hold a free
lance as long as was am government officer.
My former colleagues served several years
and corrected many abuses. They secured
the appointment Of Vincent COllyer on the
Indian commission, and ne acted as its sec
relay and its executive officer. Mr.. Collyer,
by familiarity with Indians on their reser-
yatlons, and by residing in Washington,
soon lerreted out the frauds that the present
secretary OF the Interior seemed unwilling
TO check. He was so outspoken that Mr.
DeianO demanded his removal. and in an
evil hour The board consented to il. Mr.. r.
II. Cree, the next secretary. Was also placed
uId9r the ban, and his reSiguat ION demanded
but not acceded to by the board. Frauds
with the connivaucc of the Interior depart
ment, became so apparent that the board
eventually took finn stand, rejecting more
than half q million Of dollars OF vouchers
because they were illegal or tainted with
fraud. Secretary Delano having paid these
vouchers, the chairman OF the boa. ID Felix
X. BruDOt, sent their confidential clerk
samuel walker, TO Red Cloud and Spotted
Tail agencies 10 ascertain the extent 10 which
frauds had been practicci. His report fully
confirmed the action Of the board, and ii has
since been fully sustained by the testimony
OF army officers, as welt as by Your rapOrt
When Mr.. Delano heard OF this invesfica-
ton, made without his knOwle Ige, ne wrote
an insulting letter TO Mr.. Brunot, (See the
Herald OF July 80, 1851 and united with
Gen. COwen, Assistant Secretary OF the In
terror, In an effort TO destroy the force OF this
truthful testimony by maligning the char
acter of this faithful officer OF the board OF
Indian commissioners.