The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-08-15
THE HEAD AND TAIL OF A SERPENT
The Indian Bureau Looking After
the Herald Exposures.
COHEENIONTR SMITHS INSPECTOR PUT OUT.
How a Treaty Was COnsummatcd with
Great Indian Chief.

recently been made OF the gross frauds perpe
ated upon tho Indians under tho present system Of
managing the Indian agencies. It has been shown
through its columns that no less parsonage than tho
brother Of the President Of the United States holds
monopoly Of the transships at the various Indian
agencies and military posts along the Upper Missouri
Riven and that under this monopoly the Indians
robbed of large portions OF their annuities, and
through the dishonest practices Of agents and traders
tho Indian often forced to buy from the trader at
brilliant prices the goods sent to him by the govern
ment, and intended presents more often
payment for lands of which tho Indian was the
original possessor These frauds and thefts are only
possible by the collision Of Indian agents and traders
netting within the knowledge and approval Of tho
who control the Indian Bureau at Washington. That
these sharers either less directly in
the results Of the thcying operations Of the traders and
agents is susceptible Of undenable proof At the
time to disarm public criticism and to be able to say,
In to such exposures the HERALD has
recently made that the Indian Bureau is taking
steps to discover fraud and correct existing
OWLS by sending its special agents and in
spectors to visit the various agencies and report upon
the condition of the latter the Commissioner of Indian
Affairs Washington, acting in conjunction with Secre
tary Delano of the Indian Department. has appointed,
by what authority is not known lot Of irresponsible,
impraccable visit the various agencies and in
their inquiries to him. No sooner
HERALD EXPOSURES
regarding the agencies the Upper Missouri
broadcast before the public than the Indian Com
missioner at Washington started special inspector
from Washington to look into the matters reported by
the HERALD This Inspector Watkins by name arrived
here few days ago. but anticipates any good
results to follow from his visit In fact, his coming is
regarded effort Of the Indian Ring to up if
possible the terrible charges contained in the HERALD
correspondence regarding the thieving operations
ried by the Indian Ring at Forts Peck and Buford
and the Standing Rock agencies. Watkins the inspec
tor was accompanied from the East by Major sperry
the Indian Agent at Berhod who stands charged with
being implicated in of the most extensive opera
tions of the Ring. Spery seemed to control
the manner in which tho investigation Is being
made and from this point Watkins proceeded to Berth
old agency under the protecting wing Of Mr.. Agent
Sperry, where, It is presumed, report exonerating
sperry and the members Of the Ring viii be Matched
and forwarded TO Washington reply to the HERALD
charges
There is doubt that II the Indian Bureau at Wash
ngton sincere in its desire to protect the rights and
interests of its wards this result would be often pro-
NOTED by the appointment Of judicious and we'll quail
hed inspectors, with authority to visit the numerous
agencies and thoroughly overhaul and examine the
systems prevailing at these nests of fraud and corrup
ton But the appointment of that class OF inspectors
would be death blow to the main from which
the dishonest agents and members OF the
Indian Ring draw the greatest amount Of
their revenue. Hence, In the selection Of
inspectors taken to obtain only such will
either whitewash all fraudulent practices brought to
light, or who totally disqualified by lack of
ability and experience particularly by ignorance Of
Indian character and of the low character of the
jorty Of the agents and traders This Is not
sertion will be evident by gancing 40 the accompany
ing documents The is extract Of aletter Of ap
pointment written by the Commissioner of Indian Affairs
at Washington given to Of his selected travelling
agents 1t will be that the letter of instruction is
very general in its terms, leaving largely to
the discretion Of tho agent or inspector
whatever his title may be-to proceed to such
places as he may 1T 1t will be observed however,
that is recommended that he proceed 10 those points
which, thanks to tho enterprise of the HERALD have
been shown to be the haunts Of the worst and most
active of the Ring thieves Now what rules governed
the Commissioner Of Indian Affairs in selecting tho
party referred to it is impossible to determine One
thing certain he could have been ignorant OF
qualification, the lack Of the same possessed by the
party chosen, the latter is resident Of Washington
city and has been for years Tho following is the
LETTER OF ArPoINrnESr-
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
oFVIoE OF INDIAN AFFAIRS, !
WASHINGTON, July 1S75
sIR-The agencies OF the Sioux, on the Upper Mis-
souri River in Montana as well as the Backfeet and
Grow agencies, under the charge Of tho Methodist
Episcopal Church. and ia recommended that YOU pro-
coed from Bismarck up the Missouri River Fort Peck
and at your discretion, go beyond to the Beiknap
Blackfeet and Crow agencies You win keep an item
zed account of your expenditure taking receipt as far
possible for such expenditure which win be needed
subvouchers in the settlement Of your with
the Treasury. This letter will your introduce
ton 10 the agents and employees of this bureau who win
render you every assistance in their to make your
abors successful You will make reports TO this Office
OF such frequency and extent you deem proper in
order to keep this office fully informed of your doings
and gong& Very bTesPGPchtfqly y9qT oDedSn servant
To Rev. JoHN W. MATcHETT, present
There ii is with the signature Of Smith, the Com
missioner, staring you in the faco-Smith, who with
Deano may be considered tho double head Of the huge
serpent whose nest is in Sioux City and the rafting
of whose tail is heard at Peck Berthold and other
points on the Upper Missouri River Who is tho Rev.
John w. Matchett9 Echo answers who. To Indian
Commissioner Smith he belongs by virtue Of original
discovery This much is known-the Rev. John W.
Matchett Is member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, and, by tho way has it occurred TO
tho 900 readers Of the HERALD that the Metho
distChurch slowly silently, but surely becoming the
champion producer Of inspectors not only Of tho earth
bat of the under the earth For example, there
Is the Rev. Dr. Newman, lato inspector Of consulates
Mt salary Of $4,000 per year. to cay nothing Of tho
$4,000 pin money drawn by his wife az inspectors
clerk. With the Reverend Doctor inspector on tho
high tho matchless Matchet inspector at dis
erection the high lands of Montana and Dakota lot 10
not DO said that the spread of Methodism Is on tho
wano
DOUBLE MISSION
But 70 my story. The Rev. John W. matcheb
reached this place few weeks ago and
announced TO all with whom no in
contact that his mission double One-to
preach Christ, and tho Indian Department. headed by
Delano-both crucihed the former some time ago the
latter quite recently by the NEw YORK HERALD He dis
tinctly announced that he would not hear complaints
against any Indian agent employee Of tho Indian
Bureau neither from white nor from Indians Tho
Indians wero to be told that they must not complain
dnn In