Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-09-15
The Red Cloud Commission.
REPLY OF INDIAN COMM rssIoNER sMiT-1 r
TIE CHAIGE DE PEnE. MAEsu.

=
Comm issioner of Indian A.frairs Smith
read a statement i'm reply to. Prof Marsb,s
allegations, from which we make the follow
Ing extracts The slater Ieut comprehends
the defence of the Indian bureau and the In
terror department in a Aswer 70 the charges
of Prof. Marsh. The statement begins as
follows:
"some time aboat the Goth of April last
Prol. MARSH caHIe to my Office, bringing
packages of coffee, sugar tobacco end flour.
which he said he had brought from Red Cloud
agency. He then explained that he was now
fulfilling promise which he had maize to
Red Cloud. That while at the Rcd Cloud
agency, i'll October or November previous
he had fornd difficulty in getting permission
OF the Indians TO go past the agency into
their country in search of fossils; aud as an
lnducement TO Red Cloud to procure this
permission for him, he had offered to bring
any complaints which that chief should de-
size 10 make concerning his agent. to the
President; and that in pursuance of this
agreement between him and Red Cloud that
indian had made many grievious charges
against his agent, and against his admins
tratfOn of affairs, and had also given him
these packages of supplies as genuine sam
pies of the food which his agent was giving
he had not in any way tested these samples
by comparison with supplies which were
then being issued by the agent; ahd that he
did not put great confidence in Red Clouds
statement. Mr.. MARSH also spoke of the
confusion which he witnessed at the
agency; OF the agents want of courage and
break, and of his lack of system in Issuing
of annuity goods; clearly Indicating as Mr.
Marsh thought. an in. ompetency on the part
OF the agent for his responsible position.
admitting, at the same time, that the posi-
lion was one involving responsibility equal
TO that OF the gOvernOrship of Connecticut
On this point we agreed in our views. He
made no charges of fraudulent transactions
on the part of Agent Saville, except in the
name of Red Cloud, saying that Red Cloud
claimed and repeatedly declared that his
q nrfy uQC OH Sft,tr II
far az L was concerned, was pleaiant one
and, as Prof Marsh stated To me, haI been
brought about because of my request 70 him
some time previous. When giving him a
letter OF credit to Red Cloud anC his country.
and the officers of the bureau, | requested
him. If he should observe anything deserving
my attentlon, that needed to be corrected to
make note OF 1t for my information. The
next m orIing an account of this interview
between Prof. Marsh and myself appeared in
New YORK paper, giving an incorrect and
entirely unfair version of (which was made
the text OF very severe and unjust criticism
OF the Interior department, aud especially of
my own Official action, using Prof. MarSh's
well-known name and position to give force
and circulation to the statement In all
these attacks of the press great emphasis was
lald upon the quality of supplies which, ac-
corning 10 Red Clouds samples, had been
sion was so far from being true, and the crit
icism al d charges founded upon it so unjust,
that was sure Prof Marsh would be mOrti-
ned by the false position in which he had
b@en placed toward myself, and confidently
expected as matter of courtesy and honor
that he at once would correct them, especi-
ally In view OF the facts that all the infOrma-
ton given TO the press on this subject had
come exclusively from himself, and that ne
was known TO be in intimate relations with
the paper in which ii appeared. Mr.. Marsh
did not make any srch corrections. On the
contrary, he allowed the continued misrep-
resentatiOns, based upon an incorrect YER
sion of the matter, and especially based upon
q tn afx-o n
wide circulation of the press without any
denial from himself few DAYS after Prof
Marsh was invited before the board of Indian
commissioners, 10 whom he gave a much
more extended account of his Red Cloud OBJ
servatiOns and differences; upon which state
ment the board Immediately took action BY
appointing committee Of their owe number
TO Investigate and report the facts. This
committee not being ready 70 proceed a;
once 10 the investigation, the Secretary OF
the Interior requested the chairman of the
board of Indian commissioners TO name suit
able persons to form commission to take
the whole matter iutO inquiry, and reCort
Huch time was CONSUMED in the composition
OF THIS commissioI, owing To the inability OF
persons invited TO serve. Among tho e vino
thus declined were Hon. II. \ Bullock of
Mass chusetts; G.. W. Lane, of the board OF
trade OF New York; Senator Stevenson of
Kentucky; Senator Washburne of MasSa
chusetts; Prof Seely, of Amherst College
While this commission was being procured
Mr.. Marsh was in Washington frequently
ard was present at a council held with Rs1
Cloud and his delegates for the special pur-
pose of hearing the complaints he had TO
make respecting his supplies and his agent.
The opportunity given that chief aud his
band TO state their grievances was most am.
pie. The record of this council will show that
Red CLOUDS grievances, as presented In per-
son, were not serious, and that 10 complaint
was made by him against his agent until
drawn out from him by the inquiry OF Mr.
Marsh, whether he was perfectly satified witt
his agent. a one OF the frequent interviews
r Iuan \
called his attention To the injustice which he
had done Agent Saville, In conserving To be
the bearer OF Red Clouds complaints, with
out having informed himself by personal In
spectiOn as to the character of the supplies
at the agency, whether the articles Red Cloud
had gwen him were actually samples of the
supplies delivered. Professor Marsh replied
That must reCOllect Red Clouds position:
that he was the acknowledged head of that
people, In similar relation to the Sioux
mat President Grant holds to the people of
the United States; and that IL would have
hardly been la accordance with Red Clouds
notion of etiquette and propriety for him the
frofeSsor) 10 seem in any way to question
his word or fairness. Relative TO the allie
CATIONS OF inferior supplies furnished Red
Cloud agency, / have only TO say that the pur
chases were made on contracts entered into
In pursuance OF bids offered and pu blicly read
In New York on the ID day of July, 1874. The
sugar was furnished by r.. G.. Knight * CO.
OF philadelphia: the coffee by b. G. Arnold
IL Co.. OF New York; the tobacco by Dohal
Carroll N CO., of New York. the -four by j.
ii. Martin, of Denver, Colorado. The aWart
of these contracts TO these parties was made
in accordance with the advice of the Board
OF Indian Commissioners, who had before
them all the bids, and upon the judgment of
the inspector OF the samples as 10 which Of
fered the best value and therefore constituted
the best bids in each case for the govern
ment to accept. The inspector for flour was
h. X. LiverInore, OF the Flour Exchange OF
New York city, and was recommended by
the president OF that board. His ability and
integrity will not be questioned by flour
dealers in New York. The tobacco contract
was entered into after three Inspections re-
sulting in the award being given to the par
ties TO whom the second inspector, Robin
sol, had made It, The award of coffee was
given on the inspection and recommends
ton OF Thos j. Barr; the sugar on the in
spection and recommendation of c. D. Kne-
meals, all of New York city. The blankets
were purchased on the inspection and judg-
ment OF c. b. Wilcox. In making their
awards upon the bids and samples, these In
spectors, fully believe, were governed en-
tirely by their own judgment In the case,
And In each case their judgment was accepted
and acted upon. When the contractor came
TO deliver the coffee, sugar, tobacco
and blankets, the question whether the
articles were according to contract
as 10 quantity and quality was
left entirely TO the decision of these inspect
49, H. 49, ~