The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-07-23
A HERALD CORRESPONDENTS EVIDENCE.
The Indian Commissioners
Off to the West.
Philadelphia Philanthropiete
Moving on the Ring"
Fraudulent Contracts the De-
partment Knows Of.

the ina an Commissioners went TO work a1ain
yesterday morning with a view to closing up their
business1n tals city. Ex-Governor Fletcher Hon.
Mr.. Faulkner and the Hon. Mr.. Harris were pres
ent. During the morning they occupied their time
arranging the testimony they had received on the
previous day. Professor Marsh was present. CIV
ing iurtner explanations OF lis charges. In the
afternoon Mr.. Ed ward Fox, q HERALD correspond
ent appeared IN answer TO invitation from
the committee, and was examined by Mr.. Harris
In an informal manner with reference
to what he knew about the frauds In
the Red Cloud Agency Mr.. Fox stated
that the charges he had made against
Mr.. saville, the agent at Red CLOUD. were en-
bodied In the letters contained in the HERALD OF
August II, September aud % and October q
that were now in the hands OF the committee.
They were the result of his personal observation,
and were written with close attention to facts.
He said that wnen he was OF certain he invart-
ably gave the accused the benefit OF the doubt.
He was satisfied, however, that what he had
stated In those lie tiers would be verified by plenty
OF witnesses that they would ind In the neigh
borhood OF the agency. The following are the
extracts referred to by the commlttee:-
EXTRACTS FROM HERALD CORRESPONDENCE.
In a letter dated Camp Robinson, ked Cloud
Agency, August II, 1874, in an interview with
Red Cloud, that chief stated
l am satisfied with the way the Great Father
keeps his word, but want good agent to issue
sugar or bacon, and 1t makes my men feel bad, as
they think the agent steals from them. This Is
the fifth month we have had none. Meat Is pretty
scant, and sometimes not issued for sixteen or
seventeen days instead OF ten or eleven, as 1t
shonld be-. For a long time they used to deliver
their cattle without weighing them and very
small cattle. and when Commissioner Walker
came they put up scales and began to weigh them.
cattle every ten days to about 100 people. That
when slaughtered by the heads ol families only
They got more In the old agents time Last fall
there was big issue OF clothing, but not enough
piece and lew OF the squaws and many of the
young women and boys and girls got nothing.
Letter dated Red Cloud Agency. August "a,
U74:--
AT the last issue of beef there was scarcity of
the article, and the suoagent did not give them
their iul rations. They are supposed to be
allowed three pounds per head, gross, which Is
equivalent to q pound and hall dressed. One
party OF 160 asked how many cattle they would
get ana the sub-agent told them four. Their
actual allowance would be 1850 pounds, as
asked the subagent what the cattle averaged,
and, being answered from 1000 10 200 pounds,
thought
MR. INDIAN WAS DOING VERY WELL.
on the issue DAY saw the cattle t run on BY ,he
prairie, and cannot help thinking that would
rather sell from the agency scales than buy,
At the OUTSIDE 800 pounds At tnat weight party
OF 100 Indians would be entitled to six cattle In
stead OF the four they received 80 In
other CHIEFS for -four, sugar, bacon and csree, the
agent said the app opIiatlon had run out, but
that he expected more 10 arrive soon. There Is,
nevertheless, something very wrong in this whole
matter. and the lnalan department. should be
forced 10 have the necessary supplies In the agen-
cies In order that the governments may keep laith
with the Indians.
Letter dated Fort Laramie, wyoming, Sep
tember Is, 1s74:-
Agent Savllle had talk with Little Wound and
his band that brought TO light some rather inter-
estiag facts. Little Wound said that be wanted
more eeel and nour than was issued 70 aim. He
every ten days for MS $50 Indians. HIS correct
ration at three pounds per gay Of oesi and three:
quarters of 4 pound per day OF -four per head
would amount to 1890 pounds OIL beef and 4,372
pounds Of hour. Allowing beef TO average 900
pounds when Is a fair estimate, Little Wound is
receiving rations short 1.2vo pounds OF beer and
812 pounds OF hour every ten Gays. This would
amount in twelve months to A, 44o pounds OF beef
and 1882 pounds OF hour. Tue agent, In reply.
said that he drew his u rations, rs beef averaged
Tue agent asked me into the storehouse
20 see the ratlonB distributed. Everything was
done IN a very loose manner. Although the goods
were weighed, an of1cer who accompanied me
said mat the weighing was evidently out OF COM
pllment to me, as no had seen goods distributed
over twenty times and this was the first occasion
on which they had ever MADE use oil tae scales,
prelerring 10 expedite matters BY guessing at the
quantities.
Extract from Geographic despatch dated Chey.
pnne, wyoming, october Co.
several well known gentlemen returned hero
yestei day II M Red Cloud Agency. They were
present at the issue fatlona nlAdc 30 the Oxal.
ialas Arapanoes and Cheyennes, ana agreed with
the substance OF the HERALD correspondents
letter from mat place. They say that the agent s
drawing ratlons lor ABOUT $500 mere Indians than
he has III the reservation, and that nOur sugar
and coffee are not issued In iull quantities. One
gentleman said the CLERK ordered eleven bags OF
flour to oe issued to Dand oil 0gallaas and they
were given elgnt. The whole amount OF sugar
Issued would only average about half pound to
each lnd1an Tor ten days.
Mr. Aarris-Can you affirm that these letters
contain facts to the best OF your belief
Mr.. Fox--Yes, sir, and THESE statements, made
from personal observation, l am willing to swear
TO.
sir. Harris Were you over present at an ISSUE
OF beefY
Mr.. Fox--Yes, sir; refer to Is in one OF my
letters.
Mr.. Harris-What do you believe was the aver
age weight OF the cattle you saw issued
Mr.. Fox-I should say about 800 pounds. They
might have turned q tribe more, bur certainly
not over 900 pounds. They were very small cattle;
but. then hoo.s and horns OF Texan cattle weigh
pretty heavy.
MT. Harris-were they all weighedf
Mr.. Fox-No; only portion, and then they
struck any average.
Mr.. Harris-Can you give us any suggestions as
20 VINO would be likely persons to give Us useful
inIormstio when we arrive at Red Cloud Agency
Mr.. Fox-Thers are plenty Of men around the
agency that know enough TO make your course
very clear II you can induce them to talk
THE MOST LIKELY NAN TO ASSIST
you will PROBABLY DC Jules Ecofrer, an old rancher.
near Fort Laramie, who has tue contract TO sup
ply beef for the troops. Mr.. Ecofter has bsen in
that country for over twenty years ana under
stands thoroughly how things are managed. ANT.
Johnson can also give some valuable Information
IN regard TO the internal management OF the Red
Cloud Agency. lie charges Mr.. SavllIe with direct
perjury in the statement ne made before COM
mttee that were sent TO examine into the truth
OF some charges that we're preferred against him.
lie can also tell an interesting story about Mr..
Appleton (Mr. ssvine's father-inlaw) ana his
connection with the agency. Colsne Bullock, one OF
the Oldest residents Of that part Of the country,
and man very highly thought OF BY the ogallalaa
ana Brules, also Knows goou deal