New-York tribune., 1875-09-13
ALETTER FROM Mr.. WALKER.
EXAMPLES OF FRAUD IN BEEF-sECRETARY DEL
AMOS SHARE IN THEM.


AMOS SHARE IN THEM
WASHINGTON, Sept. 11.-ln the course OF
letter published in todays Cap,to Mr.. Walker gives
these illustrations
In 1871 A. H. wilder got contract TO supply Red
Cloud and MILESTONE Indian Agencies with beef. Ten
million pounds allowed for the year equally dVded
between the woOnc twenty fourth on The Isl and 10th
each mcnth from July l. 1873 to June 80, 1874 Tie
Commissioner of Indian Affairs rcserVing To himself the
right to increase the amount 20 per cent ne yer e%er
csSd tt s or but 7 f9 @ nSST. wG' IN rs S HAN 81
months In October the Board Of Indian Commissioners
refused to approve payment 9 ,ne icGis ~ "r pic r @
tract, without authority" and recommending That pay
under contract. Tie justice of this was apparent
that it neccsstated call on the legal adviser To en-
able the department to pay te contractor at OF
course the opinion could not he adverse, the Law
Department opned that the question of time is not. IN
general Of the of the contract and therefore it
was not necessary wait any time for The money, and
Wilder was paid $277ls4 II in six months which should
two agencies at that lime, ana fnnly believe that -
per OF the whole amount cf beef paid for was never
delivered to the Indians Now me POM 10 De Observed
is. that the agents violated the law as did also the con-
contractor and that the secfsSIy o, tne interior % au
tion, aud forced payment to the contractor which was
the cost Ofhcrdng and risk OF loss from dlSeee
and theft, which the contractor was bclnS pai fof mus
giving the latter money which he had not earned aud
causing the Government to assume duties and rsho Tor
which the contractor was paid ioi assuming; -
sented account for beef amounting TO 5000 81 Inc
beef said have been taken by Indians but OF tl!s
Indian office, but rejected b. the Board OF Indian Com
pissoners and transmitted 10 tie Interior Department.
1t was again returned By Assistant -ecreary Coweh bat
Board refused to IL because belong"d 10 acass
OF claims which were by law excluded foln h'ns pad
unless specially appropriated for Now, MI Cowon ana
the Indian Office knew thsyet they led To force an ne
gal paymeut This account was finally Transmitted 10
Congress ss a depreciation claim, with the remark NO
proof" set opposite to it, and was aiterward "lhdraWh
altogether thus making clear confession tat the claim
no Justice whatever This regard a. an uninslaA-
able instance colusion between the 0h,eis OF the In
terror Department and the beef contractor TO neraud the
Treasury. ,,,.., ,.,, ,.
The next example furnishes an illustration OF the fact
,at Secretary Dtano and The Indian Bdrc@u were more
Interested obtaining payment for contractor caiseI
n fraud securing the Government against
La by that fraud In 1S7Z q. Vi. Dodge was con rae
Tor foT Id ClOud nnd Whctstono Agencies IL was i0uo
thet frauds were being pcrpotaed and two special Com
nissoners were appointed by MI. Deiano to investigate
theIn They, being honest men. reported eXtei.Ne
tan,Is and suggeSted that accounts for WbesiDnc
Arnry be paid until thorough investigation c0nid DC
ia NEVERTHELESS without such the lhdau
R,reau approved accounts for over S5OOoo ior "Re,
- VIII the Board Indian Commissioners reJcctto
she, Nessrs Delano and COwen made personal Efforts
~ vet the Bosrd withdraw their roJe"u"n' nave
ssne Of tha -four delivered by Dodge That year. ahd IL
ia