The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1875-10-21
4 Report Covering More Than
500 Pages ctavc.
Elk ScnatCr Chandler to be the
Next Secretary Of the
Interior.
A Lucky Il. ID. Becomes a Cherc,
kee by Marriage.
The Nup:iaIs Of Chief Ross
Daughter.
WASHINGTON.

including the cause Of the difficulties, the
present condition of affairs, and the reme-
dies. The President talked freely. and said
he was much gra,ified that the two polti-
cal parties he'd effected an amiable adjust
ment. BY which fair election would be
held ard peace maintained in tine State.
Efforts nave heretofore been made BY
Senator Bruce and friends for the removal
of four Federal officers in Mississippi, but
Pease has sssurance that no removal will
be made in that State, unless the former
partisans give more reasons.
Attorney General Pierrepont assured him
that none coming under his department
| would be disturbed.
The Postmaster-G General has directed, in
compliance with the request Of the post
master at st. Louis, that a arrangements
| OF the fast mail service between New York
| and St. Louis and the Southwest be made
prior to the lst proximo Tor all such mat
| ter as naturally belongs to the Pennsylvania
| road, and order it to be sent by that line
| instead Of the New York Central, and the
Lake Shore route. This new arrangement
will save the department the expense of the
| long haul, and insure quicker delivery OF
| the mail between the East and the South
west and points on or near the line between
| St. Louis and Pittsburg, to which closed
pouches ale sent. 1t will also prevent de-
| laws now caused by lack of railway postal
eur service between fittsburg and st. Louis.
The Director-General OF the Centennial
has suggested to the Secretary of the In
terror the propriety OF providing for repre-
sensations at the exhibition of those ergan-
izalions formed during the late war, for the
purpose of mitigating the suiierings of the
sick and wounded on the battle field.
WASHINGTON October 1S.-It now seems
| generally understood that the rekident
has rendered the appointment of Secretary
OF the Interior 10 ex-senator Chandler, OF
| Michigan, who has the matter under ad-
visement, and this morning had an inter-
view with the cabinet officers, who all de-
cline 10 give any Information on the sub
iect.
The Commissioner of Internal Revenue
will instruct the officers OF that bureau not
to seize cigars packed in either paper or
tim boxes, for the present, where they may
be satisfied the tax has been paid.
The Joint committee for the investigation
OF affairs at Red Cloud Agency, have closed
their labors and submitted their report TO
the President and the board OF Indian
\ Commissioners by whom they were appoint
ed, adopting Prof. Marsh's letter To the
| President, setting forth the charges OF fraud
and mismanagement in the Indian affairs.
As their starting point, the Commission take
the allegations, examining all the availa-
bic sources OF evidence, and scrutinizing all
records and documentary proof which
might, in their Judgment, throw any light
upon the subject. The printed testimony
So taken comprises more than 500 pages &C.
tavo. The Commission sustain the charges
Of the official incompeteHcy preferred
against J. j. Saville, the Indian agent at
Red Closd agency, and recommend his re-
noval. but exhonerate him from imputa-
tions OF dishonesty, and point 10 him as an
/ Indian Agent who goes out of Office poor
er man than when he entered.
With reference 10 the charge that the
number of Indians at Red Cloud Agency
had been greatly Overestimated for the
purpose of fraud, the commissioners notice
the fact that army officers concur with
Prof Marsh in his belief that there were
not so many Indians there as had been
represented; but in support OF
the charge the opinion OF the secretary has
been offered. The census of last year shows
that there were H. Al at Red Cloud agency
The result was obtained by the commission
through the best means within the COM
mand of the agent. The commission find
the system OF keeping accounts was exceed.
insly loose and defective, and for this rea.
son the Indian Office is justly considered ir.
regular. They also observed that the pro-
vision of the treaty OF 1865 requiring the
presence OF an army officer at all issues OF
goods, had been utterly disregarded, but
could no, conclude from that in the absence
of other proof, that fraud had been prac-
ticed. In taking up this subject the COM
mission recapitula,ed Professor Marsh's
charge that the cattle had been very
inferior, owing to the systematic
frauds practiced by agents and contractors
that in consequence OF fraud and misman-
acement the Indians suffered greatly dur
ing the past winter for food; that Agent
Saville withheld from them provisions
which he charged against the government
as having been issued to them; that frauds
in weights are consummated by direct col
fusion between the agent and the contrac-
tors. and that equal rascality is practiced
in regard to the number Of cattle that an
other fruitful source OF fraud is the system
of stampeding, and that these frauds have
been gigantic and long and systematically
introduced. ..a. - -agE
In reviewing these several charges, the
Commission find that he has based his con.
illusions more on hearsay evidence than on
personal knowledge and well-established
facts.
In concluding this branch OF the subject,
the Commission saws that Notwithstanding
their careful and exhaustive investigations
they found no sufficient evidence TO justify
the conclusion that fraud had been com
mitted by agents or contractors.
The Commission recommends as an ad
ditional check, that the delivery Of beef bt
superintended by an officer detailed fol
. that purpose, under the direction Of the
Commissary General of the army. GreaI
fraud was found in the matter Of pork con
tractor J. L. Slavens, who was found gull
ty Of fraud in furnishing 600 barrels oil
pork OF grade vastly inferior to what hi
Contracted to deliver. They recommended
the removal of Z. X. Threkeld, who passed
the pork, and the exclusion Of Slavens from
4 all future contracts in any department oil
the government. They cannot acquit Com
missioner Smith from neglect of response
bility in allowing classical error in .
contract to pass the Indian office, which
rendered fraud possible. The matter wa.
compromised by the delivery Of bacon To
make up the difference in value Of pork
received, and that contracted for, with Lit.
tie, loss to the government. The. original
contract calls for mess pork, but by cler.
ical error the word "mess" was omitted and
1.-THE contractors took advantage Of this fact
I 70 furnish the lowest grade Of
pork, which the inspector passed. The Com
mission also find that -four Of an inferios
quality, which Major Tong was directed to
| inspect, slipped through without inspection,
and will 90 70 the agency in a mannes
which has not been explained, but they
conclude that the department erred in
awarding the contract for -four to ]. IL
Martin, who was a mere specul alive bidder
without business responsibility. An at
tempt at fraud was also discovered, on the
part Of J. H Mccain, by putting only IS
pounds OF fonr in each sack, where they
should have contained 100 pounds. The
sugar, coffee and tobacco furnished to the
Indians by the government were of low
grade, but designedly so and no abuse
whatever was discotered in the matter Of
this supply. BED Cloud evidently adu,ter-
ated the -four, and picked ont TIE bad
grades in making up the sample he gave to
Prof. Marsh. 49, 49, =
The Commission recommend that here
after, instead Of letting contracts for -four
in the city Of New York, they be let at some
suitable point in the West, where, in the
VALLEY Of the Mississippi, among the e1-
i n,iIIs ~ 4. hs.iiayas4 an ar.