Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-09-17
The Indian Fraud Charges.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE INyEsTIG ArfoS G.
MISSION

FRoCEE DINGS OF THE INVESTIGATION COM
MISSION.
AT the evening session of the Fed CIoud
commission yesterday Commissioner Smith
was cross examined by Professor Marsh. but
nothing material was ELECTED. In answer to
Inc tne nFewspaPer statement that Mr.. Smith
had favored the payment of Mr.. Dodge's cat
Tie claim OF 5000, the Commits sioner said
Inc Indians had used the cattle, and he
thought the claim was just; and gave as an
instance warrantiny this belief a claim of
this very nature, which was paid by the CON
trOiler the other day. Professor Marsh asked
mat inc evidence charging him with connec
tlOn win the newspapers, should be thrown
out, but Commissioner Smith objected, and
the committee sustained the objection.
To-DAYs PROCEEDINGS.
Mr.. Frank II. Smith, a member and the
secretary Of the present board of Indian
Commissioners, was examined to-day. He
stated that he had seen the printed state
ment that the agent of the Mission Wooden
Mills of California had been asked for 81 200
in gold before an award for blankets was
made by the Indian bureau, and said that he
knew nothing about it. but it could scarcely
over $1,000 worth Of blankets were pur-
chased OF these mills. The remainder of his
testimony was unimportant.
Secretary Delano was called, and he was
asked by Gov. Fletcher If George III. stuart,
Felix X. BrunOt, John V. Farwell and Others
had ever had a conference with him in refer
ence 10 making the Indian bureau independ
ent OF the Interior department. The Secre-
tary said he did not remember any such con-
ference, but did recollect Mr.. Brunot express
cd such desire. subsequently the President
had expressed the same views to him and
asked him 1.-THE Secretary his opinion. The
Secretary told the President he would like to
De renewed OF the Indian Bureau, but that it
was too late in the Congressional session to
nope TO accomplish such q change. In an
swer TO question he said the members of
the Board OF Indian Commissioners, of
which Mr.. Brunot was chairman, did not
give to him any other reasons for resigning
than those set forth in their letter.
Gov. Fletcher asked If he desired to volun-
Ter any statements In regard to the charges
contained In Professor Marsh's pamphlet.
Secretary Delano.-"I have no desire to
MAKE any. 1T has been my desire TO leave
partment and such evidence as Professor
Marsh might produce, and my desire is I'M
Mr.. Faulkner-"What is the precise reIa
ton OF the Indian bureau to your depart
ment, and TO what extent do you control the
transactions of that Department."
The Secretary, in reply to this question,
SAID IL would be necessary to explain the
organization Of the Interior department and
went on to enumerate the different bureaus
under Its control. 1t is impossible for the
Secretary OF the Interior TO manage the de
tails of any bureau, therefore the eXten tot the
action of the Secretary's Office over these
various branches OF business Is limited to the
general control of subjects under its charge
and TO the consideration of such matters as
are brought to the special notice of the Secre-
Land office.
Mr.. Faulkner said he did not design to
draw out SO extended an answer, but what
he wanted to ask was to what extent he the
Secretary, was responsible for the indian
bureau.
The Secretary replied that he had the same
contiol over that as he had over any other
bureau in his department. The Commits
siOner OF Indian Affairs manages the details
OF his office, and he Cthe Secretary acts on
matters appealed to him.
Mr.. Faulkner asked If he had anything to
do with making awards of contracts and the
Secretary answered in the negative, saying
him for his approval or disapproval. He did
not recollect being consulted in connection
with the furnishing of supplies for the Red
Cloud agency; bat possibly he might have
been consulted.
Mr.. Faulkner said ii appeared from doc
ument before the commission that he 1.-The
Secretary had approved about half a million
dollars worth of accounts which were re-
lecfed by the board OF Indian commissioners
de asked the Secretary for an explanation.
The Secretary explained that at the sug-
SestOn OF Gen. walker, then commissioner
OF Indian affairs, law had been passed Civ
ing the Secretary the power to approve and
dlsapprove such claims. The board of Indian
commissioners rejected a large number of
accounts in the fall of 1873, but as to the de-
tails in regard to his approval of them he
could not recollect them. When q claim
ers disapproved, be referred IL TO the Indian
office, and II the commissioner thought the
claim was valid one and should be paid, he
referred IT to the law officer of the depart
ment. If the latter reported in favor OF its
pay ment, he approved IL. In every case he
followed the advice of the law officer. He
reported all the facts in each particular case
through the President TO Congress, and that
report is before the commission. In answer
TO question by Mr.. Faulkner whether any
cases of fraud on the part of Indian agents
IN h I'M, prad vk.nf &c. l.
mad taken TO protect the government, the
Secretary replied that such charges had been
brought to his attention and instanced the
Cheyenne river agency. He sent out an in
spector TO investigate charges against DIR. s.,
of the Red Cloud agency, that had been
brought To his attention, and subsequently
mad learned that the board OF Indian Com
missioners had sent ont one Samuel Walker
TO investigate without notifying nim.
he, the Secretary, then appointed a COM
mission TO investiga the charges. He had
a correspondence with Mr. Brunot relative To
the improperly of the action OF the board
The report of the commission exoneratei
Saville. He had never failed to take proper
steps TO investigate charges Of fraud.
MIR. Harris asked If any member OF the
Board OF Indian Commissioners ever ex-
pressed a desire for the removal OF Commits
sioner Smith, and the Secretary replied in
the negative. Mr.. VIM. Welsh, of Philadel-
phia. an exmember of the board, had done
asking for personal and private interview.
Inc Secre airy continued: II met him at my
house one morning by appointment and
after some remarks Mr.. Welsh asked me to
remove Commissioner Smith and Assistant
Secretary Cowen, and said If would do that
1 would get rid OF good deal of trouble and
escape Congressional investigation. l re-
piled could not afford to do 1t, but would
II he desired appoint commission, to con-
sist of himself II he wished, and If IL was
proved that they were corrupt i would ask
the President to remove them. The same
day Welsh had interviews with both Mr.
smith and Gen. Cowen, and later in the day
told me that the things he had on his mind
had been fully explained, and that his old
love for and confidence in those officers
had returned. He (Welsh) was not at the
time member of the Board OF Indian Conn
missiopers. After the retirement of Gen.
Walker as Commissioner of Indian At
fairs went TO Philadelphia, at the
earnest request of Mr.. Welsh, to at
tend an Episcopal convention and say some
thing about the moral aspect Of the Indian
question. While there Mr.. Brunot suggested
that make Mr.. VIM. Welsh Commissioner
OF Indian Affairs. l promptly declined to
entertain the suggestion, simply on account
OF Mr.. Welsh's want of discretion and want
OF adaptiveness to the place. NY opinion