New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-08-23
A POINTED LETTER FROM WILLIAM WELSH.

A POINTED LETTER FROM WILLIAM WELSH.
SECRETARY DELANO's KNOWLEDGE OF FRAUDS IN
THE INDIAN sERvICg-EvIDENCE PLACED BE-
FORE THE SECRETARY MONTH AFTER HE
ENTERED oFFICE-BosLER's PROFITS on BEEF,
FLOUR AND sALT-THE sECRETARfs son iMPLi-
CATED-A II. wILDERs CONTRACTS.
frpoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNEl
PHILADELPHIA. Aug 21.-Mr. William Welsh has
another letter to Prof Marsh the Indian
service which is even pointed than those which
have been previously published. 1t is as follows:
TIE LETTER.
Prof O. C. MARsH-My Dear Sir: The SUBJECT ihdca'eo
for this my third letter to you Is secretary Deiahos
knowledge OF frauds in the Indian Service This can DO
fully proven by public documents ana by numerous
credible witnesses few OF the incidents that occurred
under my own observation WILL think. satisfy every l
preudiced not only that Secretary Deaho mas iu
frauds the Indian service but thai ne is
culpable or criminal for suffering such frauds 10 continue
and for negectng prosecute the defrauders lie can
not exenuate his guilt by stating that others be1ore MIN
nursued like course as President Grant distinctly an
nounced that new departure in Indian affairs would be
the very basis OF his administration All inc coh''ees
that conferred the President on this subject received
o pledge that trust funds held by the Government ana
approprations by Congress for the nations helpless
wards should be just as sacred as II hcld py ihu
vduals I'm trust for orphan children From the printed
ape eches made by the Hon. Columbus Deaho' curing his
political campaign 1t is shown that ne distinctly
stood that pledge and on President GRANTS detefmha
ton to carry he based his strongest ana most sue
cessfu appeal for Presidents reflection But for the
desir to do nv share redeemng that pledge and tn's
to aid in rolling the national disgrace that rests upon
every citizen of this republic could not have been III
duced to make these disclosures The removal from
Office of the Hon. Columbus Delano ana his eqiaiiy
guilty associates will afford little relief unless the pfli
ciple Just referred to is affirmed by the press ana by the
people as well as by the Government and fuy carried
out by his in the Department OF the Interior
Peore of all nationa have been cordially invited 10
visit this country next year and one OF the primary oo
jecs is to what has been wrought by our repunhc
Many distinguished foreigners will beyond doubt accept
the invitation and should be borne in mind that the rca
tions of the Centennial celebration with the Government
are through the State Depar bat through the
Department Of the Interior. Imagine intelligent dele
gates Japan. China and other so-caied hea'hch
nations ascertaining that in one important point ue
morality of this republic is far below that OF despotc
heather government. Surely the faces Of honest ci
zens will be averted If the present state OF Things con-
tinues and foreigners learn that funds held In trust
by the Government the aboriginal inhabitants, It's
now deenseless wards, are puncered WIN the cohhN
ance Of Government officers and that neither the officers
nor the plunderers ever punished therefor. Am
extrayagant in the belief that unfaithfulness by ma
tiona trustee is infinitely more criminal than Ike CON
duct by individual trustee because it brings disgrace
upon every citizen well as upon the Governments
WHAT MR. DEIANO KNEW IN DECEMBER, 1870.
On the 9TH day Of December 1870. about month aler
the Hon. Columbus Deano entered upon the Office OF
Secretary OF the Interior, made written report TO
him of visit certain Indian reservations on the Mis-
souri, under the Of missionary organization that
I then represented copy Of that report is on file in
the Interior Department and 1t can be seen on page
of of Representatives. report, NO - Forty-1rst
Congress- third session The frauds distinctly reNcaed
in that report investigated by committee of the
ottxas aud IN
can be seen the Congressional report just referred TO-
They were perpetrated by j. W. Bosler and certain
colleagues, among whom, it appeared from evidence
given that Dewitt Clinton Wheeler Of Buckley,
yelling & Co. of NewYork, was the leading spirit;
his associates was $5O1 ,O69 comprising beef S296,6o3
Sr salt for stc that nna Of HHs with ii Profit ON
freight up the Missouri etc. With the help Of Vincent
Coycr of the Board OF Indian Commissioners had
copied from the books and vouchers in the Second Audi
tors office and in the Indian office evidences or these
mony and we then conferred freely with Secretary
Deano The details can be seen in painphlet heh pup
Committee Of the House Of Representatives" This
pamphlet as well the detailed report OF the Committee,
ence to my pamphlet pages 81 and So it will be
hat S ,S Mr. RnS made RS E. % bossr
by Gen. Parker the then Commissioner OF Indian
sco Ty sna tainted anS w with nef
this Contract J. Bosler agreed to deliver beef Amer
he % S sax o oWs to
tncon to American cattle termed Texas cattle, then
Fs son aSs TO thar ecy bc MI
Boslers estimate Of the value of Texas cattle Is shown
1870 an advertisement inserted asking bids before
T. OF Bo tnat a mSns MS~
bid for beef from - 80 per hundred pounds to
cent pound, thus releasing their sureties for the
higher bid This bid had no legal value because
awarded to ]. W. Bosler and j. A. Morrow, who had
bought of the only bidder below them and this was al
bidder to fulfill his contract This gives Bosers status
in the Indian Department and his estimate Of the value
ing under the other contract and with more stringent
M me rs ePsS b ssp 9s
whereas the cattle delivered under the private and
y sa ssS snd ss and
pense Of the Indians; Mr. Dela1o had thorough
same man in the weight OF cattle, certified to by
Indian agent, yet he did not demand the dismissal Of
the Department Of Justice claim made upon him
for this frauduleny obtained and he was not
driven from the Office but. the contrary, has
the favored contractor from that day TO this I'm
MES hnding just as he entered upon duty that his
first payments were fraudulent. and not making any
enforce a Repayment Would his private estate and
his securities be liable for such negec aud would
board of directors brave public opinion so far to keep
such man in Office
THE sECRETARYs son.
You will remember the extract made in my last letter
from the report Of Commissioners Kembe and Avord OF
cattle frauds at the Spotted TAI ana Red Cloud
Reservations This has been confirmed by letter
ceived by few days since from Capt. Alyord. The
Board Of Indian Commissioners and its officers in vain
tried induce Secretary Delano 10 check these frauds
and you know how hercey he then turned upon you
when you did that for which he ought TO have been very
grateful. The frauds in freight by Mccain fully
known to Secretary Deano. and informed him OF
tracts for machinery given by Indian Commissioner
Smith to Mr.. John L. Deano, his These contracts
were given privately. without notice to the Board