New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-07-21
SECRETJRT DELANOS METHODS.

The Secretary of the interior has no right to
complain if the public suspects his sincerity in
calling for an investigation of Prof. Aiarsh's
charges. He has had bat one policy i'll making
appointments since he came into Office, and
that has been to fill his Department with men
whom he can control. 1t was by following
ont this plan that he forced the old Board of
Indian Commissioners to resign. The gentle
men who composed majority of the Board
forcsaw Chat they would soon be oyerpowcrcd
under tins system, and consequently resigned.
Two members who were put Oh in this
way. and VINO are still there, are j. ID. Lang
of Maine and n. j. Turney OF Ohio. Despite
the fact that The Commissioners were forbidden
to accept any pay for their services, Mes5Ts.
Lang and Turney frequently charged $40 a
day for time 50 OF $40 day for mileage, and
an equal amount for subsistence when they
were travelling in Government ambuanCes and
living on Government rations. The respectable
members of the Board protested Indignantly.
but Mr. Dclano ignored the protest and paid
the charges.
These two men were retained when the ma
iority OF the Board resigned and looking about
for associates for them, Mr.. Dclano's eyes fell
upon Mr.. Frank H. Smith of Washington.
Mr.. Smith is President of the Young
Mems Christian Association of Wash
ington He was also Official reporter of
the House of Representatives, hut not find
ing that position sufficiently lucrative
he obtained paving and fencing con-
tract from the District Board Of Public Works,
putting forward one III. V. Cotton to appear
for him. while he stood back and drew the
profits. He built an astonishing amount OF
fence and laid marvellous quantities of pave
ment upon very small tracts of ground, and
realized from his operations between $4,000
and $30,000 When the Congressional hives
tigating Committee began to inquire into the
matter too closely, Mr. Smith felt great de-
sire to aid in ChIiStianizinS the Indians, and
Secretary Deiano appointed him to vacancy on
the Board OF Commissioners. Siugularly and
unfortunately enough, he was absent in the
Indian country when tho Committee wished to
ask him a few questions, though he after
wards returned and gave an account Of his
pavement and fence transactions. TO take this
Indian appointment with salary of $1,000
he resigned his position in the House OF Rep
rcscntatives, the salary Of which was $1,000.
Two other members of the Board appointed
to fill vacancies illustrate in another way the
same policy. Gen. c. b. Fisk, the President
of the Board, is Secretary and Treasurer of
the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad Company,
corporation which has a rich land grant
through the Indian country. Admitting that
he Is IN honest, upright man, disposed to
treat the Indians justly, his obligations TO Mr..
Deano for the position he occupies, together
with his pccuniary interest in creating disturb
ances with the Indians and thus bringing
about change in their form of government
(as this will make his grant available), are
much too strong. Col. c. G.. Hammond of
Chicago, another member of the Board, Is also
a railroad man, and for similar reasons not a
good choice.
The men thus named compose a majority of
the present Board and they, Secretary Deano
informs Us, have appointed the Commissioners
who are to investigate the charges brought by
Prof. Marsh. One man on that Commission,
Congressman b. w. Harris Of Massachusetts,,
is ridiculously unfit for the duty. He was
member of the House Committee on Indian
Affairs which conducted the investigation last
Winter, and his conduct throughout that in
quiry could not have been more partial to the
Interior Department if he had been its
paid attorney. lie was mainly RESPONSE
bic for having the investigation conducted