New-York tribune., 1875-07-20

hIs
to investigate. Frank II. Smith volunteered his ser
vices on that OCCASION tho only duty assigned
him by the Board being to inquire into the ne
cessity for more beef at Red Cloud ana milestone
agencies the Interior Department then February lS74
usual urging the necessity of large deficiency appro-
praton by Congress TO get beef for the Sioux whose
whole years supply had been eaten up by fraud In less
than six months There doubt that the country Will
agree with the Commissioner In commenting Bishop
Hare's character. But the Commissioners inferenees
and other statements will not bear too close inspection
In Mr. Walkers report TO the Board OF Indian Comms-
That d. j. Mccain being paid an exorbtant rate
for transportation a that he was allowed ior ~ es
while he only paid his subcontractOrs for uch less
distance.
That the Commissioner Of Indian Affairs was paying
G. NJ Dodge So 262a per hundred pounds for corn
delivered at Cheyenne which could be had at the same
place for 81 so per hundred pounds.
beef contractor October 49, 1873 for 633 head OF cattle
weighed as he certified. That certificate averaged the
That Agent Savle frauduently claimed to have issued
to nearly 1900 indians. while in fact the true number
had not exceeded ZOO.
That Agent Saville had habituay overcstimated the
weights Of cattle received at his agency.
That according to the agents papers, and adavits ma M
of cattle unaccounted for in any honest way-n
one month-October, 1873, alone A..
That Agent Save had his hr0her-inaw's name on the
rolls OF his agency clerk at 1928 per month from Aug
II. 1873 until Nov. o, 1873, although the latter only
camc to Red Cloud Agency Nov. 8, 1878
That Agent Srlve turned into the contractors herd
cattle which lie had reccpted for and charged the Gov
ernment with
That the -four inferior.
That the blankets were inferior.
That OF the coffee and sugar looked INFERIOR
There also other Irregularities of less seriors
nature. -
The subject Of beef being very Important VIII take
the testimony which Bishop Hare furnishes In regard 10
II 10 show That his report conflicts Win his evidence ne
says The Commission took particular pains to inquire
INFO the quality and weight OF ne beof ituslen ny ne
contractor during the current fiscal year Os73i The
testimony many witnesses and the nal observa
ton OF the Commission convinced them that the cac
dition" The Commission accepted as correct list OF
allowed by the agent, rang ng from i,"o5
pounds to $40 pounds They also indOrsed the replies OF
the agents denying oyorwc ghts aud fraud
The only definite testimony az to weight taken at Red
titled tha III October and November cattle averaged
over 800 pounds net as weighed IN eomnssary or IN
yember weighed over 600 pounds eaell while the agent
certified their weighing from 1908 pounds to J63
Agent save. in his testimony. C,ishop Harc's report
page 3l says: find out tie number OF cattle GelN,
the hcrdcr Was made to me belo each issue" lie also
says page 90: "Tbc herd far away that could
TO the Indians | received and issued them, and so
knew the exac; number received and ssucd" again ION
page 24 MY custom was, ny 10 the middle OF OCTOBER
10 send order for certain number ot
cattle When the order filled and the cattle turned
order my herder for enough to supply an issue, when
the cattle brought TO the corral aud sometime ten
and sometimes twenty selected as an average Killed
and weighed"
Thus the agent receipted for cattle which he saw,
testified TO by rbbcts No testimony whatever Is given
to contradict the assertion that cattle were received
October 5 when the fraudulent receipt issued ana
attempt made to prove that catte of average OF
063 pounds each returned by the contractor fOl
those turned iuio his herd by Agent -avllie.
There testimony taken by the Indian Com
mittee of the last House OF Representative es gong 10 show
that the catlc had been oyerestimated at Red Cloud
Agency but Commissioner Smith evidently wishes Ia
make Bishop Iiares report prop for The Indian Ring
have confined ysel TO il to show that the loose ndOrse
nents OF Ring contractors agents, &c, which contains
are conIGdcted by the testimony IL purpor TO be based
Ae IN hp r,i
Walkers information, careful examination OF his report
gives ample contradiction 10 it, The beef question: how
ever, have taken a criterion by which to judge OF
the general value the Bishops report and in view of
the singular condolences In the statement OF Prof
Marsh and Mr. Walkers report, supported during the
past year by Independent testimony from various
sources, may be fairly assumed that the Commission
eIs attempt dodge the responsibility arises from con-
vicon on his part-lf not from acquired information
that le has "a bad case
In regard the Paxton contract, IL let without
advertisement, at higher Iae30 per cent-than the
regular contract for the fiscal year and the abundant
testimony &C. which he refers 10 To the advice OF the
Indian Commissioners, does not make ii legal in any
hetc- York, July 10, 1875.