New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-09-09
THE INDIAN COMMISSION.
RESULTS THUS FAR REACHED.

TONS OF THE COMMISSION.
frRox A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF TIE TRIBUNEl
WASHINGTON, Sept, s.-The Commission for the
investigation of the Indian frauds at Red Cloud
Agency charged oy Prof Marsh will meet here to-
day to complete their labors. Although the Commits
sion has spent some time in the West yet 1t Is here
that the real Indan Ring is TO be fouri In the West
there an those who get share of the plumber but
II is only that portion of it which drops from the
clu! ehes of the Ring in this city. The men who get
the most rarely If ever go TO the agencies. lie
records of tine transactions kept here ana 1t is
here that the most important work of the Commits
sion must be done. The Investigation i'll the West
was not as thorough it ought to have bcen
All the members Of the Commission were accns-
toned to tie comforts and luxurics ~ 20" and Il
trough and tumb,o" experience on The prariea did
not tend to promote thorough examination.
Setting out With wretched commissary, deficient
lamp eauiragc, anda poor outfit altogether, it was
not surprising that all should desire to return to
civilization. While the investigation however, was
cot as thorough as could have been desired, yet it
disclosed the broad basis upon which Prof. Marshs
.harges rest.
Dr. j. j. Saville the Indian Agent at Red Clond
~ lnanifestly incompetent for the position which ne
fills. Even if he is man of integrity, lie is inein-
,ieut, and unable to administer the affairs of the
hat important position. OF weak vacllating ex-
.itahle temperancnt, even if his reputation were
above suspicion he would not lie able to administer
the affairs of the agency u give satisfaction TO
mpa,tial observers. The army officers u;'te IN
rating that he Is incompetent and that the ciseh
mons among the Indians due 10 his lack o. JuOG-
mont and administrative ability. Outside OF inc
pos OF present cmplo, Of the agency, the general
,pnion of d interested observers was that the NAM
DER of indians TT Red Cloud had been largely over
estimated. The military oflccr' varied IN thelr
estimates of the total number Of Indians eNcainped
# any one time in thc vicinity OF Red Cloud Some
,ct the figures "a iow 5000, while others riade
What they considered an extravagant estimate OF
O0O0 but these latter figures generally con-
.e6ed too large The faport of Agent Sayie that
there we're Is, III Indians drawing rations in tho
after part of 1874 was regarded as absurd. When
the Commission WIS at Red Cloud, there re not
100 lodges visible from the agency. This was ex-
,,ainad nv the statement that the Indians had
moved off in order TO find grazing for their PONIES
The anndity goods wore Acknowledged to have
been distributed to the Indians in q driving snow
norm long after they should have been delivered
TIL Agent explained that the goods were not re-
teivcd until Late, and hat he was not ieSponHhie
for tie delay. He admitted that the blankets were
mail and unfit for the use OF the warriors ut the
taken from the Indians and shown 10 the Commits
,ion. That tic pork flour, sugar, and tobacco
ssled to the Indians at the time of Prof. Mar'liS
visit were bad cannot be questioned. 1da; the
Indians suffered from hunger aad lack Of cloth
ing, as charged By Prof Marsh, is the una'll-
nous statement Of all the army officers
at Camp Robinson, Red C'old, Camp Sieri-
dan, ard Spotted Tail, who were present
NJ the agencies last liter. That the morals OF the
Indians at the Rel Cloud geicy had been corrupted
was notorious. Thu Indian agent affirmed that t"ere
was no more prostitution at the present time tah
thee had been for fifteen years. lie could not con-
troll il nor apply remedy Ii spite OF this as'er-
ton. he ACKNOWLEDGED that 10 emplcyes of the
agency we're living With half-Sreel or fui ln"ian
women. These mon d ew pay from the Govern nent,
and the wo.acn drew the ralions upon which the
men subsis.cd
That the freight contract from Red Cloud 10 Cbey-
rnne made with ID. j. McCaDn, the contractor for
trausportat;on was oicIOus, and based upoa an err
roneous statement OF the distance, was Demon
STATED. Nctann received payment on distance
estimated at Do miles. Willie the specific statement
of the United States suTv y0y, ~io measured tue
route vas that the actual distance was Only Ito'4
mites from Cheyenne 10 red Cloud. AT CL'y'h1e
tie Government rents the sio7ehouso oil 1. ".
French. the member of the Ring who inspected"
paws him an unnecessary re:it. Less than one mile
distant j. Carp Car!in, where al the military ware
houses are situated and whore there are oo'nmo-
dians governmental bui lings adapted for TIE
storage o. IIGi;n goods
The ailt gcd frauds i'll beef cattle are to be made
The subject Of special Investigation in Washington.
Until this il concluded it viii perhaps bo indeoite
10 discuss the mater That inferior cattle were de-
livercd, received, aHd issued 10 tho Red Clond
Agency last Winter, in direct violation OF the teens
Of the contract is fat which Prof Mar'hs state
ent clearly covers, and his statement Is coT1OOOrdt-
Ell 10y the testimony o. the army oihce:s al i.eo
Cloud. In addlO 10 this, the lack CT system wh'ch
the investigation ., brought out IA this particular
isvery noticeable. According 80 Dr. Saviiic's own
testimony hc vas in The habit Of giving Oh certain
DAYS vouchers Tor cattle which nO[ received on
those days TIE question Of frauds in the beef
cattle furnished cannot well lie discussed here.
The best efforts of the Commission viii probably he
dix ct,G t. this matte. The iact that the contract
va. transit, rred &c ~ AMI aGan IT. one person 10
another and thai matter who g1t II >. W. D'sler
ultimately filed IT, shows a direct violation OF the
ra.e Of tie Department which prcscribes that no
contract shall 10 assigned except with Tie consent
Of the Department in writing The present contract
is in the name of r. Il; Mayb ry, cttle dealer bat
Rosler who il cattle jobbcr f,ls it. May berry, III
bis testimony, stated that he ieured on gras AID
waterD VIZ .hat ie flied hi. cattle full of grass
and ware. lust before weighing. Judge Carey Of
Cheyeure cattle dealer testified that to FL al III
dian contract honestly would bankrupt him or any
otbor man. John Iin Of Denver testified that in
catIe-,cang circl,e Il was always understood that
inferior cattle we're Used in filing al Indian con-
tract.
A. vet the Giern5crs Of the Commission have made
no formal EXPRESSION If their opinions. They will.
however, make a sweeping but oarefulyconsidsied
report latYo to the Ig.sent ryster' # letting IN