New-York tribune., 1875-09-18
Mr. DELANOS COMMITTEE PREPARING
TO REPORT.
TIE SECREI


yExvALENCE OF SMITHS IN THE INTERIOR DEPART
MExT-THE LAST wITNEssEs-MR. WELSH RE-
CARDS THE INVESTIGATION A SILLY FARCE.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUTE
WARRINGTON, Sept. 1.-THE Delano Com
issoners to investigate charges Of fraud against the
Indian service, in connection with the Red Cloud
Agency have closed their examination 1t wae ftting
Ahat the Secretary should be his own last witness and
close the farce with his adrot statement. At the
session to-day another member Of the Smith family was
examined, but with little satisfaction He 10 OF the
sanctimonous ORDER and believes In the present Chris
aauizng process of governing tho Indians and In fat
contracts. His name s Frank H. Smith, and he fs .
member Of the present Board Of Indian Commissioners
His name conspicuous in the District Ring frauds,
end when wanted witness before the District Com
ntce he conveniently absent in the West Christian
f1ing the Indians. 1t he who saw . herd
Of beef cattle for the Of tho military, much poorer
and IN worse condition than the cattle furnished the In
Clans when In reality is reported that the cattle were
borrowed from the Indians for = purpose and
seturned again. The Smith families should not
- confused There are three Of them, and
each believes In the civilizing policy. One OF
them i mentioned above Another IL Commissioner OF
Indian Affairs takes upon himself much credit for
ne civilization which the Indians have arrived The
Interior Department Smith the Solicitor whose duty II
70 expound the law in connection with Indian matters
Mr. Deano was before the Commissioners nearly an
manner characterized him Congress, and he seemed
% know what the Interior Department He gave
On unusually clear exposition Of the differ
sDt bureaus and their duties, but he didn't know
anything about Indian AFFAIRS Ho was espe-
stally good nstured and genial, and 1t must
b confessed that, viewing the from his side he
made very good witness. His want Of knowledge was
no doubt an assistance him. He said he had told the
President that he wanted to be relieved Of the Indian
Bureau but it remembered that when proposed
% transfer it TO the War department. Mr.. DelaDo was
against it. The Secretary did many things pro forma.
Or in the language Of eISecretary Richardson, as
matter Of rontne" He had special knowledge Of the
indian Bureau which simply one In large Depart
nent He had little to do with II, except when matters
regarding 1t we're brought to his attention. Ho was
rather sharply questioned by Mr.. Faulkner in
regard to certain payments ordered BY him in
eases which had been reported on as fraudulent
by the Indian Commissioners. He said when
matters to him roG the Board that involved points
Of law, they always submitted to Mr.. Smith, the
Solicitor and his opinion was followed He presumed it
vas the point in the referred TO- He questioned
- to his action when charges Of fraud were
preerred and he answered that in every land he
named severa that had come to his notice, he had Or
Iered and had thorough investigation that the report
Of Samuel Walker kept from him until had gone to
outside parties and he had finally appointed the Hare
Commission.
Prof Marsh was offered an opportunity to question Mr.
Delano, but declined IL.
Gen Cowen the Assistant Secretary, who was present,
vss asked questions in regard to ordering while act
ing Secretary the payment Of certain accounts but gave
the same reason Mr. Delano did namely the opinion Of
Smith The preference Of the Interior Department for
the name Of Smith 10 not much to be wondered at
The Commissioners have decided not to 20 to Phila
Acpha to question Welsh for the that he will
not Indicate whether he will before them not
A. they have 10 power to enforce the attendance of
witness this is probably the reason why he will not
testify He regards the whole thing as silly farce.
The Commissioners tonight engaged IN discussing
vhat will be the scope Of their report and will tomor
row review the evidence the purpose of comparing
views and determining what points Of the report be
on