New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-08-16
INDIAN AGENCY FRAUDS.
A LETTER FROM MR. WELSH TO PROF
MARSH.

UAkSf N.
THE REroHrs OF INVESTIGATING COMMISSIONERS
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES OF TEsTIMONY-BISH-
OP HARE DECEIVED At RED CLOUD AGENCY.
MIR. William Welsh Of Philadelphia has addressed
his third letter upon the frauds perpetrated in the
Indian Bureau to Prof. Marsh, at Yale College. The
following is copy Of the letter:
Prof. o. MtRsH-Ny Dsdr Sir: In accordance with my
promise will now give you a sketch OF tho powers and
results of Investigating Commissions raised by Secretary
Deano, as understand them after close observation
and careful consideration The Secretary Of the Interior
has no power conferred on him by Congress Of which
am aware. to appoint Investigating Commissioners;
therefore lie can confer powers others but he has
absolute power in the expenditure Of certain appropria
tons The friends OF Secretary Dclano who have con
dence In him, naturally suppose that Commissioners arc
selected TO ferret out frauds If such exist to
remove suspicion from innocent parties. do not believe
that the friends Of Secretary Delano imagine that he Sc
lects Commissioners to ascertain if tine Secretary Of the
Interior eonnves at frauds, Is, in still greater de-
gree paraker In the sins OF the defraudcrs. Those
who have not confidence in Secretary Deano and firmly
believe that he has long known OF frauds systematically
prdctccd on the Government and its helpless wards can
not suppose that Commissioners selected with the
hope or expectation that they will expose frauds
known to the Secretary Of the Interior reveal TO the
public any evidence Of the Sccrctarys guilt Secretary
Deanos investigating COMMISSIONER not having the
power to compel the attendance Of witnesses, can only
examine such brought TO them by parties inter-
estei in the prosecution In the defense. As 10
prosecutor has been willing to waste his time before
such commission. the witnesses almost invariably
those produced by persons interested I'm concealng
frauds Tie Commits toner's having no power to admins
ter Oafs tn punish pcrurcrs IL false swearing In such
case be perjury OF to compel witness 10 tell ali at lie
knows or to when xaminod sharply, test
mony taken uDdcr such circumstances 10 usually mere
blind IA these Investigations usually held in the
midst OF slawess community, and voluntary wiz
ness for the prosecution is usually threatened and lays
himself open a charge of malice, fcw of rcspeca-
bity wiling to volunteer. Such Commissioners
usually have funds Ia pay the travelling expenses AMI
Ia such II the Commissioners felt authorized To go ont
separately as detectives they could accomplish much
that their duties seniiuiical. No attorney is
D@anS IN sHT, allow the accsad to appeal aud
TO have counsel therefore TIE most honorable comni'-
sioncrs usually compelled 10 unite in tue report not
poyein" Before The aysrd Is annoncsd the tan 9
land that the arcuser have been completely routed
METHODS OF INVESTIGATION.
This would be chapter OF deep interest and nstruc
ton II had the heart to reveal what know Of ee-
missions to ascertain how the InGsns pine timber lands
could be secured to discover haifbreed Indian scrip,
excursions by Assistant Secretary Cowan, Mr.. John l..
Dcano. sud other members of the family and of Con
gross and of certain members OF the Board Of Unpaid
Commissioners, etc, etc will pass all this, a. its
hnInating rectal might like personal luminosity.
desire to contne myself exclusively II prominent OH
cia acts will now give the result o. special commits
sion composed OF Messrs Kcmbe and AyOrd, appointed
May IL 1873 10 visit the spotted Tail Agency and u
examine the accuracy reports that had been brought
10 and Others OF frauds In cattle at that agency.
I will quote from she official report, exact copy of
which u now before me- II il dated Red Cloud Agency
Wyoming Territory. jane 1G 80. AMI Is signed by
Edward g. KcEble and Henry l.. Alyord, spccia! Com
rnissioners:
With reference to the specific charges as TO beef issues at
the MILESTONE Agency U't Spotted Tail ~, no report can
rendered cedy because The late agent together with
por a. The visit Commissioners removing al doca
ssncv pS TO the r az 20 month and leaving ca Of
poyts 81 unpoP in character and eyid, nty 20
be placed any statement made by ten In general terms
Indefinite ch,rscs Of irreguhrty the Indian service
% '1 .eeT op 10 S S9d Mr. e' %an Welsh st from
state q, Affairs at the MILESTONE Agency The quantity q
past was greatly less tlan that rfeed
9r to the conisGor n H nn tbs yrSy e1rn n at
@ Indians TSrfa @sS as rG s S1 s% Ss saSe f r
want Of specific data to make Geard rp1 on the POINT
slate OF IRE lry. confusion aI corruption al is aseney
The S, 81 tie a 10 we s a aSsh soy s ' s
term and the suspcn OF his ace cunts with al o
such investigation can be hat
Az AGENT CORRUPTED.
These Commissioners also reported tha, they had in
their many facts and details which world be
OF use in detecting the frauds etc, at the Red Cloud as
well M the Spotted Tail Agency. The agent to whom
Col Kemblc and Capt. Avord referred had been highly
recommended and as believe entered upon his duties
with firm determination to act honofably III All re-
spec,s As he grew ont OF favor with me he eeemed to
increase In favor with the Interior Department. dni'l
demanded his resignation. Employees and cattle con
tractors acting under show OF authority from the Gov
eminent, dishcartened and dem"ralizcd that agent
Cnu nj
small cattle charged large rates, ctc but the Sccre
tary Of the Interior suppressed their report instead OF
giving publicity. Instead Of acting on their kgestios
to suspend The payment 81 yo . s'. ne"
viii appear in the history OF he Red Cioud ASehcy ih
y contractors and had signed vouchers FOR cattle in ca
cess Of delivery both in weight and number He spent
TWO days al The spotted Tail Aecney be- inning Aug 10
nn smg 90 he saws Imrt gcut Riscy in Omaha, with
papers connected with his duties az aEent' -,
will now quote from his report, dated Aug 80 copy
Arr fu Investigation into The AFFAIRS cd, Win G
there have supp,s recepe for nan neir re-
as given Us TIE Indaus themselves, and statements OF
d,eresled parties 6oh Waits ana imi4,, arr ss, Kills
G H,rn the Fail and Wntsr Of 49, and 1873
r%is mind az ses,ay ' bs Who had a yoachcs
that Kcmble aud Alvori had tainted WIN fraud
nssiones who had suspended those 'ou, .ers Inc COLI
nyancc al fraud in the report Just quoted from Is SHOWN
Interested parties that there from 1000 to 10000
lodges present at the MILESTONE Agency 70 receive sup
n's Sven Indians a lodge IL he estimate IN that
region giving 10000 indian. as the lowest hihper
pesrnt receive supplies This more tan zen times
ihe number that ever present aud JuitJ dobdf ne
unrlJsr NJ the udOIe SiOpL amOn Thus the only Com
,ss,"n mat ever sccmeI look for fraud found its
Recommendation nillii by the report OF an Indian IN
snecIor who under the direction ~ the Secretary OF
~. nter,0r and whose ,port bore s face the evil
Gene of its wollessness. Commissioners kemble and
Avord also reported Informally on cattle frauds mat oc
,rred uuder their own observation at the Red Cloud
Agency. heard OF any notice having been taken
of IT, Indeed. secretary Delaio accused me OF beng
dIJed with suspicion when called hi- attention 10 IT, IL
il uroba HE that Kembe and Ay"ids report wond never
have seen the l,ht had not been for my intimacy with
one az te commissioners and the desire OF the Board VI
~ II,I "a ID