New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-08-30

watched over by the Society Of Friends, ana
the circumstances under which the Protestant
Episcopal Church induced 10 supervise the
work at several missionary stations Mr.. Welsh
took the agents to the reservations the Mis-
souri, River and they soon made frauds I'm cattle rather
difficult and dangerous but the contractors only shifted
their ground to other fields less ygantiy guarded and
OH the Red Cloud Agency and subsequently
on the milestone or Spotted Tail Agency, when 1t was
removed to the neghborhood from the banks OF
the Missouri River. Mr.. Welsh letters In the hands
Of agents written in the Interior Department asking
them to favor certain contractors in direct violation OF
the terms OF the contract and TO the injury OF the INDIANS
The with the Government was that the ChuTch
was the supervision and control OF agents
that had been given the Societies OF Friends his
threw a great responsibility the Church which Mr
Welsh compelled to assume on its behalf until It's
Indian missionary organization became more complete
BY corresponding with each agent he found that they
we're tempered with and tempted to wrong-doing by
the Interior Department, or with Its sanction by tue
contractors. Remonstrance at Washington pro-
duced 10 permanent effects, ard some OF inc
agents were evidently becoming demoralized
circular and series OF questions were sent ont to
agents in order that Of the vouchers for
Indian supplies and freight might be tested. Secretary
Deano having received copy of the circular sent to
the Missionary Association the following letter, which Is
in the handwriting Of Gen. b. II. Cowen:
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
WAsIIINGToN, ID. c., Dec. s, 1873.
To THE Cu,RMAN &c-Jfy Dear SIR have the honor
to invite your attention TO the following paragdrn
the circular which your society has addressed 10 us In
dian agents, aud which bears date Sept II, 1873
osr allowing contractor more
tan Indicated by the contract that We may know where
have communicated to Bishop Hare my view In refer,
this circular and have expressed ohi as wen az
to Mr.. william Welsh. the expectation that you woald
cause the to be corrected Bishop Hare admitted
narayraph You will see in moment, when your alton
ton is invited TO it, that the circular implies doubts IN
regard the official integrity OF the secretary OF TIE
Interior and the Commissioner of Indian Affairs IN refer
ence contractors ana that it commands your agents To
the part these other officers to your society. leave
to G s4"r ad e its e ~I hays
ton that ;hs circular has led o communications TO your
before the Executive Committee OF the Board Of Indian
Commissioners for their consideration whe acuns
lIshed leaves the Executive Committee When considering
upon fofnatlon not in possession OF the Indian Office
when the fist examined there, and not be-
fore the secretary Interior when he is called upon
H. approve or override the of Executive Com
mee Need state more to enforce the llnprOpriey or
Department am to a certain extent responsible orthe
action OF all its bureaus However may feel in regard
to my own personal rights, cannot consent tina, me
Office which have the honor to fill shall be treated i'm
properly with disrespect discourtesy To allow the
agents Of this Department to make reports 10 me mus
.onary organizations which nominate them, and thus
communicate facts withheld irola the department,
would subject to the censure of falling to maintain
order and discipline III the Department which IL due
to IT, and which necessary for the Meiare OF he pubic
service. You will notice in another paragraph OF tue
same circular that your agents 81, are ed informed
Of Your society. However this clause have been ill.,
tended, IL cannot fail to be an adinoniton to those
sHee are e nvis1 to make themselves sp; and nomers
upon the officers o: the Government Having sad THIS
namely: That this Department ani the Indian Once
always have been and always will De, while am Secre-
ton fully and without reserve to You and to any one
whom you may direct to make such examination and
| anIlla hon
sary for such examination will be at your command and
any Informal at any time which you may desire Shall
tnity direct you TIT in regard to sending to
you Whatever may be TRANSMITTED to me Department
the candor Of the EXPRESSIONS viii be appreciated ana
sre ty re a S s spirit ss
priey authorizes, and under sense OF official duty
nave the honor to transmit to you herewith copy of
letter addressed to Mr.. William Welsh the 10th ult,
which have reply in writing. and none verbaly
that If satisfactory. Very truly yours, Z. DLLaNo.
Mr. Welsh makes these comments on the Secretary's
letter:
Secretary DclanO knew perfectly well that an agent
would dare to address communication TO the Secre-
tary the Interior on any s,ljec. and certainly not
wnen complaining OF the mode in which contracts made
through his fulfilled or even II reporting that
A. II. Wer's agent had asked Tor blank vouchers Inc
Secretary knew full well That it would require Drawer
agent than could be hirea at fifteen hundred dollars
year to beard the Commissioner Oh Indian Affairs IN MS
Gen by telling him that his dcrs 10 receive Inferior
cattle and IN larger numbers az one time than was re-
in violation OF the compact and sue as would not
Dc d
Interior further knew that when the board OF III
dian Commissioners refused their assent To ANY voucher
they invariably furnished him with all the evidence that
moved them thereto lie knew, or ought to have known,
that certain favored contractors tried TO make gss
Of their power III the Interior DepaI tnen anu the
liberay Of the Indian Ring.
Mr. Welsh cites two letters from Secretary Deano as
proofs that responsibility for frauds and Irregularities
can be thrown upon the Indian missionary organization
OF the Protestant Episcopal Church Mr. Welsh says In
conclusion:
nv Tho
c TO have said, FIRST that To the best OF his knowledge
belief frauds in cattle have been perpetratei
any SUCH frauds have been committed then the RESPONSE
by upon the church that nominated those agents
Although this is according to the secretays letters,
faacy in the mind OF the public some responsibility
still upon the nonnators OF Indian agents, however
carefully they have selected those agents. Unless
there radical change ia the management of the Int
ror Department. or avery decided moral change IN its
officers certainly VIII demonstrate pretty loudly against
the present system continuing longer than the annual
meeting OF the Board of Missions in October next
must he painfully apparent To every very close OBJ
server and student OF human nature that secretary Del
is cautiously laying his plans for manipulating
Christian agencies without the risk OF exposure and that
lac expects screened and upheld by the Christian
people to whom he gives patronage, not on evidence but
his own loud professions "a vigilance ahd honesty
THE COMMISSION EN- ROUTE FOR HOME.
PROF. MARSH, MR.. WEIGH AND SECRETARY DELANo
TO BE NEXT EXAMINED.
DENVER, Col, Aug. 29.-The Marsh Indian
Investigating Commission which has been in session here
two days, adjourned this evening aud will leave at
once for city, where additional testimony will be
taken From Kansas City the Commission will visit their
homes, and will meet in Washington Sept o. to re-
examine Prof. Marsh and take tue testimony OF MI
Wclch Commissioner Smitl. and Secretary Deano The
Commission has spent 80 days Ill this investigation and
has taken very large amount Of testimony Nothing Is
known a. to The character of the report which may he
expected the members OF the Board freely express
their determination leave means unried for arrN
ing at and disclosing the truth concerning the charges
preferred by Prof Marsh.