New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-03-12
INDIAN ENG METHODS.
HOW THE AGENTS MAKE MONEY.

HOW THE AGENTS MAKE MONEY.
AN ARMY OFFICERS EXPERIENCE AT AN AGENCY-A
SYSTEM OF OvEREsTIMATING THE NUMBER or
TPIRF TO BE sUPPORTED-PROFITS DERIVED
FROM THE SALE OF POOR GOODS TO THE IN
DIANs.
IrRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRIBUNEI
PHILADELPHIA, March CAT little town on
the Delaware not far from this city, met lately au
officer Of the army who left the service after the conso
da,ion of the infantry regiments In 1870. Before he
signed he acted for time Indian agent post in
having been detailed to perform that duty
during the shOrtved effort OF tho President to reform
the abuses of the Indian service by putting experienced
officers OF high character In the places OF corrupt
civilian officials Grants good intentions, 1t will be re-
membered match for the cunning of the Indian
Rings section was added TO an appropriation
bill prohibiting army officers from exercising the
functions of any civil Office and the military gentle
men, who had begun to make thingsvery uncomfortable
for the Rings by their disclosures OF the corrupt prac
they found In the previous administration OF affairs
at the agencies in their charge were soon relieved, to
give place, many instances, to the very men whom
they had supplanted few months before. Ny friend
the Coonel.or that was his raDkgave Interesting
OF his eight months experience as an agent
His predecessor was relative OF an Ex-Governor
Of Western State. The Indians at the agency were
Apaches and Utes. and according 10 the old agents
vouchers should have numbered 9OO The Colonel
could discover ouly $50 Ritous for had been
larry charged to the Government and the money re-
ceved for those not issued hal doubt been divided
between the and the agent This practice he
learned was almost universal. and was the principal
source OF profit 10 the agents
Is there no check upon agents." inquired; " no
system OF verifying their of the Indians at their
agenciesr
There arc superlnte ndeuts who supposed to SUI
pcrvse the agents and protect the Government but az
a rule they are parties to the frauds Often they urge
the agents TO put the number OF Indians requiring ra-
tons at higher figure than the agents themselves have
ventured to do and to make acquisitions for articles
which the Indians do want. but which be sold at
high prices to white settlers"
did you have visit from OF these superintend
ents ."
"Oh y, s." replied the Colonel "a former Territorial
Governor was the superintendent OF my district He
appeared one day and said nc wanted to have talk
with the Iudians got the head men together but they
refused TO talk to him, saying he was no good" and
that he had been agent at that station some time before
and had rob bei them The superintendent finally got
a few young bucks into room by BIRDING them win
tobacco aud after o while came out and told me that
the tribe was very badly or and that ought to ask for
an increase Of slO0oD In the appropriations But Gov
ernor" said. the appropriation is ample" You are
greatly mistaken he replied the poor creatures are
in need of a great many thugs shall recommend q
larger appropriation" Slro enough In his report 70
the Commissioner, he gave an account OF his talk with
tho head men OF the tribe at agency. and strongly
urged the import ance OF increasing tho annual sum
all owed.
In answer to question rs to the motives OF Saperin.
tendens In msrepresenting the number OF Indians and
the needs of the agencies, the Colonel said suppose
they are all In the ring with the contractors and agents
IL IA system lying ant stealing from frat to last.
Are there other forms OF plunter besides exisSera
ting the number OF ii Hans enttei to rations y
Certainly You see the game works both ways. The
Government Is robbed hand and The Indians on
the other Every Indian at agencies whore food dis
trbuted entitled to specidet ration. but the full
quantity is rarely given AT my post found that the
used for serving ont meal hell Onethrd less
than they ought to have held. In this way the
tractor got pay for "a bushel while Issuing only three
pecks. Cattle issued in the hoof without weigh
ing. Insisted having them weighed. but the con-
and the old agent declared that they could es
mate the weight of a beef within half pound had
them put on tho scales notwithstanding and found It
took animal to make up the required weight.
Every two DAYS there was an issue Ole bullock short
| every time made o very nice extra profit In the
way they worked it before I came, and that
| the agency is npon that system now.
| Another way Of making money IL for the agents
sell Government goods and pocket the proceeds send
ing in they had been issued to Indians
| In this line OF business they are independent OF the
into accounts OF predecessor found he bad
ceyed lot Of bar iron for shoeng the ponies OF the
| Indlans. Now. Indian pony is never shod. l was
curious know what had become of the ron and did
take long to discover that he had sold the whole lot
| to ranchmen In the vicinity
odd you report These facts TO the authorities at
! Washington "
Ofcouise did," said the Colonel. 1t was my duty
| to do So"
"well. what did the Government do with the man !"
do with bimi They reappOnted him agent Just as
was ordered away, and he is there yet, for
anything know to the contrary. The fact he
left post, but around all the time L
Boosting that he would be rcinstated.'
ado think your experience fair sample OF that
| of officers at other posts I"
From all could learn the frontiers, both while
| acting agent and while military duty, believe
| corrupily managed Ihln many Others Capt. W Of
the artillery, who sent to annher agency IN the
Territory told me he was offered g 900 the day
after lie arrived to sign false vouchers He made re-
port OF the frauds discovered by him. ana the result was
exactly the same as In The old agent was re-
stored to office as soon as the army army oiice ,
| whole Indian service ia honeycombed with fraud
from the Bureau at Washington down to tho smallest
agency. There frauds In obtaining contracts frauds
filling them, frauds transporting goods. frauds In
Issuing themn short frauds vhere from first TO
last And the Indian Is Trad nm ms Iaay yaga
him ratons He Will not hunt game as long as he is ted
| by the Government. and spends his time drinking,
| gambling, and lOunging about the agencies"
The Colonel thought that the plan OF feeding the In
dams was a bad one. 1t destroyed what little courage
and sefrespect there WAS IN Them As long they got
bread and without effort they would not hunt and
the prlvatOns and excitement OF the enough
| to Keep alive spark OF manliness IN their nature.
Still, he did not think IL would be we'll to abandon the
system now. Deniorazed as they are the Indians, II
deprived OF their ration would plumber the settlers
there wOud be end OF trouble II was better for
the authorities to feed them than TO fight them
bering that barrel OF -four will Kill tnan barrel
| OF lead.
THE CARDOZO CASE IN SOUTH CAROLINA.