Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-08-30
THE INTERNAL INDIAN MID.
DIE.
Another Omen Letter from Mr. Welsh

Mr. William Welsh has written another.
letter TO Prof. Marsh, mainly intended TO re-
pei the charge made by Secretary Delano
that If any frauds have been perpetratai
at the Red Clodd and Spotted Tail agencies
me res ponsl pity rests with the church that
nominated the agents."
Mr.. Welsh sets forth that soon after the
cnurc-' got lulI control of the agencies, it was
ascertalned that their agents were in many
instances approached with brides and prom
ises OF reward TO do acts which would prove
d1scl edltable 10 themselves and the church
which selected them. He says -" saw let
tiers IN the hands of agents written in the In
terror depart nent, as king them to favor GER
tain contractors, in direct violation of the
terms OF the contract. and TO the injury of
with each agent found that thew were i tams
pered with and tempted to wrong-dOing by
the Interior department, or with its
sanction BY the contractors. Remonstrance
at Washington produced no perma-
nent effects, and some of the agents
were evidently becoming demoraliZci -
ON the 18th OF September, 1873, a circular
letter was sent by the secretary of the Mis-
sion society OF tie Episcopal church 10 each
indian agent then In the service. 1t called
upon them TO use increased diligence in pros
ecuting frauds; TO notify the board of mis-
sionary agents when any order was received
from government officer allowing a con-
tractor more favorable terms than were in
Dictated by the contract, that they might
know where the responsibility rested, aud
concluding with the hope that the board
should be notified of any matters of interest
at the agency to be communicated to the
secretary or to Mr.. Welsh, of Philadelphia
MIR. Welsh says he also sent to each agent
series of questions, that he might compare
their reports of the number of Indians, ra-
tions furnished, &c, with the vouchers sub
united to the board Of Indian commission
ers; that the fraudulent contractors, on find
ing their occupation well nigh gone, took, as
he believed, copy OF this circular TO Secre-
tary Delano, and that he 3D. was already
aggravated by learning of frauds and iIreg-
ularilies through Mr.. WIS personal inter.
course and CORES pOndence with the agents
On the Sth of December 1873, Mr.. Delano
wrote letter TO the missionary society
complaining of The issuance of this circnlar.
He objected TO il because as he says 1T inn
pies doubts in regard TO the official integrity
of the Secretary of the Interior and the Com
missioner of Indian Affairs in reference to
contractors, and that IL commands your
agents to report anything which may regard
as improper on the part OF those or other
officers to your society. AS head of
the department am TO a certain extelt r =
spOnsibie for the action OF all its bureaus.
However may feel in regard to my own
personal rights, / cannot consent that the
Office which have the honor TO I'LL shall be
treated improperly. or with disrespect or dis
courtesy. To allow the agents of this de-
partment to make repol Is to the missionary
organizations which nominate them, and
thus communicate facts withheld from the
department, would subject me to the CEN
sure of failing to maintain that order and
discipline in the department which is due to
II; and which Is necessary for the welfare OF
the service"
Mr.. Welsh, in criticising the letter, says
Secretary Delano knew perfectly well that
an agent would not dare To address a COM
nunicatiOn TO him on any subject, and GER
taiDly not when complaining OF the mole in
which contracts made through his son were
fulfilled, or even If reporting that A. III. Will
der's agent had asked for blank vouchers.
The Secretary knew full well. says Mr..
Welsh, that il would require q drawer agent
th"D could be hired at fifteen hundred dollars
Year to beard the commissioner of Indian
affairs in his den by telling him that his
orders 10 receive inferior cattle, and In larger
numbers at one time than was required, and
to give peculiar facilities to the contractors
were Ill violation Of the compact and such as
would not be given TO any contractor out OF
the ring.
Mr.. Welsh gives another letter written by
Secretary Deiano January p, 1914, N which
ne lays. referring To agents recommended by
tne religious denominations, These agents
ar" not less responsible To the government
for The faithful discharge of all the business
duties connected with their Offices because
by tie consent of the government il is per-
united the religious organizations to sugge It
Their EameS." Again the Secretary says:
These agents are charged with what might
be termed complex Ordual duties Classified
these duties are: First. OF a business c.iarac-
ter. connected necessarily with the discharge
Of their duties TO the government IN the gem
eial care and management Of their agencies
Second. Their duties in the nature of mis-
siOnary and educational work. 1t seems TO
me that the Erst-claSS of duties are STictfgJ
under the administration of the government,
and the latter more particularly under the
care OF the missionary organizations who
suggest the names of these egents"
In conclusion, Mr.. Welsh says that unless
there is rad ical change in the maaagemeLt
OF the Interior department, he certainly will
demonstrate pretty loudly against the pres
entsystem continuing longer than the annual
meeting OF the board Of missions in October