The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-07-22
......2,7l9 2,S2S,ll3


I ia, S SSS i s.. 81 81 s sasS
Total ..............-.-2,7l9 2,S2s,llS
SECOND AUDITORS OFFICE, June 7. 70.
The foregoing is correct statement as ap-
pears by the records OF THIS Office
Z. B. FRENCH, Auditor.
In other words, this large herd OF cattle
which no one could fairly estimate at a
greater average weight per head than $50
pounds, and which both the agent and con-
tractor apologized for as being much inferior
to their regular issues, and which Agent
Saville only claimed to have weighed $50
pounds, were charged to the government by
that official as weighing more than lob
pounds each, and the contractor actually
received pay at that rate. OF the cattle re-
ceived during this quarter other than the
above have no personal knowledge, but
from all could learn from those who had
seen them, they were no better than the
herd examined. which Red Cloud in Wash
iDgton pronounced good one, and superior
to most of those received. 1 think it would
be safe to say that the cattle received for
that whole quarter did not exceed 500
pounds average, and yet Agent Saville re-
ceipted for them to the contractor as over
1,040 pounds. These
FRAUDS IN WEIGHTS,
which are contaminated by direct COLLISION
between the agent and the contractor, and
through which both the Indians and the
government are so greatly defrauded, form
only part of the general system OF theft. /
have reason to believe that equal rascality is
practiced in regard 70 the number of cattle.
For example, there is conclusive evidence
that the only cattle at the agency NOvemb Der
H. 1874, were the seven head of puny ani-
mails examined by General Bradley, vet, ac-
cording to the provision return of Agent Sa-
vile for the fourth quarter OF 1874, now on
file in the interior department, he should
have had 1874 905 pounds, or according to his
official receipts, 179 head. 1t has been shown
above, however, that the beef issue which he
claimed to have made Nov. s did not take
place. Hence he should have had on Nov
ember IL at least 446, 427 pounds of beef, or
about 43O head of cattle. when he actually
had only seven! These various beef trans
actions took place under the contract as
signed to A. w. Paxton, well known to be
merely the agent of Bosler, who personally
filled the contract. Although this contract
had been violated in all its important
features, and shameful frauds practised in
its fulfllment, Commissioner Smith did not
call on the bOndsmen of the contractor for
satisfaction, as the law required him to do.
but, on March II, 1875, privately made a
new contract with the same A. w. Paxton
Cor in reality with Bosler) to supply beet for
the same Red Cloud agency at a
n mnGh hg bsD Price US per h 100
originally bound himself to do. This
contract was illegal, as it was given by the
commissioner without advertising for pro-
posals. The bond required in this contract
was $4,000. How the contract was carried
out will be seen from the testimony Of
Lieut.. w. l.. Carpenter and others given
below. Lieut.. Carpenter was with me on
my expedition in November, and was sub
sequently stationed at Red Cloud agency,
where be had the best opportunity to OF
serve the whole management of affairs
Mr.. Louis Reshaw (Richard) was also at the
agency, and Intimately acquainted with
what transpired there. Both were present
a. cattle issues in May last, and the
RESULTS OF THEIR oBsERvATIoN
are embodied in their certificates here given:
1 certify that on or about the 18Th day of
May, 1875, witnessed an issue OF beef cattle
to the Indians at the Red Cloud Agency,
Neb. That the cattle then issued were
wretchedly poor, and about one-half OF
them ridiculously small. Out of about 200
head which / saw killed at that time, the re
were but three oxen which would be &C.
copied by an army commissary for issue by
troops. There were many yearlings in the
herd, which would not net 200 pounds OF
! beef; and to the best of my knowledge and
belief, the entire herd would not average
$50 pounds gross weight.
w. L. CARPENTER,
First Lieut.. 9th Infantry.
CAMP NEAR TRINIDAD, COL, June %, 1875
WASHINGTON, June 8, 1875.
| hereby certify that was at Red Cloud
Agency at the first beef issue in May, 1875
and that OF the cattle then issued to the In
dlans more than onethird were yearlings
| l have full knowledge of this fact, for
bought OF the Indians over 60 hides OF the
cattle issued at that time. The remainder
of the cattle left after this issue were al
small, and not larger than those issued. In
the above issue no allowance was made u
the Indians for the small cattle delivered, al
counting alike.
| LOUIS REsHAw.
It will be remembered that the contractor
received much higher price for these cattle
than for those provided and delivered, anC
| that the contract called for "good merchant
able beef cattle, averaging $50 pounds" and
that "if any cattle offered for acceptance
should fail to conform to the requirements o
1 this construct the same shall be rejected by
the agent" The above certificates show the
kind OF cattle actually delivered under this
| contract. The kind of cattle paid for by the
| government is indicated by the following
| extract from the records OF the second au
ditor os the treasury, which is taken from
| the official receipts given by the agent to the
contractor, on which the latter receives pay.
| 1t will be observed that the general average
| for the whole lot is over 1,026 pounds:
Memoranda of beef cattle delivered at the Rec
| Cloud Indian Agency, commencing Jan /
| 1875, as appears by accounts on file in thi
| office.
| Gross
Date BY whom furnished. No. head. weight
| 1873. Jan. Nv. A. Paxton...-. ga 66S,57
| 1873, Feb. 90. w. A. Paxton. 534 45l,2
4 1875 Feb. INV. A. Paxton. 4s7 49,, IL
1873, March Nv. A. Paxton. 1876 4s9 80