The New York herald., 1876-03-14
Mr. Welsh's Letter on the Transfer
of Authority.
Rapid Increase Of Expenditure in the In
dian Service.
ENCOURAGING RESULTS IN CIVILIZATION
The War Department Rec
Ommended.
To THE EDiroR OF TIE HERALD

To THE EDiroR OF THE HERALD
Very many Of the best friends Of Indian civilization
are deeply troubled by the evident determination of
the House OF Representatives refuse TO make appro
prations for Indian service the Of the In
dams transferred from the Department OF the Int
rior to tho War Department This want Of confidence
In the Department OF the Interior Is well founded, as
Is department OF the government that will be
looked to for the money needul conduct political
eampaignA MessrA Brunot stuart Dodge Bishop,
Farwel. Campbell and Toboy were appointed by tho
President with tull authority OF law to check abuses
In the Indian AMER years Of sefdenyng la
Dor. without pccuniary compensation, this Indian
Commission found itself unable check the evil inau
ence that the Indian Ring had acquired over the off,
GERS of the Interior Department When vouchers TO
large amount, that the commission had pronounced
illegal fraudulent, we're paid by the Secretary
OF the Interior, they reported the facts to the
President OF the United States, but he did not
sustain them they resigned. On surronderng 10
the President their admissions there express
sion OF regret although such expressions had been
made on the resignation OF Indian Commissioner Par
ker and attery q. the designations of Secretaries Del
ano and Belknap. At that time niormers oil wrongs
by governments ollcals considered the guilty
parties and their retreInent regretted IL Is
true that all the officers and clerks III The Interior De-
partment who assisted in connived at these fraud
uent transactions have been removed. yet this does
not take tie department out OF the political influences
that have hitherto envroned IT, The Indian Ring is
rich. and viii probably hitherto be assessed TO aid
IN doraying the expenses of the next political cam
paign Such assessment, according party usage,
sanctions profit beyond the gains usual commercial
transactons of ten times the sum paid.
Although the heads OF the Indian once and OF the
Interior Department, with which 1t is connected have
been changed. yet the Indian Ring, that has long
been in the ascendant, remains unchanged In power
and in practice. is shown by tho following extracts
from report just published by the existing Board of
Indian Commissioners The purchasing committee,
comprising H. A Hoyt chairman, and L. M Kingsley
and Clinton b Fisk certify that the alpowerul Indian
Ring still comprises J. W. Boser, A. H. Wilder, Do Witt
Clinton Wheeler, J. T. Baldwin, General Dodge J. b.
Beard and others, and that thoy entered a
spracy against Inc government 10 relieve 1t OF surplus
cash -
J. w Bosler and A. II. wilder in bargaining for beef
needed former demanded IS 30
pounds o cattle gross on the hoo alleging that they had
w Bosler testified Commission that there
@ as ao the hd Yielded p TsE s o. cat
The committee win herr add that these contractors
supply the great Sioux agencies at 81 ~ per
'lS Of py s. r sx %
the additional supply although this same ring paid $4,000
few weeks aterward to buy out successful bidder ut - 46
per
This mode OF dealing in part accounts for the rapid
increase OF expenditure Indian service under the
present administration, reaching nearly $9,0O0.000
during the year ending July !, 1875. In addition
this, about $40 OOO, OOO expended through the
Interior Department
The House OF Representatives will not be severely
censured by heavily taxed com munty for refusing
appropriations until has guarantee that the money
will DO honestly and intcigsntiy expended. Surely
ths could be reached, lar IL relates to Indian
vice, by the formation of independent bureau like
that Tor the promotion OF agriculture such
seems called ior as duty 10 the aboriginal
hnS nd Stiapfz
not only governmental obligation, but shouII be the
pride OF Christian people. Amer Tree conference
with influential members OF Congress became satisfied
that measure could be carried into elect
during the present session of Congress. TO allow the
Indians TO remain with department that has been
under The control OF Indian Ring and OF neccs-
sity subject political influences Is unwarrantabe II
only remains ior the friends or Indian civilization to
Tree their minds IRON prejudice and look carefully
the probable effect OF transferring Indians To the
War Department, and II 1t promises 10 be an improve
ment over The present system, then 10 assist IL pro-
curing such legislation Will tend TO promote the
cause they have at heart
The members OF the committees OF the House of
Representatives on military affairs and Indian affairs
expressed TO strong desire TO cooperate with the
missionary associations charged with the supervision
OF Indian reservations in procuring the legislation
requisite 10 carry forward every suitable clvzing and
Chrisnizins agency The bill reported by the military
committee has ia il many excellent PROVISIONS, obligng
the commanders OF the departments in which ln-
dams arc located TO appoint agents, with the concu
OF the Secretary ot War. and the inspectors r
the army 10 have supervision over them. clause hof
been TO be inserted at the instance OF the rienas
10 exclude overy immoral and injurious person lrogc
each reservation encourage and promote apprOprm
ate efforts 10 evize and Chrstianize Indians, and IL
carry out sucn regulations therefor as may be preo
serted BY the President Of the United States Unde-
the last provision protection ana encouragement wilr
be gwen to all that Is now being We'll done for thcl
benefit OF the Indians, as the President OF
the United States is known to bc favorable
10 Indian civilization. IL the various religious
bodies agree upon liked system, such
Withholding gratuitous ratOns from children who
fuse 10 attend school ana anything beyond the barest
of ~ ID q
to acquire civilized habits, &c. the President OF the
United states will, beyond doubt, prescribe such
rule and the officer who has charge OF the
Will be Obliged 10 put IL into praotice.
The icar expressed by prcJudced persons that II the
brought still closer with soldiers ground
lees, lor army officers being trained 10 command, In.
dians will readily obey them, under the beci that
they Will be sustained oy military power, often render
ing the presence Of troops unnecessary. Knowing
40, most OF the divison commanders. cypress
hdence that they VII select or Indian agents officers
OF established moral character and OF special fitness for
The duty, and men With families. Such type Of man
can rarely be had at 81 500 year 20 n an orce likely
10 entail permanent disgrace upon him, aud whore
the cost Of living Is often very high captain in the
army higher salary obtains of arti.
ces needed 10 his family their drst in the great
cities, without freight or any other charges. and nc
hopeful VI promotion. Such a military agent repre-.
sohtng tho government VIII be terror ovil-docrs
Without as Al present bringing odum on the church.
With the presentc OF Christian ministers and
,be reservation II is unlikely that profane dis
solute officer VIII be allowed 70 as agent tor
that would bring disgrace upon the army.
be alaycd BY their looking back to Tho
time when the officers Of the army
gave such efficient protection and couBcnance to the
tcachcrs OF the freedmen. Many OF the religious bodies
having the care Of Wild Indians depend
cut IA whole or in part upon army officers for pro-
lection that their schools need and without which
would be impossible 10 conduct them. large majority
Of the officers OF high grade IN the army the best
and the most intelligent friends Indian civilization
that ever met with The Secretary OF War. who is
entitled 70 the confidence OF every citizen, will un-
doubtedly detail officer supervise the Indian De-
and
who will have the confidence OF the Christian commu.
nifty. Indian cannot be conducted under tina
rules usually governing civilized warfare; therefore
the officers who most successful IN lighting Ia dans
are usually unduly censured by oversensuvc civilians.
Generals sheridan and Custer prominent types Of
this class OF soldiers | append letter written by
Tie lailcr show nnnihcr huse his md