Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-03-29

wbLCHS LEFT BOWER
Fdiro1d WIelch, who is post-trader at Fort
McPheison, aud who has also the leadership
at Camp Sheridan. testified that his partner
was r. +. Bower, a brother-i In law of the
Secretary Of War. Bower originally put in
a. capital "a 400, but has given no attention
To the business other than To draw a share
Of the profits Witness took Bower In at his
own request, and before he received his ap-
rointment from Gen. Belknap, which was
soon forthcoming after he made the arrange.
Bower.
WHAT POST TRADERsH1P COST ME-.
wOOLEY.
Nh j. ID HOotey, post trader az Fort ID. A.
Russell. Wyoming territory, testified that
he was flrst appointed sutler there in 1861,
and was reappOinted in March. 1871. The
original appointment was made through the
recommendation of the officer of the gaTri-
.on. He employed ex-senator John NJ,
gEayer. TO come on here three or four times
when attempts were made 10 remove wit
ness. He had paid Thayer about $500 to
sl,2eO. The first payment was made in Au-
gust, 1872 The highest single payment was
$3.50. He never conversed with Thayer about
the proposed change in toe amer of ap-
pointing post traders, and never paid any
officer for his influence 10 retain the post.
neither in money nor by allowing them to
have their goods cheap. He contributed 500
10 the republican campaign fund during the
last Presidential camDaign-one check for
$50, ard one for $50. Never paid any money
10 any one to attend TO his matters except
Mr.. Thayer.
cen. custer as witness TO To day.
The Committee met to day halfpast II
o'clock. The first witness sworn was Gen.
George A. Caster, L. : A.
Witness is in command a Fort A. Lincoln,
dakota; has been for three years. The Indian
and post traders On the North Missouri river
we're at Fort Rice. Capt. Harmon; at Fort
Lincoln, s. A. Dickey; cannot Tememberw who
had the other posts.
Off changes were made in these post
traders tell the committee how they were
brought about.
Al can testify as to Fort a. Lincoln. 8.
A. Dickey was post trader. / recei vel a let
ter from the Secretary Of War. dated Janu-
airy 3, 1874, stating that the President mad
heen informed that Dickey had introduced
liqGor into the fort, and that the place was
really held by disloyal MAJ named Wilson.
i invests gated the subject, and found that
Dickey had not violated the internal revenue
Jaw but bad introduc ed liquor In the Indian
tenitOry, but by military authority. re-
D Tted TO the Secretary of War that Dickey
WIS nOt'a fit person 10 hold the past. GA
May 10Th, 1874, received a letter from the
secretary of War, stating that Robt. G.. Slpe
had been appointed. Wilson, who was a
partner OF Dickey, published a letter, writ
len TO a. C.. Lay ton, i'll which ne said he was
satisfied that the Secretary of War was in
ter, sted with Sipe il the pOst-trade. ship.
His letter. which was published, was sent to
witness, accompanied by one written by
Se- rreiary Belknap, in which he
BRANDED THE ACCUSATION AS LIE.
Sire at Che time fiGUlU written complaint
20 The Secretary of War. stating that no Vi
ficeT ought 10 have q right TO buy or bring
any goods to the post except through him.
forwarded Spe's letter to Secretary Belknap
and received In reply a circular which said
that 10 one had the right to sell goods but
the regular post trader. The Secretary OF
War also added that the circular was plain
enough to he understood, and meant what 1t
raid. Captain Poland, one OF the officers,
lad protested against Sipe's prices, and had
introduced goods, but this was stopped. At
ter the Beiknap exposure sent for 5. Pc and
WHAT He HAD BEEN PAYING TO HOLD
HIS POST?
lie said he estimated his profits at Sl5, 900 ar
rCally: one .tnird OF 1T was paid TO General
iiedrIck, OF Iowa, and cne-thlrd TO General
Rice. in Washing ton. Out OF his profits OF
SO 600, he only received $500. He said he
did not know out that he understood por-
ton of il went TO the Secretary of War.
Some time last year some OF my command
went 20 Kentucky to buy horses. While
there they met
MAN NAMED ToMLINsON.
He told the officers that he had the trader at
Fort Rice appointed, aud was interested In
inquired how the post was doing. Custer
said he told the Secretary OF War once that
Sipe was holding whip over the heads OF
the officers, Oh account of having great iDflu-
ence with the Secretary of War The Score.
tary made 10 reply, but tossed his head. as
if to say, You shouldn't believe all you
near" i met
BONAFFIN AND oRvIL GRANT
at one time on the frontier. They wanted
transportation TO visit four Indian posts.
Grant asked me If l would furnish him an
ambulance TO make the trip. Bonaffin told
me he was interested with Orvil Grant In
several posts. When Grant got back to Bis
marck be found there would be some diff
Guilty in his holding the Fort Bertnold post,
whereupon he telegraphed 10 Secretary Del
anO TO appoint man named Raymond, who
was appointed. Raymond subsequently said
that he had paid Grant 81 600 for getting him
the place.
O. Did Orvil Grant ever show you any au-
thority from the President or Secretary of
the Interior in connection with the Indian
posts!
A. No, sir; he never showed me any author
lty, but he said that he had it.
Witness testified that the proclamation of
the President extending the Great Sioux
military reservation
ENHANCED THE VALUE OF THE TRADING
POSTS
on the north Missouri river, because IL rem
deTed them more complete monopoly. AT
one time an application came 10 me from the
Indian agency at Standing Rock, asking for
troops 10 close up the store OF Mrs. q Alpin,
fuli-blooded Sioux squaw. refused to grant
the use of the troops because she had been
there long while, and the Indians desired
Der to remain. Witness said in his judgment
the law giving the appointments OF post ira
deTs 10 the Secretary of War did not affect
the morale OF the army, he was glad To say;
IL did have the effect, however, adding to
the embarrassments of frontier life; he
thought IL had Increased the expense ami in
convenience of living on the frontier. Under
Witness has known the trader at Fort A.
Lincoln to stop an Offic RS wagon and In
spect IL, 10 see that he had bought no goods
alta post four mile below, where they Cou ID
be gotten at half price.
q. Did you ever represent the state OF af.
fairs 10 the Secretary OF War?
A. No, sir, / did not, because l was lust as
SUSPICIOUS OF Tn5 SECRETARY OF WAR
as / was OF the sutler. believe the trader at
Fort Ruford pays a large sum OF money TO
Gen. Hedrick. The officers of the army
always regarded the Secretary o! War as a
silent partner i'm the trading posts.
Witness said that he hear1 in New York
that Gen. Belknap had paid 800 apiece for
oil portraits, out of government money; one
of the portraits was his own. The artists
name who did the work was Huntingdon.
Witness said that when Secretary Belknap
visited the frontier he received him just as
his official position required. He did not
meet him, however, on the edge of the reserv-
alton. as he should nave done. The day before
Belknap arrived, Sipe, the post trader. sent
q basket OF wine for witness ID entertain him
with. Witness sent it back and said he
didn't drink wine. The Secretary remained
at the post but few hours. Dickey, who
had been the post trader before Sipe, said he
didn't pay any tax at the post because his
brother was chairman OF the Military Com
mittee Of the House of Representatives.
NOT CERTIFYING TO CHARACTER.
q. Is Mr.. Sipe man OF good moral char
acIer?