The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-01-08
CRITICISM OF PAST MANAGEMENT.
A Record OF Fraud, Ineffi-
cheney and FaVoritism.
THE REIGN OF THE CONTRACTORS
Frequency OF Indian Wars Ac-
counted For.
WASHINGTON, Jan. Z, 1873.

X. McCammon, OF tho Depart OF Jusr,ce Captain
Thomas H, Bradley, Of tho United States Army. and
George N. Lockwood. chief clerk oil the Interior De-
partment, the Board Of Inquiry convened by him IN
June last 10 investigate the Indian service, Is very
elaborate and voluminous document OF sixty.nve
printed pages exclusive OF the testimony. Its con-
illusions regard to the charges preferred against tho
chief CLERK of the Indian once have already been
made public through tho letter OF Secretary churz TO
M Galpin The Board hnd concerning the Eastern
North Carolina Cherokee matter, which was also spe.
cialy brought 10 its attention. that investigation
Of tho controversy should be made by court or CON-
mission appointed by the President, and that the
delays It's settlement have jeopardized the welfare
OF the Indians
ABSENCE DiscIpLISE.
Tho difficult nature of the extensive Investigation
by the Board regard the general conduct Of
tho service is indicated by the following statement
which the opening portion OF The report on
the general subject
Regulations prescribed by tho President for tho
management Of Indian affairs and directions from the
Secretary OF the Interior seem 10 been absolutely
necessary TO full compliance with tho law but no
regulations directions under the been
found by this Board for the control either oil tho bu
rcau officials or the subordinates in tho Indian
vice. hero elsewhere Tho INSTRUCTIONS regulations
and other advices promulgated by the Commissioner,
over mis- signature, nave had nnitcd effect not
having been .gidiy enforced or fully respected Under
the tho fact that no bureau or
ofhce of the government has afforded more oppOrtu.
nifty Tor downright irreguiarity and conceamcnt Of
fraud than has the ayement Of tho IpdIan bureau
and service.
OFFICE RING.
The Board say that during tho late administration
OF the Indian Office the Commissioner and tho chief
clerk, with three others-vz, tho stenographer tho
correspondence clerk and the annuity clerk
formed group which gave direction TO
Gil matters OF Importance passing through
~ cNc dof,n ortcn ~ ~
personal or unofficial correspondence. The report
continues:-
There Is no doubt. after considering the evidence,
which member OF the group wislded de iacto
the greater power or influence over Official
and documentary evidence show that the
Commissioner, after making promises or
decisions based upon his CONVICTIONS refused 10
fula execute them, absolutely departed from his
own Vows IN order 10 indulge tho capriciousnoss OF
his chief clerk These irregularities OF correspond
ence and the REIMBURSEMENT OF authority operated TO
covor questionable transactions and Keep iavorre
persons IN secure positions This kind OF correspond
spread throughout the Office, and continuance OF
u Will doubtless exist until removals are made and
orders issued 10 break up The evil
The Board say they desired TO iutsrrosate the Com
missioner upon sundry matters. and otherwise to
have tho benefits Of any statements he might be
pleased 70 make But did not urge request amer
he wrote first TO ascertain conditionally II my EVIL
dencc had been submitted rejecting his ''char-
actor a. an officer or on tho purity ana ell
cheney" OF his administration OF the business Of
the Office. This was considered by the Board as an
evasion, and no further Efforts were mado to secure
his attendance as witness. Further IN reference to
the persons who the two rooms, The evidence
shows that the chief clerk siroog In his at.
tachment" and 800 bitter Is an enemy" to be in
trusted with the power and prerogatives that belong
to the position, or, IN other words. unable
troll himself, aud therefore could not satisfactorily
discharge the duties Of high administrative ofco
SERIES CHARGES.
After reciting various instances of loose manage
mont on the part OF Commissioner Smith and his sub.
ordinates the Board romarks:-
The absence Of regulations systems and methods;
the suppression OF charges and the
Tying OF semi oGcial' CORES ndence, tho care
rnent oil authority or delegation OF Official power TO
another the loss or disappearance OF valuable papers
tue unwarranted ana actious opposition 10 :he Board
OF lnoian commissioners, the unliness for their re-
spectve positions OF the chief clerk correspondence
clerk. annuity clerk and others; the persecution OF
the chief OF the medical division, tho incompeency
Of the chief OF Inc accounts division, the In
efficiency Of the acting clerk Of the land on the
la buai lack of circumspection IN the finance div.
son tho useessness winout OF the force
OF tho civilization division, aud finally, the general
generalization OF the force of the bureau throughout
did afford data from which the late Commissioned
could 6nd an abuse.
NEW YORK OFFICE.
Tho report contains the following review Of opera
lions in the New York otnce:-
In connection with the annual lettings at New York
city Tor the bulk OF supplies Tor the Indian service,
temporary office has beon annually established there,
where bids have been opened, awards made and sup
Plies Inspected and shipped. This Office has been in
with delegated powers to act TOR the Commissioner
matters OF routine and 10 perform such other duties
aurc Tho duties Of tho ncrson IN charge are often Of
q delicate nature AMI require sound judy
mcpt. tact, inc highest integrity and good
business qualifications. Upon him depends In q large
dcgrcc, tho faithful compliance with the contracts the
timely forwarding Of supplies and measurabiy the
reputation OF tho administration oil Indian affairs,
lnasmuch the Board has sought 10 conine It's IN
quiries 10 matters arising within recent period Of
time u will only deal with affairs at the New York
ONCE for tho same time, with the exception OF calling
attention to the case Of the annuity clerk elsewhere
referred to. The Board has found little to commend
In the management OF the clerk charge during tho
past two seasons. There has been utter lack
OF system and OF records, . marked inclination 10
Indian Commissioners and TO follow only the opin-
ions OF certain OF his associates In tho Indian Bureau
Neither by business education nor experience
qualified for the duties Of tho office. The evidence
shows that the conduct OF thus office has been irregu
lar and detective In tho following respects lin the
receipt and custody Of proposals IN tho nonregstra-
ton OF nLa disposition Of samples; In tho unnoc.
esssry inspection OF supplies on the premises OF con.
tractors IN the inspection and passing OF specific
mated, in the passing OF certain lots OF supplies
upon the inspection OF only small portion OF them
scntativcs OF tho Indian Bureau ana tho ofncias
thereof OF the prerogatives Of the Board OF Indian
Commissioners; In the ack oil specific instructions
from tho bureau ana the decgatIng VI too much au-
tbority 10 the person In charge and, finally In the
lack Of system and records as 20 the operations OF
the Office.
TIE REsPOysiBLITy.
That the late Commissioner or tho clerk In charge
OF the Office Is rcspon sible Tor all these irregularities
and detects may not be entirely true yet the Board
Is OF tho opinion that proper spirit OF cooperation
and the application OF proper business methods would
have corrected many. u not all, oil them. Certain IL
Is that Ignorance OF the facts cannot successfully
De maintained as I'm excuse, 40 attention had
been directed 10 most II not . all OF thcm.
Management that has permitted inexperienced
person TO exercise an Independent control In New
YORK CITY, TO dictate TO members Of Abe Board OF In
d,an commissioners to appropriate 10 his use or
disposal properly which fell into his hands as n gov.
eminent agent and to have record account OF his
Transactions in part or In whole, cannos be
strongly condemned. IL Is believed that seldom, N
ever were large interests OF tho government man
with such disregard for mercantile usages, plain
business principles and tho ordinary projections
dshOneat m Imam ali