Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, D.T. [N.D.]) 1875-1878, 1878-08-28
SCE{URZ AND THE ..isME-
A Drag Net Circular Issued by the
Former to the Agents OF the Indian

Bureau.
Minneapolis Tribune.
1t is evident that there is going To be {.
very bitter fight this winter between the
Interior and War Department of the trans
fer Of the indian Bureau. Secretary Sclurz
is secretly nirsing evidence to be used
against the War Department. The follow
ing secret circular has been forwarded to
ali Indian agents for fall reports. This
circular has been forwarded from the
frontier to private sources here II is equiv
alent to an order to Indian agents 10 hatch
up everything scandalous that can lie
brought against the army. The circular
is as follows:
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR OFFICE
OF INDIAN AFFAIRS, WASHINGTON. y. G.,
Aug. 8, 1S7S-SIR: Please furnish this
office as early as possible. with the ,ntor:
nation sought in the following questions,
to which you will refer by numbers.
1 Have soldiers ever been stationed
near or upon the reservation under your
charge? What is the nearest point TO your
agency at which soldiers are now station
ed? AT what distance from the agency:
2 What aid have you received from
the military in the management otagency
affairs and the control Of your Indians:
3 In what way and to what extent have
education, morality. self support and good
order among your Indians been promoted
by the military?
4 What benefit has accrued TO the ser
vice through the inspection by military
officers Of supplies and annuity goods, and
of beef cattle:
5 What aid has been rendered by the
md
stolen from your Indians, in arrcsting
liquor sellers, unlicensed traders. intru-
ders and parties selling arms and alnmu-
nition?
6 What has been the effect upon you1
Indians of their proximity to the soldiers: ::
Have you any evidence as to the pa
rcntagc of any hali.brced children upon
your reservation being char@cable to eth.
cr officers or soldiers of the army? If 50
state the number of such children.
8 Do you know of misrepresentation
relative to affairs at your agency having
been made by the military authorities? II
SO. state the facts and circumstances.
9 Have your Indians rcbcllcd against
the authority of the whites within the last
three wears! If so. what were the incit-
ing causes:
10 How often within the three years
have you been obliged TO call upon the
army for assistance, and for what purpose ::
II Under the same circumstances would
you now call on the military or would you
rely upon your police:
- Does the present system of Indian
police do away to any extent to the nee
cssi;y for military force on your reserv:,-
ton. - s....
13 State. if you can, the wars III which
your Indians have been engaged, when
and where they occurred. the causes which
led to them, the number of soldiers cnga
gcd in fighting the Indians, the number Of
Indians and whites killed, the amount of
property destroyed, and the cost oi'thc war
in money.
IA What attempts were made to bring
about n peaceful settlement of the Difficult
ties, and what was the effect of the war Oh
the Indians:
Is Have the Indians now under your
care been at any time under charge of Il
military officer? If so, what knowledge
have you as TO the management of agency
affairs during that period, the amount OF
money disbursed, and the progress made
by the Indians in education, virtue and
self support:
1G Give such reliable information as
YOU have in regard TO the care of Indian
prisoners while held in custody by the
military:
II State any facts within your knowl-
edge bearing upon the question fthc NIL
ltary management Of Indian affairs.
Very respectfully,
WM. VI: LEEns,
Acting Commissioner