Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-01-18


any serious Irregularities In the Indian bu-
did not find them, he may
have jumped It the concluiion that it is n
travesty Of Justice, and brought about by
villAinous means. The professor was only
ons of manywho did not discover things.
I havela very high respect for him, his
~altainmente, and his Integrity
and purity of character but can conceive
of testimony which would shake my con-
vlction as to his own fitness for the Office
of commissioner or chief clerk Of the Indian
II, for instance, he should argue
that q chief clerk and acting commissioner
for nearly two months import
tant and well-substantiat Information
showing corrupt practices on the part of
agents and contractors from the knowledge
ofthe department, should not be dismissed.
I should consider him a very dangerous
man at the;head of Indian afairs. In, that
respect he falls short Of ex-Commissioner
Smith, whom I also believe an honest man,
and whose personal integrity is not reflect
vate office in great excitement, holding pa
pers in his hand, and saying: "Here is
something very astonishing, which I cannot
understand" The papers we're those above
alluded to, showing frauds at Pawnee and
Lemhi agencies. He told nue. that Galpin
had them in his possession for nearly two
months, and now had given them up to him.
1 asked Mr.. Smith what he would do with
a chief clerk Withholding information of
such importance for so long time-would
you not dismiss him? He answered: 81
think 1 should" l asked further: Cant you
conceive of any possible explanation that
might be satisfactory ~ and he an
swered (: II can't think of any" There
is something very significant about the clam
or raised by some gentlemen about this In
dian investigation. When an investigation
was held that led tono important disclosures
it was denounced as an important and white
washing affair. Now that an investigation
is held that does disclose things, and goes SO
far that it reaches the bottom, hands are
held up in holy horror, with the exclamation
Fittings must never be done by some meth
DDS" 1t is a matter of experience that in
vestigations of Indian affairs held with open
doors, giving persons interested in covering
up fraudulent transactions. advantage of
knowing from day to day everything that
happened, and what they have to guard
against, scarcely ever lei to anything.
And now, when "a different
uetllOu Is duOp SO IAoI "
efficient, with the stern determination to
discover what is wrong and to purify the
service, the method of investigation is by
some denounced as worse than the corrup-
ton discovered. The Indian service is de-
moralized by two classes of persons one con-
sists of rascals who rob the government, and
the other, of upright and honorable men,
who; with best intentions, show to great an
aptness to have the wool pulled over their
eyes. If Professor Seeyle and those who
denounce the investigation will take the
trouble to inform themselves of its scope and
importance, they will find that the method
in which it was conducted was not only eff.
Gent, but absolutely Necessary.
@. 1suppose you are aware that you have
a big fight on your hands.
A. l am we'll aware of that, and also thai
the power that is usually called "The Iniiar
Ring, and which has extensive rami6ca
lions, will stop at nothing. But we shall
not cease our efforts, regardless of attack
made on us, till the service is purified, a
far as the power of this department reaches
1t may be interesting for the gentlemen VIII
denounced the investigation to know that il
the Detroit Press and Tribune, in an articl,
on Indian Investigations. which bears man,
evidences of having been written under tn
inspiration Of Secretary Chandler, the state
ment occurs that exactly the same mel VIII
were dismissed in consequence of this inves
LEGATIONS, we're suspected and marked 70
! dismissal by him. The article is severe upol
! Nj. Salpin.' and it closes with the followin
!, words; Before the expiration of Presi
dent Grants term it was in contemplate
I to remove Commissioner Smith, his cousi
= Smith, his chief clerk Galpin, and tn
! annuity clerk, Hoyden. There having bee
. two extensive removals of clerks in that Of
= fee within the previous fifteen months, sui,
!, able persons as successors of Galpin, Smit
! : and Hoyden had not yet been determine
y upon. But for change in the administra
= ton, the removals would have been mad