New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-07-18
AN INTERVIEW WITH Mr.. sCHURz.

NUMBER OF INVESTIGATIONS OF FRAUD AT THE
AGENCIES now GOING ON -TROUBLEs FROM
SHORT APPROPRIATIONS.
WASHINGTON, July 17.-Secretary Schurz
gave Associated Press reporter to-day his views
various topics connected with the Indian Service
The greater part OF the Information impaired has al
ready appeared In the special and other dispatches Of
THE TRIBUNE from the Western Territories. It was
stated that apprehensons now entertained IN re-
gard trouble with this Summer. Tie Score
tary continued:
fought TO add that tho removal OF the Sioux Indians
would have TAKEN place long ago mao not no
department asked for these appropriations at the Octo
her session. and then during the regular session several
by letters addressed to the Speaker Of the House.
but without result. All promises made 10 those
aud the Sioux chiefs have repeatedly expressed their
satisfaction with the manner Ia which their supplies
are delivered to them aud also IA TO the quality and
quantity Of these supplies Serious apprehensons were
entertained that during the Summer we should have
trouble sith these Sioux tribes but recent information
from the Sioux agencies indicates that nothing OF the
o.-Has not the discovery OF the swindlIng opera
tons carried ON 1T the Crow Creek Agency by Dr.
Livingstone been q surphse to yon A;-Not at all.
The fact is that / had the case transmitted
10 the Department OF Justice some weeks ego
il now In the hands OF the DstrctAttorncy OF Dakota
Territory 1 notice that some newspapers speak OF
army, and as II these discoveries and disolos-
ures had been made against the Indian Blu
MI. Hammond - III uuCtE W inulhh ou-
reau, appointed last year by the President az
my request. A superintendent Of the Dakota
gupernendencJ he got wind Of these transactions and
reported them He came 10 Washington aud the whole
campaign for the discovery OF these things was planned
aud myself IL is therefore, the Indian Service under
its present management that made these deoyeries,
and great credit is due 20 Inspector Hammond Tor his
The Crow Creek affair u not the only one. We have
quite number OF perfons connected with the indian
service a. agents contractors under indictment In
several parts OF the country We nave not dNuged All
OF our operations because IS necessary to carry them
on quietly until they ripe for decisive action There
are other similar investigations now going on win
promise Of like results All those affected by and In fear
out OF the hands OF those who now manage In
Q-Do you think that the Indian Service In Its present
organization be made honesti Al DO think so;
auce Under the present Administration considerable
number OF new agents have been appointed Mistakes
mistakes was always followed by prompt removal and
the appointment OF better men, and, on the whole,
think now obtaining better class OF agents: IL
must not be forgotten. however that there difficult
es connected with the Iudian Service which, under the
he wholly prevented or rrmedied. Much trouble arises
from the insuiioieney OF the APPROPRIATIONS
OF Indian management TO provide for existing needs
IN the ense OF the xii y v tm n 19
There are tribes IN Arizona, numbering about TO-
900 persons They were In great measure self-sup-
Vortiug by agriculture and stock raising. Their
crops depended upon supply Of water derived IRON
the ella River. for the irrigation OF their lands NOW
number OF white people settled aOOve those reservations
and diverted the water TO their own USE so that the In
dams had no supply In consequence OF this their erops
failed aud they were unable to support themselves.
These three tribes OF 10000 souls have been receiving
onIy So GOO year. IL Is evident that they cannot be
fed with so small provision, which might have been
sufficient for their needs had they succeeded In making
good crops.
In reply to question about the general demand for
definite Indian policy, the Secretary said that the
problem OF ciylzing the Indian is difficult one, but
that humanity requires that they be made sesnpport-
inc through agriculture He said he thought fair pro-
gress being made hut that no new change OF the con-
troll OF the Indian Service would effect any good.