Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-01-30
WHAT He MEANT.
Gen sherman Explains His Commissioner
Smith Correspondence.

zen sherman l.XplalnS Ills COMMISSIONER
Smith Correspondence.
Washington, Jan. 25.-The letter of Gen.
Sherman addressed to Hon. John Q. Smith,
ex.commissioner of Indian affairs, having
been quoted al d%iscrediting certain features
OF the report of the board Of inquiry on In
dian matters, the secretary Ct the interior
has addressed to Gen. Sherman a letter and
received from him a reply, both Of which
are given below:
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, WASH.
1NGToN, Jan. 24.-DEAR SIR: The papers
this morning contained a letter addressed by
of Indian affairs, some statements Of which
have been brought to my notice as tending
to impeach the correctness Of the report re
Gently made to me by the board of inquiry
appointed to investigate the Indian service.
The question occurs whether any such i'm
parchment was intended by you. As TO Mr..
Smiths personal integrity and the goodness
of his intentions. l I'M entirely in accord
with you. 1 do not understan, the report
of the board to reflect upon Mr.. Smiths
honesty, and certainly I am far from doing
90, but you will admit that it is desirable
for me, in my responsible position, to know
whether the term efficiency" used in your
letter refers to the practical conduct Of the
Indian service during the recent period
with regard to such things as the instruc-
ton and mainten lnce of efficient business
methods in the organization and direction
of the work in the Indian bureau in con-
tracing for supplies, in the proper and hon
est delivery ofthe same, in the examination
of agents and contractors accounts, in the
enforcement of established laws and regula-
tions among agents and employees, in the
introduction Of proper safeguards against
fraud and peculation, and so on. These
were the main subjects treated in the re
port, and if your letter referred to them l
should be obliged to you for any informa-
ton you may possess which may not have
come to my notice. Very respectfully,
C. SCHURz.
Gen. w. T. SHERMAN, U. S. A.
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, WASH
1SGToS, Jan. 25.-Hon. C. Schurz, secre
tary of the interior-Dear Sir: have the
honor to acknowledge the receipt of your
letter Of Yesterday, and be. most promptly
to disclaim any purpose to reflect upon or
impeach the correctness Of any report made
by the board Of inquiry appointed by you
to investigate the Indian service. 1 have
never seen any such report, nor do l know
who composed such board Of their method
Of procedure, and I had supposed that such
court or board was designed by you to in.
quire into the general administration of the
Office. You and / both agree as to Mr..
Smiths personal integrity and the goodness
of his intentions. and l cheerfully acquiesce
in your request that l define more clearly
what is meant in my letter to him of the
23d inst. by The word efficiency" By
efficiency I mean the administration of his
Office as commissioner Of Indian affairs in
such a manner as did assist the military au-
thorities to subdue and bring within the
province Of the civil agents Of the govern
ment wild tribes, viz: the Sioux, C~heyennes,
Kiowas, Comanches, ETC., with which we
have been at open war for years. In for
mer years our officers on the frontier com.
planned that they had not only to fight the
Indians, but the Indian bureau in addition.
Mr.. Smith seemed to comprehend the fact
that he could use his office and annual an
preparation to help US in our most difficult
and thankless task, and he so acted Is to
draw from me the personal testimony to
which you refer, viz, that he was the best
commissioner with whom I came in contact
for ten years. and such is my opinion still.
I know nothing whatever OF the internal
administration Of his Office here in Wash
ington, whether he distributed labor fairly
among his clerks, or his management in
contracting for supplies in the proper and
honest delivery Of the same, in the examin-
| alton of agents and cortractors' accounts,
etc. These are matters Of which l had no
means Of forming m opinion, and believe
I have expressed none, nor have ! any sug-
g~estions 10 make on these heads. The fact
i, I generally attach more importance to
that branch Of the Office which deals with
the Indians in their camp. and on thsir re.
servatious rather than in those minor mat
ters Of CONTRACTS and accounts. The late
commissioner. Hon. J. @. Smith, ha,
ssrougly impressed me .. an honest man.
He vas Of important assistance 70 the army,