The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-07-18
Secretary Schurz on the Workings
of the Indian Service.
DIFFICULTIES IN THE WAY OF REFORM.
Success OF the Com mission TO
Locate the Sioux.
THE CROW CREEK AGENCY FRAUDS
Progress Of the Campaign
in Oregon. a.Ag,


WASHINGTON, July II, 1873.
Secretary Schurz to-day on bong asked his opinion
as to the result Of tho consultation between tho
mission recently sent out TO DAKOTA, accompanied by
Commissioner Hayt, and tho Sioux, said:-"rho CON-
mission sent pursuance OF the act Of Congress
approved juno 90 1873, authorizing the Secretary Of
the Interior 10 appoint commission, consisting OF
three persons to visit the Red Cloud and Spotted ra
Indians TO confer with them about a permanent
location with aview to nnai settlement where they
their support by agriculture and stock
raising. Ia tho Instructions which gave them on
the 2Sh June tho objects Of their mission
forth this lang uase:-
You TO sec. In accordance with the promise
made by the President, that each OF these Tribes OF
Iudisns become settled upon part OF the
selected Win ther consent, where sufficient
arabic land may be found from which the Indians can
derive their support by labor You TO council
them as to tho most desirable location or loca-
tons anu that all the necessary requirements OF
timber wuter and arabic land are 10 90 found con-
vcncnt, and also that there are feasible routes Of
point on ,no Missouri River or Union Pacific Rail-
road tho may be, the object or
the FIRST Importance beng. however, 10 and
.suiicient quantity OF good land Tor the
purposes Indicated and TO allow each head
OF family or persons over twenty one
Will explain to the Indians that location requr
ting long wagon transportation wili be Improbable
70 ,nem, because all the money paid Tor Transports
ton will come out of the money they would other
wise receive for their subsistence. II there be any
dicre opinion to the cn0ce OF location you
viii keep mind the IndIans choice is TO be
spected IL Is most important 10 Keep pcrecI
faith with Thorn In the performance OF all promises
made aud that This will bs the invarlabe rule OF the
government In the treatment OF the Indian tribes.
You viii further tain what the necessities of tho
spotted Tail aud Red Cloud Inaians Will be agri-
cultural implements, BLOCK aud other iac'lites to be
furnished ~ them TO mako them scf-supporting
report the same 10 the department..
LOCALITIES sKLEcTEp
The Indians had already selected certain locations
on the White River for themselves, one OF which
that selected by Rod Clouds at considerable distance
from the Missouri River. II they adhered TO that
choco tho Commissioners we're agree It and to
mako then understand that tho expense the long
wagon tran portation would have out OF tho
appropriation tor thor subsistence, unless In the
course OF time tho Indians attended to the anspor-
taton In great measure themselves Mr. Hayt
companed the Com for the purpose aid
ING then, In their consultatious and taxing
measures tor the execution OF any arrangement that
would DO made. To tuat end he was In constant teIe
graphic com N 6Iith the department aud US
soon tho commission got through with tho Sported
Tail Indians MEASURES were taken for removing them
| to their location Without delay The Rod Cloud
indians insisted also upon she location chosen by
themselves which, according TO the Instructions,
| no further objection WIS made. They now undsr-
the whole situation. and that was oil that
| wanted.
THE MISSION A SUCCESS
Tho commission have gone out to inspect tho loca-
| tion seleclol by the Red Cloud Sioux and to mako
4 arrangements. r..
fore failed, has boch asserted. and all The OBJ
ccts mentioned In tho letter OF Instructions havo been
Ss o ~ Indians have assu oaSo ""a
ago had not Congress SO long delayed tho
| appropriations for that purpose Tho department.
for these ropratons at the October session
then during tho regular session several times by
letters addressed 10 tho Speaker OF tic House. but
without result. All promises made to those Indians
have been and arc bcsg complied with, and the Sioux
chiefs have repeatedly expressed thcir satisfaction
with manner IN which their supplies re'devcred
10 thom and also Quality and quantity OF there
supplies. Serious apprehensions were entertained
that during Aummcr we should navo trouble with
these Sioux tribes but recent information from the
Sioux agencies indicates tnat nothing Of the kind is to
TIKI CROW CREEK AGENCY
2. Has not tho discovery OF the swindlinl opera
lions carried ON At the Grow Creek Agency by Dr. Lv-
A. Not at all knew all the details Of IL
several weeks ago Tho TACT Is that had
the case transmitted tho Department OF
Justice some weeks ago for the prosecution Of tho
offenders, ana It is now In the hands oil the District
| Attorney OF Dakota Territory. l NOTICE that some
nov spapers speak Of General hammond AS II he
officer OF the army and as II these discoveries ana
disclosures had been made against tho Indian Bureau
| Mr. Hammond 10 officer OF the Indian bureau,
| appointed last year by tho President my
request As supcriu tendent OF the Dakota Supcrin-
tendency got wiud OF these transactions aud re-
ported them. lie came to Washington, ana The whole
piannsd in my office by General Hammond. Cemm,s-
k,oncr Aayt aud myself II Is, there ore The indian
| service. under ITS present management. that madc
these dscovcrics ana great credit to I.spccor
| Hammond's sagacy, courage aud energy. notice,
also that whenever by the efforts OF the dc
| these crimes discovered, Instead vi giving
crsct sthoso who make tho discoveries
| cries made about tho inehicicncy OF tho
| mar agcmcut OF the Indian service while these
| worry discoveries. exposures aud prosecutions
are proofs oil efficiency. Such abuses have gro
| up in tho course OF years Many oil them have been
discovered ana Land bare ny The present admin isrs
ton and TO offender has boon spared. The Crow
number OF persons connected with Tho Indian service
as agents and CONTRACTORS under Indictment In sew
erAl paris OF tho coun'ry We h.vo no. d'vugsd all
nj In hecl Ia Deco nary In
them quietly up they arc ripe Tor decisive action
There afe otner similar Investigations aow going on
with promise Of Ike results. All those affected by
In fenr OF those oDeratIoDs are exceedingly anx
get this business ou OF the hands OF those
manage indian affairs aud arc on Tho track OF the
| evil doors.
O. DO you think that the Indian service its pres
| enl org " ,tiou DO made honcst7
A. do tnink So but 1t viii require great attention.
| energy and porsc screncs. UDder the present
| been appointed. Mistakes were made Ia a few Ia.
stances Tho discovery OF those mistakes was always
| followed ny prompt removal ana the appointment Of
| better mou and on the whole think arc nov %.
| tanning better class OF agents.
| DiyvcULIiKs op TnE INDIAN SERVICE.
IL must not be forgotten, however, that tbcro arc
iinculucs connected with tho Indian scrvice which,
| under the control OF whatever department Il
may DO IIaced, cannot be wholly prevented or
| remcdied Much trouble arises IRON tho In
| sunicietcy Of the appropriations made ny
Congress and the consequent inability OF tho Indian
to provide Tor existing needs Us Ia tho
case VI the Bannocks For this tho service be
held responsible. will give you an Instance. There
| IRE three tribes IN Arizona, numbering about ten
thousand persons. They were 10 sreat measure SELF
| supportbr BY agriculture aod stock ras,ur rbrir
| crops depended upon supply VI water derived rom
tho Gila River Tor the irrgstion OF their lands Now
number OF wh,to people settled above those reserva
tons diverted tue water to their use that
the Indians had no supply. la consequences OF This
their crops tcd and they wcro unable to support
themselves These three tribes of ton thousand souls
have been receiving only $1,000 year. IL Is evident
that they cannot DO FED wan so small provision,
which might have been suiclent for their needs had
| they succeeded IN making good crops Now what
| are 10 uoY TINS Is a conundrom which many
| NEWSPAPER writers viii promptly solve by saying,