The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-01-08
BYTELEGRAPH.
ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORT.
TO TIE DAI1Y LNTELLlGENoEf
Movement TO Reduce Cost OF Pat
ents.

| btdtau DSPaseSs
Movement 10 Reduce Cost OF Pat.
ents.
WASHINGTON, D. G., January 7.-Th,
Secretary Of the Interior, in Letter 70 s
! A. Galpin, late Chief Clerk Of the lndiar
Bureau, informing him that his services
we're no longer required, says: The
Board Of Inquiry, appointed in June tc
investigate the accusations made against
him by Mr.. Waeff and others, failed to
find most Of the charges sustained, bnt
the improper treatment Of subordinate
is sustained. The Secretary, in addition
accuses Mr.. Galpin OF deriliction OF
duty; in that he neglected to Inform The
Secretary Of the Iolerior Of the irregu
Isrities at ibe agencies. IN this connec-
tion, the Secretary says. you admit that
while temporarily In charge ofthe Bureau
OF Indian Affairs You kept from the knoHl'
edge Of the Department for a cOnsidera-
bic period the papers giving information
about fraudulent practices Of the crosse
character which have been going on at the
Indian agencies. The excuse you give in
your testimony. for suchconduct in case
Of 40 grave a nature appears 10 me
UTTERLY TRIVIAL,
and rather calculated 10 assr Ivate than
mitigate your offsnse. That dishonest
practices in the Indian service are among
The greatest and mort dangerous evils we
have to contend with; that the most Wig.
liant and RELENTLESS prosecution OF the
corrupt men connected with the service,
either as agents or contractors, is one OF
the very first and imperative duties Of
this department, and that only in rare
casea II Is possible 10 trace such practices
10 the guilty parties, cannot have been
unknown to you after your long connec
ton with the service IN an inilnentiAl
and a responsible position. In pspers
touching the Pawnee,, Agency, at least, we
had information so circumatantial, 90
direct, and so well sustained that as soon
as they came TO the knowledge OF the Dc
partInent All indictment ofthe parties. i'm
plicated could without difficulty be
procured, and We could hope 10 make a.
example OF evil duer. When under Tnch
circumstances an officer of this Dspsrt
ment keeps such paperr.for so.many weeks
from the knowledge of hi superior, and
locking them in his desk then offers
rs his best excuse that he simply forgot
them; can only say such iorgetfulue6s
Is MOST DANGEROUS
to the public interest, especially 10 the
Indian service. Isay that forgetfullhess
Is the best excuse you offer, for in
charity l will abstain from characteriztng
your other attempts at dentense (secrecy
was essential TO any PREPARATION rpon
that information, US il u proml com
munication Of paper 10 theTcsposibie
head Of the Departm ut had not been the
first step to secure proper action, or that
change OF the agent at the agency was
likely 10 prevent further Irregularities,
or that the inspectors were busy else
where at the time. In my judgment an
officer who fails to see the importance Of
prompt and vigorous prosecution of dis
honest practices, or who, seeing 1t,
FoRaETs AND NEGLECT IT,
cannot safely be entrusted with any re.
sponsibility in the management Of 1n.
dian affairs. Your services will, there.
fore, from this day be dispensed with;
The report was submitted 10 Secretary
schurz by Joseph B. McCamon, Of the
Department OF Justice, Captain Thomas
II. Bradley, U. s. Army, and George NJ.
Lock wood, Chief Clerk OF the Interior
Department. The Board Of Inquiry con.
vened by him In June last to investigate
the Indian service Is very elaborate and
yoluminous document, making sixty-tiye
printed pages, exclusive OF testimony.
It's conclusions in regard to the charges
preferred against the Chief Clerk Of In-
dian Affairs will be found in the letter Of
Secretary schurz to Mr.. Galpin.
INDIAN INVESTIGATIONS.
The Board finds concerning the East.
ern North Carolina Cherokee ma
which was also specially brought 10 its
attention, that an investigation Of the
controversy should be made BY court or
commission appointed by the President
and that the delays In its settlement have
ieopardized the welfare OF the Indians.
The difficult nature OF the extensive in
yestigation made by the Board in regard
To the general conduct OF the service Is
| indicated In the following abatement: (:
The regulations prescribed by the
President for the management OF the
Indian affairs, and the directions from the
Secretary OF the Interior, seem to have
been absolutely necessary TO full
compliance with the law, but no regnla-
,ions or directions under the statutes
have been found by this Board for the
control either Of the bureau officials or
the subordinates In the Indian service
here or elsewhere. The instructions
regulations and other orders promulgated
| by the Commissioner over his signature
have had limited effect, in not having
been rigidly enforced or fully respected.
Under the circumstances, the fact exists
that no bureau or Office OF the government
has afforded more opportunity for
DOWNRIGHT IRREouLARtrY
and concealment Of fraud than has the
management OF the Indian Bureau and
service. The Board say that during the
late administration OF the Indian office
the Commissioner and Chief Clerk, with
three others, namely, the Stenographer,
the Correspondence Clerk and Annuity
Clerk, formed group which gave direc.
uon to all matters ofimportance passing
through the office and often acted on the
same BY means Of personal or-unoticial
correspondence.
The report continues: There Is no
doubt, sitter considering the evidence, as
to which member Of the group welded
de iacto the greater power or influence
over official matters. The evidence
Of the various witnesses and the
documentary evidence show that
the Commissioner after making prom.
ises or decisions, based on bis own
con nyictions, refused 10 fulfill or execute
them, or absolutely departed from his
own views to indulge the capricious-
mesa Of his Chiei Clerk. These Irregular
| ities Of correspondence aud relinquiSh-
meut Of authority operated 10 cover The
questionable transactions and keep favor
lie persons in secure positions. This
kind Of correspondents with the fellow
ship Il engendered, readily spread
throughout the Office, and the continu-
ance Of Il will doubtless exist until re-