The New York herald., 1878-11-20
DULL KNIFE's CHEYENNEs.


SPECIAL REPORT OF COMMISSIONER HAyT ON
Affairs At TIRE CHEYENNE AcENcY-cHAnGEs
OF BAD FAITH DExIED--THE INDIANS FUR
NIsHED WITH ALL THE SUPPLIES THEY WERE
ENTITLED To-MAJoR MEzNER's STATEMENTS
DENIED
wAsHISGToN Nov. 10. 1873.
In view of the widely extended criticisms upon the
Indian Bureau and the general management of the
Interior Department for alleged inefiicency or bad
faith concerning the Northern Chcyennes. Secretary
Schurz called upon the Commissioner of Indian
Affairs for special report touching the causes which
led to their recent outbreak. Commissioner Eayt. in
turn. called upon Friend John d. Miles lin charge OF
the Cheyenne and Arrapahoe Agency. for report.
which received last week and transmitted to
Secretary Schurz Saturday together with an eab-
crate and very emphatic review of the whole sub
jcct written by the Commissioner.
STATEMENT OF COMMISSIONERS HAYT.
Mr. Hnyt after setting forth precisely the amount
of supplies of various kinds due to the Northern
Cheyennes under the treaty of 1876. furnishes de-
tailed statement of the supplies actually received by
them during the year ended June 80 last. showing
that they received about $4,000 pounds more of beef
and 1000 pounds more of flour than they
titled TO- although they given about ZOO pounds
less Of coffee 600 pounds less of sugar 1900 pounds
in thes amount OF corn required ny the treaty:
1t is stated however that considerable quantities OF
tobacco soap baking powder salt and other articles
Indians; and that the supplies actually received by
them wcro OF the money value of 2H AZ against
money value OF $323l6 to which they were entitled
This statement" says Commissioner Hayt. dis
poses of all the claor that has becn current during
the year. that Indians did not receive raions to
the amount to which they wero entitled under the
treaty"
1nl fl0ty In wi
holding from the small band Of insubordinae Chey.
portion Of the supplies Of sugar and coffee at
certain times in order to compel their performance OF
the treaty stipulation requiring certain agricultural
labor for their own benefit.
CAUSE or DEF1cIExcIEs
He also states that the deficiency in certain classes
Of specified supplies at the reservation was due
wholly to the tteness OF the date at which Congress
made the necessary appropriation. He insists. how
ever. that the government ration furnished for
every man, woman and child WAS amply sufficient
for their sustenancc consisted Of three pounds
Of beef. gross half pound Of -four and half pound
OF corn per diem; eight pounds Of sugar, four of
coffee and three Of beans additional for every 100
rations.
MAJOR auzNRR coSrnAp1cTED.
Referring to the published assertions Of Major Miz-
ner. commanding ut Fort Reno that from the LIST OF
July to the LIST Of September weekly ratioIs lasted
only for three Of the days. Commissioner Hayt
remarks that although Indians are prone to be i'm
provident and OF them may have gorged their
provisions improvidently, yet in order TO credit
Major MINERS exact and sweeping statement 1t must
be supposed he visited the lodges OF over ve thou
sand Indians and took detailed inventory of their
food supply Mr. Hsyt adds this point
In opposition to such q random statement, which
has been quoted with his other assertions. the
faets given herewith of the daily ration issued for
every man, woman and child at the agency"
The Commissioner proceeds to lay before the Sec
retary Official records dsproving Major MINERS
statement General Sheridan that there is already
deficiency in the supplies provided for the Cheyenne
Indians during the present fiscal year. as compared
with the requirements Of the treaty. 1t is shown
that the Bureau has made ample arrangements for
supplying the full amount called for by the treaty
Commissioner Hayt concludes his letter as fol-
lows .-.'Major Mizner says further"
They (thc left with the We
sin nly slecp on q volcano y have also ask that
any from tho North to this department be dis
armed before being sent here.
With reference to this language Of Major Miner,
have to ssy it is plainly the duty OF the military
thorites disarm the Indians. II il not the duty OF
tho civil agent. has he tho power to discrm and
diamount; and the fact that these Indians had arms
is certainly not the fault of the agent, has been
charged but the blame rests elsewhere
The statements to which this letter is reply III de-
tal are of the same character the unfounded
tions put forth almost daily in regard to the admnis
tration of Indian affairs. and would respectfully
submit whether it would not be proper for officers in
service to ascertain the facts in each and
every case before making unw2rranted publications.
haye the honor to be your obedient servant,
niscin