Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-01-09
.Aairs. and Ii, direction. fcom the ,ecret,rv

afairs, and the directions from the secretary
Of the interior seems to have been absolutely
necessary to . full compliance with the Law,
but no regulations or directions under the
statutes have been found BY this board for
the control either of the bureau, of officials
or Of subordinates in the Indian ssryicA here
Or elsewhere. The instructions, regulations
and other advises promulgated BY the com.
missioner over his wi signature have had
limited effect, not having been rigidly en-
forced or fully respected. Under the cir
cums:ances, the fact exists that no bureau or
office OF the government has afforded more
opportunity for downright irregularity and
conce .ltnent Of fraud than the management
of the Indian bureau and the service. Du-
ring ,i,s late administration of the Indian
Office, the commissioner and chief clerk,
with the photographer, correspondence clerk
and annuity clerk, formed q group which
gave direction to all matters Of import ,nce
passing through the Office and often acted
upon the same by means Of personal or un.
official correspondence. There is no doubt,
after consideringth b evidence, which men,
Der of the group welded dc facto the greatest
power Of influence over official matters. The
evidence shows thattbe commissioner, after
making promise, or decisions based upon
his " convictions, refused to fulfill or ex-
ecute them, or absolutely departed from his
own views in order to indulge the capricious-
ness Of his chief clerk. These irregularities
of correspondence aud the REIMBURSEMENT of
authority operated to cover transactions and
keep favorite persons in secure positions.
This, kind Of correspondence with the fellow
ship it e%ngendered, readily
II SnrAoH fhRO1prhant tho NHSoa and
some continuance of it will doubtless exist
until removals are made or orders issued to
break up the evil. The board desired to
interrogate the commissioner upon sundry
matters, and otherwise to have the benefit
of any statements he might make; but it did
not urge its request after he wrote first to
ascertain conditionallv if any evidence had
been submitted rejecting on his character
as. an officer or on the purity aud efficiency"
of his administration of the business of
his office. This was considered by the
board "a an evasion, and no further efforts
were made to secure his attendance AZ a
witness.
The chief clerk was too strong in his at
%tachment and too bitter as an enemy to be
entrusted with the power md prerogatives
that belong to the position, was unable to
control himself, and therefore could not sat
lsldNkOTlly I1SSudISC ~ ullACs VI Il kliku
administrative office.
: After reciting various instance, Of loos
r management on the part Of COMMISSIONS
Smith and his subord;nates, the board re
marks: The absence of regulations, svs
9 tens and methods, the suppression o
charges and specifications; the carrying or
!. of a semi official correspondence; the care
$ less disposal Of papers and records; the re
linquishment Of authority; or the delega
ton Of official power to another; the loss o.
disappearance Of valuable papers; unwar
ranted and fictitious opposition to the boart
of Indian commissioners; un6tness for the i
reape Give positions OF the chief clerk; cor
), respondence clerk, annuity clerk and others
ito persecution Of the chief of the mtdica.
division, incomps tencA of the chief of tn.
O accounts division; inefficiency of the acting
chief of the land division the habitua
lack Of circuRspscsisn in the finance divi
= sion the uselessness without instructions o
the force Of the civilization division, ant
a finally the general decentralization of tn,
force of the bureau throughout, did no
afford data for which the late commissions
!" could find excuse.
In connection with the annual lettings a
New York City for the bulk OF the supple
for the Indian service, a temporary ofic,
has been annually established there wher,
bids have been opened, awards made an,
supplies inspected and shipped. This ofic
: has been in charge of a clerk detailed from
J the Indian bureau with delegated powers t
act for the commissioner in matters Of rou
tine and to perform such other duties Incl
dent to the office as the circumstances Nigh
- require. The duties Of the persons in charg
"a are often Of a delicate nature and requir
sound judgment, tao, the highest %in,egrit
y, and good business qualifications. The boar
has found little to commend in the manage
ment of the annuity clerk in charge dur. n
- the past two seasons. There have bee
q utter lack OF system and of records an
marked inclination to disregard the wishe
or directions of the board of Indian con
!, missioncrs and to follow only opinions b
10 certain of his associates in the Indian bt
reau. Neither by business. education ne
Experience was he qualified for the duties
the office. The evidence shows that III
conduct of this office has been irreguls
r, and defective in the following respects
Or In the receipt aud custody Of proposals
in the non-registration and fnaldispositio
= of samples in the unnecessary inspectio
J. Of supplies on the premises of contractors
N the inspection and passing of specific line
Of supplies by persons other than those d,
\ signated in the passing of certain lots
!" supplies upon the inspection o, only a sma
g potion OF tkem in Ignoring to q greater c
less degree, by representatives of the II
dian bureau and off .ials thereof, the preros
atives of the board Of Indian commission
es ers; in the lack of specific instructions fror
IL the bureau and the delega,ing of 100 mucI
authority to the person IN charge; and, FIR
), ally, in The lack of system and records Us t
the operations of the office.
That the la'c commissions
n or clerk in charge Of the office,
responsible for these irregularities and de
feels may not he entirely true, yet the boar
> thinks q proper spirit Of cooperation an
! application OF mnn business method
would have corrected many if ur,t all tn
abuses. Ignorance Of facts can not be suc(