New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-11-29
INDIAN SERVICE QUESTION.

GENERAL MARCY's VIEWS UPON THE PROPOSED
TRANSFER 10 THE WAR DEPARTMENr-wHY he
THINKS the ARMY COULD DO THE WORK BEST
lBr TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUNEl
WASHINGTON, Nov. 2S.-When the commission to
consider the question of transferring the Indian
Bureau to the War Department first began its IN
vostigatious last Summer, the Secretary of War
was requested to call upon prominent ana expe-
ricnced Army officers for a written expression of
their views, together with such facts as they might
ice able TO give in support of them. One of the let
,ers submitted to the commission was written by
General Randolph b. Marcy. Of the lnspector-Gen-
era, office who under date of July %, 1873, sand
MANY wears of military service upon the western from
tier where came 10 contact with many uuCTchI Ilpcs
of Indians aud their agents nave impressed ne WIN to
conviction that, whit.yrr moln,'tl,n' ,i1 rsarX
igcncirs Of the Iud.aD Department may mdAo
n il manifest, will b. seen from the ahhl rPoIt VI
The Commissioner Of Indian MARS Tor loao, ma to
at utnsUucrc which for long time mas shIOuucu tno
trans ctions OF tue subordinate pcrSohhe Oh !naI III
nari,u,nt I'm, uecunu 50 thoroughly impregnattd WIN
corruption that difficult to conceive Oi any Change
that would not tend 10 di'lniert H.
General Marcy quotes from and comments upon
fine report of the Indian Bureau for 1876, and the
report Of commission of civilians sent ont III Inc
came year TO negotiate with the Sioux for relln-
ouisbment of the Black Hills. and then adds, with
reference To populations aud frauds by Indian
agents. contractors and Others connected with the
purchase and distribution of goods and supplies
and the payment of anuultlcS:
Thu most uuutored Indians We have are c0gnlzant OF
these facts and that great dissatisfaction mas Ot en-
rudrred tn, rely. and that many OF our recent iud"u
ficuues may be traced ulrecS /" w u5i ,o in ina
admit of a question. >ryed irom 800 !" loio lu tIe
dian country while the In Han Bureau was udef 'he
war Department, and, AZ before rem 'rN.', ct'i III
a ct contact with different tiprr' u'u uul,h- t"iS
period 1 was present at many different Pgmen,' ol
tnuuItics and Is ues OF goods 10 tue liulni, ~
Amy officers. lnrsc disbursements were Eehera,1
mace m immediate vicinity Of military posi- anu
gIBcry,cd by the commander. rutn poStS anu lu to
plrsrucc of nearly AL tue officers every one oi "uUin
knew he amount coming To c1th nun uiuD' ~
ulumeut: and the receipt al every nead Ol lhHhy was
t,krn ana witnessed by another officer VINO saw the
transaction, that. had the d'Du sung "lceI Deth us
posed 10 act dishonesty, ne Woui u', Woon r,,to
by Other officers pV1.cn Besides the oin'oi rePutH
nm his commission an the means ol SUPPORT Oh uln
sell and FANNY nj stake, al loInlnS un nnp
guarantee against dishonesty The result Oh tlis system
VITA Wba iuig 4 have been anticipated az " ~ W ,a
"A SINGLE instance can De Clict NhcTt' bo'I 10 !" ~
triuser OF the Bureau the Interior DepTtmrh., m
1873, hing ever Wiihht.d rum tnS 4"H"' -
Art,y oficsrs. WHEREAS ever since the transfer con-
tnua cuu plants have been made OF iauuu'o
Oh the par, OF agents sud contractors A., ia, - +,
The measure OF returning this bureau 10 the coh'Ilo
IN. II Department mas long been Indicated as apo
dicnt wise, and IL has stFcta times Pir,n iS
House OF REPRESENTATIVES anu ueen n, H., buSs ny,
Secretaries uf War For tue reason hat rue 80,
yolved won Il be aTduOus ana ihahhic ~ ''aNt &
faithfully tuey might be dischai STI tuo IIst 20 LII
seriously desired by the Army. NhlteEl uIy 10
80 Inc s.utrurN nv the opponents Ot the change, the
Army officer Is the last person 40 wants , az inu' &
for he has nothing 10 gan thereby. Dut MS
in Indian affairs is great, his prODy uhque5oheu' anu
10 nh reno. ma. duubuess most sanitary Win tue
Indians, for they know lie never uceelNeS lhe, nlu
fhr only motive he could have Tor UNDERTAKING he
TASK OF Indian agent "eI' " ioit W ~,
n wond ma for the preservation OF peace ana iran
| 0uility. Some OF the western 'u.oss n 49, NV ~,
hostile. and Others IKE ,hc p,SIitni man rrser
ytin1s un, AZ naughty aud defiant tuat, should tho
slightest spark Of dissatisfaction mud us way 10 thc