Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-11-04
sooINo' On INDIAN BEEF.

SS SVs
tracts to his misunderstanding Out
Competition and Increasing the Cost
OF Indian Support-Thc Ways
OF the Model Reformers.
Correspondence st. Paul Pioneer Press.
Washington, Oct. 26.-Some very singular
circumstances have been developed connect
cd with recen ttransactions oftLs Indian ofic,
which would seem to be proper subjects o
investigation by the secretary Of the interior
especially as other TRANSACTIONS of a similar
character have heretofore been made public
which indicate that the government and tn,
Indians are being systematically ~sswindlec
by the manipulation of contracts for Indian
supplies in the interest Of the ring of con-
tractors. In May last Commissioner Hay,
advertised for proposals for Indian supple.
and transportation for the year ending June
30th, 1879. The bids were opened on June
18th, in New York. In this advertisement
u usual oil intending bidders were advised
that schedules would be furnished from the
Indian Office at Washington, showing the
conditions to be observed by bidders. time
and place Of delivery, terms Of contract, and
giving all necessary instructions. In The
printed instructions appended to this SEIZED
ule particular attention is invited to certain
paragraphs, among which are these: THE
beef must be delivered at the agencies as
required" "Tbe contract for beef will be
for good merehantable, and all offered un.
der any contract will be subject to rigid in
spection. The cattle to be furnished on the
hoof must be steers and cows (no bulls o,
stags) not over seven years of age, and mus
average not less than $50 pounds, gross, at
each delivery from May Let to Dec. LIST, and
not less than 800 pounds from Dec. LIST to
May LIST; no animal to weigh less than 700
pounds, and no animal shall be received that
will weigh less than 50per cent, of its gross
weight from May LIST to December LIST or less
than As per cent from December 1st to May
1st." The printed form of the contract &C
this circular still more explic-
lily requires the contractor to keep a supply
ofsattle near the agency or agencies where
they can be drawn upon IS required
'sas required" meaning always as
required for issue in rations to
the Indians. Now, observe further that all
contractors were warned both before and
at the time Of the bidding that this condi-
tion-the delivery of the cattle at the
agencies as required for issue-would be
enforced to its literal terms.-and
that they would not be allowed as in pre-.
vious years to deliver at the beginning of
winter four months supplyto be slaughter.
and frozen and stored at the
risk of the government. To understand
The significance Of the requirement in the
light Of subsequent developments it is
necessary to explain that 10 previous years
for beef supplies at allthe agen
cies on or near the Missouri river bad been
permitted to deliver in the early winter on
before the middle of December, In one
delivery, q four months supply of cattle,
which were slaughtered by the agent; the
beef frozen and issued in this condition as
As will be seen further, this was
= great saving to the contractor-and en-.
him 10 furnish the cattle at a much
lower price than he could do it without
this privilege. But last winter being a
very open one, with a good deal of warm
weather, a good deal Of this frozen beef At
the agencies was spoiled. and the govern
ment lost by the transaction. Accordingly
Commissioner Hayt caused it to be under.
stood by bidders that this privilege would
be allowed the coming winter, and that
all contractors would be held rigidly to the
requirement Of the printed instructions,
that the cattle should be delivered from
time to time during the winter, on hoof as
for issue. This understanding
among bidders caused them to bid much
than they otherwise would have
lone. or discouraged them from bidding at
I'll. The reasons are obvious. Acoutract-
with the privilege of turning 10 a four
months supply of cattle for freezing, in the
of December, has only to keep on
land at the agency during the winter about
two months supply to fill the interval
'tter thawlng weather commences, from
arly April TO near the middle of June
shen new supplies of cattle Can be got in
b those remote regions. Moreover under
his arrangement the contractor delivers his
attic at the period of their maximum
7eight, when they are fat with the
I'll feeding, and Of course be thus realizes
ne greatest sum for them as his contract is
er pound, and at the same time he avoided
II the risks, which are very great, Of herd
the cattle in the severe winters of that
,gion. A great many cattle perish eyerv
inter in the cold storms that sweep over
he Missouri river plains, and finally he
volds the enormous shrinkage in the weight
the cattle during the winter. From lack
T any nutritious feed except ouch as they
pick up on the Missouri bottoms under
,e snow, the latest cattle at the beginning1
t winter become very lean before spring.
nd the loss in weight falls upon the con.
actor. 1t will thus be seen that a bidder.
1vised and understanding in advance that
e would have to take ali these risks and
expenses, would either be deferred from bid.
at all, or would bid high enough to
over the risks and certain losses, il he un-
erstood what they were. And your cores
ondent is advised that a number of persons
'ere deferred from bidding by the printed
equirement orally insisted upon BY Com
missioner Hayt, that no freezing would be