The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-01-10
The Indian Frauds Unmasked.

ne DOaTu Oh inquiry dppolIIeu ny
Secretary Schurtz to look into the In
dian frauds have submitted report.
The board was composed of three
men as follows: Joseph X. Mccain
mon of the Department of Justice,
Capt. Thomas II. Bradley, U. S. A.,
and Geo. M. Lockwood, Chief clerk
of the Interior Department. The re-
port says the regulations prescribed
by the President for the management
of Indian affairs, and directions from
the Secretary of the Interior seem to
have been absolutely necessary to a
full compliance with the law, but no
regulations or directions under the
statutes have been found by this
board for the control of either of the
bureau officials or subordinates in the
Indian service here or elsewhere. The
instructions, regulations, and other
advices promul gated by the commits
sioner over his own signature have
had limited effect, not having been
rigidly enforced or fully respected.
Under these circumstances the fact
exists that no bureau or Office of the
government has afforded more oppor-
tunity for downright irregularity and
concealment of fraud than has the
management of the Indian bureau
and service during the late admins
tration of the Indian Office. The re-
port further shows that the Indian
Commissioner has been simply fig
ure head subject to the within and cap
rice of his Chief clerk. 1t is believed
seldom, if ever, were large interests
of the government managed with
such disregard for mercantile usages,
plain business principles and ordinary
protection against dishonest practices,
as has been shown to prevail in the
Indian Office in New Nork.
In regard to the central superin-
tendency the conclusion reached is
that the present superintendent is an
incompetent and inefficient officer.
They say he has been terribly dere-
lict; has failed to detect or rectify
grave abuses within his superintend-
ency, and bring to Justice conspira-
tors to deiraud the government, who
seemingly have taken little pains to
conceal the nefarious practices from
the people at large in that section of
the county.
a tabular statement of public mon
ey advanced to G.. w. Ingalls,, an In
dian agent, was prepared from the
bureaus books, and showed that from
August 20, 1872, to October 4, 1875,
the sum advanced to this one man,
without settlement of any accounts
up TO July rs, 1877, was $502,2O6.
The bonds and security of an Indian
agent cannot secure any such sum to
the government, and as it appears
from the evidence that this sum has
never been satisfactorily accounted
for, the board has failed to discover
any sound reason why an agent should
have anything to do with the selec-
tions OF licenses, the continuation of
the bond or concerns of the trader,
further than to report any violation
Of law by the latter. The business
as at present conducted is simply a
license to an agent for his profits, to
cheat and swinde the Indians IN the
name Of the United States. Evidences
have been numerous of the accumu-
lation Of fortunes by persons in that
service upon salaries that would bare
ly provide the necessaries of life.
1t stated that the secretary is rap
idly maturing vigorous measures
based on the report of his board of
inquiry for the publication of the In
dian service. The dismissal of a
number of officials now connected
with it is certain, and it is intimated
lightning may soon strike in another
form in an unexpected quarter.