The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-12
THE TRANSFER OF THE INDIAN
BUREAU.

TESTIMONY FOR AND AGAINST THE MEASURE
pARATIvE COST OF SUPPLIES BY THE INDIAN
DEPARTMENT AND THE ARMY.
WASHINGTON Dec. II. 1878.
The Indian Transfer Commission to-day continued
the hearing of testimony on the subject. Mr.. Stick
ney. of Washington, Secretary of the Board of Peace
Commissioners testified in opposition to the transfer
He quoted from remarks which he understood
had been uttered by Generals Sherman and Sheridan
to the effect that "the Indians must be pun
ished, they must be dealt hard blow
they must be wiped out" &c. With such ideas in
the minds Of our prominent military officials. Mr.
Sckney said it appeared to him that the transfer of
the bureau equivalent to the determination Of
the Indian He did not question the capability
Of the Indians to support themselves if properly
managed and in general terms, predicted bad results
in the event of transfer.
coMsi1ssARY GENERAL M'FEELY.
Commissary General Robert Merely who was in
vted to appear before the Commission. ut the i'll
stance Of Judge Boone was next sworn and requested
to state his views more particularly with reference
to the purchase OF army supplies as compared with
those of the Indian Bureau and what effect in his
opinion. transfer Of the Indian Bureau to the War
Department would have upon the Indians generally
speaking. He had not given the latter question much
thought, but was quite positive that "the transfer
would be quite well for the Indians and very ben
efical to the United States government
1T has been asserted, said the General, 'that the
expenditures of the War Department for like articles
greatly in Of those of the Indian Bureau
Interior Department. do not think this statement
correct, considering the different mode of pur-
chasing
He commended that the War Department could pur-
chase the same quality Of goods as cheaply as any
other department. He did not believe the statement
which had been made before the Commission. to the
effect that had the War Department purchased
the beef for the Indians during the last year
the result would have been an expenditure of
some 100000 in excess of the amount actually
pended by the Indian Bureau for that purpose. and
said the Indian Bureau saved very materially by pur
chasing beef in large quantities. doing their own
compelled, to buy in small quantities. owing to
the small numbers Of military. stationed at
all beef supplied the military dressed
previous to shipment He thought there
purchase any supply whatever rate quite as eco
nomical as the Interior Department. He further
the army had according to law to be of standard
qualty il inferior thereto they rejected by the
inspectors.
sTArEnrxr no THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
In this connection General McFcely submitted in
evidence statement made by him to the Secretary OF
War ut the instance of Representative Scales, which
WAR DEPARTMENT,
wAsIIlSGros. D. q. March %, 1873.
e e ss Of 81
on indian Affairs dated March 20 ISIS inviting your
!" .hs the n o" na
Sssi the Indian s"a Dc
the than The supplies purchased for the
reason for this difference have honor to inform You
hsa y s S Is not o" the the
sane grade as as tina, purchased for the army s,.,
emo " esS na
in telegram received this Office the 2lst inst fol-
Flour offered to me for inspection on contract made by
the Indian Department has been inferior grade Of
Lest sa n be sf a @ a
Inspected on contracts was equal % the sample
had the best opportunity Of uagng q the comparative
for nearly two and purchased for both depart
ms sT;,;, "a a,ro,n.. = ia 49,, - ,o.,
Of the opinion that II arises from two that
sa, s%s Of ssss The
generally from the flock required for daily issue, while
cattle Generally purchased y ,he Indian Department
inferior to those purchased by the Subsistence Department
r,..,a.. SPECIFICATIONS t ron n,Er
dian Department under the advertisement Of March 80
1877 (Which 10 presumed are the specifications of ls7475
years old less than 40 pounds each
delivery animal TO weigh less than zoo pounds BY the
cattle at the pc, nearest tie Red Cloud and Spotted Tai
hat The cattle furnished shoua be steers from four to six
ssass no ' s's be 500
81 the ~ pure RE-
poses for tenn In the vicinity Of The
might short notice be required furnish considerable
number while the number contracted for BY the Indian De-
partmcnt was large and specific.
From the above will appear that comparison Of prices
and Of the management OF the two deiarlments
n the purchase Of Hour and beef Very respectfully
GKoRGK w. McCRAaY, Secretary of War
The commission thcreupon adjourned until to-mor-
at ten A. NJ being unable to complete tho testi-
mony OF witnesses who had been invited to appear
before them to-day as was anticipated at the close of