Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-01-09
SCHERZ rs. S!F,RIDfN.
Kepiy of the Secretary to the Ss9-
Elementary Report.
ACTS, LOGIC AND SARCASM.

nentary report OF Gen. Sheridan. in support of
the charges made in his annual report against
the Indian bureau, has been transmitted to the
War department. The Secretary begins by
quoting that portion OF Gen. Sherldan's report
in which the Indian service is generally critf-
cised, and shows that when the obvious mean
ing OF the criticisms passed upon the Indian
service was pointed out 10 him by the Secre-
tary'S first letter, Gen. Sheridan at once dis
claimed that meaning. He then passes to that
part OF Gen. Sheridan'S report which refers to
the removal OF the Sioux Indians from the Mis-
souri, river to the interior, as having been
worked up by traders and contractors, and
shows that when in the SecretaryS first letter
the incOrrectGeSS Of that statement had been
pointed out, Gen. Sheridan disclaimed that
also. He then refers to his correspondence
with the General on the consolidation OF the
kiOWa and COmanche and the Wichita agen-
cies, which Gen. Sheridan had attributed to the
suggestion of an agent, who wanted to cheat
The indians and, therefore, get away from the
military. The Secretary shows that when the
true state of The case was made known to Gen.
sheridan in the Secretary'S second letter, the
general diScamed that also
The Secretary then makes some very pointed
remarks about the charge OF diSngenuOuSneSS
brought IN Gen: SheridanS supplemental Re
port against him tOr having miSTepreS Sented his
meaning. He suggests that as Gen. Sheridan
has in these previous instances diScamed the
ordinary Interpretation Of the words used by
MIN. the term ''diSingenuOuS, as employed in
his report may not, perhaps. have the objec
tlGnabie meaning that is thought to attach to it
III other connections.
Tie secretary then passes to the numerous
complaints made by military officers about the
conduct OF the Indian service, which are con-
tanned IN Gen. Sheridan'S supplemental Re
Port, and shows that by far the largest number
OF these complaints refer to a time previous to
the incoming OF the present administration. to
which, as he says. his predecessors might fairly
ne asked TO furnish the answer, and points out
that While there are forty-fiye Indian agencies
III Gen. SherdanS military division, only fifteen
OF them are touched by the complaint OF the
military officers as having in any way been
miSmanaged under the present administrations
that many OF these complaints are irreleVent
and that all OF them, as far as they are sub
stantiatcd at ALL refer TO agents who have
already been dismissed. or TO defects in The req
ulations OF the service that have already been
corrected by the department itself. The SUP
pemental Report" therefore, says the SeCre-
.tary, comes too late Tor any practical purposes
The appendix to the Secretary's letter, con-
slStlng OF report of the Commissioner OF In
dian Affairs, is then alluded to. which takes up,
ole after another. all the relevant charges in
cen. SherldanS supplemental report as we'll
as Lieut.. Lees letter-Which, as the Secretary
says, was written six weeks after the annual
report OF Gen. Sheridan came out. and there
lore gives color to the apprehension that the
General had made the charge first and was
compelled to look for the evidence afterwards.
The secretary then refers to the inquiries he
himself had instituted through commission
appointed by him in June 1877, and intimateS
that by this and other inquiries the information
general and thorough than that possessed b.
Gen Sheridan, as shown in his .'Suppiementa!
report" and that If Gen. Sheridan had informed
himself properly his sense OF justice would have
compelled him TO admit that the wrong -doerS in
the lndan service. as far as the military knew
anything OF them, had been punished and that
all the abuses discovered had been promptly
and thoroughly corrected: and that if Gen.
Sbelidan'S report had been fair In this respectit
would have been a complete vindication OF
tte efficiency OF the present administration
OF the Indian service.
If Gen. Sheridan could be induced now 10
make a personal inspection OF the business
methods at present in force in the Interior de
rartment, he would not only find those methods
Infinitely superior TO those Which prevailed in
the Indian service when il was under military
management, but probably also equal il no.
superior 10 those in force in the business
branches OF the military service now.
Tile Secretary then very rointedy refers to
the fact that while most Ci the abuses which
are pointed out In General snerid ans supple
mental report, during the last three or four
years preNiOus to the incoming OF the present
administration had been going on. some OF
them with impunty-nO criminal prosecution
having taken piace-the general had no word OF
cenSure for them in his official reports; but that
now, when criminal prosecutions OF thieves are
the order of the day. and when the ring men
ana those who attempt fraud upon the govern
ment are in fear Of the penitentiary and are
trying by ali means to get out of the clutches of
the Interior department, and when all possible
enorts are made to elevate the service
encyp p0Rfr 4he ess Genera Of sa@aeay mSfay S aGa
himself compelled TO launch out into un-
measured denunciatlOnS, and bring forward
complaints against agents already dismissed
and abuses already corrected. The Secretary
admits that some things are still TO be done and
also that the department cannot accomplish
for the Indian service. AS to the sufficient ap-
preparations OF which Gen. Sheridan has
much to say, he allude5 to the fact that the
army is allowed over one million dollars more
alone
part menu has for the food and clothing and ag-
rlcultural implements for all the Indians III its
cHafge. Inclusive OF transportation, thus show
ing that the Indian service is BY no means IA
No1ed with liberal appropriations. The teSti-
ihony OF General Me!ss, before the transfer
committee, with regard 10 the small cost Of
transportation in the Indian service. is also
alluded to.
The expressions in Gen Sheridans ..sunpIe
mental report" conveying the opinion that
most OF the Indian WalS are owing to the mis-
management OF Indian agents is then taken
up and attention is called 10 the fact that such
Il, historically. not the case; that most OF The
wars nave originated i'll encrOachments by
whites upon the lands and rights OF Indians.
ara that In more cases military ot1icrrs By rash
ana pfeclpltate use OF force, have bpPn re-
SpcnSlble for Indian conflicts than civil officers
by lDlSmanagement
III conclusion. the Secretary remarks that he
Is not responsible for the necessity OF this cor.
respondence. and regrets TO have a controversy
WIN military officer of Gen Sheridan'S we'll
carried reputation. He gives the reasons which
SSiiiINi w Idhc up lilS controversy, point
ing out tEat the arraignment OF one department
OF the government by an officer under another
department In an annual report, is an unpre-
cedented thing, but that he would not have
objected to 1t were the arraignment only lust.
and did IL present a fair representation of facts:
Dut such not being the case, he had considered
III ms duty TO call for proof, so as to protect
worthy and Innocent men in the service against
lnputatlonS upon their character by being
classed with those that were guilty or incom
petent.
COMMISSIONER HAYT'S REPLY IN DETAIL TO SPECI-
FIG CHARGES.
Inc tlrSt charges taken UP by the Commits
Sl0ner are number alleging in different forms
ana al dlnerent dates an inSufficiency OF sup
plleS at the Cheyenne and ArraphOe agency for
ioi'. 1he commissioner points out that 2100
mead OF cattle and 100000 pounds of flour were
lelt over at that agency from the preceding fiS-
cal year. both of which items contributed TO
ieed The Indians during the period in question,
Dut are omitted from the reports and recaOnngS
OF lne military officers. The Commissioner adds:
" These statements OF starvation have been
continuous from military headquarters from
tne 18th of January, 1915; during which time
anu until the 9th or September last. all the In
dlanS remained quietly upon theiG reservations
anu were by no meahS starved. Even those
VINO iCil did not leave because OF lack of food
i ne n0le number OF Northern CheyennaS were
lti ana accounted Tor separately from tn
othef Indians at that agency, and the report of
l lie last year shows that they received during
lle year $4,000 pounds more supplies than they
were eentltled 10 under the treaty. :. II the In
uiah ration cost tas General Megs testified before