Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-01-31
The Hayt Investigation.

FORTHCOMING REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE.
Messrs Smiley and Stickney, the committe
investigating the Hayt affair, are at work To-
day in their room In the basement Of the In
terror department building. They have not
finished their report and do not expect TO SUD
nit it until next Tuesday or Wednesday. After
Secretary SchurZ has examined the document it
will be given to the press.
PRESIDENT BARsTow,
OF the investigating committee, who was In
such hurry TO rush of to vindicate Mr. Hayt,
has not been officially heard from by the two
members who have been at work for some time
past. AS member of the investigating COM
mittee, he may want to see the report before 1t
Is submitted; very likely, however, he will not.
duty In this connection. 1t is stated that he
will resign his place on the board of Indian
commlssioners. and IT is pretty certain, If he
in his stead. He is the president of the board.
In regard to ex-COmmissiOner Hayt's case par
ucularly there have been no new developments.
ne is out OF town, and If anybody in the Inte-
rlor department has heard anything from him
they do not mention it.
MR.. BROOKS
who, as chief clerk Of the Indian bureau, is
acting commissioner of Indian affairs, was a
warm friend Of Commissioner Hayt. Under the
circumstances he does not like his new duties,
and will ask TO be relieved OF them. 1t should
Brooks, nor is it alleged that he was in any
way connected with matters for which Mr..
IIayt was removed. All things considered.
however. Mr.; Brooks thinks it proper that he
knonw what action the Secretary will take
when his request is preferred.
CHAIRMAN BARsTow EXPLAINS
Hon. A. c. BarStoW, chairman OF the indian
commission having been questioned concerning
dispatches from Washington declaring that he
had obtained government contracts for supplies
ner, explains in letter to the Providence Jour
mol the inyariable mode of making contracts
through sealed bids, publicly opened, the award
being made by board of ten men, or pur-
chasing committee Of five men, acting with the
secretary of the Interior and Commissioner of
Indian Affairs, or representatives of those Of
hcers. MI. Barstow says:-"I am a stockholder
in at least seven corporations, most of which
sell their wares in every part of the land.
saw the wares Of at least four Of these corpora
tions offered by their customers in competition
last April, but only one OF the offerings was
accepted, and that one because, in the Judgment
OF the professional inspectors Of this class Of
wares (whom ] do not know and never saw, as
well as of the purchasing committee OF the
board OF Indian commissioners and of the de-
partment, the wares were best and cheapest.
never sat as Judge in any case In which had
the most remote personal interest, nor had
any real pecuntary interest in this small con-
tract thus obtained by the selling agent of the
corporation. When the selling agent in New
York and OF hers Of this corporation desired me
ground that wanted nothing to do with gov
ernment contracts. When the matter was fur
ther pressed finally consented. providing the
wares were offered at cost by the last inventory,
the object being to furnish employment to men
during period of labor depression" Mr.. Bar
stow desires it understood that while the gov
ernment has been well served, he has not re-
ceived any pecuniary advantage from any
contract with it. Concerning Mr.. Hayt, Mr.
Barstow says" have shared with the Secre-
tary of the Interior, and other men who have
known him longer than the Secretary, full con-
hdence in Mr.. Hayt's honesty. Whatever faults
he had, had seen nothing to lead me to doubt
his integrity. 1 was not willing to hang him
on suspicion, but am willing to judge and con-
denim any man on proof Of guilt. II there has
tee, 1t has been done since l left Washington.
OF this have no Information except what Sc
In the newspapers"