National Republican., 1883-03-12
ON TIE AVENUE.
Small Talk About Men ana Measures.

ON THE AVENUE.
Small Talk About Men and Measures.
Pine Ridge Indian agency, in Dakota terri
tory, has been prelfc source of scandal for
many months, and now II. G. Dear an ex
trader from that section, offers himself as
authority for another contribution to the gem
oral fund. Mr. Dear, who is now in Wash
ington, bears letters which entitle him to con-
| sideratiOn He is one of the men who testi-
fed against Agent McGllicuddy last summer
when Inspector Pollock went out there TO in
quire into tho management of the agency. In
conversation with the Avenue man, Mr..
Dear said: "McGillicuddy sent for mo
when he learned that l had been tell
ing the truth about his practices and
tried to bulldozo me. ] wouldn't be bull
dozed, and we separated in an i'll humor.
learned afterward that McGillicuddy had
offered 800 to any Indian who would kill me.
l heard this from several sources and have
every reason to believe the information to be
accurate. My life was in constant danger
from that hour and until left the agency L
held myself in readiness at all times to resist
u murderous attack. You must know that
| 800 is as much to an Indian as $4,000 or
! $2O,0OO-yes, $50,0000-would be to a cut.
throat in Washington or New York. Such
being the case you can readily see the danger
l was in"
80
Mr.. Dear reoounted at length the details
of McGillicuddy's alleged misdoings, charg-
ing him with official corruption and with
robbing Indians in great many ways, such
! op11inU Indian gunn1iou IN iro1nra aud
others, standing in" with contractors, aud
giving them a chance to sell meat short
weight, sc. His story is long one, aInl he
says that evidence, in proof of each and every
allegation Of dishonesty he makes, is con-
tanned in the report filed with the Indian
commission many months ago Mr.. Dear
says that If McGillicuddy is not removed
very soon he will be indicted and brought
before the United States court in Deadwood
at the July sitting Of the court When
asked his motive for making these disclosures
the ex-trader candidly admitted that it was
to square accounts" "When man attempts
my assassination propose to call him to ac-
count" he said "that is all the explanation
have to offer. 1 want to see him removed
from that agency, and don't care copper
cent who is put in his place"
80
Iwant TO call your attention TO some points
about this Pine Ridge agency" said a gentle
man who sometimes wastes thought on the
red man. According to the report of Agent
McGillicuddy, 1900 Indians get their supplies
at the agency in his charge. Last year these
1900 Sioux cost the government about $780,
600, or nearly SO head. The balance of the
appropriation, something like $4,7OO,OOO, was
distributed among 251,0OO Indians, who
constitute the remaining Indian popula-
tion, giving to each little over
500. Thus 10 per cent Of the money
appropriated for the maintenance of over
q quarter of u million of Indians is spent
on fraction of over 2 per cent. of the popu-
lation, and this, too, under the direction OF
an agent against whom charges Of the most
serious character have been made and re-
ported as substantiatcd by an inspector, in
the face of which he is stubbornly held in
place by Mr.. Price. A rumor reaches mo-
however, that the secretary will take this
matter in hand very soon and insist on the
removal of McGillicuddy."
go
The publication in The NATIONAL RE-
| PUBLlCAN SuluIuay HnOrHluS tIlab CIdIBcs
had been preferred against Supervising Archi-
tect Hill has moved several newspapers to in
innate that Perry Belmont is inspiring the
attack, and that he Is striking at Mr.. Blaine
over Mr.. Hill's shoulders. These statements
so far as can be ascertained from information
thought to be reliable, are entirely without
foundation. THE REPUBLICAN is assured by
the party who drew up the charges that Mr.
Belmont knows nothing about them and
, did not inspire them. If Mr.. Belmont
is not tho man who accuses Mr.. Hi
of corrupt connection with an alleged "gran
ito ring" or ring of contractors, and knows
nothing about the charges, he could not bC
striking at Mr.. Blaine over Mr.. Hills shoul
dcrs as divers newspapers friendly to the late
I secretary of state say. Commenting on thi
D phase of tho question, nm observing gentleman
said to the Avenue man last evening:
AZ regret very much to see Mr.. Blain,
dragged into this matter There was no occa
sion for IL. His name was not mentioned IL
the original statement of the case, and but TO
the folly of his imprudcnt and over zealou
G friends it would probably never have beer
heard of in connection Herewith"
80
One catches many broken bits of gossip ant
opinion in street car ride The tall man sa
4 himself down yesterday and said to the shor
n man:
c "Well, the Virgins catastrophe did no
q come"
\ "No, but my wife is sick in bed with a cold
and understand that the Gloucester fisher
. men, who have just got the fishery clause il
i the reciprocity treaty abrogated, don't dar
0 to venture out, and are losing the best day
4 of the season."
"Well, you wouldn't have them ventur
out and get drowned, would your"
"Get drowned? Why need they lose thei
season on his say SO? Would you expect tn
u farmers in the northwest to do no planting
II some id Virgins or Muggins should proph
esy grasshoppers9"
The grasshopper argument stopped the con
yersation for awhile until the silence becam
so heavy that tho driver seemed to expect an
:" other fare, wlsaa the short man started an
j. other conversation.