St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-09-17
PINE RIDGE AGENCY.

over Two Thousand Mythical In
aians Carried on the Rolls at a
Cost of $50 Per Head-.A Big swim.
die.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 15.-Indian Com
missioner Atkins gives publicity to some
startling figures in regard to the Pine Ridge
Indian agency III Dakota. There has been
an extensive publication of letters and Ale-
grams, more or less confidential, with re-
gard to this agency. Commissioner Atkins
summarizes the facts as follows:
ION entering the Office l became satisfied
that there was stealing going at some of
the Indian agencies, and that where this was
being carried out it could only be done with
the active cOnnivance OF the clerks, I ac-
cordingly adopted general policy that the
clerks of Indian agents should no longer be
selected by the agents themselves,
but should be designated by this
Office. One of the first to protest
against this new rule was Agent McGill-
cuddy, of Pine Ridge. He had clerk named
Brown whom he insisted should be retained,
and he advanced all sorts of untenable areu-
mentS about confusion Of accounts and his
1.-THE agent's) responsibility on mis- bond. all
of which were utter nonsense, because
the clerk Of an Indian agent is not
recognize in any financial trans
action whatever. I detailed for service in
place of Mr.. Brown Mr. Clark, one of the
best and most trusted clerks in the whole
department. McGillicuddy refused to
receive him, and at last became so
insubordiuate that was compelled to ask his
removal. He was removed, and an off GER
of the regular army, Capt. James
NJ. Bell, was detailed to take his
place. Soon after he took charge he also
was inducen to protest against the removal
of Clerk Brown. 1 insisted on my point,
and eventually Brown was removed and
Clark was Installed. Now see the result:
The number of Indians reported at the
agency during McGilicundy and Browns
regime was 7,l14, and their subsistence for
the fiscal year cost S249,S94. The agri-
cuiturgl implements. ETC., supplied in addi-
ton footed up further sum of SIS, 470. max
ing total OF S31S 364, or at the rate of little
over S65 for every man, woman and child.
The total number of Indians that the new
commissioner, with the aid of his new clerk.
has been able to find on the reservation is
only 4,S73, reduction of 2,241,
Thus, in this one agency alone, by the
simple change of agent and clerk an annual
saving of over S157 600 has been effected l
do not make any charges against Mr.. McGilli-
cuddy. He is out of the service; but 1 do
say, on this showing, that there is an i'm
menSe amount of the public money which has
gone to some bourne from which there is no
return.
Then, with great animation the commits
siOner proceeded to denounce the Indian
Rights association and Mr.. Herbert Welsh.
He said:
Il want you to quote me as saying that all
the attacks that have been made upon me for
the removal of McGilicuddy and his clerk,
Brown. and also the attacks that have been
male with respect to the Grow Ridge agency,
where u cOnvicte felon, who had served two
years in the Minnesota penitentiary, was en-
ployed as clerk. have been instigated by this
Indian Right association and Herbert Welsh
under the guise of philanthropy, but really
for partisan purposes.