Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1888-11-01
ANCIENT HISTORY.
AlHDakota Indian agent swindle Baci
ia the EARLY TwentHes.

AeDakota Indian agent Swindle Back
ia the EARLY TwentIes.
Washington special: One OF the
present administration is @ r. Risley,
who ia Unired States marshal for soosh-
ern California, with headquarters. at Les
Angeles. Some one interested in the
record of the democratic officials has
dug out an old report selatl7e to the
claim of Frank d. Ystes and Others,
who asked the government to pay them
$l4.675 SO. This money was earned in
removing the Indian property and sup
plies belonging to The Whetstone
egencits from White River, Oak , to
iheis new reservation in the same ter
ritory IN the years 1878. The evidence
secured by the forty-sixth congress was
TO the effect that while Yates and the
others Interested performed the work OF
freiehtine the supplies IN question ct
the rate OF q cent u pound, they were
never paid, but that D. h. Risley, who
was then agent for the Indians at the
Milestone agency, entered into q Gon-
spireey with Henry Graves. physician at
the agency, to defraud the government,
and lssued vouchers for 49,. 54I,SS in
stead of $~l46,75.85, which was the proper
amount. The connection OF Risley with
this attempted fraud was fully substan-
tiated, and in July, 1875, a con mission
was appointed, with Ex-Governor
Thomas G.. Fletcher, of Missouri, as
chairman to Investigate the affairs of
the Red Cloud agency, the report OF
which is the following in relation to the
MILESTONE esency:
yates and the men who actually did
the work of moving the agency acted in
good faith, so far as [ was able to learn
from the examination of the mon who
were about there ct the time. They
took Their teams and hired and paid
their men to do the hauling; this they
did relying upon the authority OF the
agent to employ them. The agent repre-
sented the government. and the men
who did the actual work knew that he
had contracted with Graves only after
they had completed the work OF moving
the agency to the mouth of Beaver
creek. They thought they were working
directly for the government. The
evidence / had satisfied me that
only when the work was done were they
informed that Agent Risiey had let the
entire contract to Graves. and that q
voucher had been given Graves for the
whole WORE, and perhaps for more, too,
aud thRt they must look to Graves for
their way. +. D. Yates, Todd Rands:l,
Raymond and Others, who did the haul
ing, worked in good faith for the govern.
ments and the government got the bene-
ut OF their labor, and ct q price which
Was shown to be reasonable and fair.
The department refused to pay Graves,
and properly refused TO pay him. But
Yetcs and the men who did the work
would be able to recover all they claim
IN any our upon q quantum merritt as
against an individual standing in the
place of the government. The denial
OF their legal and equitable rights to
Yares and the men who worked there
for the government is not only q wrong
OF which the government ought not to
be guilty towards its citizens, but is q
policy which has cost millions. What
wonder that no man will work for the
governments as cheap as for o citizen
when be is liable 20 be treated as these
men have been? The government never
paid anybody for this work.
Another member OF the commission
reported at the same time in the follow
ing language:
'The commissioners became satisfied
that the pretended contract between
Risley and Graves was q fraud
and entered into with the intent
TO get out OF the government
for their mutual advantage a large profit
on the work done by Yates and others.
There can be no doubt that the depart
ment acted wisely In rejecting the claim
Of Graves end refusing to pay one dollar
thereon. The contract was not only
fraudulent, and therefore void,but moth
ing wss ever earned by Graves nnder 1t.
Yates and others did ell the work and
earned all the paw. and were employed
by the sgent, Risley. without notice
that he was acting Otherwise than on
behalf Of the government OF the United
So.
In spile OF the fact Tint this was ell
called to the attention OF the president
at the time he made the appointment
for marshal for southern California,
Risley was appointed, and as no eight
was made on him in the senate he was
aoJ,nrraI ~ |