St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-10-12
ROBBING POOR 10.
Gen. Miles Roasts the Indian
Agents in His Report to the
War Department.
Several Instances Of Robbery Re-
cited at Length in Plain
Words.

WASHINGTON, Oct 11.-Gen. Miles,
commanding the department of the Mis-
souri,, has submitted his annual report
to the war department. The inspection
reports from different posts, Gen. Niles
states. show that troops are in a good
state of discipline and efficiency, and
are properly drilled and instructed.
During the year no Indian disturb
ances have occurred sufficiently serious
to call for the Intervention of troops.
Gen. Niles states that on May 3 last the
commanding officer at Fort Reno re-
ported the existence of serious dissatis-
faction among the Cheyenne and
Arapahoe Indians owing to the
deductions for so-called attorneys,
fees of $67,500 from the moneys due
those Indians in payment for that part
of their reservation Opeued to settle
ment. With a view to learning the
grounds for the discomfort, Gen. Miles
directed an Investigation to be made by
Capt. Lee. of the Ninth infantry. w ho
submitted a long report on The subject,
in which he says the final payment of
the money was tainted with misrepre-
sentatiOn, fraud and deceit, and is an
outrage upon the Indians under their
agreement.
Capt. Lee, in his report to Gen Miles
concerning the payment of moneys be-
longing to the Cheyenne and Arapahoe
Indians under their agreement with
United States commissioners of October,
1890, made to certain ''so-called at
torneys" on an alleged contract ap
proved by the secretary Of the interior.
bitterly attacks the making of the con-
rz-bi hn fro I'd nd
an outrage. Capt. Lee says that
throughout the negotiations between
the Cherokee commissioners and the
Indians and upon their final acceptance
of the terms of the commission, it was
the clear understanding of these In
dams that the entire sum of Sl,500.000
would be paid for their surplus lands.
This understanding, Capt. Lee says, is
evidenced by the statement of a men
Der of the commission.
Capt. Lee, as a result of his inveStiga-
ton, submits charges that the so-called
contract was fraud, IN that it repre-
scented only minority of the Indians
at interest; that the signatures of the
minority representation were procured
through Misrepresentation and deceit,
in that the Indians were kept in ig.
norance of the force and effect of the
paper they were induced to sign. Fur
Their. that the Indians never knowingly
authorized any attorneys" to receive
SG7,5G0, or any other part of the 81, &c.,
600 promised them by the government
United States commission, and that the
parties who received the money never
rendered any beneficial service to
the Indians which would equitably en-
title them to any part of the money.
Also that the so-called contract from
rtc fO 60 ,;
was tainted with Misrepresentation,
fraud and bribery, and is an outrage
upon the Cheyenne and Arapahoe In
dians. Capt. Lee states that the charges
he makes are based upon statements of
reputable witnesses, and while it may
be regretted that some Witnesses may
be subject Ito the untoward influence
of fear, favor or Affection" in giving
their testimony, he believes there is
abundance of good vidence to fully
sustain before any impartial tribunal
his allegations