Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-04-10
TROUBLE FOR INDIAN AGENT
Allegation Against Mr.. Clements oi
the Santec Agency.

Cham begIain, April 5.-The Santee In.
dams a few days ago received $40, 900 ir
cash. This Is the first installment OF
500, 900, which the government is pay
ing them in lieu Of COWS, horses anc
wagons which they were TO receive a.
part payment for their share in tht
Great Sioux reservation, which was
opened to homestead settlement in 1885,
under the treaty of 1889. The balance
will be paid to them in 5000 payment;
every two weeks. The manner Of dis
bursting this money among the Indians
has resulted In charges being MADE
against the government officials thal
may be the subject of an investigation
by special agents of the interior depart
mcnt. Indian Agent Clements, In charge
OF the agency, Is the principal person
against whom the charges or assertions
are directed. The trouble was com.
menccd by a communication printed II
the Niobrara Pioneer, In which the IN
dian agent was severely arraignrd and
accused OF being in league with the
"staudcrs-in," who, il Is alleged, art
systematically rObbing the Santee In
dams. The principal charges are that
the Indian agent induces the Indians
when short Of money, To borrow from
his son, who charges an cXorbitant rate
Of interest, and owe the principa.
by its being deducted from payments
due the Indians; that the agent also re-
cclvcs a rake off from the post trad
er's store At tn agency, which does -
credit business with the Indians, recclv'
ing the amounts due, it in the same
manner as the money loancr. the
amounts due the Indians are paid by
checks issued by the agent. n reporter
Of the Niobrara Pioneer witnessed the
payment of $780, 600, and said thnt a.
each Indian received the check he went
over 10 the traders store, where a civil
ian friend of the indian agent was on
hand with his accounts and currency.
When the interest was figured out ioi
the paymastcr A slip was handed to hin
by the trader, and the amount alleG @
TO be due the trader was forthwith de
Quoted from the amount of the indiana
check. An agency employc was present
to represent the interests Of the agents
son. or course, the "plymastcr," who
lives In a town near the agency, was not
cashing checks for the mere love OF II
and it was not strange that out OF the
/ HGNV DtAN lll'lAA ~ a. iaN'''a' 1880
them walked away with not more THAI
So or sc in their pockets. Ed a. Fry, ed
itOr of the NiobTarI Pioneer, besides
printing the communication before re
| ferrcd to, also ~cditOrially criticised the
Indian agent because he did not pay
the Indians In cash instead OF in checks,
maintaining that IL this was done and
the agent would exercise the power and
influence he possesses by virtue of his
office, he could in a large measure pre-
vent the Fleeing of the Indians when
they receive their allowance, and also
the %exorbitant charges made for goods
that were purchased on time. After the
publication Of the communication Agent
Clements called on Editor Fry, and
"pronOuncing the statements IN the com
m%unicatiOn as "A series of malicious
~falsphoods, demanded the name of the
person who had written IL. This infor'
nation was withheld by the editor, who
claims that the communication closely
agreed with reports that had come t.
him from trustworthy sources that coulc
not be |impelchcd. He also intimateS
that later developments may rcvea
things that the agency people may
not wish to see i'm print. BE that as II
may. there are those who insist that
Agent Clements is entirely guiltless OF
the serious charges made against him
and in justice to him 1t is probable thai
an Official investigation will be the re
suit.