Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-04-06
BLISS NOT SATISFIED
has ORDERED ANOTHER BALDWIN
INVESTIGATION.
FIRST REPORT VERY SEVERE.
CHARGED CAPTAIN BALDWIN WITH
NUMEROUS MIsDEEDs.
Carelesxness In Spending Indian Mon-
,ey, Questionable Financial Deals
and Drunkenness Alleged.
Mr.. Wright to Make
the InyestigatiOn.
FIRST REPORT VERY SEVERE.

Washington, April 5.-(Speciai0 Secre-
tary Bliss of the interior, has received the
report on the Anadarko agency, made by
Inspector Mccormick. This report was or
dered by Secretary Francis and while II
covers the subject fairly well. there are
features concerning which additional intor-
nation is desired, and as result the sec
retary this morning directed that Inspector
]. George Wright make report on the
same agency.
The character of the report in hand is
largely responsible for ordering second
investigation. In the face of the astound-
ing presentation of facts in the McCor-
mick report, General Miles still insists that
Captain Baldwin, who is agent. has been
misrepresented. General Miles has known
Captain Baldwin for some years and he
gives 1t as his opinion that the captain
should not be condemned on the one re-
port made by Inspector Mccormick.
The report submitted states that Captain
Baldwin paid more for cattle to be given
the Indians than the same grades were
selling for at the time; charges that in
all sorts of deals wherein Indian money
was involved he was uniformly careless. to
the detriment of the Indian fund. The
point is made that the agent SO far has
never made a financial point in favor Of
the Indians.
The report contains evidence to the ef-
feet that the agent went into a scheme to
condemn a good $4,000 school building and
wanted to erect $4,000 building, the new
building to be so located that it would con-
form to the joint ideas of Captain Baldwin
and Captain Hugh j. Scott, of Fort Sill.
Financial designs are attributed to Captain
Baldwin in this connection, more so. in
fact, than a desire to supply the INTEL
lectual demands of the Indian youth.
1t is also shown in the report that Cap
tain Baldwin evaded paying a personal
Judgment of $780, secured against him at
Ell Reno, by claiming that certain property
attached belonged to the government, when
in fact it did belong to him and was liable
for levy.
The evidence of Captain Clayton 8. Bur-
banks and Lieutenant NJ. E. Saville, of the
Tenth infantry, stationed at Fort Sill, is
given in the report, to the effect that
Captain Baldwin, for long continuous
period of time, was unfit for duty by rea-
son of liberal indulgence in strong drink.
This is offered by way of showing that
he should not be retained as agent.
A few pages of the report, which, by
the way. is made UP of ss3 pages, it de-
voted to the lease question in the Kiowa,
Comanche, Apache and Wichita reserva-
tions. The effect of this has been to in
duce the secretary not to lease the Wich-
ita reservation, but to open the same to
settlement. This has blocked the game of
the Hoke Smith coterie of thieves. who
stole that section blind during the last ad-
ministration. This part of the Mccormick
report was combatted by the Cousin
Cobb" outfit. who paid cent per acre to a
cousin of Hoke Smith for all leases ap-
terror. as shown by fac simile of one
of the contracts, printed in The Journal
This outfit hoped to be continued in the
tha bo,s sfa,, asiae TIE enany mas IS SET See
lands to settlement is now the logical and
only thing to do.
1t Is understood that this matter will
be turned over to Assistant Secretary
Ryan, who is acquainted with the sub
ject. The belief is entertained that the
settlers will be preferred and the lands will
be opened to settlement.