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

Chamberlain. April 5.-The Santee In
dams a few days ago received $4,000 ir
cash. This is the first lnstallment OF
500, 900. which the government is pay
ing them in lieu of COWS. horses ant
wagons which they Were 10 receive a
part payment for their share in the
Great Sioux reservation, which was
opened to homestead settlement in 1886
under the treaty of 1889. The balance
viii be paid to them in $20,0 600 payment;
every two weeks. The name of dis.
bursting this money among the Indians
has resulted in charges being made
against the government officials that
may be the subject Of an investigation
by special agents Of the interior depart
ment. Indian Agent Clements, in charge
Of the agency, is the principal person
against whom the charges or assertions
are directed. The trouble vas com.
menced by a communication printed II
the NiUbTara Pioneer. IN which the In
dian agent was severely arraigned n
accused of being in league with the
"standtrs-in." who, ii is alleged, are
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 eXorbitant rate
Of interest, and RECEIVERS the prlnclpa
by its being deducted from payments
due the Indians; that the agent also re-
ceiyes a rake off from the post trad
er's store at tn agency, which does .
credit business with the Indians, recelV-
ing the mounts due, il in the same
manner as the money loaner. The
amounts due the Indians are paid by
checks issued by the agent. a reporter
Of the N.ObraTd Pioneer witnessed the
payment of $50, 900, and sail that a.
each indian received the check he went
over to the traders store, where A civil
ian friend of the Indian agent was or
hand with his accounts and currency.
When the interest was ngured out ioi
the p6ymdster A slip was handed 10 him
by the trader. and the amount alleGec
to be due the trade vas forthwith de
GuctCd from the amount Of the Indians
check. An agency employe was present
TO represent the interests OF the agents
son. OF course. the "paymastor,' whC
lives in a town ear the agency. was not
cashing checks for the mere love OF IL
and il was not strange that out OF the
$500 payment to each Indian many OF
them walked away with not more thar
s. or Sc il their pockets. Ed \. Fry, ed.
itOr Of the Niobrara Pioneer. besides
printing the communication before re'
ferred to. also editorially criticised the
Indian agent because he did not pay
the Indians in cash instead OF in checks.
maintaining that ii this was done nnC
the agent would exercise the power n
influence he possesses by virtue Of his
office, he could in a large measure pre-.
vent the fleeing Of the Indians wher
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
munication as a series Of malicious
~falsehoods, demanded the name of the
person who had written il. This infor.
nation was withheld by the editor. who
claims hat the communication closely
agreed with reports that had come t.
him from trustworthy sources that could
not be ~impeached. He also intimates
that later developments may reveal
some things that the agency people may
not wish TO see in 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 it is probable thai
an Official investigation will be the re
suit.