The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-06-01
INDIAN AGENT BECKER
His Official Conduct Made the
Subject of Investigation.
HIS ACCOUNTS STRAIGHT
Becker and Contractor Graves Have
Had Trouble Over Certain bitches.
Politics May Be at the Bottom
of the Examination.

special Dlspatcil 10 the standard.
Billings. May 31.--An investigation
was started here to-day which may de-
velop little and which may unearth
quite a crows nest before it is done
with. The immediate subject of in
vestigation is Agent E. F. Becker. but
Mr.. Becker's friends declare that the
investigation will not stop with him,
but will go into other matters if it
takes all summer. Complaints in re-
gard to Indian Agent Becker resulted
in sending Mr.. Dixon here to examine
witnesses and take evidence. 1t is
stated that Mr.. Becker was confronted
with certain charges and asked to re-
sign. This Mr.. Becker declined to do,
and demanded full investigation So
Inspector Tinker arrived here yester-
day from Washington, D. c., and began
the investigation to-day. There are u
specific charges against Agent Becker.
Most of them, however, are apparently
trivial in character. 1t should be said
that there is no charge whatever
against Mr.. Becker's accounts as agent,
which are admitted to be absolutely
correct.
1t is the gossip that while Mr. Becker
has been exceedingly stringent in most
cases against the admission of liuuor
into the agency, yet he has been lenent
in some cases where particular friends
were involved. 1t is also charged that
he has favored certain trading store
at the agency and that he has dscrim-
mated in favor of a certain cattle com
pany. Another charge is that he recon-
mended for boss herder of the agency
herd certain particular friend of his
Another charge is that he has not at all
times by precepts and conduct set be
fore the children of the agency the
moral and upright example which
should be expected of the reservations
agent
Another charge is that he has at va
rious times strongly intimated that Con-
tractor Graves course in regard to the
bitches on the reservation Is not all
straight and that through apparently
ldlotic extravaganza the Indians have
not got their moneys worth in ditches
Now is brought to attention another
phase of the story, which may prolong
the investigation indefinitely if Inspec-
tor Tinker decides to omake it vigorous
When the land was purchased from tile
Crows in 1890 the sum of $4,000 was set
apart to be expended in irrigating the
Crow reservation. Mr.. Graves secured
the contract for this work. and the
money is all gone. Two smaller bitches
have been constructed in a first-class
manner with excellent results The
larger ditch, which was planned to r-
rigate. the bulk of the reservation, has
not, however, been completed, and in
order to complete it and render it of
value a vast sum of money must still
be expended. 1t is claimed that Agent
Becker has intimated that the Indians
did not get their moneys worth in
Il tpJ, - tl,z
tion, on reaching this charge. may pro-
ceed to a thorough examination of the
bitches, vouchers and expenses. 1t is
understood the Indians have expressed
much dissatisfaction because the ditch
money is all gone and the bitches are
not completed Friends of Agent Beck
er declare they will insist on a thorough
investigation into the ditch matter and
they declare that Mr., Graves, through
his pull in the Indian circle at Wash
ington, is at the back of the whole in
vestigation and that the only reason
why the investigation is on is the fact
that Mr.. Becker has made some intima-
tions in regard to the bitches. Becker
declares that politics is back of the
whole thing.
Mr. Becker was formerly proprietor of
the Billings Gazette and secured his
appointment through A. l.. Babcock,
who now has a lease on the Gazette.
1t is said that Senator Carter and most
of the leading administration repubi-
cans are against Mr. Becker Appar-
emily most of the officials and employees
at the agency are against Agent Beck
er in this investigation. while most of
the Indians are apparently with him.
Within few days commissioners from
Washington will be at the agency for
the purpose of treating with the Indi-
ans in regard to the sale to the govern
ment of another slice of Crow reserva-
ton. A council of the leading Crows
and the government commissioners
win be held some day early next week.
The Grow reservation now comprises
700 900 acres. The Crows, men, women
and children. now on the reservation
do not exceed $500 people. At the rate
of 100 acres for each buck, squaw and
papoose the total would only be 400, 900
acres. 1t is proposed to buy of the In
dams the balance of 100000 acres and
open this land for settlement. Part of
the money paid for this slice of the
reservation it is proposed to use to fin
ish the bitches and complete the irriga-
tiOn scheme.