Year: 1875

THE COMMISSIONERS CONCLUDING THEIR RE-


PoRT-wHAT THEY THINK ABOUT BEEF CON


TRACTS.


The commission appointed 70 investigate the coRdi-
ton OF affairs the Red Cloud Agency still at the
Fifth Avenue Hotel hard al work preparing their
port They expect to complete their work by Satur-
day, when copies viii Immediately be forwarded to
President Grant and the President Of the Board of In
dian Commissioners The members Of the commission
appear be thoroughly satisfied with the result OF
their trip and experienced very little difficulty OBJ
tanng the attendance Of the witnesses they desired TO
examine. The printed testimony win make about 800
pages book FORM and the report based the facts
embraced therein.


HERALD reporter held long interview yesterday
afternoon with some Of the members ofhe commission
The beef question consumed considerable portion o
their time and, IN course Of conversation, Governor
Fletcher stated that they we're prepared to make a
very fun report that subject they had thoroughly
sted the business % examining drovers as TO the
price Of cattle Texas the Of driving them north
OF the Platte and other Incidental expenses They
have examined and weighed the cattle AZ Red Cloud
Agency and also inspected the main herd Of from 10 900
TO 20 900 head from which the agencies arc supplied.
The cattle appeared IN good condition, and evidence
discovered that gave any Indications Of fraud They
also investigated the present contract which given
ia Mayberrv the lowest bidder at ~ 46ts per hundred
on the hoof and which Is being filed by the Bosler
Brothers, From the evidence elected it appears that
Maybcrry drove large herd Of cattle North and failing



GOVERNMENT CONTRACT


at the above figure and u was accepted lie then Of
tered TO sell the herd 10 any who would nll the
contract, as having bought them on credit lie could
afford to wait for government vouchers and no one
would advance money stock grazing m an Indian
country where they liable to be stampcded at
any moment The BOslcr Brothers forward
and bought the herd paying $50 for steers and Sl2 for
cows and filing tile contract They were the
only parties who could afford to pay down $500 600 for
the stock and wait Tor the payment II came ~ the
government vouchers some OF which VIII not be paid
before next July Investigations also showed that the
Boslers had the OF herding and driving cattle
80 thoroughly systematized that they could do tho
business at less cost than any other parties


One Of the Commissioners stated that when he went
West he felt very against every Que connected
with beef contracts be convinced there 1ef6
gigantic frauds in that department Even when out In
the West he avoided all the beet men as much MS pos
sble bqt nov he feels satisfied alter the thorough in
yesiIgaon they have made, that beef contracts are
honestly filled and profits are not enormous considering
the capital inYestea and the risk at stake


On the whole, the majority OF the charges preferred
by Professor Marsh have not been subsantiated but
rather glaring irregularities have been discovered
in the connection with pork and ireghting contracts
II Is understood that the resignation OF Dr. Saye has
been accepted and now man appointed in his place
The commission will probably cxonerate DR.. Saville
from any charges of fraud but the department
for appointing man thoroughly incompetent The
agent al Red Cloud should be Of good executive
ability and capable or governing Indians instead or az
lowing them TO govern him. Governor Fletcher smoke
very strongly on the management Of Indian agencies
and the general policy now In force The Governor
VIII probably furnish the Interior Department with
useful suggestions the subject.