Year: 1875

perfectly fair and legitimate They say that II great
frauds in weight have been perperated at Red Cloud
similar frauds have been practised all the other
agencies and this requires that they should
find that all those six agents their clerks and
assistants, the contractor and his associates,
assistants and herders combined to cheat both
the Indians and the government, and that all shared,
directly or indirectly in the benefits OF the fraud II
may be accordance with the OF present popu
Lar feeling to adopt this conclusion; but, dealing
they do with the proofs they forced say the
facts do not support it. They came to the same
cuson with reference TO the contract for the present
year Referring to the contract of 1Sf3-74 the
Commission find that 1t is not only possible but
practicable to realize the net profits shown without
course TO fraudulent means, and moreover they are
convinced that during the years in question all cattle
were received and recepted for al their actual weights
and numbers As eflecua answer to the complaints
concerning small aud lean cattle it is proper TO state
that is for the interest OF the contractor to buy cattle
which large and in good condition possible,
nasmuch he purchases them by the head and sells
them by their weight


In this connection reference is made to the report OF
the Bishop Hare commission, which investigated the
Affairs of Red Cloud agency in 1873 That commission
took particular pains to qure into the quality and
weight of the beef furnished during that fiscal year.
The testimony of many witnesses and the personal OBJ
servaton of the members OF the commission convinced
them that the cattle had been remarkably excellent in
quality, size and condition, and that their average
weight the whole has been considerably above that
required by the contract The high character of the
gentlemen composing that commission renders their
testimony OF great value and Importance Inspector
Bevier who made subsequent investigation came to
a similar conclusion. With reference TO the poor
appearance Of the cattle which Professor Marsh
the l4th Of November, 1874 the commission find that
they appeared gaunt and rough, owing 10 the ncem-
ency Of the weather and TO the fact that they had
been driven a long distance in a storm with
out food or water Agent Saville's statements con-
corning the weight OF those cattle, and which
Professor Marsh contradict are corroborated by the
testimony of Bishop Hare and other evidence or the
issue of May 4 1875 while IL appears that the cattle
not equal TO the average there is evidence to
show that any fraud practsed upon the Indians
the Government Professor Marshs charges of fraud
growing of system of stampeding entailing great
losses on the Indians and government are found
| TO be based also upon information only, and
personal knowledge, which information Is found TO be
incorrect The statement in Reshaw's certificate that
cattle which had been stampeded and returned TO tho
contractors herd, driven to the agency and
cepted for a second time has not shadow Of founda-
ton except In the fact already stated that $50
turned but not recepted for second time


In concluding this branch OF the subject the
mission say that notwithstanding their careful and
naustive investigation, they found no sufficient evil
dence TO justify the conclusion that fraud had been
committed by the agents or contractors yet they
persuaded that with the present system u Ia possible
for corrupt agents and contractors to combine and de-
\ fraud the government and the Indians The commits
\ sion recommend, additional check, that the de-
livery of beef be su2erintended by officer detailed
for the purpose under the direction OF the Commisary
General OF the army.


/ with reference to the alleged double payment of
$4,000 contractor Morrow for cattle delivered at
4 the Grow Creek agency in November, 1870 which
pressed upon the attention OF the commission by Pro-
fcssor Marsh during the investigation though not in
cludcd in his communication to the President the
mission find that the rregularity which the charge
based grew out OF neglect on the part Of the agents.
the cattle being received and receiped for by out
going agent and not cared for by the incoming agent
on account Of which many lost to the govern
ment Morrow denied that he ever received his pay
twice. and there is evidence tending TO show that in this
4 he correct AS soon as the matter came TO the
attention Of the present Commissioner of Indian
Affairs he instituted thorough investigation and
caused SUIT be commenced against Morrow for the
recovery OF the price Of the cattle 1t finally
promised by Morrow delivering the same number of
\ bounds that was represented BY the voucher There
can be no doubt that the Commissioner Of Indian AZ
fairs acted with judgment and discretion in view OF the
peculiar condition of the parties and the embarrass-
with approval of the United States District Attorney
for Nebraska and the Attorney General Of the United
States.


FRAUDS IN PORK


Professor Marsh charges that the issue OF pork the
4 18th OF November, 1874, made in careless and
sloveny manner and that the pork itself was unfit for
1 food


The Commission found that the mode OF issuing was
rude one, but that substantial accuracy insured
by the watchful oversight Of the persons most directly
Interested With reference to the second point all the
testimony goes show that Professor Marsh mis-
taken supposing the pork TO be DID, or that any
siderable portion Of IL damaged The statement
quoted from Red Cloud that he believed some





trivial for serious notice II is OF those childish
and irresponsible complaints which Indians in general
and that chief in PARTICULAR are prone TO make 1t is
parallel with the comp aint made by OF the Indians
that the pork spoiled by the water In the barrels
i and to the statement OF one OF spotted Iaus band
that the hlsdes covered with the graves OF
their children who had died from eating sugar While
regard 70 the principal charge there is evidence
that any considerable part OF the pork was otherwise
than sweet and wholesome the proof is clear
that It Of an inferior grade. The Com
mission are fully convinced that 1t was fur
nlshed in pursuance OF deliberate and premeditated
attempt defraud both the Indians and the govern
ment Tho rreguarty Of this transaction reflects un
favoraby on the contractor, j. W. l. Siovens and the
Inspector f. X Threlked The advertisement inviting
bids called for grade known TO the trade as pork
but by clerical the word 'moss omitted in
the contract which simply called for pork After the
delivery the first 200 barrels Sovens took advantage
| known TO the market THIS lot consisting
! of coo barrels, the inspector induced to
pass When tho pork arrived and tho
agent discovered that it unfit for use he promptly
communicated the fact TO the department. While Com
missioner Smiths vigor and promptness in dealing
with this matter his attention called TO
1t leave nothing to be desired the Commission cannot
acquit him of responsibility for the Of the clerk
By which the fraud of Sovens rendered possible
Amid the almost numberless details with an
important bureau there must be many that cannot
~tohe under the Immediate scrutiny OF the chief
officer but II would be nadmissble TO regard the
preparation OF contracts which involved the expendi-
ture Of public funds Of them. The matter was
tractor by the latter furnishing 81 100 worth OF bacon
at the agency wheTo the inferior pork was delivered
with regard TO Mr.. ThreIked, who passed the pork,
the Commission recommend that his services as
inspector be hereafter dispensed with and that Mr..
slovens be excluded from all participation in future
contracts with any department OF the government


FRAUDS FLOUR


Tho evidence obtained bearing tho alleged inferior
quality Of -four at Red Cloud Agency shows that
twenty-seven sacks which had been condemned found
their way TO the agency in some way not explained
and thai In September 1874, Of the -four which
Major Long was directed to inspect was slipped
through without inspection in some manner thai he
could not ascertain. Tho sample which Rod Cloud
placed in the hands Of Professor Marsh In
ierior to the vIlest -four that reached
tho agency. In the opinion OF the Commits
sion the character Of Red Cloud should have
-. Professor Marsh careful in accepting his
nsn az true without examining for himself the
49, thaf ca, at the agency The fact that that willy
chief had made DIP us sample OF coffee tauded to here
, ois a 20 ,rsv 10 serve his purpose throws sus


1no ~ an sbs sa,ale of dodr be furnished This sus
pcion Is confirmed ~ chemical analysis WHICH The
Commission procured that sample oi nour Besides


St 10 a,i irh,,rc acd tho aasd Amounting TO eight