Year: 1875




jected by the Board OF Indian Commissioner
necessarily came before him for lnal adjudication The
original vouchers and papers upon which claims
amounting TO nearly $500, 900 were ordered by the
Secretary to be paid were carefully examined by Messrs
Fletcher and Harris Of the Commission who reported
that of them had been rejected by the Board OF
Indian Commissioners on the ground OF fraud but
mainly because Of some technical difficulty honest
diversity between their body and the Indian Bureau
upon some questions of law arising In those cases They
further reported that in instance any such
payments made without having been submitted to the
law officer OF that department and met with his ap-
prova Recurring to the payment by order Of the late
Secretary OF the Interior Of an account Of $l4,375.
claimed by d. j. McCann for the removal OF govern
and other property from the old to the new
Red Cloud Agency, the Commission say they can re-
gard tho account In other light than as iniquitous
and fraudulent but add that it might be unjust TO con
denim the hate Secretary for its payment as there no
that the certificate Of the former agent
Daniels accompanied the vouchers Of McCann


With reference to the charge OF official delinquency
and conceament Of fraud, the Commission learned
OF but three where tho attention Of the head
OF the department called TO the existence OF any
abuses and frauds at tine Red Cloud and Spotted Tail
agencies The first instance that of the presenta
tion Of the report OF Messrs Kembe and Avord which
laid before the Interior Department on the Ist
Of July 1874, and which limits its exposures to the
Spotted Tail Agency The irregularities ana corruption
there found growing out Of Agent RsIeys mismanage
ment led TO the recommendation OF a special nvesti-
CATION and the suspension OF his accounts outstanding
vouchers and certificates They also exposed the fraud
In accordance with this recommendation j. w Daniels
deputed to make the special investigation az the





Secretary Of the Interior for having entrusted that in
vestgaton TO Mr. Daniels he having lust ceased TO bs
agent at Red Cloud and could not have exposed in de-
tail the Irregularities and corruption Of hIs neighboi
without duplicating himself" The Commission cannot
in the force Of this objection. They find thai
Mr. Daniels has long held important trusts connec
tion with Indian affairs without so far appears any
assault upon his character Mr. Daniels reported
that after q full investigation he did not find
that there had been any supplies receipted foI
than received and issued to the lodges "a mum
bered by the Indians themselves. He confirmed the
rraDff chs nf he
accordingly been repudiated by the department.


The second occasion was on the report Of Samuel
walker who was sent by the Board OF Indian Comms-
sioners to investigate the affairs at Red Cloud and
Spotted Tail agencies This report highly unavor
able and the Secretary received copy oft
he appointed the Bishop Haro Commission TO
thoroughly investigate the facts embraced In the special
report Of Mr. Walker. Alter moro than months in
vestigaton they made elaborate report eXoneraeng
Agents Savie and Howard from tho charges OF fraud
and declaring the administration of their respective
agencies observing of commendation


There does not appear, therefore, the Commission
say, any Of the transactions above referred to- and
whicn occurred prior to the personal interview Of
Professor Marsh with the Secretary Interior any
evidence that this officer had been long of the
abuses of the Indian agencies without making any sin
effort to investigate and reform them.


In the third place. the Commission come to the impu
taton Of want of public zeal manifested BY the Secre
tary Of the Interior in relation TO the abuses and frauds
upon him In disposing of this delicate branch
given by ' both these gentlemen no respecting the
interview, but draw conclusion In his account tho
Secretary says he earnestly requested the Professor to
furnish HIM with such Information he had and with
all the proofs that he could refer to against the agent
at Red Cloud, which, however Professor Marsh de-
clined TO do The interview took place in the Secre
tary's Office at his request Professor Marsh his
part says he told the Secretary distinctly that If the
investigating committee was appointed he would give
the committee the specific information in his posses
sion but on thinking 1t over concluded be must keep
the information TO himself until after the committee


COMMISSIONER or INDIAN AFFAIRS.


The Commission report that they have seen nothing
in the course OF their Investigations that would lead
to any other conclusion than that the present Comms
sioner earnestly and sincerely desires to perform his
duty faithfully to the country. They have encoun-
tered transaction which casts the least shadow upon
his personal or official integrity but met with many
marked with that want Of vigilance, astuteness and
decision Of character which should belong to the head
of that important bureau. They think it nexcus-
able to permit so long period TO elapse without ascer
tanning precise distance between the railroad and
the agencies especially the contracts for freghtng
based upon agreed compensation per mile IL
was an error TO let at New York those contracts oI
wagon transportation; also to pay to Mccain the full
amount of his transportation claims while tho distance
in dispute, relying upon new contract TO cover
any possible losses 70 the government also to author
ize DR.. Saville to select an inspector ot -four at Chey
enne; also to supply pork TO the Indians instead oi
bacon, as the furnishing OF pork involves the needless
of transporting tho brine and barrels which form
one-third OF the entire weight


The Commission find however, that thore has been
improvement the Indian service under Commissioners
Smiths administration Contracts are now more faith
fully executed and the recent supplies have been OF an
unexceptonable character The temper OF the Indians
has undergone very favorable change toward pco
pie, The iron band Of tribal sovereignty is rapidly
weakening and the day has gone by when formidable
Indian war can ever again occur in this country


GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.


AS TO the policy Of the government in It's relation to
the whole Indian population of this country the Com
mission conclude there now but TWO courses left
open us-to keep them as they are at present, in
their large reservations where they are unable to sup
port themselves by agricultural labor, and where
feed and cothe them at an oppressive
cost TO them, by compulsion II need be- to
the Indian Territory or to other suitable locations
where by the cultivation Of the soil, they may pro
vide themselves amply with the means OF sub
sistence BY a recent act OF Congress
more treaties are be made with the Indians 1t is
virtual that theyare to be treated as in
dividua inhabitants Of the Republic. The suspension
OF our supplies them for three months would
the surrender Of any treaty stpuatons that might in
terfere with the fixed policy of government In the
opinion of the Commission the has arrived when
the policy oreshadowed by the act of Congress above
referred to should be vigorously enforced The Grim
nal laws of the United States should be executed the
reservations Some form of territorial gov
should be established where the
number and compactness of the Indian popu-
ation such to render 1t practicable The ndi-
vduality Of the Indian member OF the community
should be recognized and the absurd fiction OF tribal
sovereignty in which individuality is merged, should
/ be abolished


The Commission report that the efforts TO civize tho
Indians meeting with such encouragement should
lead 70 persistent effort in that direction They
press great satisfaction at the successful operation or
schools and missions, recognizing the Importance Of
intelligence and personal responsibility the frst
essentials 10 civilization The next important step is
impress upon the Indian the necessity Of individual
II
under the tribal organization fatal any advance
civilization. In this connection tine commission
ommend the creation Of the office of District Attorney
among the Indians TO protect their rights and redress
their grievances in respect to person and property,
! where the establishment Of courts among them Ia
practicable ~


The treaty provision by which tho Indian IS kept
apart from the white in his reservation it regarded
as contrary to true policy OF civilization That can
only be impaired by contact with its influences The
existing law excludes from the all persons
6 the white race except those who ready to aban-
i don civilization Itself buch examples must tend to
degrade II in the estimation OF the Indian The use OF
blankets for clothing and the tented tepes also tend
perpetuato his barbarous habits If clothing be issued
TO him At all IL should be such he could work in
bolder policy in the treatment Of the Indians specially
recommended Tho Indians believe the present conduct
ofth government dictated by cowardce and with all
our munhcence IN their behalf extending TO an annual
expenditure OF IS O0O0 900, sentiment OF gratitude
ever touches their hearts The commission look, how
ever, with disiavOr upon the recommendation Of some
4 persons that the management of Indian affairs DO
transferred to the War Department. though the exist