Year: 1875

pie who were here | hope before you leave here you
will bore hole in these barrels OF sugar and taste H.
and see what kind OF sugar It and that you will open
sack of coffee and examine III ana II there y any
hour IKE what we got here look al ~ u was iu @ oi
mice holes / hope when you get back to my Great
Father you will make good report OF TINS ana see
that we got some white sugar instead oi yeio" sugar.
ana good provisions hereafter.


Governor FLErcHgR-We want to talk with two or
three Of you by yourselves and will try to answer
as best we the questions you have asked We want
TO talk privately with Red Cloud and a few others
whom he may choose to bring with him. before We so
away from here, whenever 1t suits their convenience


Red Cloud Little Wound and other prominent chiefs
then came forward and shook hands with the Commis
sioners, and the Council closed


COUNCIL WITH THE ARAPAnoEs AND cHEYENNEs


1t turned out that the Arapahoes and Cheyennes,
who not present the council with the Sioux
sired to be heard in their behalf although they
wished to bo expressly understood that they all are
friends and live hero people Accordingly pow
WOW arranged for them this afternoon The chiefs
assembled IN the agents Office and Governor Fletcher
stated in substance what no had said TO the Sioux
Black Coal responded for tho Arapahoes and Little
Wolf for the Cheyennes They said among other
things, which not material that they wished 10 re-
in this section of the country, wished to wear
clothes like the white mems and wished facilities for
raising stock and farming.


THE


Previous to tho powwow there was a fox dance by
the Ogalala Sioux In general appearance the scene
somewhat similar to that of yesterday One essen
tal difference, however, the use Of firearms in the
display of this afternoon Most of the participants
those who had danced the Omaha, and the fash
ions have not changed materially since yesterday The
prevailing coors the costumes were scarlet and yell
low. The wardrobe of some of tho young warriors was
extremely scanty, and while in young men
head In foot wit
of lnery, in others tho only dress dirty
shirt and a revolver. American Horse grand mas
ter of ceremonies, and carried out the programme to
the satisfaction of everybody


TIE WORK COMMISSION.


The Commissioners have been hard at work cxamn-
ing into the specific and general matters inrusted to
them. But there many obstacles to be encountered
by this or by any commission appointed for similar
purpose Ono of the chief OF these, and one that
showed itself ut the outset is the difficulty OF obtaining
trustworthy information upon which to form an inte
gent judgment OF the actual condition OF affairs 1t is
universally believed by all, except those who sup
posed belong to the Indian Ring (of whoever that
charmed circle may be composed that there irrcgu
ares and wrongs pracsed both upon the Indians and
the government by interested partes that the govern
and its agents imposed upon by the Indians
whose craness is Characteristic, and whose dishonesty
is proverbal; and that Indian agents open to mis-
representation by unsuccessful contractors and others
who may be influenced by personal motives. If heads
of departments, contractors, Indian agents, and al
those who supposed TO constitute the Indian Ring
really in colusion in order TO defraud the
red men and the government for their
emoument it is not an easy thing to expose
conspiracy OF such magnitude, and so say these Com
mssioners have undertaken to investigate an intricate
and important subject and they have set to work in
earnest with the evident intention, so far US their in
structions will permit, OF making their investigation
thorough and exhaustive. Already they have exam
ned nearly 100 witnesses, and one knows how many
they intend TO CALL for they possess the excellent
virtue of keeping their own counsel


PROFESSOR MARsH's CHARGES.


The specific charges of Professor Marsh these
have confidence whatever in the sincerity Of tho
Secretary OF the Interior or the Commissioner of Indian
Affairs when they publicly announce their wish and de-
termination to correct the present abuses in Indian
management, because have to know that they
have long been aware OF these abuses and made
sincere effort reform them. In all my intercourse
with these Two officials their object has manestly
been to lind out, not so much what the frauds actually
were the extent Of my Information concerning the
to prevent by every means IN their power all pub
lcity or exposure OF them The evidence now in my
possession reflects unuvoraby on both Secretary Del
ano and Commissioner smith.


In the statement which accompanies this letter
have given the results of my investigation into the as
fairs at Red Cloud Agency, the largest and most mpor
in the West These results clearly indicate both
nisnanagement and fraud, especially in the following
particulars:


Frst-The agent J. J. Savile, Is wholly unfit for his
position and guilty OF gross frauds upon the Indians in
lSecond-Thc number of Indians at this agency has
been systematically overstated for purposes which
only contemplate fraud


Thiyd-The last issLe of annuity goods, which wit
nessed was suspicious transaction, and, in part ut
least, fraudulent.


FourA-The beef cattle giIen to the Indians have
been very INFERIOR owing to systematic frauds pracsed
by the agent and beef contractors


FVM-The pork issued to the Indians during my
visit not suitable for human food


.Srh-rhe Hour very inferior and the evidence
OF fraud IN this article IL conclusive.


.SeUenM-lhe sugar and coffee issued were not good,
although better than the other supplies


Eighh-Tle tobacco observed rotten and of little
no use to the Indians.


NiaA-ln consequence of fraud and mismanagement,
the Indians suffered greatly during the past winter for
want Of food and clothing.


Ien0.-The contract ior freight from Cheyenne to
Red Cloud Agency was ffauduent as the true distance
Is l45 miles, while the contractor was paid for III
miles.


The Commissioners have taken large amount of tes-
tmony bearing upon the allegations, and covering most
OF the points in Professor Marsh's pamphlet. They
have looked at the supplies and the mode OF using them
still engaged in examining persons and papers
in connection with tho past management of affairs at
Red Cloud Agency. Dr. Savillc, the agent, called
before the Commissioners to-day and previous to any
oral examination presented the following answer to
Professor Marsh's charges they affect himself
and his administration at the agency


sAvILIE's ANSWER.


CHARGE THE INDIAN AGENT Ar RED CLOUD AGENCY.


IN reply 10 this charge viii say IN regard TO Red
Clouds and Professor Marshs opinion to my vacil-
latug character have nothing to say but leave TO
the Commissioners to apply 10 those who have had bet
ter opportunity Of asccrtalning as to my competency
Professor Marsh had little opportunity and did not take
advantage OF what hc had To ascertain anything about
my method Of dealing with Indians us to whether there
h. any system Ia my management o! affairs here As
the occurrence To which he refers IN this charge
which lac calls act of folly" refer tO my letter TO
the Commissioner Of Indian Affairs Of October
-, 1874 Upon referring my abstract OF is
sucs | lind what Professor Marsh characterizes
fraud is clerical error in the clerk placing the fig
opposite the the Sth instead OF the lst OF
November, 1t should be- Furthermore, that tho
forms upon which these abstracts male do not and
represent all the connected with the issue
OF provisions, and "a matter OF act that all the
issues made upon the first dates; but as II Will be
n..rAnl lL.A llln IrnIu Im sIL In lhn l!Ih nMl