20 



The quantity and quality of the other Annuity goods issued 

 during my visit, I will not now discuss, but I must enter an 

 earnest protest against the manner in which the whole issue was 

 made. The entire issue for the year was made in a few hours of a 

 single November day, in the midst of a snow-storm. The Indians 

 had been suffering for want of their blankets and other clothing 

 during the cold weather which preceded the issue, and there is no 

 good reason why the goods should not have been at the Agency, 

 and delivered, at least a month earlier. 



The issue itself was made in the most careless and irresponsible 

 manner. The goods were delivered to the chiefs of bands, in 

 bulk, in a hasty manner, without any system of checks to ascertain 

 the actual amounts given or required. The only data by which 

 the issue was regulated, was a pencil memorandum in the hands of 

 the agent, who called off the quantity to be delivered to each 

 chief or headman. Hence there was no guarantee that the 

 Indians received even half of the goods intended for them. The 

 Indians watched the issue with suspicion, and several of the 

 chiefs asserted that it was fraudulent. 



IV. — HVauds in Beef Cattle. 



The frauds perpetrated in supplying the Red Cloud Agency 

 with beef cattle have been so gigantic, and so long and systemati- 

 cally continued, that it is well worth while to show how they are 

 accomplished, and who is responsible for the outrage. 



The contract for furnishing cattle to this and other Sioux 

 Agencies for the last fiscal year was given to J. K. Foreman, of 

 Omaha, and was signed by Indian Commissioner Smith, July 14th, 

 1874. The cattle delivered were required to average 850 pounds 

 for the first six months, and 1,000 pounds for the last six months, 

 and the price was $2.30^ per 100 pounds, gross weight, on the 

 hoof. It was expressly stipulated that : "All the beef offered for 

 acceptance under this contract shall be subject to a thorough in- 

 spection, and if, on such inspection, any of it fails to conform to 



