16 



silence. Other special Commissioners of the Interior Department 

 had, likewise, reported unfavorably of this Agent and affairs at 

 the Agency. And yet this man has for the past two years, with 

 the full approval of the Department, had charge of the most im- 

 portant Agency in the West, where nearly half a million of dol- 

 lars annually passes through his hands. 



In all his official relations Agent Saville has proved himself a 

 weak man, and he should never have been placed in so responsible 

 a position. If honest when appointed, as some good men believe, 

 he fell an easy victim to the wiles of beef and freight-contrac- 

 tors of the Indian Ring, as many stronger men, agents and high 

 officials, have done before him. 



II. — Number of Indians at Agency Over-estimated. 



There is good reason to believe that the number of Indians sup- 

 plied with provisions at Red Cloud Agency has been largely 

 over-estimated, resulting in extensive losses to the Government. 

 According to the Provision Returns of Agent Saville for the 

 fourth quai'ter of 1874, which he rendered to the Interior Depart- 

 ment, there were 15,117 Indians who received rations at the 

 Agency, Oct. 1, 1874. The same official document states that on 

 Nov. 8 (the day before my arrival), there were 12,351 Indians 

 fed at the Agency. I was informed by the Agent, and other 

 persons immediately connected with the Agency, that two or 

 three thousand of these Indians belonged to the Northern tribes, 

 and were encamped within a short distance of the Agency, on 

 the north side of White River. Agent Saville subsequently con- 

 firmed this statement in an interview with Rev. S. D. Hinman 

 and myself, in Washington, May 31, 1875, and stated, also, that 

 some of these Northern Indians received Annuities at the annual 

 issue, Nov. 12, 1874. A few days after the issue of Annuity 

 goods, when about to start with my expedition across White 

 River to the northward, I was informed by the Agent and others, 

 that the Northern Indians were still in camp there; but on cross- 



