The New York Herald Newspaper, January 27, 1879, Page 7

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS| REFORMS IN FRANCE Clearing’ Away the Mili- tary Fossils. ENGLAND TO BUY CYPRUS. Western Europe Quarantined Against the East. —_—_—- [BY caBLE TO THE HERALD.) Lonpos, Jan, 27, 1879, Numerous decrees affecting the positions of func- tionaries were signed at Paris on Saturday. They in- clude the appointment of M. Herold as Prefect of the Seine and the replacement of six Procurators General. The Paris National states that probably six Generals will be removed from their commands. The snow has almost completely isolated Paris, as far as tele- graph communication is concerned, in every direc tion except west and north. The Times’ Paris corre- spondent confirms, on the authority of a Cabi- net Minister, the report that M. Teisserenc de Bort tendered his resignation, but withdrew it when he heard that the Governorship of the Bank of France, which he expected, had been otherwise filled. WHAT EASTERN QUESTION. A despatch to the Standard from Philippopolis states that the Austrian, English, French and Turkieh members of the Eastern Roumelian Commission have adopted a motion calling the attention of their Cabinets to the obstacles raised by Russia to the finan- cial administration of the province. The Post's Berlin correspondent telegraphs that it is announced in diplomatic circles that England intends to definitively purchase Cyprus, toavoid complications arising from the nominal continuance of the sovereignty of the Sultan. A million pounds sterling have been offered, \which the Sultan will probably accept. A Constanti- nople despatch says France has advised the Porto to cede Janina to Greece. The evacuation of Spuz, in | fulfilment of Turkey’s engagements to Montenegro, is proceeding quietly. The Times’ correspondent at Constantinople says the draft of the definitive treaty with Russia has been sent to the palace for the Sultan’s approval. A despatch to the Jimes, from Constantinople, says the idea of a mixed oecu- pation of Roumelia seems to te entirely abandoned, in consequence of the objections of France and the Porte. Adespatch to the Times from Constantinople says the Greek members of the Frontier Commission have arrived at Anino. THE AFGHANS. A despatch from Calcutta states that Shere Ali's Master of the Horse, the great opponent of British influence, is dead. The Afghan troops at Cabul have been withdrawn to Sheralf to check desertions. ‘THE POPE THREATENED BY SOCIALISTS. A Times Berlin despatch says a telegram from Rome reports that the Pope has received threatening let- ters from Socialists, in connection with his recent encyclical letter, and that he intends to call the at tention of the Powers thereto. YHE BRITISH LABOR TROUBLES. Three hundred hands of Horrocks’ and Jackson's mills and of another large firm at Preston have agreed to resume work at the full re- Quetion, but Will receive advantages which will enable them to almost attain by extra work their old wages. Horrocks, Miller & Co,, the largest firm in Preston, have given notice of ten per cent reduc- tion in spinners’ and seven anda half per cent in ‘weavers’ wages. INTEBNATIONAL SANITARY COMMISSION. The Luternational Sanitary Commission, which met at Vienna to take precautions against the spread of the plague, has concluded its labors for the present. It has decided that the regulations relative to arrivals from Russian ports can, if necessary, be applied to arrivals from ports on the lower Danube. Upon the return to Berlin of Herr Finkelnburg, the German delegate, an influential commission, consist- ing of representatives of the Imperial Chancellerieand the various Imperial and Prussian departments of State will meet to receive his report and advise the government concerning the precautions to be taken. Herr Finkelnburg, the German Delegate of the Inter- national Sanitary Commission, has started for Ber- lin. The Montags Revue says Herr Finkelnburg de clared that should the plague increase Germany would establish a military cordon of 0,000 men on her frontier, and that the order for their mobiliza- tion was ready. In a Berlin despatch to the Post it is stated that Russia complains that the Austrian and German measures to prevent the spread of the plague are unnecessary, and threaten to materially cripple Russian com- merce. CABLE PARAGRAPHS. The Post's Berlin despatch says:—‘It is understood that Prince Bismarck has expressed himself in favor of a transit duty on foreign goods passing through German territory.” The United States frigate Constitution sails for home on Tuesday, The Old Catholic Synod of the Canton of Berne, by & vote of 27 to 17, has condemned the recent amnesty to the Catholic priests of the Bernese Jura as un- democratic and injurious to Christianity. Bishop Herzog voted with the minority. SUICIDE OF A GERMAN. [BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.) SPRINGFIELD, Jan. 26, 1879. George Mitech, for many years a prominent Ger- man saloon keeper of this city, and who served a short time in the Ohio Penitentiary for manslaughter, com- mitted suicide this evening by shooting himself through the heart, in the presence of his wife. Pecuniary troubles ‘and too much beer led to this rash act. SUFFOCATED BY GAS, [BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.) Davexvort, Iowa, Jan, 26, 1879. While attempting to open the skylight over the rnace in the blacksmith room of the railroad hops at Cedar en yesterday, Michael Gannon ‘was fatally suffocated by yas. DEATH FROM POISON. New Haves, Conn., dan, 26, 1879, Patrick Eagan, of Beacon Falls, who took a quan- lity of Paris green on Thursday night, died from its effects on Saturday evening. He was a member of the Legislature in 1873 and had held various local oilices, Desxpondency on account of the death of his wite and business reverses are said to be the cause of his committing suicide. Another statement is, that the poison was not taken with suicidal intent, but by mistake in the dark, as the poison was lying on & pautry shelf with some medicine he was taking. SfOCKMEN ON THE TRAIL. Cunvexsn, W T., Jan, 26, 1879. Aparty of stockmen will leave Sidney, Neb., to- morrow for Ogallala, and from there will go to Major North's ranch, on the Dismal River, Additions will be made to the party on the way, It is expected they will number seventy-five men, At Major North's the party will be joined Y 4 a det ment of sold a roceed to the Sand Hill country, south of Snake River, in search of stolen ponies, of which there are believed to be several hundred in the possession of Indians. ‘The party will be supplied with twenty days’ rations, THE IDAHO LEGISLATURE, SAN Francisco, Cal., Jan, 26, 1879, A Doise City despatch says the two wings of the lower house of the Legislature have come together and the democratic organization has been declared illegal, ‘Chore have been forty-eight ballots for the Speakership without @ choice, A compromise is luvked for to-morrow. WASHINGTON. noo wea Sabla FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT. Wasurxoton, Jan. 26, 1879, WAR CLAIMS OF “LOYAL” CITIZENS —CAsE OF WARREN MITCHELL NOW BEFORE THE SENATE. ‘The war claims business, which was discussed for a day or two in the House last week amid great ex- citement, will have its turn in the Senate this week, where Senator Isham G. Harris, of Tennessee, has brought in a bill to pay Warren Mitchell the com- fortable sum of $125,692 22 for captured cotton, ‘The story of this claim is worth knowing, for it is asample of the kind of “claims” which occupies a great deal of the time of Congress and which ap- parently never dies, It first appeared in the Court of Claims some years ago, and that court dismissed it. It was then appealed to the Supreme Court, which also decided against it. It was then presented to the first session of the Forty-fourth (the last) Congress and was referred to the Senate Claims Committee, which recommended, after a carefal examination, that it ought not to be paid. Undismayed by this threefold rejec- tion by the Court of Claims, the Supreme Court and the Senate, the indefatigable Warren Mitchell pre- sented himself and his claim once more to the second session of the Forty-fourth Congress, and this time on an occasion when but five out of the nine mem- bers of the committee were present. These five agreed that the bill should be favorably reported, but the Senate ordered it recommitted, aud once more it fell. This happened on the 2d of March, 1877, and for most people this last failure would have sufficed. But Warren Mitchell was not discouraged, He determined to try the present Congress and once more “the memorial of Warren Mitchell, of Louis- ville, Ky.,”” was sent by a patient Senate to a patient Committee on Claims, which, on March 6, 1878, once more went over the whole history of the case and once more recommended that the Senate should re- ject the claim. But now Senator Harris brought in a bill, with a minority report, recommending the payment of the claim, and on this there is likely to be a discussion this week, which makes the history of Warren Mitchell of public interest. Warren Mitchell was in 1851, when the war broke out, 2 merchant in Louisville, and a partner in two firms doing business there. In July of that year, about the time of the battle of Bull Run, Mitchell, on the pretext that he wished to go South to collect debts due him, got a pass through the army lines, and he remained in the South and within the Confederate lines until the latter part of 1864, substantially, during the whole war. While both sides were fighting he was trading, and he was so shrewd a business man that when Savannah was captured by General Sherman Mitchell managed to have lying there cottou which was afterward sold for the sum he now demands, ana to transport which cotton to the seaboard it appears that he had the help of the Contederate agents of transportation. He claims the proceeds of this cotton now as a “loyal citizen,” although it is in evidenee that in duly, 1365, he obtained from the President a “fall pardon and amnesty for all offences by him commit- ted arising from participation direct or implied in the rebellion.” And he had reason to desire this pardon, for it is also in evidence that he had not been very long within the Confederate lines when he be- came a sub-contractor to supply the rebel army with pork, and he himself uow admits that he was “for about six weeks” engaged in buying hogs and super- intending a slaughter house for this purpose. Senator Hoar, on the recital of this tale of loyalty, | said :— A citizen of a State not in rebellion got a pass, as it turned ont an unauthorized pass, but that is not very important, from a general commanding # military district, to go South and collect debts, and thereupon on that pass he went South, remained three years, travelling ut inthe rear of the rebel armies, as much at home within the rebel lines as the General of the Confederate forces, and dealt, buying at one end of the Confederacy and selling at the other, or selling at one end of the Confederacy and buying at the other, in cotton which was contraband of war, every one of those dealings being in violation of the law of war and the law of nations and of the law of the United States in such cases made and provided. Senator Harris appealed to the Senate not to reject the claim “on a cold technicality,” and in his view Warren Mitchell's sympathies and influence were from the beginning to the end of the struggle en- tirely with the Union cause, which is, perhaps, the reason why he hastened to get » pardon and amnesty when the war ceased. Senator Edmunds urged a full expression of opinion on the matter, and Warren Mitchell, havigg occupied the time and engaged the attention of the Court of Claims, the Supreme Court, two sessions of the Forty-fourth Congress and an hour or so of the Sen- ate’s time last fhursday, to say nothing of several committees on claims, will come up, it is to be hoped, for full and final discussion during the present week. THE NEW YORK NOMINATIONS—PROMISE OF A PROLONGED STRUGGLE. It now appears probable that the New York Custom House nominations will not be decided for some days and that there will be a prolonged struggle over them, Among the friends of the administration, it is asserted that a considerable number of repub- lican Senators will vote to confirm the nominations, and that there will be a vigorous defence of the ad- ministration by prominent republicans. Both sides to the dispute keep their own counsel very carefully, and nothing is certainly known as to the result. It is evident, however, that the administration people are in earnest and do not mean to be beaten if they can help it. INVESTIGATION AVOIDED. CHARGES OF DISHONESTY IN THE MANAGEMENT OF GAS WORKS—THE BOOKS SET ON FIRE TO AVOID AN EXAMINATION. [BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD] Wurntaina, W. Va., Jan. 26, 1879. Some months since an employé of the city gaa works named Graves was discharged from the em- ploy of the works by the superintendent, as he alleges, becanse he was a Protestant. To set his grievances before the people Graves caused numerous letters to be published in the city press in which he alleged that there was crookedness in the gas de- partment, and in a letter published to-day he accused tho management of the works of having embezzled $40,000 last your. URNING ‘THR, BOOKS, ‘Th@matter was so agitated as to cause talk of an investigation, ‘To-night, at twenty minutes past nine o'clock, registers and meter books were found stand- ing on end on the counter in the gas suturated with coal oi} and burning, with an oil can standing by them. Chairs were also piled up on the counter. It ix evident that the books were set on fire to hide something. The leaves of cight of the books were badly burned. A NEW STEAMSHIP LINE. [BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.) Bavtimone, Jan, 26, 1879. Boston capitalists, represented by Stuart Mecorry and Mr. Ryan, have boen here several days quictly examining the terminal facilities at the port, with a view of establishing a first class line of freight and passenger steamers between Baltimore and Liverpool. cir impres- sions of the advantages and feasibility of the scherae are very favorab!| ‘They will have erview with President Garrett, of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, probably to-morrow, in connection with the project. “LEGISLATIVE EXPENSES.” New Haves, Conn., Jan, 26, 1879. Receiver Russell, of the National Capital Lite In- surance Company, in replevening the property of the company in Washington, came into possession ot B, Noyes’ check book. The stubs show that from $30,000 to $45,000 were used for legisiative expenses in intluencmg the Connecticut lature of 1875 to prevent the repeal of the charter of the company asked for by the Insurance Commissioner. The re- ceiver reftises to make the names public, but it is known that several members of the Legislature of that year received @ portion of the money. MRS. COBB'S PETITION FOR A NEW TRIAL. Nonwicn, Conn., Jan, 26, 15" In the Superior Court yesterday counsel for Mrs. Cobb presented to Chief Justice Park a petition for a new trial of Mrs. Cobb, The chief grounds of the petition are alleged error in the charge to the jury, rejection of Floyd H. Crane's evidence tor the de- fence and admission of Mrs, Cobb's little daughter's testimony against the prisoner, The Court hulda the petition under advisement, NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 1879.-TRIPLE SHEKYr. THE INDIAN. PROBLEM. Report of One-Half of the Joint Committee. TRANSFER RECOMMENDED, Review of Our Indian Policy Since the Revolution. A RECORD OF FRAUD AND CORRUPTION The Only Hope of Reform in the War Department, Wasnrseron, Jan, 26, 1879. ‘The report of the four members of the joint com- mittee appointed by the two houses of Congress ut its last session to take into consideration the expedi- ency of trausterring the management of Indian af- fairs from the Interior to the War Department, who favor the transfer, has just been completed by Repre- sentative Andrew R, Boone, of Kentu nd will be submitted to the House at the first opportunity. ‘The principal features of the document are us follow ‘The importance of the question at issue is one which addresses itself to the thoughtful consideration of all anen Who feel any pride or just concern as to how a great government ike ours ought to conduct itself toward a once proud and powerful but now wasted, enfeebled, defenceless aud dependent people with whom we haye such relations as we cannot ignore. How shall we do justice to our Indian tribes, fulfill our duties and’ dischurge all our obligations to them? What» policy shall we adopt that will be lasting and permanent, just and humane, and which will assure the object desired, are the questions to bg sol ‘The truth is the past history of our dealings with this race is ono not creditable to us, nor one which is calculated to impress them with the beliet that their welfare, either temporal or spiritual, has entered into our minds while dealing withjthem, whatever may have beer our professions of good will toward them: but rather to impress thei with the idea thht our object is and has been to get from them all we could and to keep all we get, and the undersigned feel they are not putting the matter too strougly when they say that the history of our management of Indian affairs and our treatment of the Indians is one of shame and mortification to all right thinking and all liberal minded men, Hence itos not at all strange that grave complaints haye arisen in the public mind upon this question and that a loud demind is made everywhere that these grievous wounds shall ut least be closed if they cannot be redressed, and that some policy shall be adopted which will at least secure substantial justice to the Indians and be alike cred- itable and just to ourselves, IMPORTANCE OF ‘THE QUESTION. ‘A proper solution of what is called the Indian atta is pressing itself more strongly upon the public attention every year, and to it is one of the important practical questions which the intel- ligent representatives of 4 great people are called upon to grapple with, and from which there is no escape. Moreover, it demands the carly and ij mediate attention of Congress, and cannot, with either safety to the Indians or the houor of the government, be longer deferred, The time was when almost the entire country west ot the Mississippi River cver since the organization of our government was wild and unsettled by white men, and the Indian with the bow and arrow could there secure for himself the food necessary for his ex- istence. But this state of things no longer exists, With impatient energy and untaltering courage our people have pressed their way far beyond tho Mississippi, and step by step the red man has been driven back and still further westward, until the reflex tide is pressing him from the West, and between the upper and the nether milistones he must soon be crushed to death unless our government shall throw its arms of protection around bim. Whatever may have been our derelictions in the past, the ques- tion is, shall we do right now? ‘YREATMENT OF THE INDIANS. ‘The failure on the part of our government to dis- charge its duty to the Indians is not contined to the last tew years. Our wrongful treatment of them is coequal With our existence, though not to the same extent in the earlier and purer days as at present, During all the years past complaints have been made of violated pledges, broken promises and a lack of efficient and responsible management. In- deed, the system of management of Tudian affairs which we have pursued (if we have had a system at all) has been unequal to the demands of our’ duty; nor has it met the expectations of its instigators and advocates, And to such an extent have these wrongs been multiplied, and to such an cxtent have frauds and peculation crept into the manangement of Indian affairs, and so. gl! and shameful have these frauds become, that an indigr opinion will not longer look on with indit unconcern, but demands that these matte into and wrongs, a8 far as eager be righted, and that a policy be adopted which will contorm with the dignity and character of our yovernment and secure at the same time full and ample justice to a suffering and outraged people. That these wrongs and abuses do now exist, and to a fearful extent, we think no one at all acquainted with the facts will deny. If proof upon this point were wanting or demanded, we have but to refer to the statements of all who have investigated the question and to those most familiar with our present management and to those who are to-day the strenuous alvocates of the present system and who ask for its continuance aud seem to believe in its ultimate success, DEFECT OF THE PRESENT SYSTEM. Avery important question urises here as to the causes of these wrongs and mismanagement. Is it a wicked purpose on the part of the United States government to wantonly and cruelly inflict injury = these helpless and defenceless Indians? We not 80 beliey If not, then it follows that the defect lies in the ‘stem adopted in the management of our Indian affairs connected with the inefficiency or dishonesty, or both, of those who are charged with the carrying out of the details of this system. It becomes proper, therefore, to inquire what this system is and what are its high pretensions? What has it accomplished and what are its prospects of attaining the desired end? It is well known that in 1848 the Department of the Interior was created by law, and the whole and sole management of Indian aftairs was at once turned over to that department; and that the Indian bu- reau in that department, and under the supervision of the Secretary of that department, was more par- ticularly charged with the conduct of our Indian sys- tem. But to go back a little further into the history of this iquoation it will be found, on i tiga tion, that our system of Indian management always been virtually and in effect the sy: tem now in vogue. Eyen while it was nom- inally under the War Department prior to 1s49 the system was very much the same as now. We are aware that the gencral impression is that be- fore that time (1849) a different system prevailed, and that the change in that year to the Interior Depart- ment was a radical change in the system. But such ix not the case, and while it is true that superin- tendents and agents (being few in number) made their reports to the War Office it is also true that neither the Secretary of War nor any officer in the War Department had anything to do with the ap- pointment of these officers; nor was the War Office charged with the duty of supervising them or con- trolling them in any number up to 1834. THE CONCKOL OF INDIAN MATTERS, Our relations with the Indians commenced at an early period of the Revolutionary war, what was necessary to be done either tor defence or concilia- tion was done and being necessary no inquiry se to have been made as to the authority wader wh it was done, This undefined state of things con tinued for nearly twenty years. Though some gow eral regulations were enacted, the goverament of th department was chiefly left to executive disere tion. While it is ‘true that by the of 184 the Secretary of War was given a sort of gen- eral superintendence over the couduct of agents and sub-agents (appointed by the President), and while it is also true that by that act the President was an- thorized to select military men to discharge the duties of Indian agents, it is further true that a large majority of the ageuts selected were taken from e1vil d much the same machinery employed in the | | | | ton and future prospects, as far ay we were able to li conduct of Indian affairs as now, and hence claim that the Indian tnanagement t, as it ix at the prese Therefore whatever failures or wrongs have | time: characterized our inanagement in the past are justly chargeable to our present system, and whatever of success has attended that management should be credited to that system. Year after year large | amounts of money have been expended with a view to civilizing these People, and yet, in the face of the . We are compelled to wdiuit that failure is writ- t u every page of the past history of our efforts tn this direction, PFPROTS OF THE SYsTRM, ‘The inauguration of the “peace policy” m 1868 by President Grant, in the opinion ot the undersigned, was a virtual adinission that the Indian Bureau was incapable of the proper comluet of Indian aftairs, and was compelled, therefore, to delegate much of | its authority to other bands, Pro the slow progress which has been made in civilizing, educating and Christianizing the Indians of our to which ittee bad their atten las | | | posed upon them, it | is no room to doubt some method of dealing with this qui | from that now in vogue. We regret being compelled | to xtute that the glowing accounts of the rapid strides of the Ludians in the ways of civilaed life and their rapid march to the standard of a high civilization ve not borne out by the facts, and those who have hot witnessed the real condition of the Indians would be astonished to between these greatly exagge the facts, It seems hardly necessary to edarees | proof to establish fact tht | Hreogutarit 8 tud gross trands have crept inte know diserepancy: el statements anil brauch of the service; no one 18 found who has the hardihooc to deny that the history of such frauds is visible ou every page of the Indian management for the tast score or more of years. Indeed, so flagrant arc these frauds and. so defiant have thelr pe trators become, that it appears to be 2 notorious that a riny exists composed of contractors’ employes of the biirean and wealthy and influential persons outside, whose object is to swindle afd defraud both the government and the Indiaus, ‘The opinion entertained by the undersigued is that these frauds will forever exist, even with the iost Vigilant and scrupulous honesty which can be Lrought into the management of the Indian Bureau, because we believe the method or system of that de- paremens is inadequate to prevent fraud, however onest the head of the office may be, and’ for the reuson that the system of accountability in the de- partment is not jose enough to detect corruption, As the matter now stands there must of necessity be too much intrusted to the hands of agents for whose faithful discharge of duty we have no security save their individual fidelity and honor, which, alas! hus too often failed when put into the balance with an opportunity to make gain for themselves. EPFECT OF THE TRANSFER, Weare asked the very pertinent question whether or not the same abuses and frands would be practiced if the management should be transferred to the War Department. We think not, for a few and yery plain and obvious reasons, to wit:—Whatever else may be said of our army officers they are, asa class, men of high honor and strict integrity. Their training has impressed these high qualities upon them, and their association quires their constant observance. Every officer in the army is a check upon every other Officer, and such is the system of accountability in the army that it is nearly it not quite impossible for an officer to uct dishonestly without being — detected, and upon being detected punishment follows swittly and surely. Allowing that — these officers are very much us other men, are no beticr, no worse as 4 class (and certainiy we do not claim ‘for them any natural superwrity in this regard over other men), still an army officer holds his commis- sion for lite or during good behavior; upon this he depends for his living. it is Lis meat and drink. If, therefore, he had no higher incentive to act honestly, these are powerful reasons constantly remin ing him that ‘Honesty is the best policy With the civil agents this is not the case, They are appointed generally as purtisans, and tor a luuited time, subject atany time to removal, and are paid | small salaries and can only hope to hold the position | | for a few years at most, and hence they have not the same inducements to act honestly and fairly fhat an army officer has. We do not un- dertake to sy that the War Department is so perfect iu its management that abuses | do not occur in its administration also, but we think it compares favorably with any other department, and that fewer instances of dishonest practices have been laid to its charge than to almost epy other branch ot the public service. COST OF THE TWO SYSTEMS. Next to the question of absolute justice to the In- dians comes that of the comparative cost of the two systems, and we are decidedly of the opinion thay a ‘large amount of money can and will be saved if this transfer is made. Although the evidence is contlicting and somewhat unsatisfactory with regard to the purchase and transportation of goods and supplies, we cannot seo why the War De- partment caunot purchase as cheaply nd transport much more cheaply than the Interior Department, its system of purchase being quite as com: plete” and its facilities for — transportation greatly superior. By far the greatest expense is attributable to the frequent disturbances and periodical Indian wars, these troubles, in the opinion of men of large experience, being caused principally by the unfaiihtulness of Indian agents and others connected with the purchase, transporta- tion and delivery of Indian supplies. The tailure to honestly distribute supplies has cost the country many millions of dollars and many, very many valu- able lives. ‘Then, if it be true that army officers can perform the duties of Indian agents as faithtully, diligently and honestly as the civil agents have und are doing, and it the War Department can purchase as cheaply as the Indian Bureau, and if the means ot transportation in the War Department are so much superior, and if the sys- tems of inspection are equal, and if army officers arc not so apt to become the victims of temptation, and if we can secure a more faithful and honest administration through army officers, and thereby avoid some, it not allof the Indian wars— wo say if these or any number of these propositions be true, then who can say that we shall not save millions of dollars in our Indian management if this transfer is made, and at the same time secure that justice to the Indians the lack of which has caused so much trouble. OBJECTIONS ANSWERED. It is said by some that if the transfer is made it means the practical annihilation of the Indians. This is very untair. We could contemplate such a result with no other feelings than those of horror and dis- gust. ‘The proposition is an absurdity upon its face, as everybody knows. In case of war with the India! the soldiers do the fight ; the civil agents never; and it is but reasonable, that, of all men, the soldiers would be the last to provoke it. Again, it is stated that the Indians are making wonderful advancement in the arts of civilization, but we do not see how this progress will be retarded in any degree by simply substituting military officers for civil agents. We believe that under the proposed system the Indians will receive quite as much encouragement in all industrial pur- suits as now and that under the exactitudes of army regulations in turnishing supplies and food our in- dian tribes will enter upon a career of activity aud prosperity which has not characterized them under the present management. Auother serious objection to the present system is the divided or ‘“two-headed” responsibility which exists. This mixed or double accountability often produces contlict of opinion between the agent and the officer in command, and that concert of action is not secured which is ‘necessary to the successful operation of a complete system. ‘THE PRESENT ADMINISTRATION. It may be said in vindication of the present sys- tem that the present Secretary of the Interior and the present head of the Indian Bureau are using their best efforts to purify their service by cleansing it of the present rottenness and stench which now. sur- round it. ‘This may be true, and, so far as we know or have reason to believe, is true, and we feel that it is but just to these officers to state that we believe that they re making an honest ‘effort to purify and elevate our indian management, and we trust their efforts may be successful, as far as the system itself will allow. But with the present methods of keeping accounts with agents, to whom large amounts of money and large quantitics of goods and other Indian supplies are entrusted, we do not see how it is possible to free the service trom fraud and peculation as long as dishonest men may creep into these positions, for there seems to be no security for an honest appropriation of these large agents except the honor of the agent him- xelf which too often has been found wanting in these times of greed and avarice. With the army of we could at least haye the security of the knowledge upon his part that the price of his treachery would be his official head, and his futuro and everlasting disgrace. TRANSFERS RECOMMENDED. ‘The report concludes as follows In view, therefore, of the reasons presented, and after a careful consideration of all the circumstances Speen = question, weighing the reasons for and against hs best we can, and not unmindrul of the difficulties surrounding the question, we believe that the interest of the government and the good of the Indian will be best promoted by transferring the management of Indian affuirs to the War Department, leaving it discretionary with of War to appoint civil agents to those in his judgment, the concerned would be best secured by s ana officers of the army where the interest of the service require it. This conclusion we have reached after a patent and candid investigation of tho whole question, as far as we have boon able to understand it. Nor have we | relied alone upon the statements and opinions $ to the failures of the present system or its t of capacity ty compass this great it to creditable issue, but a ma- committee have seen with their own eyes and heard with their own ears, while among the Indians reasons sufficient, it w it no others, to jus- a their own winds every conclusion to which we have arrived. Having spent nearly two months in visiting the Indian ntry and the different Indian tribes scattered over the West, our observa- tions and personal inspection of their present condi- judge of them, haye strengthened and confirmed us in the correetness of the views enun- ciated in this report, Our object has been not to embellish and cover up the real ques- tions involved in this important inquiry propounded to us by the two houses of Congress as to what should be the action of the government in relation to the manaypment of these helpless and detenceless people; but our object in this report has been and is to make a plain statement of the facts as we under: st them andin as brief a manner as possibl We trnst that whatever course Congress may choose to pursue upon this question, such a policy may be adopted ax shall ‘secure to the Indians of our country that justice which the weaker always have the right to expect of the stronger: and that we shall recognize in all our fu- ture intercourse with the Indians the important fu ple, they are to ber vs, to be hunted down like wild beasts, but to be our care and oversight, and that the « wing we can secure to them is prote tion from the designing, thieving scoundrels and vil Jains who hang upon their borders like vultures around a decaying carcass, ready and anxious to pro- Voke them to deeds of violence, that they may take advantage of such a condition to rob them of their hoimes aud property, and to drive men, women ant children out into the pitiless storm and from that injustice and inhumanity which bas well nigh extinguished a once proud and powerful people aud has brought sham al ever: Festing disgrace upon the high pretensions of Amer- jean statesmanship, The four members in whose behalf this report is framed and by whom it will be signed aro Messrs, MeCreery, Seales, Hooker and Boone. BUTLER'S , © RAL COMMITTEE. le our aud destroyed regarded Bosrox, Mass., Jan, 26, 187 ‘The Butler State Central Committee held a mecting Saturday and announced their intention to conduct an earnest and aggressive campaign on behalf of their | they in constant danger of being washed away. candidate, “An gadress to the people hay beet: pub: ished. oo A TALE OF SHIPWRECK. SURVIVORS OF THE BRITISH SCHOONER MOERO RESCUED—THE VESSEL UPSET AND ALL EX- CEPT TWO DROWNED—DETAILS OF TERKIBLE SUFFERING, (BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.) Bavrmmone, Md., Jan. 26, 187: The British bark Romo, Captain Carroll, which rived at this port from Calais on Friday, brought two men, James Morris and John Blackett, the only survivors of the crew of the schooner Moero, Captain James Layton, who had been picked up at sea by the bark, The other members of the crew of the Moero, six in number, including the captain, were all lost. he schooner belonged at Yarmouth, from which port she was bound for St. Kitts with a cargo of lumber and fish. PARTICULARS OF THE DISASTER. Morris, who was the first mate of the Moero, yes- terday guve the following particulars of the disas- ter:—The schooner left Yarmouth December 7 last and encountered @ succession of terrific gales until Friday, the 13th, when the weather slightly mod- erated, allowing them to take their observations. "They were then in latitude 28 deg. 51 min., longitude Sil deg. 10 min., off the southeast coast.of Bermuda, On Saturday, the Mth, the weather again became heavy and the schooner was nearly unmanageable. ‘Toward nightfall the weather again moderated, and about midnight the captain and crew, who hud been on deck for two days and nights, turned in, leaving the mute and one seaman, John Blackett, on deck, ‘YHE VESSEL UPSET. About thre: M. a territic gust of wind struck the schooner, careening her to the water's edge. The ‘k load ot lumber shifted, and the next instant the 1 turned bottom upward. Morris and Blackett ded in extricating themselves from the : tting on top of the overturned vessel. Of the six men below, including Captain Layton, tne cook, uamed Williams, and Clarence Kenny and a seaman, the only one known to Morris, were all drowned in their berths except Williams, who man- aged to get out of the cabin and join the men on the bottom of the schoot A PERILOUS POSITION. ‘The position of the three men was perilous in the extrenie, the schooner being nearly submerged and The deck load of lumber became loosened and the heavy mass was repeatedly swept against the hull. Williams was struck by a picce of lumber about four A. M. carried away and drowned. The two remaining men succeeded with great difficulty and danger in cutting away the braces of the masts, when the latter fell out, allowing the schooncr to right herself. In getting from the hull, as the schooner turned, the two men barely escaped drowning. AGAIN ON DECK. When again on the deck, which was two feet under water, Morris turned his attention to his unfortunate comrades below. Looking through the cabiu win- dow they could see the bodies of Captain Layton and the crew floating around in the water. Owing to the position of the schooner they could not open the cabin door to get at the bodies of the men. They clung to the waterlogged vessel all day Sunday and Sunday night, and on Monday were nearly dead from cold and exposure. BURIAL A'T SEA. ‘They finally succeeded in cutting away the fasten- ings of the anchors and chains, which lightened the vessel considerably. The matethen lowered a rope through the window of the cabin and succeeded in drawing out the body of Captain Layton. Toward nightfall the men, now scarcely able to stand, man- aged to tie up the body in a hammock, muking a prayer over the body, pushed it just as it was becoming dark. ‘THE RESCUE. ey had then abandoned all hope of saving them- when they sighted the bark Romo, and were ed, ‘The names of all the lost are not known, but most of them belonged to Yarmouth. ‘The Moero and her cargo were owned by Messrs. Parker, Atkins & Co., of Yarmouth. OLD TENNESSEE BONDS. THE BILL FILED AGAINST ALL THE RAILWAYS IN THE STATE. NasHVILLE, Tenn., Jan. 26, 1879. ‘The bills filed yesterday in the interest of the hold- ers of the old Tennessee bonds by Edward L. An- drews, attorney, in connection with Judge George Hoadley, of Cincinnati, with Charles O'Conor as counsel and adviser in New York, have had a natu- raily startling effect. The bills are against the Mem- phis and Charleston, the Memphis, Clarksville and Louisville; the Mississippi Central, the Mobile and Ohio and the Memphis and Ohio Railroads; and at Nashville to-day agaiust,the Louisville und Nashville Railway and its branches, the South Eastern, the Central and the Southern Tennessee and Alabama; .Nashville and Chattanooga, Nash- ville and Northwestern,. McMinnville. and Man- chester and Winchester and Alabama. On Monday he will file at Knoxville bills against the East Ten- nessee, the Virginia and Gvorgia, the Knoxville and Kentucky, the Rogersville and Jefferson and the Cineimnati, Cumberland Gap and Charleston rail- roads. These bills apply for a receiver so as to col- lect reyenues to pay back interest on the bonds, some of which fall due m 1392. AMOUNT OF BONDS. ‘The amounts of bonds having a lien and outstand- ing against the roads are as follows :— Cincinnati, Cumberland Gap and Charleston, $337,000, East Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia, $2,339,000, Memphis and Charleston, $541,000, Making a total under Wilson's system of roads of $3,557,000. Louisville, Nashville and Great Southern, embrac- ing itself and branches, including Memphis, Clarks- ville and Louisville, Memphis and Ohio, Tennessee and Alabama and Central Southern, $3,169,000. Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railroad, em- bracing Nashville and Northwestern, McMinnville and Manchester, and Winchester and Alabama, $2,381,000, ‘Mississippi Central, $488,000. Mississippi and Tennessee, $105,000, lobile and Ohio, $960,000. ‘There is twenty-one per cent of accrued interest on bonds, amounting to $12,453,000, standing besides $2,433,000 funded bonds. THE NASHVILLE, CHATTANOOGA AND ST. LOUIS, In an interview with President Cole, of the Nash- ville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railway, with ref- erence to the suit, he said that there were only $120,000 of those bonds of the Nashville and Chat- tano ga Railroad outstanding. The question of the bondholders’ liens, even granting that it might be sustained, which ix extremely doubtful, could not affect his company more than the interest on that amount or the value of the $120,000 in State bonds. ‘The Nashville aud Northwestern Railroad was sold in 1871 in conformity to lew, under a decree of foreclosure of the Chancery Court at Nashville, which suit was instituted by the State, the State bondholders and all other parties imuterested being before the Court by notice and publication, some of them appearing and setting up their rights as such holders of the State bonds bought by the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad Company, now the Nash- ville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railway, which pu chave was afterward contirmed by the Chan Court, and the consideration for which the road was sold being promptly paid to the State. Tne State bondholders were before the Court rendering the de- iafter a full hearing the Court decidea that these bonds did not constitute a lien upon the road. ‘They never appealed from the decree, but permitted the property to go to sale, and the sale was atterward contirmed by the Court, which, in this case, effectually cuts them off, whether the Court decided their case rightfully or not, as I am legally advised, and this company has held adverse possession of said prop. erty wader that sale for more than seven years. THE BRANCH ROADS. ‘The branch roads owned by this company were purchased under the decrees of said Court and the istature and promptly paid for. Tho y were pure kK city in rage seventy-five cents best legat advice which do not fear this ques- pon an on the dollar. From the very 1 have over been able to get tion in any way. No bills have been filed against the ‘Tennessee and d Knoxville aud Charleston railroads, RATES. Pacite PASSENGER AND FREIGHT STATEMENT OF PRESIDENT KING, OF THE BALTI- MORE AND O1i0 ROAD, (by TELEGRAPH TO THE HENALD,) Vice President King, of the nd Ohio road, was called upon this evening am re rates eastward from Chicago. Mr. King denied any knowledge of the rumored cutting of either freight or passenger rates. There was certainly @ scarcity of cars, Which was proof that the Baltimove and Ohio Railroad was unusually busy receiving and shipping fre ight » activity is du I on most of th points the trave’ ned, thus compelling freight to by way of Baltiiuore, With ail this in Baltimore and Ohio has no cause passenger rates Mr. King states there had been no stop: | cutting, and the pool, as far as his road was eon cerued, remains unbroken. THE CARNIVAL OF AUTHORS, ‘The snecess of the authors’ carnival in Toston, as reported in the Hrnany, has greatly encouraged the ladies in charge of the proposed carnival here, A second meeting of the participants was held on Friday, and Miss Bloodgood, who is the mainspring of the movement, reported favorable progress. |The carnival will be held in April, dn the use. prence to | the charges of cutting on freight and passenger | arket | el FIRE. COLLIERY ON FEARS ENTERTAINED FOR THE WILLIAMSTOWN ANTHRACITE MINES—LARGE DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY. [BY TELEGRAPH Yo THE HERALD.] Haxeispuns, Pa., Jan, 26, 1879. The Williamstown anthracite colliery, the largest in the county, is on fire, having caught in am un. accountable manner in the top level. The engine house and machinery and about twenty mules were destroyed, The general superintendent thinks the fire is under control but great apprehensions are felt for the safety of the mine. THE COLLTERY. ‘The colliery 1# located about fifty miles from Har- risburg, in the northern part of this county. ‘There are employed in it from five hundred to six hundred hands. ‘The mines are over four miies long and two in width and the vein now being worked eleven feet in thickness. In 1876 301,000 tons were shipped from the Williamstown colliery, an annual shipment never equalled by any colliery in the country. The mine is under the coutrol of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. colliery for a dis- rds caught fire, causing great damage, ove! } eing required to pump out the water introduced to extinguish the fire, and institute necessary repairs to put it into working order. The fire now in progress will entail a heavy loss on the owners of the Williamstown colliery, even should it be under control, but the suspension would probably not be over two weeks. One of the steam engines in this city was conveyed to Williams. town to-day to assist in flooding th Commo mix OTHER FIRES. STORE BURNED BY AN INCENDIARY. (BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.) Wuextine, W. Va., Jan. 26, 1879 Yesterday morning the store of Mr. Hazlerigs, at St. Marys, this State, was set on fire and burned, The entire stock of goods and building were burned, Loss, $3,000; no insurance. FAMILY RESIDENCE BURNED. Exizapers, N. J,, Jan. 26, 1879, City Treasurer Willian: Bruen’s residence on Dimock Hill caught fire at midnight last night from the heater. The family escaped, but the house and furniture were destroyed, with the exception of the piano, carpets and parlor mirror. The loss is $12,000, and the in- surance $7,500 on the house and $3,000 on the Susie in the Firemen’s Insurance Company of Newark. A HOTEL BURNED, Scranton, Pa., Jan. 26, 1879. The Sisk House, at Nicholson, Pa., was entirely destroyed by fire to-night. Loss, $4,000; insurance, $6,000, MONTREAL MUSIC HALL DAMAGED. MonrreaL, Quebec, Jan. 26, 1879, Nordheimer’s Mui Tall was damaged by fire last night to the extent of $8,000; insured in the Ztna, Tuperial and Canadian offices. DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT ST. STEPHEN, N. B. Catats, Me., Jan. 26, 1 A destructive fire occurred in St. Stephen, N. B., this morning. The stores of the following named persous were destroyed:—J. H. McElroy, liquor dealer; Alexander Johnson, liquor deal . F. Pin der, jeweller; Smith & Murray, dry goods dealer: Andrew Dewolf, grocer; J. N. Clarke & Co., dealers incrockery: C. 0. Baker & Co., boot and shoe dealers; Miss Cavener, milliner; C. H. Smith, stationer, and George W. Sloat, boot ‘and shoe deaier. The loss is estimated at $50,000, The insurance is fut $30,000, A heavy gale prevailed during the fire. GEORGIA'S GOLD MINES. {From the Atlanta (Ga.) Constitution, Jan. 24.} While the great gold belt of Georgia is located in the mountainous region there is one of less extent, but equally as rich, if not richer, that crosses the Savannah River from Carolina about forty miles above Augusta, and seems to lose itself in the coun- ties of Lincoln, Wilkes and McDuffie. ‘The veins have been opened in various localities in these counties, and the ore has proved as rich in gold aa any to be found in the State. This interest has re- ceived quite an impulse of late, though some of the mines, especially in McDuffie (then Columbia) were worked profitably thirty or forty years ago, In Wilkes, at the Kendall mine, a five-stamp mill is already in successful operation, At tho Booker mine a five-stamp mill is now going up and will be ready for operations in the course of a few weeks. The orein both these veins is a soft slate, easily crushed with a wolb stamp. The Tale mine, at Goshen, in Lincoln county, is still richer and a five-stamp mill kept constantly running. The Ward mine, near by, has a mill of four stamps operating, with handsome results to the owners. A five-stamp millis also erecting at the Magruder mine, in the same county, making in all five mills within e few miles of each other. It is thus that the wornout fields of one of the oldest sections of Georgia are commencing to yield a rich harvest to their owners, and no doubt the discoveries will progress from to year. Among the minerals we may mention th an extensive vein of serpentine, one of the me beautiful used in the arts, has ‘recently been « veloped on Be jam Creek, about five miles fro: Washington. SHERE ALI A ear ND THE HERALD. WHAY THE LONDON PEOPLE ARE EXPECTING, {London correspondence ot the Dublin Freeman's Journal.) As Shere Ali is a very determined character he will in all probability make his way to St. Petersburg. His resolution in regard to his journey to the Russian capital is understood here in one sense, and one sense only—namely, that he received very solemn pledges indeed, through General Kaufmann, from the Czar, and that now the General refuses to carry out those promises, it is his, Shere Ali's, only resource to see the Czar in person, If the Russian general can persuade the Ameer to stay near the frontier, he will be held in reserve, no doubt, for any future emergency. We are all on the look out here for an account of an interview betweem the correspondent of the New York Henatp and the Amect, “Shere Ali, I presume?’ in Central Asia, would be a fine companion picture to “ Dr. Living: stone, I presume?” in Central Africa. HOTEL ARRIVALS. J. F. Joy, president of the Detroit, Lansing and Northern Railway Company, and Thomas Swinyard, of Toronto, are at the Windsor. Ex-Senator R. A. Parmenter, of Troy, is at the Park Avenue. 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