, 1858-03-26
OLYMPIA WASHINGTON TERRITORY FRIDAY MARCH 26 1858

the authorship of it, and in the end incul
war debts amounting to millions of dollars
which always, sooner or later, fell upon the
government | think, therefore, that tht
superintendency Of Oregon should onl!
embrace that portion of the country ives
Of the Cascades and south of the Columbi;
river, known as Oregon proper.
In reference to the district of Washing
ton Territory, west of the Cascades, the
proper boundaries have been distinctly
marked by nature-the Columbia river OF
the south, the Cascades on tho east, the
straits Of Rosario on the north, and the
Pacific ocean on the west. On the shore:
OF Puget Sound alone 1t Is estimated thai
there are $4,000 Indians and when the
extent of the shore line, embracing l,70O
miles, is taken iuto consideration, this does
not appear to be an extravagant estimate.
The late Governor and superintendent Of
the Territory, Isaac |. Stevens, certainly
held no sinecurc during his incumbency, as
may be seen. by reference to bis official re-
ports. For reasons satisfactory to the
department or to Congress, it was deemed
expedent to separate the Offices of gov
ernor and superintendent, and Of the wis
dom of this policy there can be no doubt
but neither local agent nor superin-
tendent residing in Oregon can effectually
control SO large body Of Indians, scat
tered over so extensive range Of country.
| respectfully recommend, therefore, that
application be made TO Congress for au-
thority to appoint superintendent for the
district of Washington.
OUTSTANDING INDEBTEDNESS AND ESTIMATE FOR
CURRENT EXPENSES.
Upon careful examination of the
books in the Office Of the superintendent
at Salem, have derived the following
data:
Outstanding Indebtedness under Super
intendent Stevens, up to May 81, 1857,
$73,4l6 SAP -.re -r-sl ..t
BY letter of June II, 1857, Superinten-
dent Nssmith reported to the department
this indebtedness, enclosing abstracts show
ing the different heads under which it oc-
Cured, furnished by Superintendent
Stevens. The vouchers accompanying
these abstracts were retained in the Office
as precaution due to the claimants, mas.
much as they afforded the only evidence on
record Of the respective amounts due. !
have examined number of these vouchers,
and find them certified to as follows:
IL certify that the within account is cor
rect and Just, and that the articles were
necessary for the Indian department. serv
ice; that the prices are reasonable, and that
there is due name Of claimant therefor
from the United States So
~ = ISAACi /. STEVENS.
Governor and SHpe1t Indian Affairs"
The face Of the vouchers, however, shows
an actual payment, and an acknowledg.
ment of the receipt Of the money, That
no such payment was made is shown by
the certificate The transmission Of vouch.
ers like this TO the department might be re-
garded as violation Of the Independent
treasury act. ia .tioi ret 5sad.taaf r.si
-H-should be observed that the above es-
timateNsf $73,4l6.S4, due under the super
intency Of Governor Stevens, does not EN-.
brace the accounts Of John Owens, special
agent for the Flat Heads; Craig, sab.agSnl
for the Columbia river district; Robey,
special agent for the Yakimhs; Yantis,
special agent for the Indians Of CoIville
valley, and probably others not known to
me. iaiJll Mnt gqI
The accounts Of these agents had not
been received at the superintendent's Office
when l examined the books, consequently
there was no data upon which to base nn
estimate Of the additional amoont due. II
is probable, however, that it will not ex-
ceed $4,000. s. =.
The estimates furnished by Superinteh-
dent Nesmith Of aceruing liabilities for the
Territory Of Washington, intending the pay
Of agents, general aud Incidental expenses,
restoration and maintenance Of peace, aid
ing the Indians to procure their Subsistence,
purchase Of presents, pay Of necessary EN-
ployes, and ful6lment Of treaty stipulatiobs,
amounted 10 $5l, $50, making, with fho
previous Indebtedness, as far as could be
estimated, $685. 1866 81 or this amount
there has been paid out Of remittanees
from the department, up to September 30,
only $I9, 500, for which vouchers are on
file in the Office Of the superintendent.
The outstanding liabilities in Oregon up
to June 3O,lS57, as estimated and reported
by the different agents, are $l76,5ll go (
When the purchases were made upon
which these liabilities occur, It was the
practice Of the agents TO take informal
vouchers, and give due bills or certificates
for the sums due Some Of these vouchers,
which were forwarded to the Office by the
agents, were transmitted, with the ab-
stracts, to the department, but for the most
part they are still held by the agents as
collateral security for the Indebtedness in
Cured by them on government account =
The superintendent states that upon coming
into Office he found the public business in
this branch Of the service in so disordered
a condition that he was at loss what
course to pursue. He soon saw the evils
to which this credit system would lead, and
the impracticability OF obtaining an adjust
ment of tho acconnfs Of the office haSad