The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-11-20
WASHING TON.
The Annual Department Reports-What
Has been Done During the Fast Year.
THF INDIAN BUREAU.

BuTtHT, yEHI,
before the Secretary of the Interior. He says:
The number of Indians now within the bounds
OF the United States, exclusive OF those IN
Alaska, is about 100000. He thinks 1t sad that
they are decreasing from year to year, and
fading away so rapidly from the nations OF the
earth. The causes therefor, as well as much OF
the misery and degradation prevailing among
them, are manly attributed TO Intestine walls,
the entailment of loalhsome diseases by vicious
whites, and the effects of indulgence in spirit
uous liquors. He thinks that large
proportion OF Indian tribes show
strong disposition to throw aside
their barbarous customs, and embrace ciVilIza-
ton, But with them, MS with all other semi
civilized peoples, improvement is slow. Their
civilization must be the work of time, patiently
and hopefully prosecuted, with liberahty on the
part of the Government and faithful and prompt
iulhlment OF all its Obligations and promises.
This work should enlist the sympathy OF all
lovers OF humanity, and incite to its practical
demonstration the divine spirit OF charity to a
much greater extent than IS now manifested.
He thinks that not as much interest is shown
now as formerly in the welfare OF the rel man
by those who once sought to bring him under
moral and religious influences. Many tribes
have neither schools nor any religious instruc.
ton whatever, though the field is large and
ready, and there is strong appeal for Christian
labor and benevolent effort. Government should
invite 10 its assistance in this humane work all
good men and all Christian societies, and
should literally aid in the support OF schools
and missions. The Commissioner says that
peace has been maintained with most OF the
marked their course towards our Government
and citizens, while they have faithfully endea-
voIed to support themselves and better their
eate sed dnS Is sad more especially o hose
have, however, been such serious difficulties
that we may be said 10 have an Indian
war on our hands. He holds that the Chey-
ennes and Arapahoes have clearly violated
their treaty promises, made scarcely year ago
to commissioners sent to treat with them. 1t is
difficult TO account for their bad behavior on
fhnr md ho Int Inn IN nDf
plupder and revenge intensified by feeling of
dissatisfaction, created, it is presumed, by the
non.delivery OF guns and ammunition promised
them by the Commissioners, but withheld
because the Cheyennes had not kept peace. The
Commissioner mbodies in his report something
OF the history OF the difficulties with these two
that the last named are likely to be drawn INTO
the general war. He fears that tue friendly
Indians OF these four tribes will suffer with the
guilty in the measures of punishment
that may be adopted by the military autho-
rites, though the Bureau has taken such pre-
caution as it could to protect the innocert. If
the hostile saVaees will not cease their war
and outrages they should be punished with
severity, and their claims upon the Government
should be declared forfeited by Congress. The
Commissioner alludes to the difficulties in Arl.
zona ard New Mexico, and says that they will
continue until the Indians are put and kept
upon reservations. He congratulates himself
upon the close of the Indian troubles in Idaho
and Dak0tah. Abiding to the ao9rs OF the
Sherman was the head, the Commissioner has
no doubt that they will yield widely benedcent
results. Mr.. Tay lor next details the work of
the year in making and ratfylng treaties with
large number OF tribes, and shows that most
of them have been carried into full effect.
Claims to the amount of about $500 600 have
| been presented tor depredations committed by
Indians in the war of 1863 and he recommends
| the appointment OF a commission TOR their
settlement. He also recommends legislation to
protect the people OF Texas, who may suffer by
|
| Chickasaws have decided to withhold the rights
| Of citizenship from the negroes residing among
them, as they were al ed to do by treaty, and
| 1t becomes the duty of the Government to
remove such negroes as desire to leave. There
tore he asks Congress 10 take action in the pre-
mises. He renews and strongly urges his recon
mendations for change in the laws regulating
trade and intercourse with the Indians, aud
closes by hoping tor such legislation as will at a
proper time briug the Indians OF Alaska within
the supervision OF the Government
CEMETERIES
Brigader General NJ. C. Meigs has submitted
his annual report to the Secretary OF War.
! One of the most interesting sections OF the
report relates TO the national cemeteries.
Attention has been paid TO gathering and Ideu-
| tifying the remains of soldiers. Tnenumber of
| national cemeteries is r. and reports nave
| also been received from 800 local, post or
| private grounds. The total number OF graves
is 3l6,2S3. of which the occupants of las. 764
have been satisfactorily identified. Tue
amounts expended for sites, care, transpor!a-
tion, and all purposes connected with, the work
TO June 80, 1868 was So, 100000. The estimated
expense of the next yeal is $50O,O00 While the
amount expended seems large, 1t must be
remembered that on account OF the numbers
who died at the hospitals and camps at the
North the work has really extended over
nearly the whole settled territory OF the
United States. The Quartermaster. General
! recommends the employment of disabled SOL
diers tor superintendents and other service
about these grounds. He thinks that the States
| should not De applied TO tor monuments, but
| that the Government should )nsider the whole
have been published, five are in the hands of
! the printer, and six more will complete the
| number. They coutain list of graves of nearly
100000 soldiers, with the record of the place
nearly 100 900 graves, which are as yet unknown,
| but which existing records may identify. Care
full records OF everything found with each body,
and of all that could serve to help to identity,
are fast decaying; stone the Quar!ermasLer.
General regards as too costly, aud he
recommends hollow rectangular blocks OF gal
Vanized IRON, tlled with earth or cement. The
Quartermaster.GeEeIal thinks that the atten-
ton of Congress should be called TO the opera
tion of the law of March 80, 1868, by which the
decision of accounting officers of the Treasury
Department Is made final and bmdiug over the
heads of departments. He says that under II
paw for many contracts has been allowed which
were made without the authority OF the depart
ment, and even against positive orders. The
report closes with remarks upon the great evil
of furnishing indians with improved arms, and
recommends that no arms be supplied to any
chase. Indians, the General says, should be
governed by police measures, not by treaties.
REPORT OF tue SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC
BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS.
Brevet Brlgader. General Michler's report Is
of special interest TO the iuhabltans OF the Dis
~ 4. III rs aAn.ak kIa 49,,