The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-14

ton ana declare the result. They contend that the
election returns upon which General EILEEN based
mis- report OF the result were fraudulent ana their
object Is to have Gnlems action set aside and new
election ordered. They have q large number OF
documents and testimony which they VIII lay before
the committee.
fn The Holiday Recess.
The President OF the Senate b. f. Wade and the
Speaker OF the House, Mr.. Colfax, with their wives
viii leave here as soon as Congress adiourns for the
recess for Troy, N. Y, where they will spend the
holidays. The general impression is that the Senate
win agree to the House resolution for recess Of two
weeks.
The Proposed Transfer Of the Indian Bureau
to the War Department.
This subject Is creating much excitement just now
and considerable bitterness OF feeling exists between
army officers and the civil branch OF the government
growing out OF some of the speeches made in both
the Senate and the House. What the bill actually
provides seems not TO be generally understood. and
therefore send you copy OF the bill. The civilian
clerks express great jealousy OF the "encroach-
ments.n as they are pleased to term it, OF the mill
tary branch upon the CIVIL and predict that
II this measure is carried attempts will be made to
absorb sother bureaus in the War Department. FAs
indicating the feeling among certain civilians, may
state that Mr.. Tafre, OF Nebraska, while discussion
was progressing in the House on proposition to
refer something to certain committee for consider
ation exclaimed ironically "0h refer 1t to the War
Department; that's where everything will have to
60 hereafter, suppose" The remark Of Mr. Tafle
reflects pretty fairly the expressed opinions of many
people here who oppose nercely the restoration Of
Indian matters 70 exclusive military control. It
cannot be denied that the scheme is condemned
by many able and influential men In the Senate, and
some OF them have not hestated to declare that they
do not intend to be induced to legslate way or
the other at the mere recommendation OF General
Grant or ANY other man." Mr.. Morrill, was quite
emphatic on the subject during the discussion in the
Senate This opposition causes all the more discus
sion and interest as the Garfield bill is looked upon
as sort OF test Of Grants influence over the upper
branch or Congress. This Is hardly fair view OF
the situation, however, as Grant merely recon-
mended the measure in his annual report and has
not made the slightest effort to secure Its passage
The bill In full Is as follows:-
From and after the LIST day OF January, 1869, the
Secretary Of War shall exercise the supervisory and
appellate powers and possess the Jurisdiction now
exercised and possessed by the secretary Of the In
terror in relation TO all the acts Of the Commissioner
OF Indian Affairs, and shall sign all acquisitions for
the advance or payment OF money out OF the Trea-
sury on estimates or accounts subject to the same
adjustment or control now exercised ON similar
estimates or accounts by the Auditors and Comp
trOlers of the Treasury, or either Of them.
the Secretary OF War shall be authorized
whenever IN his opinion 1t shall promote
to establish convenient departments and districts
for the proper administration Of the duties I'm
posed by law on the superintendent OF Indian affairs
and upon agents and sub-agents, and to substitute
for such superintendents and agents Officers OF the
army Of the United States, who shall be designated
for that purpose ana who shall then become charged
With ali the duties now imposed by law upon the
superintendent and agents thus superseded.
and without additional compensation there.
fpr Nm nf Wna SlantI o1nn nfan
an officer not below the rank OF colonel, to
I'LL the Office and discharge the duties OF Commits
mated to perform the duties OF commissioner, super
inendent agent or sub-agent shall not be required
to give the bonds now required OF civil appontees,
but shall be responsible for any neglect or NAL
administration according 10 the rules and articles
Of war.
SEC 3. And be 1t further enacted, That all con-
tracts for transportation connected with the Indian
service shall hereafter be made In the same manner
and at the same time provided for transportation for
theluse OF the army and the accounts OF all appr0
priatlons, expenditures and payments OF money In
The management OF Indian AFFAIRS, except the pay or
officers and enlisted men detailed for service under
the PROVISIONS OF this act shall be kept separate and
exhibited under the head OF expenditures on ac-
count of the Indians"
SEC. 4. And be ii further enacted, That the Secre
tary Of War shall be authorized to withhold all spe-
cal licenses from traders and. under regulations TO
be BY him to the times an%
sent themselves for bargain, barter and exchange
with the several Indian tribes according to the laws
SEC. 8. And be 1t further enacted, That all laws
and parts OF laws inconsistent with the provisions Of
this act are hereby repealed.
The unexpected opposition In the Senate to the
transfer Of the indian Bureau to the War Depart
ment has led TO no little comment and some OF the
reasons given are anything but complimentary to
dgnrded Senator's 1t Is said, among other ILL
naturcd things that the bulk Of the superintendent
agents and subagents OF Indian affairs in the several
States and Territories are the personal and political
friends Of Senator's and that their appointments and
combinations are provided generally as q reward
for personal Or political services. Should the pro-
posed transfer be authorized by law OF course this
comfortable arrangement providing for large num-
Der OF the friends Of Senators would be upset. One
Senator In particular Is said TO have very direct In
terest nithc preservation Of the existing state OF
alYairs inasmuch as he has the supplying OF
considerable quantities OF agricultural imple-
ments TO the red men located In his State,
or close by It. Another Senator Is accused OF hav
ing his brother-in-law provided for as Indian
perintendent Still another is declared TO be inter-
ested in q profitable land speculation which might
be injured by the transfer. IL Is further asserted
that should the transfer occur there would BIO
danger OF certain disreputable transactions getting
exposed.
I will refer TO one case as an Illustration About
two years ago er oDscio Superintendent OF Indian
Affairs lost or had stolen from him about $4,000
while in transit from New York to this city. The
money was part OF the Indian fund.- II IS rumored
that this money never recovered for the govern
ment nor were the bondsmen sued by the Treasury
Department. Supposing this TO be true, 1t
certainly is one OF those peculiar cases
calling for some investigation or official
explanation Surely II cannot be true that the mat
ter was hushed up because one of the bondsmen OF
the superintendent was United States Senator
and the other bondsman very well known and
prominent New York politician. And yet 1t GER
tainy IL stated that this Senatorial bondsman IN
duced brother senator to use his influence to have
the matter suspended under . promise that the
money would be restored In due time. Now the
questions naturally occur HAS this money been re-
sroreds Have the Indians to whom 1t rigntfully be-
longed, been Unidentified for the loss snces Has
any appropriation been asked to make up the
deficiency by the Secretary of the Interior or Commits
sioner Of Indian Affairs {" lf none Of these things