The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-11-18
WASHING ON.
Report OF the Indian Peace
Commission.
France HonOring tho Memory of
George Peabody.
Negro Equality and the
License Question.

"a eeof&c fcaDOuy Home.
The Navy Department received a cable despatch
to-day nom our Minister at Paris stating that the
French Minister OF Marine had sent man of-war to
accompany the English and American war vessels
In bringing home the remains Of George Peabody.
Heavy Defaicntion in the Navy-A California
Pnynuster's Accounts Short Sr4O,OOO.
Tnere Is good deal OF exaggeratlon about the
reports OF defalcations among the paymasters of
tne navy. IL was stated q few days ago that
paymastrr on the Pacific coast was short In his
accounts some 100000. This probably referred
to Paymaster w. G. Marcy, who was sta
toned at the navy yard at Mare Island
CAL. and who, II is asserted Is o deiaulter
to the amount Of $4,000. Marcy had drawn a
requistion for Slso,ooo additional; but this was
stopped by Admiral Porter and the money recovered
As soon as 1t was discovered that Maicys account
was short to the sum indicated above, turned all
his property over to the Navy Department. by way
OF making restitution. 1t turns out, however that
his assets are by no means equal to his liabilities,
and as his bond Is only S250Oo, the indca-
lions ara that the government will be the loser.
Marcy II Is thought went into speculations, using
the government money, and became the victim OF
certain sharpers in san Francisco, who cleaned him
out The accounts OF some other paymasters are
reported short but 1t is believed that they can
account satisfactorily, with one exception, for the
money entrusted TO them. This whole trouble has
grown out OF the loose manner In which the business
Of the Navy Department was conducted under the
venerable Gideon Wees. 1t appears that paymas-
tiers were in the habit OF drawing at pleasure
upon the department, and very often drew
for more than was necessary to meet
all their disbursements. In most instances
the surplus fund was used FOR purposes OF private
speculation. SO common had this practice become
that when tho present administration came into
power the Secretary OF the Navy at the instance OF
Admiral Porter found 1t necessary to issue gene
raj order wherein commanding officers. before
approving acquisitions upon the department,
were required to first inform themselves fully OF
the amount OF funds already in the hands OF
the officer making the requistion; sec
ond, ascertain definitely the objects Tor which
additional funds are required and in no
case append their approval unless fully salts.
fed the interests OF the service require 1t.
In addition to this paymasers were strictly enJoined
TO limit their acquisitions the department to such
amounts as were absolutely necessary for immediate
use. This put stop to the wholesale drawing Tor
money on the part Of the paymasters. Since then
system OF cheeks has been adopted by Admiral
Porter whereby he can tell Just how much each pay
master ought to draw and how his account stands
with the department, so that he Is not allowed to
keep on hand large balances unemployed.
This Is among the most important OF the
reforms adopted by Admiral Porter in
the management OF the business or the Navy
Department. Under the old system, and with all the
Irregularities incident to the 1t is impossible
tell now much was lost to the government.
Report of the Indian Peace Commission
The Indian Peace Commission met at the Interior
Department at ten O'Clock this morning.. There
were present Messrs. George II. Stuart Felix Il.
Brunot w. f. Dodge, Nathan Bishop and John ".
Farrell. Letters OF regret at not being able
to attend were read from Henry $. Lane
OF Indiana, and e. $. Tobey. OF Boston,
members OF the Commission The Compassion
organized for business by the election OF Felix p
BrunOt, OF Pittsburg, as chairman, vice william
WEIGH, OF Philadelphia, resigned, and John V. Far
well OF chicago, as secretary. The subcommittee
appointed at the last meeting of the Commission to
visit the plains and examine into and report upon
the conditions and wants OF the Indians submitted
rather lengthy but interesting report. This, with
the general report of the Commission will be
appended to the report OF the Secretary Of the
Interior and sent to Congress. The Committee
on Purchases, OF which George H. Stuart Is Chair
man, reported that they had personally superln-
tended and had inspected all the recent purchases
for the Indian Bureau, amounting to upwards OF
800, 000 The purchases were made mostly In New
York and Philadelphia, at the lowest cash prices.
After being purchased they were taken TO q ware
house provided for the purpose, where they were
inspected without the owners being present. The
members Of the Commission called upon the Presi-
dent the Secretary OF the Interior and the Secretary
Of War during the day. The President, upon
being informed by the chairman OF the main
points in the report OF the Commissioners and
Of the recommendations which they had made ex-
pressed bis saiisfaction with the plan they had
adopted and hoped it would secure the rights OF the
Indians against the traders and Others who have
boon in the habit OF cheating them, and promote
their civilization. The new secretary OF War prom
ised to cooperate with the Commission in their
labors among the Indians, did also the Secretary
OF the Interior. In the matter OF purchasing goods
for the Indian Bureau it is estimated that large
amount of money has been saved to the government
while the Indians Wal get the full value OF the appro
priations made for them by Congress. The Commits
sion finally adjourned this evening.
The Census Of 1S,O-Plan OF the Select Conn
mitfee Of the House of Representatives.
To-day being the time set for the commencement
OF the sessions OF the select committee OF the House
OF Representatives on the ninth census General Gar
field OF Ohio: Mr. wilkinson, of Minnesota, and
Mr.. Haldeman, of pennsylvania, met at noon, at
the Capitol, in the room OF the Committee on
Banking and Currency. The fun committee APP
pointed by the House OF Representatives asst session
consists OF nine members, the following gentlemen
composing It, in addition to those already men
tioned-StoKes, OF Tennessee, chairman, who VIII
be here In o few days; Banks, OF Massachusetts;
Allison, of Iowa; Laflin, OF New YORK; Cullom, OF
Illinois, and Schumacher, OF New York. The meet
Ing OF portion OF the committee to-day was merely
preliminary, and, though there was not quorum IN
attendance, and consequently there was no power
to act the gentlemen present deliberated upon
plan OF business which they viii submit to their col
leagues Tor their adoption. The abors OF the COM
mitee will DO directed to two leading features In
the work before them-drst, the machinery OF
taking the census, that is, what officers shall be
appointed and how the census shall be taken, and
second what subjects shall be embraced in the
schedules to be distributed among the persons en-
gagged IN the work Of collecting the information.
Those OF the committee now here appreciate the i'm
....La.ara ~ canning censua lurinn the n