The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-07-06
Terms $500 per onnuna, d, adrance.
this city,where all hands were so "high-tonedo
that nobody could hear anything.
Letter from Wnshinxtsn
WASHINGTON, d. c., July 2, 1870.
BUSINESS prEopE CONGRESS-

Inc House brags rather loudly, or rather
individual representatives do, about the con-
dition of legislative business in their branch.
The claim is made that with exception of a
deficiency bill, which could be passed in one
day, the House is prepared TO adjourn with
out injury to the public business. Some ofus
really suppose that for them to stay here is
really an injury to the public. Thero would
be fewer land grab or private and corporate
subsidies got through, that's'all. rmsIffouse
has passed funding bill, ON whi srS ap-
pears to be some prospect of agreng OPS On
the tax and customs bill, as amendse sqsthe
Senate, certain qualifications which can be
arranged by conference committee. But
the Senate is long way behind. A large
proportion of the appropriation bills have not
passed; the tax bill is yet unfinished; the nat
uralization discussion now going on, involves
the troublesome Chinese question; while the
funding bill will be snre to create prolonged
debate. Senators have got to work hard if
they expect to quit their "cave of the virdsn
." the fGylIC |'y am strongly ,,Nens. SD,
to believe ,hat the L .sident will be glad to
see them go. There are others, thoughtful
men, anxious for safety Of the Republican
party, who see with pain the fearful chasms
which threaten to open in its ranks. There
Is an intense dissatisfaction and restlessness
prevalent, which can only be removed by
compelling each man to go out and face the
common foe. There is a probability that the
Indian appropriation bill will fail. The House
has Just appointed the third conference COM
mittee, and the question a. issue is very i'm
portant one, ,..and touches not only right So
luton of the Indian question, but another of
greater significance. l refer to the treaty
bind the House to make appropriations there
under.
THE HOUSE AND SENATE ON INDIAN
TREATIES.
As your able Senator, Mr.. Morrill,, repre-
sents one side of this question, it may not be
unimportant to your readers.
The point Of disagreement relates to the
treaties made with the Sioux (Red Clouds,
Spotted Tails and other bands) and other
Indian tribes by the Peace Commissioner in
1867. The House has steadily refused to
make direct appropriations to carry out these
treaties. Last year they appropriated in bulk
two million dollars and left the President to
disburse it. This year they propose the same
thing, agreeing to take the Senate's figures
which are larger.
The House has reached this point, by first
determining to resist the continuation of the
Indian treaty system, OH the ground that the
tribes are not nations, independent or semi
sovereign, such as it is proper and justifable
to perform an act Of sovereignty with. The
policy of the House is 10 regard the Indians
as "wards,' with whom agreements may be
made but not treaties. This is undoubtedly
the attitude OF the administration also.
AS Senator Morrill, stated, this is direct
reversal of our polcy-it is a new departure,
and abrogates the constant practice of not
only the Union, but the proceeding Confeder-
alton and Colonial governments. Your cor
respondent agrees with the House in believ-
ing such departure advisable. But the
House conferees claim that the Indians are
therefore an assumption of power on the
Senate's part to ratify any of them.
The House further advances the claim
one which has been discussed ever since the
government was formed-that the Senate has
no right to make treaties involving expendi-
lures, without obtaining assent of the House.
which originates appropriations. 1t claims
the right to refuse or revise the expenditures
thus proposed by the Senate.
In brief these are the points of difference,
but the question is one fraught with disaster,
AL 'sss sottled hy some separate appropriation.
1t includes all the means needed Tor Red
Clouds people, and may bring on savage
and disastrous war. Continued interference
with the great Pacific Railroad, as we'll as the
terrible ravages sure to fall on the frontier pi-
oneers, will probably follow failure to sup
ply the Indian Bureau with needed funds. 1t
is 10 be hoped that if there cannot be an
agreement on these treaties, and neither par
ty eau or will recede, it will be possible to put
the amount really needed for the Northwest
Indians into separate section or bill and let
the President disburse. There is no proba-
bility that the House will recede, and the SEN
ate must, for it cannot afford to take the ro-
sponsibity of precpitating a war with the
Ogallalas and other tribes.
THE NEW YORK APPOINTMENTS
have created good deal cf excitement, and
among lookers-on good deal of amusement.
1t is funny to hear gentlemen like Representa-
tives Latin and Ketchum denouncng State
Senator Murphy as too conservative, or Mr..
Greeley complaining that the Republicans are
not fully regarded. But the Presidents slate
has broken more than one which had been
fixed up by members of Congress and State
politicians. Murphy, the nominee for Colec-
tor, is the Presidents own choice. He de-
termined to appoint him some three months
since, and then took Conklng and Butler
into his confidence. The House New
York ring wanted Judge Robertson, chiefly
because it helped them, and would enable
its chief operators 10 farm on the Custom
House their own friends. The rebuff to Sen
ator Fenton is rather severe, as Murphy is
not only anti" to him, but his special friend,
Gen. Merritt, is removed to make way for Mr..
Grinnell. 1t is believed that the slate will 90
through. San Domingois credited with having
had something to do with these appointments,
andi tis certain that John Russell Young of
the Standard was consulted. The New York
politicians are growing afraid of this young
man, not only because he is an able writer, but
also because he possesses considerable in
fluenca with the President and knows Gotham
and its politicians. There is strong hope that
with the protection to be afforded by the new
naturalization bill, we may carry the Empire
State this next fall. SPECTATOR.
EUROPEAN dates of the 21st ult., give full
details of the recent fearful riots at Botus-
chany, in Roumania,which have aroused such
intense feeling among the Jewish commu-
mites in Europe and America. The first out
break of any magnitude occurred on the 2Sth
of May, when party of gentlemen stu
dents," assembled in tumultuous throng,
and with the aid of the rabble, began their
"Jew hunt" as they termed it, rushing like a
pack of mad dogs let loose into the streets
mostly. inhabited by Jews, committing wild
excesses, entering houses shouting "Come out
here, Jew, and we'll drag you through the
streets by the beard" in several instances car
rying their threats into execution; men and