Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-08-14
WASHINGTON.

THE TAX ON BORROWED CAPITAL.
WASHINGTON, August 13.-The re-
cent decision of Commissioner Pleas
onton, relieving the bankers from the
DaymeDt of taxes on borrowed capi-
tai, has reached, officially, only one
district, the Thirty-second, of New
York. As soon as Douglass, the pres
ent Commissioner, is officially advised
by the proper officer, of the receipt Of
the communication 1t will be recalled.
As the case now stands, there is no
change in the old decision, and the
tax on borrowed capital will be col
lected az heretofore.
DOUGLASS SUCCESSOR.
The names of w. o. Avery, chief
| appointment in the division of Inter
nal Revenue, and General Averill,
are mentioned in connection with
supplying the vacancy in the deputy
commissionerships caused by the pro-
motion of Douglass.
THE CROP PROSPECT.
The crop report of the Department
of Agriculture will not be published
until September. Returns recently
received show that the crops are in
better condition than was reported in
July, including corn and cotton. A
letter from Arkansas says that
although the acreage of cotton is not
so large as last year, the crop will be
equally as large, and so of the other
States.
INDIAN AFFAIRS,
The Secretary of the Interior, yes
day, received the following letter from
the Secretary of War:
"Sir-In connection with the War
Department letter of the 18th of June,
stating that copies of your commune
cation and enclosures, relative to GER
tain Saltie, YanktOn and other Sioux
Indians, had been referred to the
Commanding General of the Depart
ment of DakOtah, 1 have the honor to
ineIose herewith, for your information
and consideration, extracts from the
reports of the Commanding General
OF the Department of Dakotah, and
other officers having knowledge of the
Indians, and copy of the endorse
ment expressing the views OF the
General of the army on this subject.
From these reports will be seen the
desirability!Of maintaining friendly re.
lations with the Indians now in Mon
tana. at least until spring opens, when
the Government viii be in much bet
ter condition to repel any hostile de-
monstratiOn made by them. As a
matter of expediency, as well as kind
ness to the Indians themselves, l
would suggest that while peaceable
they be supplied with rations, the
same as the Sioux Indians at that
agency, who are friendly to the
whites, and thereby give them an Op-
pOrtunity for improvement.
Is Very Respectfully,
''WM. B. BELKNAP, Sec'y."
The enclosures consist of extracts
from the reports of Major Lewis, of
the Seventh infantry; General Hau-
cock, General Sheridan and General
Serman. Major Lewis reports the
presence of a considerable band
of Santee, Yankton and other Sioux
in Montana, attracted there by the
large herds OF buffalo in that region,
and it recommends policy in keeping
them in quiet by feeding them at the
Milk river agency. He also gives it as
the opinion of the settlers at Benton
that the BIackfeet, Pigeons and
BlOOds will go into British Pos
session and remain there from
fear of the Sioux. Major GEN
eral Hancock, in forwarding his
report, eoncurs with this report, and
adds that if these Indians are fed and
allowed to remain where they are un-
til they commit some overt act of hos
tility either against hostile or friend
ly Indians under our protection, be-
lieve that the matter would be Judi
eiOusly disposed of in this event. The
GrOsVentres and AssinebOns should
be satisfied or compensated for the Oc-
eupatiOn Of the territory which has
been recognized as their own, which
can be easily and readily done, and
the Sioux should be notified OF the
condition on which they are permit
ted temporarily or permanently to
remain. The feeding of the Indians l
have no control over, and therefore
cannot novel in thatdiTectiOn. ] believe
eventually we shall have trouble in
that section, which will make it ne |
cessary for us to settle the Indian ques.
ton. We have not cavalry or other |
forces in Montana or high up the |
Missouri to permit us to think of set |
thing this question at the present |
time. think the settlement of it |
should be deferred, If possible, until |
the Northern Pacific railroad is well |
advanced westward. l think it |
would be wise to increase the force of !
the cavalry in Montana as soon as /
practicable, in order to intimidate |
these people from committing acts of |
hostility as far as possible, and give |
no delay. We are being forced to |
meet the question with arms. |
This very delay may give the |
Indians wiser views and enable final |
settlement without resort to any more |
force. In this precautionary measure |
would also recommend that addi- |
tional troops and cavalry be sent as
soon as practicable to Fort Buford. If |
the Interior Department decides to /
feed these Indians where they are. 1 /
should like to be advised, as it might /
influence ection hereafter in certain
contingencies. General Sheridan saws
he has been of opinion for two years
that a difficulty with the Northern
Sioux could not be avoided, and that
its taking place is but a matter of
time; and as we are not prepared fOrit
and will not be until spring, cOnces-
siOns to the Indians should be made.
The War Department, from lack of
men, could not send troops to Buford,
as suggested by him, but he will send
four companies of cavalry and three
Of infantry there in the spring.
Buford is now and has been for three
or four years in a state of siege, and
the last raid made there, July Sd or
ith, was doubtless by party Of these
Indians.
Under date of August 9TH, GEN
aral Sherman submits the preced-
ing communication to the Secretary
Of War with the following remarks:
THE army is in no condition to meet
The requirements of q war with the
Sioux Indians in the accessible region
about Milk river agency. Other
measures in that quarter are defensive
md necessarily weak"
A gentleman connected with the
Department, and long fami-
lar with the Indian affairs, after read
ng the foregoing recommendations,
to day that the suggestions
II various officers concerning the In (
lians reminded him of feeding rats
n their fancified security until dogs
enough could be found to catch and
iii fhorua