New-York tribune., 1871-06-05

TROUBLE CONCERNING THE INDIAN CONTRACTS
CONVENIENT OFFICIALS CHARGED WITH
FRAUD-THE KU-KLUx INvESTIGATIoS-DE-
CREASE IN WHISKY MANUFACTURE-THE
VICE-PREsIDENT AT HOME.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNR1
WARRINGTON, June t. 1871.
There seems to be misunderstanding between the
Indian Bureau and the Board of Indian COMMISSIONER
The last Indian Appropriation bill directs the Indian
Commissioner to make the purchases Of Indian goods,
and contracts transportation &C., in the presence OF
the Volunteer Board of Indian Commission
ers In accordance with this law, Commits
sioner Parker, accompanied by Col. cox
Of the Interior Department and the Board OF lndian
Commissioners, went TO New-York for the purpose OF
purchasing the annual Indian supplies and shipping
them TO the West. Within week past, Mr. Stuart, one
of the Board complained to the Secretary OF the In
terror that Commissioner Parker had made private
contract for the transportation OF the goods, ana
an ANONYMOUS circular, which has been re-
ceived by prominent Government officials ana
others, repeats the statement, and adds some
serious, though vague, charges OF corruption
The Secretary has received from Commissioner
Parker letter in which he explains the charges as FOL
lows: As the bidders to supply Indian goods were re-
quired where they were to he delivered De-
came necessary know the rates OF transportation pc
tween several points, In orderthat the prices s
Ia compared. These rates were, therefore,
obtained from the various railroad companies II pehg
that the rates gvenwere not to be considered
as bids, but that after the GOODS hao peeh
purchased the railroad companies should nave an
opportunity compete for the contract After the bids
for the goods had been opened Of the Board of Com
misoners took his pocket offer from the Pennsy
vania Railroad Company to transport the goods at
cheaper rates than any named by the New-York COM
panes and asked that a contract be at made with
that road Gen. Parker objected saying that the other
companies ought to have chance to bid After Gen.
Parker's departure from the Office, the Commissioner
caused the contract with the Pennsylvania Cen
tral Road TO be entered in the books, and
when Gen. Parker learned this he caused private cir
cular sent to the NewYork roads asking for their
lowest rates The rates OF at least two were below those
OF the Pennsylvania Road, and contract was made
with the making the most advantageous offer. The
amount saved was from 5000 10 5000 The Commits
sioner does not think that the Indian Board ought TO
have power to make contracts which shall be binding
upon his Bureau without his consent.
The Joint Committee, sitting at the Capitol for the
purpose Investigating Southern outra examined
Warner and two other witnesses yesterday The
testimony related principally the general state of affairs
in Alabama and particularly to the facts in the case
Of the Eutaw riot last FALL and the attempt prosecute
the rioters and others guilty Of outrage in Green County
One Of the witnesses testified TO the attack made upon
old man his way from Mobile where he had been
moned to testify against the Eutaw rioters, the ccm
stances Of which reported in the Washington dis
patches Of THE TRIBUNE last week.
The monthly disiery statistics prepared by Deputy
Commissioner OF Internal Revenue Given show great
decrease both in the number and capacity Of the dist
eries of the country during May. On the 3Oth ult,
there were only 219 dstllees in operation the whole
country with daily working capacity OF 92O59 gallons
decrease since April IS OF 90 diseries and 295 gal
Ions and decrease since NAV go 1870 Of dstileres
and 80 7O6 gallons. The daily consumption of spirits in
the United States is about 100000 gallons that are
using nearly 10000 gallons Of spirits day more
l,,pfpu A oil nt ,1,ss
deficit is covered by the importation Of foreign
liquors and the remainder is supplied from the stock
hand which has for year past, been very large. IL
will also be seen by comparing the producing capacity
OF the 90 dtieres which closed during May 1871 24 295
gaons with that OF the 81 which suspended during the
year (3O6 gallons that the present rates Of tax and
the regulations for the government Of dstileries
such as to encourage the larger establishments to the
injury of the small distilleries The tables show
that the number of diseries in NewYork the 3Oth
ult was nne and their producing capacity 1881 gallons;
while ON the corresponding day last year there
dstleres in the state, with daily working capacity Of
IL 797 gallons.
Congress about rear ago, provided that all unex-
pended balances from whatever source should be Gov
cred into the Treasury a the end OF the present hcal
wear In accordance with this law, statements are now
preparing by Secretary Boutwell, closing all accounts on
the 3Oh inst, and the amounts OF money thus obtained
will be very large and will materially swell the re-
sources Of the Government II Is thought lthis course
will greatly aid the Committees Of Congress
next Winter in making appropriations. When
this subject under consideration 10y the department
and bureau officers II decided by competent author
its that the law did apply TO contracts made before
the end Of the present fiscal year. and so some OF the ON
GERS are making contracts while they have the authority
fearing that some trouble may arise in obtaining the
authority Of Congress for the reappropriaons An ex
perenced department officer recently remarked that the
only way 10 save their unexpended balances was to
spend them before the end OF the present month.
Senator schurz is preparing TO enter the lecture field
during the coming Fall, and has just declined the offer
OF lecture agent TO arrange for Of 200 lectures
Oh Mormonlsm Mr. schurz has not yet fully determined
what his subject will be, but purposes to be his own
manager and 10 limit course TO about thirty nights
Senator churz though severely criticised for some Of
his political acts II admitted here 10 he one Of tho purost
and most elegant writers Of English; ana II not the
most eloquent at least the most skiul debater IN the
United states Senate.
Postmaster General Creswell has Transmitted to swe-
don and NORWAY the briei for new postal convention" ~