Arizona citizen., 1873-03-29
Control of the Territories.

Hitherto by an old law, or practice, governors and secretaries of Terri tories have been held responsible to the State Department. President Grant and Secretary Fish each re- peatedly suggested change to the Interior Department as the more proper one, and very desirable in order to let the State Department be exclusively devoted to foreign affairs. The following proceedings, as reported in the Congressional Globe of March l, show that the change has been made, the bill having previously passed the Senate:
 JURISDICTION OVER THE TERRIFIC
 RES.
 On motion of MT. Mccormick, of Arizona, by unanimous consent, the bill (S. No. 1439) to transfer the con- trol of certain powers and duties in relation to the Territories to the De- partlnent of the Interior was taken from the speakers table and read a first and second time.
 The question was upon ordering it to third reading.
 The till, which was read, provides that the Secretary of the Interior shall hereafter exercise and perform all the duties in relation to the Terri tories of the United States that are now by law or custom exercised by the Secretary of State.
 Mr. Butler, of Massachusetts. That is very important bill, and I have no opinion whether it is right or wrong.
 Mir. Mccormick, of Arizona. This change has been recommended twice by the President of the United States in his annual messages, and is recom- mended by the Secretary of State. It will take away from the State De- partment the only remaining connec- tion 1t has with domestic affairs. I send to the Clerks desk and ask to have read letters from the Secretary of State in relation to this subject.
 The Clerk read as follows:
 DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
 WASHINGTON, February 5, 1873 ! SIR: 1 have the honor to transmit herewith for your information copy of a letter from this Department of the 10th utimO, addressed to Hon. James w. Nye, upon the subject of transferring the power vested in the Secretary of State pertain ing to the Territories 10 the Interior De- partment. I have the honor to be, sir, your obe- dient servant. HAMILTON FISH.
 Hon. R. c. MCCORMICK,
 House of Representatives.
 DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
 WASHINGTON, January 15, 1873. 1 SIR: In a note of the 18th of March | last, had the honor to submit for your consideration the draft of a provision transferring to the Interior Department the powers and duties in relation to the | Territories that are now devolved upon the Department of State. This transfer the propriety of which is obvious-was recommended by the President in his an nual message of December, 1870, and | again in his message of 1872. at the com- mencement of the present session. It is understood, however, that the provision | in question failed to become a law during | the last session of Congress. I have i therefore again to respectfully ask your attention to the matter. I inclose here with draft of a section which it is be- lieved will effect the object, and hope you may be able to append it to some bill that will insure its becoming law during the existence of the present Congress
 1 have the honor to be, sir, your obe- | dient servant. HAMILTON FISH. Hon. JAMES W. ME, &c
 The bill was ordered to a third read ing; and it was accordingly read the third time, and passed. Mccormick, of Arizona, moved to reconsider the vote by which the bill was passed; and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table.
 The latter motion was agreed to. MARCH 12, Major Samuel Woods was assigned as chief paymaster