The New York herald., 1873-09-15
WASHING ON.
The Presidents Endorsement of
the District Ring Robberies
Causing a Storm Of
Indignation.
HONEST REPUBLICANS ALARMED
The Forthcoming Pow-WOw with the KiOwaS
and COmancheS-. -..CrOw Indians Talked
Out Of 100000 Acres of Land.

WASHINGTON, Sept. IA, 1873.
The, appointment of Alexander r. Shepherd,
Vice President OF the Board OF Public Works, as
Governor OF the District of Columbia vice Henry
D. Cooke, resigned, was anticipated in these
dispatches week ago. Since it has been formally
announced the Indignation Of the people Of the
District Is very great. No one is censured but the
President, and the question is asked on every
side, Is IL his contempt for public opinion, his
ignorance OF the sentiment Of the people, or is it his
stolid Indifference that nerves him to such action
Undoubtedly less would be said, or, rather the in.
dignation Of the helpless property holders would
not be so well defined, were 1t not that the
recent HERALD leaders on the calibre of our
public men and the evident want of concern
taat President Grant has shown toward matters
directly pertaining to the people have given
widespread expression to views hitherto unre-
nected. 1t Is stated on unquestionabls authority
that tie resignation OF Governor Cooke and the
appointments Of man who has virtually been
Governor, whose reckless expenditure of govern
ment appropriations is commended by the Pres-
dent in accepting the resignation OF Mr.. Cooke, Is
but tho beginning Of q scheme to foist on the
government the entire Indebtedness Of
tho District Of Columbia and make the
credit OF the United states responsible for
not less than twenty millions OF Indebtedness
contracted by the Territorial government, now
Less than three years in existence. To this the
President WILL in his next annual message, recon.
mend the abolition OF the Territorial form Of
government for the District Of Columbia and the
appointment OF commissioners, 80 that the cost Of
running 80 expensive form Of government may
be saved to the people. He will further recon-
mend that Congress assume the existing indebted
ness OF the District, and perfect the compre-
hensive plan Of improvements inaugurated
by the Board of Public Works. 1t is
proposed to vest the executive authority
In three or five commissioners, appointed by the
President and confirmed by the Senate, who shall
annually report to Congress. This, it Is argued,
will dispense with multitude of petty officials,
save the expense of annual registrations, elec-
tions, salaries OF delegates and materially lessen
the rate Of taxation. All this Is to be done because
the District is hopelessy sunk in debt and the
government alone can save 1t. The features OF the
retroactive or prospective increase Of Congress-
mans pay. or even the Credit Mobilier
scheme. are shapely and slightly compared with
the audacity Of this proposed shifting of an un.
warranted Indebtedness on the people Of the cOun.
try. Thousands and tens OF thousands of dollars
already expended in laying concrete and wooden
pavements on streets the grades Of which had
been fixed alter great expense and Inconvenience
to the pr0perty-owners and residents Is to be
wasted by lowering the grade OF interesting
Streets obliging the Board OF Public Works to tear
up all this expensive work and double the
cost by relaying it. About the Inte-
rior and Post Onlcc Departments the
most shameful waste of the public funds is
going on. Judge Edmunds, the City Postmaster,
told your correspondent that it cost the govern
ment $1,000 merely to grade the carriage way
fha Dos htiIb
wagons could leave and receive the mails. Now
the grade is again lowered three feet, incon.
veniencing the Post ONCE Department and treb-
ling the cost ofthe Improvements. But IL is already
announced that If an attempt is made to change
the form Of the District government and make the
government responsible for the Indebtedness
already incurred an Investigation OF the manner
In which the AFFAIRS OF the District government
have been conducted Will be demanded, the
result Of which, it is said, will eclipse
the Crebit Mobilier investigation, and
show how many members Of Congress and promi.
nent government o1icials have invested money
"where IT would do the most good" The placing
OF plank walk from the depot to the gate of
General Grants house at Galena has it's counter.
Part here on the most extensive scale in the paving
OF avenues and streets in localities where Senators
and Representatives have invested and are anxious
be denounced by administration members Of Con-
gress more vehemently than the people have de-
nounced back pay. But what Is most to be regretted
is that the President has, over his own signature,
warmly praised that which the voice OF the people
is bound to condemn should Congress attempt
to whtewash an investigation. What could be
more glaring than five prominent District officials,
all officers Of one bank, viz Alexander II. Shep
herd, Governor of the District Of Columbia and
Director Of the National Metropolitan Bank; DR..
John p. Blake, Vice President OF the Board OF Pub
lie Works, Shepherds successor, and President OF
the National Metropolitan Bank; Noses Kelley,
Treasurer OF the Sinking Fund Commission Of the
District and cashier OF the National Metro
politan Bank, and John W. Thompson, member
of the District Council and Director OF the National
metropolitan Bank.
The action OF the President In endorsing the
conduct of the Board OF Public Works has done
more to convince sceptical republicans OF the
truth OF the HERALD's course in pointing out the
danger ahead than anything that could have hap.
pened. and such is the prevailing sentiment in
washington reflected tonight in the special
dispatches to nearly every leading republican
paper IN the United states.
Further Light on the Burning OF Colum.
bfa, 8. C.-General sherman Offers Proof
that the Rebels Were the Incendiaries.
The Daily Morning Chronacle Of tomorrow viii
publish the following letter from General Sherman
in relation to the burning OF Columbia
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE UNITED SrATBs,
WASHINGTON, d. G., Sept IL, 1879
10 THE EDITOR OF THE CnRoNicLE:-
DEAR SIR-When you applied to me some time
ago for material bearing on the controversy OF
"Who Burned Columbian" i gave you Two printed
pamphlets which | had obtained from Judge Holt,
containing all the testimony taken IN the cotton
cases growing out OF that event. and submitted to
the mixed commission appointed to adJudtcate
these cases under the treaty with Great
britain. Judge Holt could have obtained the
testimony OF all the 5000 or 10000 officers and SOL
diers who were at or near Columbia when the con-
migration occurred, but he thought he had enough
Without putting the government to the expense
OIL bringing more witnesses from distance. sup
pose ne did not summon Colonel Stone, who COM
manded the leading brigade OF the Fifteenth
corps because he did not know where TO
find him. d! surely did not know his
whereabouts till he voluntarily published his
statement. In my official report or the affar pub
shed before the close Of the war, when General
ax.x.s