The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-08-28

poat tne engineer owned the par ana WatIeu ON GUS
toners while the fireman was smoking his pipe on
the bow and the captain INDUCED in quiet sleep.
On a third boat the officers and steamboat hands
divided their labor between running the steamer
and laboring as deck hands when freight had to be
shipped and unshipped. In general, while the
usual inspection OF boilers and huls appeared to
have been made In good faith and safety valves
were all right. there was not the proper provision
for noq>!hg the boat or using the fire apparatus in
the event Of o fire. On another boat large
chest marked in big letters .Iife preservers" was
found on inspection to contain old rope, chains,
and mass Of sand for ballast. The equipments
were all defective, and in the event of fire the a'e
of the passengers could not have been different
from that of the unfortunate passengers in the
cabin OF the Wawasset Further examinations Will
be made OF the larger steamers running out oil
Boston, New YORK and Philadelphia
more serious question presents itself to tho
Treasury oficials and that Is, how to get men %
local inspectors on the pay allowed who will do
their duty. The same temptation besets this class
Of government officials as those governments
employees get ting small salaries in other positions
have to contend with, and that Ia the influence OF
money. Men will not run steamboats, except for
profit and the object Is to realize the largest
amount on the investment.
Return OF the Government inspectors Of
Emigrant Vessels.
Messrs. Myers and Colney, OF the Treasury De-
partment, and DR.. Craig, OF the Surgeon Generals
bureau, who were sent abroad by the Secretary Of
the Treasury to examine the different systems en-
ployed by the steamship lines In transporting emil
grants to this country, have returned having made
thorough inspection OF the German, Belgian ana
English points OF. embarkation, and the treatment
Of the steerage passengers on board ship. Con-
gress authorized this to be done, and Secretary
Richardson will submit the result OF the labors Of
these gentlemen, together with those Of Messrs.
Sanders and Piper, who are still prosecute
ing the investigation, In formal report
to Congress at its next session. The quail
ity OF the food furnished, the sleeping
accommodations, the sanitary arrangements OF tho
different steamships were all inquired into. The
scope Of the secretays report will be In regard to
the number Of passengers each vessel should be
allowed to carry the better ventilation between
decks by of machinery, the respective rights
between the owners OF the steamships the masters
and navigators and the passengers, and the
appointment Of an inspector, whose duty 1t shall
be to accompany vessels carrying upwards Of four
hundred steerage passengers. The report will be
made the basis OF o bill, which will be introduced
into Congress early in the session. 80 -
Indian Commissioner Smiths Tour
Among the Indians.
Indian Commissioner Smith returned to-day from
an extended tour among the Indian tribes on the
Missouri and at other points in the West. During
his absence he held councils with the representa-
tlves Of tnirty-tye or for.;y thousand Indians ana
reports that generally be found them peaceable
and inclined to respect the wishes OF the govern
ment. He first visited the Chippewa Agency in
Minnesota, and found the Indians, some 5000 in
number on their reservations doing well. Some
tbou,o for yni ta a m hQr 0f oh
houses are being built. subsequently he visited
the Rees about 400 in number, at Fort Lin coin.
AS they are hostile to the Sioux and difficulties be-
tween the two tribes are OF frequent occurrence
the Commissioner urged them to 60 to the
Indian Territory. They were at first indis.
posed to consider the proposition but
finally promised to send representatives
there to examine the country. The Commissioner
proceeded from Fort Lincoln to the Grand River,
Cheyenne, BruIe, Yankton, Ponca and Santee re.
rions, on the Missouri and held satisfactory coun-
ellis at each agency. He then went to the Winne-
bago agency, in Nebraska, to make the necessary
arrangements for the removal Of the Wisconsin
winnebagoes, about 1000 in number, to the
reservation in Nebraska; and thence proceeded to
the sissiton agency, in Dakota, where he was
Joined by Secretary Delano. Here q most salts
factory condition OF affairs was found to exist. AL
of the Indians, some 1900 In number are en-
gagged In farming; have schools, wear civilized
costumes, and live in houses like the whites. The
Commissioner will leave the latter part OF Septem-
Der for Texas to be present with Governor Davis
at the council to be held with the Kiowas and Co
manches at Fort Sill. Indian Territory, on the 1st
OF October and at which Santanta and Big Tree
are to be present. -
Alleged Fra uds I'm Indian Anairs.
According to information received from GENTLE
man OF high character In Arizona, recent develop
ments in that Territory indicate that there has
been great mismanagement, and, probably, fraud
in the conduct of Indian affairs there. It
is not alleged that the agents have all
been dishonest; but they claim that, through
some outside pressure, they are being forced
to receive supplies Of inferior quality at ruinous
prices. The appropriations being thus exhausted
before the year is half gone there is great proba
bility that many Of the Indians will be compelled
to leave their reservations, and General CROOKS
year Of hard work Will be undone.
SMUGGLING Through the Mails.
For several years the Treasury Department has
had good reason to suspect that the European
mails came laden with dutiable packages. escap-
ing custom oflcials under the shield OF foreign
postage SO extensive has this species Of SNUG
Qng become that the Secretary Of the Treasury has
under consideration to place some Custom House
onicer in the Post once at New York, whose duty
Il shall be to decide what packages are entitled
to pass free Small packages frequently contain
Ing dutiable goods are received, and whenever .
package is suspected the party to whom 1t Is
will be required to open II In the
presence of the customs oflcial; or If it
Is destined for an interior city Instructions
will be sent to the Postmaster where 1t is to be-
Delivered All Of our postal treaties stipulate that
articles subject to duty sent through the mails
shall pay the duty at the place OF the delivery or
the package.
Seizure OF Uncut Diamonds Unwar-,
ranted.
Treasury Department oflcials say that the seiz.
ure Of the uncut diamonds found ON N. Lancaster
was wholly unwarranted, II the statement pub
lished Of the affair Is correct Uncut diamonds ara
free by act Of June O. 1872 and 1t was as much Mr..
La l.aa. % WA