The New York herald., 1873-12-25
SHINc ON.
Dissatisfaction with the Virginius
Settlement.
The Name of Williams Not
To Be Withdrawn.

WASHINGTON Dec. "a, 1873.
The President Firm Reg riding His NOmi-.
nation OF Chief Justice-senator Ed
munds vindicatcd.
The President, since his return from st. Louis
yesterday, has, In conversation with prominent
publican Senators. plainly declared that he would
not Withdraw the nomination OF Mr.. Williams for
Chief Justice but that 1t must abide the verdict OF
the Senate. The Senate Judiciary Committee will
therefore be compelled to patiently investigate
every charge which comes properly before it af
fecting the character or the nominee for this posi-
ton It stated in these dispatches OF the 1lth
inst that Senator Edmunds, the chairman OF the
Judiciary Committee, had sold his influence for
$1,000 in favor Of the confirmation OF Mr.. Williams.
Your correspondent is confident that such charge
Is as unjust 1t is unf0unded and Is assured that,
whatever rumor may say, there Is no member OF
the Senate who will more fearlessy and impartialy
fulfil his duty in protecting the honor OF the ju-
dietary than Mr.. Edmunds. While he remains at
the head OF the committee the country need have
no fear Of any charges being "whitewashed." On
the committee reporting the name, even should
all the accusations prove groundless upon the
Senate Will rest the responsibility OF its conflrma-
tion.
Little Prospect OF Reduction of the Es-
Inmates OF the Department OF the In
terror.
The Secretary OF the Interior, previous TO his
departure for Minnesota, to pass the Christmas
holidays with his son, who is in bad health, held
consultation with the chiefs OF various important
bureaus Of his department respecting the practi-
cabilIty OF reducing the estimates to smaller
sum, as necessitated BY prospective deficiency in
the revenues OF the government, and as requested
by Congress, in hopes OF bringing the appropria-
tions nearer to an accord with the financial situa-
tion In the office OF the Secretary the amount
estimated for the year is needed almost entirely
for salaries. In answer to o question as to
whether it were not practicable to reduce them it
was stated that the force was now inadequate,
and the few temporary employees were also fully
occupied. Tie business Is constantly increasing,
and, II IL were not for the present embar-
rassment it would be necessary to ask for
q slight increase OF force. In view OF
these facts it will be impossible for the Secretary
to make any reductions in this oflce under his i'm
mediate control. The office Of the Commissioner
Of Public Lands might be slightly reduced in its al
lowance, but it Is said injurousy to the interests
OF the sales or public lands. The amounts required
for the survey and collecting the revenues from
these lands is about $780, and the receipts from
sales yield total $3 100000 annually There are
many offices in which the business has materially
declined, and it is thought not impracticabe that
re-arrangement OF the land districts might result
a dminution OF expenses, without destroying the
efficiency OF the important business connected with
the administration and sales OF the public lands.
The office here. OF course vndcates the present
arrangement but the accounts show a decline in
many OF the ofces, which will at once suggest to the
Committee on Appropriations the propriety OF con-
solldation.
The Commissioner of Pensions says that the act
OF Congress granting pensions fixes the pensions
to which soldiers and sailors, or the widows and
certain relatives, shall be entitled. The estimates
OF his bureau are based on this, instead OF on the
decreasing numbers, as might be presumed, AS
the years have passed by since the rebellion the
fact is the other way. Every session Congress
passes some law by which additional persons are
let into the list OF the famed, and to carry out
these laws it is necessary TO appropriate large
sums ofmoney. There are now 23S All pensioners OF
the government. The increase or the pasty ear was
.405. The increase IN amounts over previous al
lowances was over 100000 class and $4,000
more for another. The total thus required for any
pensions for invalids, widows and dependent rela.
tives survivors of the war OF 1872, including the
expense OF agencies for articia! limbs appara-
tus for resection, with transportation commuta-
ton and compensation OF pension agents, amounts
to $50, 900, and for the same purposes in the
navy is $4S0000.
Considerable has been said about the growth OF
expenses OF the Indian Bureau, and the enormous
outlay on this account has naturally occasioned no
little inquiry on the part Of Congress. The Com
missioner OF Indian Affairs in conversation to- day.
remarked that there was no doubt about the in
creased expenditures, but that the responsibility
OF the government every year became greater as
the Indian country became settled. 1t was impos-
sible for the Indians to find subsistence in the
chase, and, to prevent trouble, the government
undertook to feed them, which was very expen-
sive item. The total amount required for the In.
dian service-current and contingent expenses,
fulfilling OF treaties with Indian tribes and
paying the interest on trust fund stock-was
nearly 81, 600 900, and could not be accomplished
on less without increasing the expenditures iu
another direction by warning upon them. He
said the purchase of rations increased as the In
dian came into the first stages Of civilization,
which was to consent to eat the white mans beef.
During the past few years the Kiowas majority
OF the bands OF the Comanches, the Apaches,
Cheyennes Arapahoes and Sioux have raided upon
reservations and are served with rations by the
government. Admitting that the race Is declining,
the Commissioner said that the number on the
hands or the government has largely increased.
During the coming winter, he states, at least %
per cent more Sioux will have to be fed. The
Apaches also are being drawn in by the military
of oucha