The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-16
ASHINcTON
The Senate Indian Committee Proposing
a Change Of Policy.
THE "IRON-CLAD OATH
Prospect of Short Session, with
Small Results.
LOUISIANA PRoCRAsT1NATED.

LOUISIANA PRoCRAsTMATED.
WASHINGTON Feb. Is, 1874.
Another Week In Congress of Wind and
Smoke-PrOspect or q Short Session and
Small Results-LOuisiana Indefinitely
Postponed.
The labors OF this week In Congress have yielded
no apparent results upon the financial question,
or on the question of reduction or increase OF the
national taxes, or on the main question, as now
considered in both houses OF q retrenc hment of
expenditures. Mr.. Dawes Chairman of the Com
mittee or Ways and Means IN startling ar
ray or statistics has shown that the Treasury
mas SO lar been drawing upon its reserves
that only sweeping system OF reductions in
the expenditures OF every department and every
bureau or Increased taxation to the extent OF
$l00,0000OO will save the government from the
alternative OF borrowing or breaking. Next week.
from some more hopeful republican. we are prom
ised more encouraging exhibit Of receipts and
disbursements, resources and liabilities But
to-day the oficial report OF the mercess Dawes is
accepted AZ defining the situation Of the Treasury.
1t Is short, and the Ways and Means Committee
and the Committee on Appropriations, with all
their prunings are still shOrt-shOrt OF many mil
lions; and so they are still engaged in cutting OF
and cutting down appropriations which, in the end,
will be mostly restored in the annual bill. 1t is
thought so by some of the shrewdest members Of
the House, who think that this present fit OF re-
trenchment Will soon pass away.
Beyond the discouraging figures OF Dawes and
one OF the periodical Tits OF General Butler
with the windmis, and ventilation In the Senate
OF the horrors OF the Kukux Klans by Scott Of
Pennsylvania, and OF the al-terrble despotlsm Of
martial law in South Carolina by Bayard OF Della
ware, and excepting the modified Bankrupt law
agreed upon In the Senate, and the fighting Of
the battles Of the Modoc war over again
In the House, there IS hardly anything IN
last weeks proceedings of either chamber worth
recalling Yes, there is the resolution OF the House
Affirming, by large majority, the power OF Con-
gress, in the regulation OF commerce among the
States, to regulate railway freights, fares and COM
binations, which may be pronounced the most
significant vote Of the House upon any subject
since the decisive vote OF that body upon the
fifteenth amendment.
Nevertheless, upon all the leading questions
before Congress we are as much in the fog to-day
as we were week ago. The opinion is strength
ened that the session, as the long session, will be
short one, that it will be brought to final ad-
journment early in June, and that, excepting bill
on banking and currency calculated to meet imme-
date necessities the results Of the session will be
limited to the annual appropriation and deficiency
bills and other routine measures II there any
general intentions OF reconstruction OF the tariff,
of the internal revenue law. and Of the national
banking system, there would be no idea enter
tanned OF final adjournment this side Of August.
But the republican majority not knowing what 1T
should do, or can do, or may safely undertake to
do upon these subjects on comprehensive scale,
will content itself with such temporary tnkerngs
OF the currency as may serve to convoy the party
through the fall elections. The members, tOO
on their reduced salaries are not disposed to pro-
long their stay needlessy In the costly hotels and
boarding houses OF Washington. II these poorly
compensated lawmakers were paid by the day
while in actual service in the Capitol, in the old
time, they might remain in session till September.
As Is their perquisites from the lobby, since the
Credit Mobilier exposures being cut or they lose
by lengthenng and save by shortening the session
on their $4,000 year.
It's now understood that between the repub.
lican leaders In Congress and the President there
is an agreement that "masterly inactivity" shall
be the policy OF Congress in the affairs OF Louis.
lana. The opposition forces, too, are becoming
Indifferent upon this matter, inasmuch as they fear
that If new election were ordered 1t would be
under sucn regulations and such election officers
as would surely give the victory to the Kellogg
party.
In reference to the troubles In Utah bill, it Is
believed, will undoubtedly be passed this session
defining the jurisdiction respectively OF the United
States courts and the Territorial courts, and so
shortly, too, as to clip the wings Of tue Mormons
in bringing them and their sanity institution OF
polygamy completely under the laws and authori-
ties OF the United States. The President, when
approached on the subject, loses no opportunity
for urging upon members OF Congress the neces-
sity of reconstruction of the courts Of Utah.
Beyond the answers required to calls Tor infor
nation from Congress and Its Committees on Re-
trenchment and Reform, the administration has
nothing to disturb the even tenor Of Its way. Mr.
Cushing goes to Spain only to arrange the terms
OF temporary armistice in our TRANSACTIONS
with the island Of Cuba. No comprehensive
treaty will be attempted with Madrid short Of
the establishment OF government in spain. 1t is
apprehended that the difficulties and wranglings
among the Central American States may before
long ca er actiys ;iprofaatfc Intervention 81 thu
part or our government particularly in the even,
OF the ADOPTION +af the Nicaragua route for an
interoceanic ship canal That this route viii
finally be settled upon for the canal latter al tlat
has been urged in favor Of the Atrato route) Is BY
no means improbable.
The Senate Indian Committee and the
UnsattsSa Glory Administration of In
dian Affairs.
The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs have
under consideration number OF propositions on
the subject On the future control and management
OF the Indians. The present policy. in its results.
particularly as compared>yith Its expense is by
no means satisfactory. The esfap,.s hment OF ter
ritorial government for the Indian Serritory IS
now being considered. Several CherOkAes> ana
other Indians in the city, In the interests o! the
people, have made statements before the commit
tee. Senators Bogy, or Missouri, and Ingalls, Of
Kansas are understood to be IN favor OF the Terri
torial form. The rest OF the committee are unde-
clded. A proposition looking to transfer of In