The daily gazette., 1876-08-21
Triumph Of the Indian Ring.

Triumph of the Indian Ring.
The stronghold of the Indian Ring,
SO far as legislation is concerned, is in
the Sepate of the United States. Dur.
ing the ascendency of the Republicans
in the House, the leadiug members of
tho Committee on Indian Affairs, and
others from the Northwest always had
share of the spoils. But the Senate
controlled the bills outside of the re .
gular appropriations, and the chief
agent of this venal business since the
enforced exile of Brother Harlan has
been smooth Mr., William Window of
Minnesota.
When Window was elected to the
Senate, he was openly charged with
having paid $50. 900 to procure the seat
which he now holds, and which he is
generally believed 10 have utilized fer
personal objects, without much cons
cealment. He is the Intimate friend
and supposed confederate of "Blll
King" of Minnesota, who figured so
conspicuously in the Pacific Mail SUBJ
sidy, with about one hundred and
fifty thousand dollars inIhis pocket for
contingencies. taa
One of the first acts of the present
House was to investigate the: corrupt
contracts, robbery, frauds and swin>
ding of the Indian Ring. Taken iii
connection with the previous develop.
ments, the committee came to the con-
clusion that the only practical remedy
was to transfer the Indian Bureau
from the Interiort5 the War Departs
ment. The country coifcided with
this policy, and it would now be a
law but for the unqualified opposition
of the Senate, led by the beneficiaries
of the Ring,
The official figures of the Treasury
show that the expenditures for the
Indian under Grant have more than
doubled those of any former Adminis~
tration, when the tribes were much
larger than they now are, and greater
obstacles had to be encountered in
their treatment. Between two and
tree millions O year have been stolen
regularly since 1869, and divided be-
tween the Ring chiefs in and out of
Congress, the Iadian Bureau. the Inv
terror Department. and the favored
contractors. A large SUM was set aside
for political uses, 80 as to smooth the
road at Washington aud to help elect
Senators and Representatives whose
votes and influence were needed.
The House Of Representatives pro-
ceeded upon the idea that the bureau
would be transferred and therefore
cut off the usual appropriations for its
support. Other reforms were also in
troduced which together amounted to
about one half Of the total Indian
expenses for last year. These reduc-
tions were perfectly practicable, with-
out in any way interfering with the
efficiency of the service. Indeed they
were intended to promote vigor, hon
esty, and fidelity.
AS soon as the House developed its
purpose to economize on the appropri.
alton bills, the Senate and the party
organs, seconded by the President.
cried out that "existing laws' would
be repealed without the usual forms.
They know that offices had been crea-
ted, salaries raised, patronage multi
piled. and the worst partisan legisla-
tion carried, as riders on the appropri'
ations by themselves, But when it
was proposed to reverse this system
and to substitute retrenchment for
lprodigality, then its authors turned
around to assail their own methods,
though relieved of the very worst fea-
lures,
In order to meet this objection on
the Indian Bureau the House passed
an Independent bill for the
transfer, and sent it to the Senate on
the 25th of April, nearly four m enths
ago. The committee in that body,
with Mr.. W. B. Allison of Credit Mo-
; biliar fame as Chairman. never touch
ed it. They stifled the proposition
wilfully, and would not allow it to be
brought before the Senate for discus-
sion. That action was part of the
programme for thwarting theHouse in
its intended reductions, because with
the bureau removed to the charge of
army officers and the old Ring connec-
tions broken up, there would soon be
: an end of the collusive frauds and
7 corruption.
The fight had, therefore, to be made
l on the Appropriation bill pure and
simple. With Windon and Logan as
' the Republican managers on the part
of the Senate, backed by an unscrupu-
s lous majority bent upon defeating or
0 embarrassing everything like reform,
Q it was easy to foresee what the result
Y must finally be. After long confer,
: ence and sharp contest. the bill re-
n ported sums up "a, ,670. 117.O2, or 5000,
8 437 so less than the Senate at first de.
: manded, but still far short of the
= mark which the House desired tc
, reach.
} Here is a bit of fact. with pertin-
8 ent inquiry from the Raleigh Sentinel