The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-03-31
FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT.

The republican Senators are disposed to take up the
wrangc with the Southern democracy where Mr. Blaine
lett II in the House. During the debate to day the
Mississippi investigation question while Mr. Bayard,
OF Delaware, speaking. Mr. Boutwell, of Nassachu
setis interrupted him several times for which he finally
receveda somewhat sharp rebuke AS soon as Mr. Bay
ard had finished Mr. Boutwell, 10 his feet and
sponded in those and terms OF intense radicasm
which, in days gone by, have electrified
the legislative halls OF both houses. He
delivered regular old fashioned antslavery
times fugitive slave law dissertation and was unspar
ing even to cruelty in his criticisms of the Southern
people Long after he had ceased the hot blood could
be reddenng the faces of the Southern Senator's
especiallp those who had served in the Confederate
army during the war. But they kept their temper
exceedingly WELL Senator's Withers, of West Virginia,
anu Maxey Of Texas, replying 10 Senator Boutwell, in
emphatic but reasonably conservative sentences.
Ono Of the Eastern Senator'S who was very
much pleased with the unsparing liberation
which the latter had gwen the South
said he thought he heard tones OF the Old So1th
Church bell in Boston ring out again Senator Morton
followed with canstic application TO the wounds
opened by Senator Boutwell, Unless great discretion
assumes the sway there will probably be much more
OF this acrimonious debate, and the OF the
House will be re-ennctcd The republican Senators
rogance of the South in and legislative action
and hope get Senatorial Ben Hill speak
his mind in rctort
THE FRAUDS IN THE INDIAN BUREAU RE-
PUBLICAN MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE AS
COUNSEL FOR THE DEFENCE FAvoRITIsM
TOWARD THE RING.
During tho examination OF witnesses by the Indian
Committee today Mr. Page, one OF the members who
cross-examines them, lost his temper because OF
the spectators handed note to the chairman Mr..
Page protested. Mr.. Scales and Judge Wiltshire said
that they glad to get information from any
The country wanted the truth, and the chairman said
they would thank amy person who gave them iacts
that would lead to the exposure OF frauds.
j. f. Barrows OF New York city. testified that he
u contractor but had lost his bids, though he
lower than any competitor; in each instance ex-Com-
missioner Smith had managed to give the contracts TO
members of the Indian Ring, though they always bid
higher than the witness aid He gave the following
damaging statement OF the way the fraudulent
tracts were obtaned:-
In July, 1874 Mr. l. Zcckendorf OF Tucson, Arizona,
John Hughes, OF Denver, and tho witness, j. f. Bar
rows, bidders i'll the OF Zeckcndor Tor fur
nisbng beef cattle TO the different Indian agencies in
in Arizona the amount IN the aggregate beng 600 900
100000 pounds. When the bids were opened
ut the Interior Department by Commissioner Smith the
bid OF witness 1rm was found TO be the lowest, and
they expected get the contract all the require
ments in the proposal complied with. Inc checks
accompan ying the bid duly certified by New York
national banks the amount OF ST. QUO On the day
after the proposals were opened ID. w. Z. Wheeler,
of New York; j. W. Bosler OF Pennsylvania
and Lew Smith of Leavcnworlh, Kansas had
put in two or three bids, one in the name
OF Trainer, of Texas. which was the next
above ZcckcndOrfs; in the name of Smith, the
third fourth above witness firm. Mr. Zcckendorf
demanded the contract of Commissioner Smith, but
was refused, and no explanation was gwen. The con
tract finally awarded To Lew Smith In the interest
OF Mcssrs Bosler and Wheeler The difference in the
price OF the contract from $50, 900 10 10000,
which Of course total loss TO the government and
the Indians The witness went say that ON the
day the bids were TO be opened Wheeler said that tho
witness should never secure the bids After the
tract awarded to the Ring u check for
81, 900 presented TO Hughes to keep him quiet.
The check for that amount was gwen by Lew Smith,
one of successful contractors but II drawn by
Rossler, the Ring contractor and 1t was on Kountz
CO. of New York. In 1874 the witness, Mr.. Barrows,
bid In the contract for transportation of Indian sup
Plies from Chcy to Red Cloud agency. He the
lowest bidder but McCann received the contract at
prices largely OF those put In by the witness.
The advertisement for proposals said that bids would
only be received from Cheyenne, yet private agrsc
inent was made between Mccain and Commissioner
Smith accept McCann's bid for transportation
Omaha TO Red Cloud VIA Cheyenne, which was in viola
OF the stipuations Of the contract advertised
THE INDIANS ABOUT FORT SILL IN STARVING
Observation-Disclosures OF AN UPRISING AND
DISASTROUS CONSEQUENCES LIKELY TO VOL
Low-EFFoRTs TO AVOID THE DIFFICULTY.
Considerable apprehension is felt at the War Depart
mcnt owing to recent adviccs received from The mill
tary officials at Fort Sill that the Indians, TO the
number of COO actually suffering for
thing TO cat, aud are, In iact ON the verge OF
starvation. Tho troops have spare rations 10
give them and there is bat VI about men in
the post which, in the event OF rising the part OF
the Indians makes the soldiers position precarous
This danger is seriously unprecedented by the officers
OF the War Department, as they know that tho
first thing an Indian will do before he to rise
up against the authorities and take TO the plains,
which is act OF Such n with tho
threatening attitude OF Sioux in the northwest who
would communicate with them by war parties ana
couriers would render tho whole border uaenauabe,
and cause certain OF the troops. The Sec
rotary War forwarded papers the Secretary Of
the Interior with the request that supplies may he sent
10 the suffering Indians and their families, and that
the appropriations may be FASTENED enable the de-
parment do all that is required Secretary Chand-
Ter will accordingly urge hat the House and Senate
take carly notice OF this condition OF affairs and the
War Department will second him, in order avoid If
posslbe the chances of war which the military au-
thortics here regard most imminent In u word ut
no time for many years past has the War Department
Ielt 50 much the score OF Indian affairs
as at the present moment
NO TRANSFER OF THE INDIAN BUREAU PROB
ABLE
Senator Allison, OF Iowa, chairman of tho senate
Committee Indian Affairs, does not think that there
Is much likelihood OF the transfer OF the conduct
Indian affairs by Congress TO tho War Department He
is In favor OF the appointment Of a commission to
take two years examine into and decide upon and
recommend plan 10 be adopted for the full investment
and management OF the Indians
TH3 PRESIDENTS ILLNRss-APPREHRSsIoSs
FEIr BIZ HIS FRIExDs-rHE SENATE PREsI-
DEScY PRO TEM. QUESTION LIKELY TO BIZ.
REVIVED.
The illness Of President Grant occasions much con-
Germ at the Capitol The attack promised to DO or
short duration last evening, but the ndiscreet going
out the President yesterday afternoon ride has
aggravated his indisposion demanded afrcsh the
efforts Of his attending physician Dr. Basil Norris