The New York herald., 1877-08-24
WASHINGTON.
FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT.

WASHINGTON. August %, 1871.
REMOVAL OF G. W. SMITH, CHIEF OF DIVISION
OF ACCOUNTS, FROM THE INDIAN OFFICE.
George W. smisb, Chief Of Division of Accounts In
the Indian Oficc was this day discharged upon tho
findings OF committee appointed by Secretary scnhrz
examine into tho business methods OF tho Indian
Bureau Mr. Smith originally appointed IN De-
ccmber 1875 to 81. 500 clcrkship IN that bureau
Without passing through the intermediate grades
necessary proper qualification Tor the performance
Of the duties was made the chief this important
DIVISION
II Is understood Ihat cumulative testimony will fnr
,hcr justify the removal II is considered by tho au-
thortics Of the Interior Department sha, this and
similar decisive measures TO be taken give assurance
OF an early reform the Indian service
SECRETARY sCHURz's ENDEAvoRs TO STOP THE
COUNTRY.
Secretary schurz statos that in bis investigation
into the timber depredatons, which have boon
enormous he has thus far secured most satisfactory
results lor the correction Of the peculatng system
long practsed Upon tho public domain. He has CON-
menccd by removing the whole question from the juris
dicton OF the General Land ONCE taking charge
of the details himself, because large corporations
were con fronted and their influence almost IRE
sistible. Thus far IL Minnesota and Louisiana no has
ACCOMPLISHED all that he expected and Will save
finally in not results many thousands OF dollars 10 the
government This has been mainly accomplished by
entirely stopping the plan OF compromise heretofore
carried out by arranging with tho parties who have
been detected in stealing the timber and soing II to
them at compromise price. Ho now, instead Of
compromising loss 10 tho government, will exact
the highest market prco and thus make them, he,
says, lose their labor, at least, as penalty
WHAT THE SECRETARY SAYS
Referring generally to the remarks made about the
unproductlveness OF the Investigations ordered by
him no says that no expects to 90 forward through
each branch OF his department, taking ,hem in turn
and making removals and corrections required. BY
the time he gets through he believes that the
public will that he has accomplished some.
thing aud applied some remedies. II Is al
ready In evidence that tho everglades
of Florida and Louisiana have largely depleted Of
tho valuable products by tho land pirates who have
gathered rich harvests for foreign vessels awaiting
heir cargoes along the shores OF the Gulf The same
Is true Of tho sierra Of piateaus OF the far West In
the latter region is believed that corporations
well as individuals dre implicated Whether subordi-
natc officials OF the department have been guilty Of
colusion in those matters remains to be seen.
PREPARATION OF THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE
GUIDANCE OF THE SITTING BULL COMMITS
SION.
The instructions to the Sitting Bull Commission are
now under the consideration of Secretaries Schurz
and McCrary. They will comprehend line OF action
which It is hoped will accomplish all that is possible
without Congressional legislation in the conference TO
bo held with the hostile Sioux and their leader for
an understanding which will insurs their
submission aud some satisfactory arrangement
usts,s
governments 1t is true that Sitting Bull is skiiui
diplomat and win undoubtedly tako advantage OF the
present international situation. The instructions
will indicate to tho commission tho prop
osition OF the United States govern.
ment, which they will be- authorized
to make with due regard to treaty spuations and the
laws hitherto enacted Tor just cons deraton Of the
rights OF the indians In conformity with the we'll
Indian policy Of the present administration, II
will DO oxactn. in It's requirements than hitherto
Tho department expresses no opinion as to the results.