The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-06-26
WASHINGTON.
GENERAL WASHINGTON DISPATCHES.

WASHINGTON, June IS, 1878
TIE NAVAL INVESTIGATION WHAT THE
FRIENDS OF SECRETARY robson SAY.
Careful inquiry and examination show that there Is
10 Just ground for tho public impression that tho
House Committee Naval Affairs recently made u
report charging ex-Sscretary Robson with NAL
.sasance in office recommending that no be prose-
m,ed in behalf Of the government and his friends
,ers request the following statement OF the facts
The paper recently read in the House by Dir.
Whltthorne, OF Tennessee out OF which the msappre-
BENSON arose was not authorized by the commillee
II was presented without authority ana against pre-.
sedent as purely personal pancr. Tho recent payment
~ order Of Congress OF ali ins bills contracted by
yecretary Robson the result OF an exhaustive eX-
,mination by a democratic comInittee OF the House.
Mwnich so acute gentleman as Mr. Carlisle, of Ken
lucky, was a mcmper. Tho only dissentihg hemoer
" tho committee was MT. "hitthorne, VINO
made his adverse report member oil
mother committee entirely. The koocson biiis
ordered paid by an overwhelming majority IN
The House and by unanimous vote in the Senate.
This Robcsons friends here regard as his conclusive
vindcaion. They shink IL due 70 justice TO Call at
teution also TO the TACT that Wnthorne's paper re-
ferred to points Of administrative discretion which
were decided Robcson's favor by the last House OF
Representatives, when the judiciary Committee de-
cided that they could not be made the basis Of
charges.
TIE TRANSFER OF THE INDIAN BUREAU
WORK OF THE JOINT COMMISSION PROVIDED
FOR By CONGRESS.
In the bill making appropriations for the army for
the FISCAL year ending June go 1872 there is section
providing tor the formation OF joint commission to
the feasibility Of removing the Indian Bureau
10 the War Department This commission consists
OF threo senator's and i've members OF tho House.
They have power to Sit during the recess, send Tor
persons and papers, examine Witnesses visit the
Indian country and fact to do all in their power
10 arrivo at truthful solution OF this vcxcd question
rho com mission consists OF Senators Saunders, OF
Nebraska; Oglcsby, OF Illinois, and McCrary, OF Ken
lucky and Messrs. Scales, of North Carolina; Boone,
OF Kentucky; Hooker, OF Mississippi; Steward, OF
Minnesota, and Van voorhees,, OF ONO They have
perfected an organization by the selection OF Senator
Saunders as chairman ana Major Charles Flanagan as
secretary of the commission. The Secretaries OF
War and Interior have received number Of letters
from the asking for data, statistics and
all general information the very important subject
left the commission TO decide. A number OF
clerks of those respective departments are busy at
work preparing tho answers for the commission.
AS this is question iraught with interest TO the
entire country it be stated that all persons who
desire send data to the commission, or who have
any Information to convey the subject, can do SO
by transmitting their communications to Major Elan
lgau secretary OF the JOINT commission, United
States Senate Chamber.
Senator Saunders, the chairman OF tho CON-
mission, is a Kentuckan by birth, but has
vest. He is said be OF the
sest posted men on the Indian question the coun
nv and Is unbiased on the questions to be decided ty
ne com ission. He has been Governor OF Nebr aska
and 10 serving his first term in the Senate The
other pers Of the commission are all moro or
less well versed Indian affairs.
THE HOT SPRINGS REsERvATIoN-THE COM
MISSION REQUESTED BY THE PRESIDENT TO
PROCEED WITH THEIR DUTIES
At the Cabinet meeting to-day the omission in the
enrolment Of the Sunary Civil Appropriation bill Of
Ark, was prominent subject Of discussion AS
sends tho following communication TO the late Com.
missoncrs OF the Hot Springs
GENrLEMES--Tbe President directs me to request
you as the latc Commissioners appointed under tho
Congress approved March 8, 1871 TO settle the
conflicting claims to portion oil the Hot Springs
purposes 10 take charge OF the records OF your
ceedngs ACT aud to proceed to the
s,deration OF the testimony IN all these cases
In which testimony was taken in relation TO
the rights OF tho respective claimants 10 any
part OF the Hot spring reservation, and 10 perform
such work may facilitate the carly adjudication Of
such claims, and also 10 report 10 this Department
what measures may appear to you necessary TO pro-
tect rights Of all parties upon said reservation
we'll the interests OF the United States, trusting
that Congress at Its next session VIII adopt such legis
Iatiou as may be necessary TO confirm tho acts
by you IN the meantime and provide ior y due com
pensation Tor your services.
In view the fact that fears entertained that
serious difficulties may between the conf citing
claimants portions OF SAID tract you are requested
TO upon the discharge OF the task above indi-
Gated carly day possible, and that sucn steps
shall DO taken BY you be necessary preserve
status Of the claimants until their rights
finally determined.