The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-11
GENERAL WASHINGTON DISPATCHES.

0encral W iillam H. Lyon OF New YORK, q memDcr
of the Purchasing Committee of the Board of Indian
Commissioners. was the first gentleman to present
his views before the joint commission having under
consideration the question Of the advisabilty Of
transferring the Indian Bureau to the War Depart
ment at its meeting to-day. He opposed the trans
fer the ground that army officers
not educated in the line Of civilization.
He had profound respect for the officers Of the
army, and thought it would be very ungenerous for
great nation like ours to ask who devoted the
best portion of his life soldier to accept posi-
ton as Indian agent. Army officers, he thought,
might very properly be employed as inspectors of
agents. An Indian agent should be practical farmer.
stock raiser, nc. The present reservations he
thought too large and advocated the consolidation of
the Indians. and was quite confident that if their
lands were divided in severaty they would cause
little no trouble. providing treaties made
with them by the government we're not violated. He
would readily think Of transferring the public
schools Of New York city to the police department
because there some unruly children to be dealt
with to transfer the Indian Bureau to military
management. As body he considered the Indian
agents rather incompetent than dishonest, and said
that tho majority Of reports setting forth their dis
honesty were without foundation.
Mr.. Barclay White, representing the Society of
Friends at the winnebago Agency. Nebraska gave his
mainly repetition Of testimony heretofore presented
on that side Of the question.
Under cross-examination by General Hooker to
whether or not the appointment Of army officer
who would continue the present form of governing
the Winnebagoes would retard their progress in any
way Mr.. White said he could form no opinion as to
| what the result would be.
General Hooker submitted letter from General
Marcy making Some important corrections in pre-
| vous communication rendered by that gentleman to
| the commission.
Judge Boone desired to incorporate in the testi-
mony report to the Secretary of War by General
McFeeley contrasting the costs Of various supplies
made by the War Department with those of the Indian
Bureau. Mr.. Van vorhes however. thought It better
that General McFeeley should appear before the COM
mttee. which was finally agreed upon. and for this
| purpose the committee will meet tomorrow.
The idea advanced by ex-senator Morrill,, Of Mime
yesterdays meeting with reference to localizng the
Indians differs very materially from that Of other gen.
tlemen who have advocated Indian localization Mr.
Morrls idea being to concentrate the Indians into
two extensive districts OF country, Of which the
| Indian Territory shall be one. This plan, he
thinks. would benehcally replace the present system
Of treating Indians prisoners the smaller
yattons. which hu$s 10 " gusrdsd by tsoops and
would enable them to take advantage Of cvlzing in
by the Choctaws, Greeks. chickasaws and other In
dian tribes in the Indian Territory.
CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSITS IN AID OF REFUND
MAN ON MR.. WOODS BILL.
Secretary Sherman before the Committee of
Ways and Means to-day and gave his views concerning
the bill heretofore introduced by Representative
Wood to authorize the issue Of certificates Of deposit
in aid of the refunng of the national debt The bill
was materially altered. but not in accordance with
his views. The BILL agreed on, is as follows
which Mr.. Wood was authorized to report to the
House,
Be it enacted &C.. that the Secretary Of the Treas
ury is hereby authorized and directed to Issue. in
change for lawful money of the United States that
may be presented for such exchange, certificates Of
deposit Of the denomination Of 49, bearing interest
vertible any time with accrued interest into the
four per centum bonds described in the Rcfunding
to the payment of the ivetwenty bonds in the mode
prescribed by said act and he is authorized to pre-
scribe suitable rules and regulations in conformity
with this act.
The original bill merely authorized the Secretary
to issue such certificates, but by an amendment Of
Mr. Burchard he is directed to do go and it was also
at his instance that the interest reduced from
3.65 to per cent per annum. The original bill
authorized the exchange Of certificates for or
CON-" but this stricken ont and the words law
full money Of the United States inserted.
Mr.. Kelly proposed an amendment, which was re-
ected giving the option to convert the certificates
into United States notes.
On Thursday the committee win hold special
meeting to consider the Sugar bill.
THE CHARGES AGAINST SENATOR MATTHEW'S.
The senste committee appointed ON motion Of SEN
ator Matthews to investigate certain published acga-
tons concerning his connection with Louisiana polit-
Gc n
after interchange Of views the best mode Of
procedure IL was decided to defer the adoption Of
definite programme of action until the committee
shall have obtained from the House Of Representa-
tivcs copy Of the testimony given by James L. An
dcrson before the Potter Committee.
Mr.. Allison was authorized TO offer a resolution to
make the necessary request the part OF the Senate
and the committee adjourned subject to tho call of
the Chairman.
THE NIcARAGUAN CLAIMS.
The Secretary of State has sent to the Senate in re-
Spouse to resolution of that body report IN rcla-
ton to the claim of Jonathan G. Kendrick one Of tho
sufferers by the occurrences at Virgin Bay in Ncar-
aqua on the 10th Of October 1856 Tho report briefly
reviews the history of the rebellion in Nicaragua at
that date and says that while Nicaragua admits its
responsibility for injuries to noncombatants,
tho efforts Of the United States government
for a settlement of such claims OF our citizens by
claims commission, done with Costa Rica
have been unsuccessful account Of the insistance
by the Nicaragua government upon the inclusion of
claims against the United States, arising out of the
bombardmcnt by Captain Holtons of the port of
Greytown San Juan del Norte. The papers sub
mttcd the report embracing the correspondence
between tho State Department and the United States
Ministers to that country from 1856 to 1871 relative
to the claims Of American citizens against Nicaragua
THE POTTER. COMMITTEE.
The Potter Committee held a meeting to-day. az
which It was determined that subcommittee should
be sent TO Louisiana to continue the investigation
there in further grant OF money is made by
Congress for the Of the committee. Chair.
Potter is to BIO one Of the proposed sub
committee. and is to select second democratic
member before next Thursday. until which time