The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1878-07-16
WASHINGTON.
ATTY. GEN. DEVENS IN CHARGE OF
THE WAR DEPARTMENT.

hliDlN MEM OT n NEN NDNhlHSl'NEh VT
PATENTS PROBABIE-THE CONFLICTING
REPORTS REGARDING THE INDIAN WAX
ATALK WITH SECRETARY SHERMAN On
FINANCIAL MATTERS.
WASHINGTON, July l4.-DuriDg the alb
sence of Secretary Thompson the navy de-
partment is under the care of Atty. Gen.
Devens. The latter stays at the navy de-
partment from two to four o'clock each al
ternoon This idea is entirely original and
and the explanation for it is the fact that
there is considerable jealousy--a sort Of a
family fght-among the officials in the de-
partment. The matter i. the more marked
because congress recently passed law de-
volving the duties upon the chief clerk Of
the assistant secretary and in case the chief
clerk is absent the duties were to fall upon
Commodore Howell, chief of one of the
bureaus.
INDIAN MATTERS.
The Indian bureau is more emphatic than
ever in the statement that Towards Indian
war, as tcegraphed throughout the country
was exaggerated in the greatest degree. The
bureau officials maintain that comparative
" few Indians left the reservation, were
fired upon by the settlers, then began ma
rauding. and that Howard, coming upon
,,,, ,,ora .I,,, +,r, hurJraJ bol N cl-irmis IA
which he painted in glowing colors to the
war department, but without giving any
definite information as to the number en-
gagged and killed. They say that few
more dispatches will be received and then
the war will be over. 1t is charged that the
Indian excitement was gotten up by those
interested in transportation and furnishing
the sincws of war. A telegram was re-
ceived to-day from the agent of the Warm
Spring Indians in Southern Oregon, stating
that they were quiet and obedient and that
they swear fidelity to the whites.
PROSPECTIVE CHANGES.
It is now pretty well understood that the
secretary of the interior contemplate a
change in the commissioner of patents. Ellis
Spear, the present incumbent, has been the
object of violent attacks ever since he first
entered the Office It seems that the trou-
bic is that too many persons were placed on
the payroll; that Spear yielded too rapidly
to the demands of politicians. The ap-
pointment clerk of the bureau, Robson. is
also the subject Of displeasure on the same
score, and it is expected that he will resign
at the same time that Spear sends in his
resignation. 1t is rumored that Congress
man Hendee of Vermont will be rendered
the position of commissioner.
SHERMAN OK RESUMPTION.
Secretary Sherman converscd freely upon
general topics this evening. He says that
everything he did while at New York last
week and great many things that were
not done were published in the newspapers.
Your correspondent is warranted in giving
the following outline of some Of the inter
esting facts in relation to resumption men
toned by Mr., Sherman "We could re.
sumo to-day, but it would not be proper to
do so. The law fixes the date when we
shall pay coin for paper dollars. 1t means
payment then and not before then. 1t will
be better to 20 along for six months and let
the people understand that this condition OF
things is real. Then the good effect will be
felt Confidence llbe restored, capitalist,
will come forward and invest their means
and manufacturing will revive. The pre-
MUM on gold is merely nominal now at
onc-half per cent. The sale of half mil
lion of gold would break the market A
prominent broker in New York told me