Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-11-30
Washington News.
WASHINGTON November %. 1873.
The CIPHER DEsPATcHEs.-DRMoCRA FAVOR
AN INVESTIGATION.

INoNctuuci <os 1910
THE CIPHER DEsPATcHEs.-DEMoCRA FAVOR
AN INVESTIGATION
1t seems to be understood among Democratic
Congressman, Is they arrive here, that they will
take the initiative in the investigation Of the cph
err dispatches. They say that they cannot afford
to object to an iuvestigation and the Republicans
will demand it. The only possible result Of an
Tilden and few OF his personal adherents, and
Tilden has very few friends in this Congress.
Speaker Randall is almost the only one of inlu
ence who would 60 far to prevent Tilden's sacri-
fee. II is agreed that on Saturday, when more
Democratic members have arrived, there shall he
sconsulaton over this matter, and it is generally
believed that the result will be in the nature of in
strnction to the Potter committee to extend their
inquiries into the subject The committee can o
this without further instructions; but it is neces
sary that some formal action be taken by the dem.
ocrats in the House to anticipate anything the re-
publicans may do, either in the Senate or in that
body.
THREATENED WITHDRAWAL OF POSTAL CARS
Postmaster General Key says that in three
months he will order most of the postal cars now
running taken off the railroads, unless Congress
makes speedy and sufficient appropriations to pay
for transportation. He fears that nothing less
than the withdrawal of these cars will induce
Congress TO treat the mail service with justice.
He says he will not overdrsw his appropriation
dollar when it is exhausted, for if the service is
crippled or stopped he wants the responsible
thrown on Congress, where it belongs, and he
thinks suspension of the mails, if the people
know what causes II, will bring down upon Con
gress camor it cannot Withstand. Judge Key
believes that the people understand and appreciate
the perfection of our present postal service, and
are willing TO be taxed to sustain it, so that they
will insist upon their represen tatives in Congress
providing sufficient money for its support even If
appropriations for other branches of the govern.
ment are reduced.
AN ATTACK ON THE INDIAN BUREAU.
Inspector General X. b. Marcy, who is General
McClelsn's father in law, has made bitter as
ssult upon the Indian Bureau, as now conducted
BY the Interior Department, in paper prepared
by him for the Indian Transfer Commission. He
asserts that the Indian Bureau is thoroughly i'm
pregnsted with corruption, and that it is difficult
to conceive of any change that wonld not tend to
disinfect it. Facts do not sustain assertions that
the Indian Bureau tends TO civilize, educate and
Christianize Indians At Red Cloud and Spotted
Tail Agencies no progress whatever toward civil
ization has been made. The Indians simply eat,
drink, smoke and sleep out of money furnished by
the government. There has been no progress to-
ward selfsupport. Meanwhile Indian Agents
have amassed fortunes on salaries of fifteen hun
bred annually. From 1888 to lS49 when the In.
dian Bureau was under the control Of the War
Department, there WAS no corruption and the H.
dams we're cOntented. Distribution of annuties
was always made by army officers in the presence
of the entire tribe, all persons present knowing
exactly what was due each Indian.
The transfer is not desired by the army, because
the duties would be arduous and thankless, but
the change would be great measure Of economy.
For twenty-nine years, he says in conclusion, the
Indian Bureau has been expensive and corrupt,
and for this reason it should be transferred back
to the war department. From Correspondence of
Boston Journal.