Daily Los Angeles herald., 1878-12-07

sioners, signed by Generals Sher-
man, Terry, Angler and others, set
ting forth in effect that ii peace
with the Indians was required,
the management of their
affairs should be placed
under the civil department of the
Government. He added, "Now, T.
agree with these gentlemen on this
point. There are great many
officers of the army who have ex-
cellent ideas about Indian affairs,
but it is another thing to bring
ideas into practical effect" The
military arm of the Govern
ment he did not consid-
er gifted with the facility
/ for patient labor required to
place the hoe in the Indians hand
and teach him how to use it.: He
denied emphatically the red.
tape system of reporting Indian
outbreaks, which had been asserted
was required under the present ad.
ministration Of Indian affairs.
Whenever a case arises where
prompt action is necessary, he
is the person communicated
with. The Secretary of War or
the General of the army may be
thereby notified, causing but very
few hours' delay In perfecting the
necessary arrangements TO meet
the emergency, rather than
months, as intimated by General
Sherman. He claimed that the
demand for the transfer of
the Bureau from the Civ
il to the Military Depart
ment was based upon assumptions
rather than upon facts. History
will prove that the Indian Bureau
is credited with Indian wars which
in reality, occurred previous to its
organization under civil manage
ment. The cause of a majority Of
wars, in his opinion, is the break
ing of treaties, together with the
encroachment of greedy whites
upon settlements allotted to
would-be peaceful Indians.
He did not believe that such mill
tary officers as Generals Sherman,
Sheridan and others desired war,
but subordinates, who had repu-
tation to make, were not too keen
for peace, especially with the Indi-
an race. Army officers, the Secre-
tary said, in reply to a question by
General Hooker, who have been in
in charge at the Indian
Agencies, have been very faithful
and efficient. Their duties were,
however, in connection with an un-
settled state of affairs, and not with
view to civilizing the Indian.
The Secretary advised the plac.
ing of troublesome In
dams on q reservation
under martial law and of increas-
ing the number of Indian police
from 450 to 1000 or 1900. This
force was very reliable and had rem
dered good service.
Colonel Harrison Gray OsIs.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 6.-Colonel
Harrison Gray Otis, whose nomi-
nation as Collector of Customs for
San Diego District was sent to the
Senate on Monday, is well known
in this city, where he has many
friends. He was at one time fore
man of the Government Printing
Office, and more recently Chief of
one of the divisions in the Patent
Office.
Bo"ah's Biii for the Benefit of
Settlers.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 6.-The bill
introduced by Senator Booth for
the relief of homestead settlers
provides that any citizen who has
settled or may hereafter settle on
public lands, either surveyed or
unsurveyed, with the intention of
claiming a tract under the home
stead laws, shall be allowed the
same time to file his homestead ap-
plicatiOn and perfect his original
entry in the Land Office as is now
allowed to settlers under the pre-
emption laws to put claims on
record, and shall relate
back to date of settlement
the same as if he had
settled under the pre-emption laws.
The bill also provides that lands
originally entered under the home-
stead laws, but not in good faith,
and lands abandoned before final
entry, shall be subject to either
homestead or pre-emption entry by
the first settler who has settled or
shall hereafter settle upon them,
provided that, within six months
from date of settlement, he shall
take the necessary steps to have
said incompleted homestead entry
cancelled and shall pay the Land
| Office fees in the contest.
Plans for "a Long Holiday Recess.
| WASHINGTON, Dec. 6.-The
| Speaker and other prominent
J Northern Democrats are laying
plans for q long holiday recess, to
begin as early as the 10th or goth
inst. and last until the 9th of Janu-
ary.
More kC,phers.
Il WASHINGTON, Dec. ct is stat
ed now that the Potter COMMITTEES
have some cipher dispatches sent
,. by Republican visiting statesmen
In Louisiana. The Republicans
, insist that these dispatches refer
only to the hiring of quarters in
New Orleans, and whether the Re.
publicans of the North would beaI
the expense.
Private New Orleans advices
state that Governor Nichols is Wis
iting all the bull.dozed Parishes
taking evidence of fraud with the
r intention to push to the limit O.
, the law oil guilty of committing
q Intimidation or defrauding elec
q tors.
1t is stated that Gen. Thomas
|, Ewing and Senator James, Of New
= York, have purchased the james
River and Kanawha Canal, in Vir
a ginia. The stock of the Company
a has been held recently at two cent
on the dollar.
A private letter from Gen. Gran
d states that he still intends to trave
eastward through India and Chin;
. .,d tbopoa ho n, q hu tha O Do nj fia a N