Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1879-03-14

tier where the land has been drenched
with the bloc of the settlers and their
families during the last two years, and
as know and as my constituents gen.
orally believe in consequence of the
lneficiency Of the management Of 10.
dian affairs by the Interior department,
and the corrupt conduct of it, repre-
8 natives, | beg leave to say q few
words on the pending question. I am
opposed to the pending amendment and
ta the amendment offered by the e.n.
ffom California, (Mr Pase.>
1'e%a:. =, e,ro. at the original naked
proposition. .u,,o.
One year ago 10 this Ho-- Sc "nen
speaking of the sufferinsss OF my "s'
pie during the Nez Perce wa,, said
that John B. Montieth, the Ino,n
agent iorgthe Nez Perces, was respon.
sible for every drop Of blood she'd and
for every dollar Of property destroyed
in the conrso of the Nez Perce war.
When | made that statement said
what | knew and what my constituents
believed. 1t is fact not to be disputed
by any one cognizant of the facts.
What will be the effect Of the adoption
Of tbs amendment of my friend from
| California? 1t will emasculate the prop
osition for the transfer Of the Indian
bureau TO the War Department of every
principle Of good the measure now con-
taius. 1t leaves the whole matter at
the discretion of the President. From
whom will he receive his information
and his suggestions? They will come
through the Interior Department in the
regular routine of business, and he will
follow hereafter as he has heretofore
followed the behests Of the Secretary
of the Interior and the Commissioner
OF Indian Affairs, who sit all powerful
in the Interior Department to control
the Indian bureau, and who have be
hind them to furnish them information
"A horde of Indian agents and inspcc
tors aud other officers as corrupt as
Mary Magdalen was before the seven
devils were cast out Of her. TGrea,
lauehter.] Thank God there are some
honorable exceptions, but they are like
angels visits.
| In the few minutes allowed me
have not, of course. the time to go into
a full discussion of this entire question
but to show what confidence is to bt
placed in the reports which come from
the Indian agencies, | call attention t
the following letter from the Commis
sioner OF Indian Affairs to myself ane
the accompanying documents, namely
first, Agent Montieth's report Of th'
Nez Perces cnunci! on the question o
transfer; second, general circular call
ing councils to consider the transfe
question; third, letter Of Agent Mon
,ieth written in regard to the council:
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.
OFFICE OF INDIAN AFFAIRS,
Washington, Feb. s, 1870
Sin: am In receipt, by reference tror
the honorable Secretary of TIE Interior, 0
your Communication Of Sd instant, re
questing TO be furnished with a copy Of th
report of Agent Montieth of the Nez Perr
agent. Idaho. of the proceedings of an In
: dian council held at that agency, where's
the Incians expressed their views on tn
question of the transfer of the Indian bt
reau to the War Depaetment. and also ash
ing tor copy of the instructions t0 Age,
Moutieth relative 10 said council bein
held,
In reply have to say that on Decemb,
-l4i,st IA supplemental statement was sci
TO the joint committee Of Congress TO CO
slider The advisability of the transfer If tn
Indian bureau to the War Department,
which a brief statement of the views r.
pressed nv the Nez Perce chiefs at Il
r above-ramed council appeared. (copy
It chat part of statement showing views
Nez Perce chiefs, inclose1 herewith marke
No l accompanied by copy of the fu
proceedings At the council, marked
e statement as exhibit No So,
| also inclose copy Of office circular d
reciiug the agent to call council Of b
Indians for an expression of their views
y the transfer question, marked No. 2, and
d COPY of Agent Montieth's letter transm
Is ting the proceedings Of the council held
er accordance herewith, marked No 3
'e Very respectfully, E. A. HaYT,
TX Hon. s S. FEM, Commissioner.
,g House Of Representatives.
lie