The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-05-29
Washington Letter.
tFrom our regular Correspondent. ]

This is the off year--the year they ex-
pect to escape the discomforts ofsweat-
ing over appropriation bills in badly
ventilated legislative halls, and many
of them will not take kindly to the
idea of sitting here through the long
hot days of June. From present indi-
cations adjournment will take place
within three weeks, and provision for
all departments will be made in the
meantime. Although no caucus has
been held since the last veto, the
evident purpose of the Democratic
leaders is not to cut off the supplies as
a means of obtaining the legislation
they desire, but to "appeal the case to
the people," Many of them would
like to let the army bill fail, but do
not think it can be done.
Another delegation of Indians is
now here pleading for their rights, or
for the redress of real or fancied
wrongs. This is the third delegation
since February, all representing diff
ferent tribes. Chief Moses and his
party, who returned last month ap-
parantly happy, are reported to be in
an unpleasant attitude again. When
he went away Moses said he would be
a "bigger man" than ever, in conse-
quence of his success with the author
tiles, but something seems to have dis
pleased him since. He is fine looking
Indian, but, I guess, a little ugly. The
party now here are from the Cheyenne
and Arrapahoe agency in the Indian
Territory, and include Little Chief,
Porcupine, Eagle Feather, High Wolf,
Black Wolf and Young Wolf. The
first named is the head of the band.
They represent about 700 northern
Cheyennes, now stationed at the
agency mentioned. Since they were
brought down from the Sioux reserva.
ton, by order of the Interior Depart
ment, they have complained of being
taken away from their home, and say
that the climate is unhealthy for them.
The object of their visit is to induce
the Government to let them go back.
They are more like the wild red man
of the forest than any of the former,
talk no English, and go about clad in
all the glory of paint and feathers
with blankets, beads and tomahawks
About all the children in Washington
flock around the fremont House
night and morning, to get sight o
: them. 1t is most likely that theil
mission here will be successful. They
have called on the President and or
Secretary Schurz, and, in the interview
with the latter, Little Chief entered his
plea that the band be permitted to go to
their old home, where they could fine
buffalo. He urged that the Cheyennes
and Arrapahoes, who had always beer
friendly with the whites, and some
times fought for them, should have a
least as good locality as Little Wolf'
fighting band, who were still in tn,
north. Dull Knifes band, he said de
served the treatment they had re
they had committed on the whites
Secretary Schurz, replying, said tina
the buffalo were fast dying off, ant
that even Sitting Bull was compelled
to come over the border to hunt food
sometimes to beg from the agencies
The fact was, the Indians could no
live much longer by hunting Thi.
course, he thought, would be best fo
them now as measure of self-protec
tion, and it would soon be necessary a
a measure of support. They will b'
given medal, with the head of Gran
stamped on it. few dollars in money
and sent back to tell the band that tn,
Great Father thinks the Indian Ter
ritory good enough place for them
and If they don't believe it they mus
fight.
Commissioner lie DUO is catching i
again. An investigation of affairs o
the Agricultural Bureau has beer
ordered, one of the objects of which, i
is said is to ascertain the facts concern
: ing a story which, if true, suggest
that it might be wise to appoint
guardian for the Commissioners ex
elusive benefit. Having decided,
year or so ago, to invest some tel
thousand dollars in sugar cane for ex
perimental purposes, and having
found man who knew just what tn
: Government wanted in the way q
sugar cane, the Commissioner of Agri
culture gave him ten thousand dollar
in cash and started him off. TIL
sugar-cane purchasing agent mus
have received too much of a start; h
has, in fact, gone so far away that h
has not been heard from since he lef,
The situation is such that it reall
| looks as if it might be necessary fO
Commissioner LIE Due to turn his al
tention to cuitivating a crop of detet
tives. The soil and climate of thi
country are adapted to the growth {
a certain kind of detective whic
. might be useful in cases like this
1t is understood here that Secretar
McCrary will resign the portfolio {
the war department, to take th
United States Circuit Judgeship mad
e vacant by the resignation of Jude
: Dillon, whose circuit embraces Mi
S souri, and Iowa. His resignation wi
. not take effect until September; meal
while the Administration is credite