The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-04-26
PATTERsON's COMMITTEE.
How the Senata Committee ON the
Indian Territory spent the Peoples
Money.
I'M. TX. Tribune,l

WASHINGTON, April 2t.--The report of the
Secretary of the United States Senate,
recently issued, throws some light on the
financial operations Of the famous Indian
Territory investigation, conducted by the
Committee on Territories, of which Nr. j. j.
Patterson was chairman. At the time the
report Of the committee was published 1t was
freely asserted III Washington that the chair
man had been guilty OF grave irregularities
In approving certain vouchers. Some OF
these accusations appear to be substantiated
by this financial report.
The committee began the investigation In
Washington March ~, 1878, and continued 1t
until June IA, taking about 400 pages Of tes-
timOny. The investigation was resumed No
vember Is In the Indian Territory. by O sub
committee consisting of Senators Patterson
completed November ~, 1878, at Fort Scott,
Kansas. The expenses OF this investigation,
not including the printing of the report and
testimony. which made volume of over 100
pages amounted to the pretty sum Of $17,-
O3g II. Some OF the items included In the
above sum are interesting. r. Il. W. Sea-
brook was paid s512 SO and A.. G. Scott 1925
for Copying and arranging laws treaties,
testimony and arguments for the COMMITTEES
at the rate OF $75 each per month These two
Of this kind for the committee. John Cor
wine, for similar services, received $1l0 ii.
T.. Mckee, for arranging and revising testi-
mony and making index (which fills. five
pages) received $3.50. Besides these alleged
employees, the committee had the services Of
a clerk and two stenographers. who did all
the necessary clerical work for the commit
tee copying and revising testimony, etc. 1t
10 rather absurd for even Senator Patterson
to claim that 1t was necessary to expend $1100
for copying and arranging laws and treaties
every line of which was In print.
The subcommittee and It's attaches, seven
persons altogether, cost the government $1,000
for their travelling expenses and hotel bills
between Washington and ST. Louis and re-
turn. From st. Louis to Denison, Texas,
and return, they paid the Missouri Kansas
and Texas Railroad Company for transporta-
ton and subsistence for seventeen days, S3061
IAN average OF $50 day., making total OF
1921 for these purposes In d little more than
one month. Besides this, the chairman ap
proved his own account for travelling expenses
on the same trip, amounting to $500. This is
about $500 more altogether than 1t cost the
joint committee on the transfer Of the Indian
persons, to travel from Washington to the
Pacific coast and return, visiting Texas and
Utah en- route.
Mr.. George H. Reynolds drew $173 for
summoning witnesses for the sub-com mittee,
and 1923 rs witness himself. 1t IL said that
he did not summon single witness. Mr..
Reynolds resides IN Washington as lobby
agent OF the Missouri, Kansas and Texas
Railroad. aud, 1t is authOritattvely stated,
regularly received d large salary from the
railroad company. g. III. Bardwell figures as
a witness on vouchers to the tune of S15s 80,
but it is said that he never was called as a
witness, and In the large velume before men
toned his name does not appear as SUCH He
was, however, active during the investigation.
He repeatedly and persistently approached
representatives OF the Indian tribes, both in
Washington and In the Territory with in
timatious that for valuable consideration
(S25, 900 is the sum mentoned) he would en-
gage to get a favorable report from the COM
mttec Of which his "frend John" was chair
man. IL. Allen drew $33 as a witness, but no
p. T. Leggett drew $1O2 as witness fees and
his name does not appear.
These are only specimens of the extrava-
gance and peculiar methods of the late chair
man of the Senate Committee on Territories
In conducting this investigation, the result OF
which, as shown in the remarkable publica-
ton OF results, is an utter failure.