New-York tribune., 1879-04-23

THE PATTERSON INVESTIGATION USED w iho"iOi"
THE INTERESTS OF CERTAIN RAILRoAp-PE-
CUIIAR FEATURES OF THE EXPENSE ACCOUNT.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuNEl
WAsHINGToN, April 22.-Among the various ex-
travagant expenditures OF the subcommittee OF
the Senate Committee on Territories in the Indian
Territory investigation, one Of the most noticeable
items "a that for the sum of $3061 paid to the
Nissouri. Kansas and Texas Railroad for ex-
penses incurred in furnishing special tram Tor
subcommittee of Senate Committee on Terrific
ries while making investigation III the lhulan
Territory and for subsistence Of committee ana
attaches, and for necessary incidental expenditures
on trip from St. Lous. Mo-, to Denison, Tex, and
return, seventeen days"
The law requires that each account OF TINS klnd
shall be carefully temzed go as to show IN detall
every article purchased, and its price A laudaple
desire TO ascertain what items made up the above
large amount led TO inquiries in the proper quarter
to-day. when it was found that such ltemlzed ac-
count had ever been furnished. The voucher is
dated December I, 1878, but it was not paid until
March 70. 1879. 1t appears to have been suspended
for a long time by the Senate Committee on Contln-
cent EXPENSES and to have been finally passed on
Senator Pattersons approval and his assurance that
If was all right" Other vouchers for the trayell
ing cxpeuses Of this costly subcommittee also lack
the required itemized account and sub-vouchers.
The same is also true of the voucher of Senator Pat
terson himself for $500 for "expenses as chairman
of subcommittee from November to December
9. 1875" This voucher Is dated December 20,
but on November % A. o. Morgan is
charged with $3.50 10 "for travelling expenses of
the Hon. J. j. Patterson and Others, from Washing
ton 70 ST. Lous and return including railroad fares.
sleeping berths, meals, lunches ETC." Again. on the
same date. A. O. Morgan put in two other vouchers
to w
learns that he paid the hotel bills of the Hon. j. j.
Patterson at St. Louis Fort Scott and Chicago. his
travelling expensesbetween the same places, and
also TO .Nez Perc6s, Camp Modoc Settlement, and
Tahlaouah, Indian Territory" and these and the
special train account seem to cover all the ground
pretty well without the lump sum of $500, which
the chairman had paid to himself.
Another of the peculiar methods Of the chairman
IN conducting this Investigation has just come to
light. 1t will be remembered that the committee
was instructed to find ont whether the Missouri,
Kansas and Texas Railroad had issued any bonds
predicated on its land grants in the Indian Terri
tory and if so, in whose possession the bonds were
| and for what purpose. The committee appears TO
have stopped on the very threshold OF this inquiry
| hut Judoe Sears the attorney of the railroad in
| question. accompanied the subcommittee to the
/ Territory and 1t is now proved relieved the chair
after the departure of Senator Grover OF the
| duty of examining witnesses at several points In
the Territory. In the original proceeding his name
| appears as conducting tho examination OF about
| thirty witnesses. some of whom were sworn by the
clerk of the committee hat if the chairman was
| ever present the record did not show 1t. Judge
Sears conducted the entire examination OF these
witnesses, Nobody else asked them question.
OF course the testimony published does not show
this but the original records of the proceedings at
Stringtown, McAlistcT, Caddo. and Calbert Station
| do show It. -. .
If the United states Senate is in investigating
| mood the dOiugs of the late chairman of the Com
mittce on Territories would appear 10 offer irult-
| ful field for exploration. The authority of the
senate appears to have been used openly to bolster
! up the pTeteusions OF the Missouri, Kansas and
Texas Railroad and to strengthen that corporation
in its attempt get possession Of lands belonging
to the Indians.
Mr. Frost, of St. Louis was one OF the lovlal
! iunkctng party which accom- panied the whllom
! south Carolina Senator on his investigating tour
through the Indian Territory, as it now appears at
! the expense of the Senate contingent fund. Mr..
Frost is "a member Of the present House of Repre-
sentatives and ne yesterday initiated another cam
paign against the civilized tribes in the Indian Ter
Ttory hy the introduction of the old familiar Okla
| hoir1 Territorial bill,