New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-03-20
lGeNERAL PRESS DIsPATcH.l

lCENLRAL PRESS DlsPAIcil
WASHINGTON, March 19.-rhe Senate Com
mttee today examined John H. Johnson. Secretary OF
the Colored Refugee Hecf Board offs Louis, Mo- Mr.
Jonson testified thnt tie object Of the Board
sst colored refugees who found Their way TO 81 Lous
onward 10 Kansas and other points In the North ana
West ana it dij not attempt to encourage the mi
grafton from the South by assisting cmisraats before
their arrival ST. Louis The board made pout 10
avoid any action which could be construed arising
from political motives
From his poson as secretary he had been brought In
contact with great many of the refugees and had con-
versed with nearly thousand Of them REGARDING the
condition Of cOlorcd people In the South, and
the reasons which Influenced them TO emigrate.
He had never lived in the South aud
tbe oninions which he gave expression to- and the
statements which he made 10 the Committee were
based mainly these conversations. Many OF them
comnlaned Of the exorbiant prices charged by store
keepers for the necessares OF life Of treament at
the hands OF their former masters and deprivation OF
political rights II these grievances the witness
said and IN fact an possible nlustces and atrocities
nract,sed upon them by their former masters which
was the cause Of their leaving There was he sad as
far as he could learn political motive AZ the bottom
OF this odus and he attributed the attitude and con-
duct OF Southern white men which haG
to The change IN relationship between he whites and
blacks The change in the condition OF the negro had
eDcenlcrcd and brought in play the natural feelings
paesons and preudce OF thcf former masters against
them.
Mr. johnson said he believed that between 5000 and
90 600 refugees had passed through the hands OF tho
Board and had been forwarded 10 Kansas Nebraska.
Illinois and Missouri. Fully three-quarters Of them,
however he thought had TO Kansas. The univer-
sal sentiment those he had convered with that
they were entirely done with the South under the exist
ing condition OF airs IT, he said they were treated
az human beings and encouraged TO make living
10 say nothing OF heir deprivation Of political rights
NJ cftiZeughlD-thpY cft would
lie thought that as the Spring opens all those
who have not entered into contracts with planters VIII
endeavor leave, and the only solution OF this question:
he believed. was for them to leave the South.
The House Committee Indian Affairs resumed the
examination of Ouray this morning but failed to elicit
any satisfactory information in regard TO the fight with
Thornburgh the Meeker massacre, or the subsequent
reatment of the captive OF the agency by the
Indians He did not deny that they might nave been
treated az alleged but asserted that he knew nothing Of
IT. Mrs Ouray was stll more noncommtal and the
committee utterly unable TO extract any lDiOrlnh
tion bearing upon the subjects under inquiry.
Jack was then tired but with better success. At
first he positively asserted mat he did not understand
and could not speak English Several questions were
nut to him in English. hut he preserved the most
stoical appearance of indifference; the questions
were then put 10 him in Spanish through
the Interpreter, aud with better result. The
committee were about TO abandon the examination
when Jack suddenly surprised them, In very good
English stating that he was not present at the hight
and knew nothing OF the circumstances attending 1t;
that ne met the soldiers three days before the fight aud
,red 10 persuade them TO turn blcK that nillng ms
and fearing trouble lie had gone away; that he had 10
hand m the ThUrnburgn fight or the Meekcr massacre
strnn Scales then addressed Onray, telling him Il
was evident 10 tie committee that they had determined
not to testify and mat such course wond only delay
maters and needlcssy prOOn9 their stay mere; that
e object OF sunmonng them 10 appear before the COM
mitteP was obtain their version or the dncultles IN
Toiorado that the committee was friendly to them,
and onIv auxous TO have justice done them and TO pro
feet them III their rights -
onfay listened attentively. bat made no reply. The
committee then adjourned until tomorrow, when the
| Indians will again come before them.
| Tbe House Committee on Ways ana Means gave n
hear,ng today upon the hoop-iron question Jeremiah
Wilson appeared IN the interest of the manufacturers
Of rms country and urGed that correct Interpretation
of the law would render imported hoopron, cut IN
diy OF one and Oneha cents pound as provided for
imports of hooprOn He claimed that the order OF The