Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-02-17
National Capital Affairs.

| NLVSs
National Capital Affairs.
Especial to the RECORD NIoN.l
WASHINGTON, February 10th -Represent
alive Page to-day presented to the House the
monster petition signed by about ], 600 citi
zens of San Joaquin valley. and the accom-
panying memorial of the Stockton Citizens
Committee of Thirty-fve. asking Congress fol
an appropriation for the improvements of nav
igation Of the San Joaquin river. Page alst
had printed copies of these documents laiC
on the table Of each member of the House o.
Representatives, ready for their perusal be
fore the House assembled.
Senator Farley and Representatives Davi.
and Page to-day presented to Congress the
joint resolution of the California Legislature
the ironclad Monadnock, now awaiting com
pletion at the Mare Island Navy Yard.
Senator Farley introduced bills providing
| for the appointment of official stenographers
to United States Courts, and for the pay.
ment of $500 to Julius Martin, of Giiroy, fol
supplies furnished to the California Battalion
of Volunteers under command of Colonel
John G. Fremont in 1S47.
| Page introduced bill to repeal the section
of the Revised Statutes which provides for a
tax of oue-half per cent. per annum upon all
| DdHh uepOsltSJ dlSt, W pTcNluc lOT tH6 I'dJ
ment of the rent of Land Offices. 1t appears
| that the San Francisco Office is the only one
| in California for which a rent allowance is
made under existing laws and regulations.
1t is intimated in official quarters that the
nomination of a new Commissioner of Indian
Affairs will soon be sent to the Senate, and
| the indications are strengthening that ex.
| Congressman Trowbridge, of Michigan, will
| be the nominee.
The measures coming before Congress now
are tested in the light of their probable effect
upon the approaching Presidential election,
and when conclusion is reached that harm
might come of bill its fate for the present
is settled. The Democrats are anxious to
avoid questions that may cause partisan de-
bate, and this accounts for the unwillingness
of the House to touch the Fitz John Porter
| bill. The Democratic members say that Gen
eral Porter can wait until after the Presiden
tial election for the passage of his bill, and in
the opinion of many prominent members il
will rest quietly without action until the
next session.
The Ponca Indian InvestFsation- Bishop
Mare's Testimony.
WASHINGTON, February 16th.-The Senate
special committee investigating the causes OF
the removal of the Poncas took testimony
this morning from Bishop w. II. Hare, OF
the Protestant Episcopal Church, the mis-
sionary in charge OF the Poncas and other In
dams. He testified that from the time of his
first personal knowledge of the Poncas, in 1873,
up to the date of their removal to Indian
Territory, they were in trouble on account OF
the failure of their crops by reason of drought
and grasshoppers, and on account of rains and
depredations at the hands of the Sioux, and
that they were anxious to be removed
| from Dakota He had understood from high
and reliable sources that they gave their con-
sent to removal to Indian Territory, but
when the time came they were opposed to it.
| The negotiations having been concluded and
arrangements made, he thought it essential
that the Government, having gone that far,
should proceed to their removal. 1t was then
essential, in order to preserve the authority
of the United States among the Indian tribes
of that region. The Poncas had for years been
suffering from failure of crops and from the
incursions OF the Sioux, and friends of the
Poncas who had long been making efforts for
their welfare, to have them fed and to pro-
vide means for their protection, at last con-
cluded that it would be best to remove them.
He thought so himself, and in view of all the
circumstances, although he knew it would
involve hardship for the Poncas, he united
with Inspector Kemble in telegram advis-
ing the Department to stand firm in its de-
W CARRY OuJ Jut OllCttS TSUlUNdl.
Bishop Hare, in this connection, informed the
committee that he believed the course of In
spector Kemble towards the Poncas was
straight, honorable and philanthropic through
out. The Sioux. in making these raids upon
the property of the Poneas, violated the reg
ulations against leaving their reservation,
but they were so formidable a tribe tina. the
Government was afraid of them, and was not
afraid of the Poncas.
Senator Dawes-So it appears that the
Government took the Poncas away to the
Indian Territory to keep the Sioux from
hurting themg
that way. You know the Indians have a
common saying, "The better we are the
| worse we are off the Indians who kill aud
steal are likely to be well provided for.
Senator Kirkwood-Is it easier to procure
appropriations for warlike than for peaceful
tribes?
Bishop Hare-I understand that it is.
Senator Kirkwood said he asked the cues.
ton in order to show that Congress must take
part of the blame for the condition of facts
referred to.
Senator Morgan-Was the Governments
failure TO protect the Poncas due to a want of
Congressional appropriations?
Bishop Hare-No [ think not. The
Government authorities were afraid of the
Sioux.
The Presidential Question.
CHICAGO, February 16th.-The TiiJune's
Columbus TO- special intirnates that Blaine
is making strong Roadway there against Sber-
man, and that his meeting there on Thursday
bids fair to eclipse Sherman's of last week
that Blaine's friends are augmenting their
own number daily from Shermans ranks, and
now include the principal workers at the
Capital city of Sherman's State.
ANTITILIENTTEs TAKING FRIGHT.
The TriJune's Washington special Gays
The anti-Tilden Democrats are taking fright
at the new movement they think they have
discovered on the part of Tilden to capture
the Democratic nomination. Democrats are
authority for the statement that Tilden has
fixed formidable list of State delegations,
embracing New York, all of the New England
States Except possibly Massachusetts,,
Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Nebraska,
| Iowa, Kansas, Colorado. Nevada and Cali
fornia, together with Kentucky, Georgia.
| Florida and North Carolina These States
are claimed as certain to instruct for Tilden,
and in addition to them New Jersey, Mary.
land, Texas and Illinois are represented as
being debatable ground between the various
other candidates, with Tilden as second
choice OF all. According to the same author
ity, the programme seems to be to secure a
small majority of instructed delegates, de.
| pending on the custom of Democratic Con-
ventions of late years-which has been to
concede tie nomination to majority candi-
date-to overcome the operation of the two
thirds rule, or in the event of an evident dis.
position to depart from that custom and
enforce the rule literally, to abrogate it alto.
gether.
!
| MAN.
RICHMOND, February 10th. A letter
signed by the colored members of the Assem-.
! bly, was sent to Secretary Sherman January
| 3lst last announcing their intention of sup.
porting him for the Presidency, and express.
| ing a belief that in the event of his election
the colored people will indin him friendever
ready to defend their3nterest. To-day re-
Div was received from Sherman, expressing
pleasure at the kindly sentiments contained
| in the communication, and concluding with
the expression that "all are alike citizens OF
| common country, equally entitled to its
privileges and equally bound to obey its laws
and usages.
VAGUE, UNTRAcEABLE RuMoR.
NEW YORK, February 16th.-The Tribune
vehemently supports Blaine, and the Times
Grant. There is a vague, untraceable rumor
| that Blaine will soon withdraw from the can
didacy to make room for Grant, with ex.
pectations four years hence.