The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1880-11-02
CUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Cabinet Oflcers Grossly NeglectinE their
Duties-Probable Indian War In Conss.
quence-Wili the 0evernmens steal the
Geneva Awerd9

Geneva Awerd9
Editor Butte MINER.
Outside Of politics there is more interest
felt here in the Ute complications than in
anything else. Neither the war department
nor the interior department takes the high
grounds usually assumed by religious con-
v%entions In treating the Indian question, but
l believe Secretary Ramsey and Secretary
Schurz are in earnest in their expressed wish
! to preserve the peace with all the Indian
tribes. 1t is unfortunate that both these gen.
tlemen are away at a time when the Ute
problem is complicated by recent murders at
the Meacham agency. Instead of a treaty
which would have brought immediate and
permanent peace with the Utes, we are liable
TO have a bloody and expensive war. OF
course il is not true that the absence from
their post of duty of the two secretaries caus-
ed the original trouble, but it is certain that
more prompt and effective measures for the
prevention of serious consequences might
have been taken if those officers had been
here. Especially during the last twelve years
it has been thought and said that the "gov-
eminent will run itself" So it will. But
men of supposed capacity are employed and
paid to see that it "runs" as it should. They
are the servants Of The whole people. l know
of no such other neglect Of duty in the history
of the country as was shown by Secretary
Sherman in leaving this city last week while
the question of peace or war with the Utes
uvoa pond;nn trpst thn fret ras01utiOpS in
troduced ii in congress at its next session will
be in censurse of his course, and that Mr.. Ed
" ards, Or Mr.. Frye, Or some republicans of
like standing in the W houses will intro
duce them. No party can afford to overlook
a dereliction of duty like this.
Of the many subjects that will contribute
| to the coming session of congress, the ques-
-. tion of the final distribution of the balance of
l the Geneva award fund will hold no second
place. This question, in the past, has been a
veHatious one. the various classes of claim.
ants pressing their claims with such vigor,
/ that congress, in despair, attempted to settle
the whole thing by covering the money, some
t $40, 10000, 900, into the treasury, for the reduc'
ton of the public debt. But ought our legis.
i lators, in justice to honest claimans and &C.
g tual sufferers. thus shirk this important bul
difficult matter? They surely are not cow
ards, afraid to do what they in right and jus
tice should. Would it not be a lasting
- shame upon the nation to take such unwar
ranted and uncalled for action? Ought thu
l. United States to hold for its own benefit tn
a right to keep this money? Would it be al
"a honest rendering of its account to suffering
citizens? As this subject is one of interna
tienal importance, and one in which al
should feel an interest, 1 beg leave to occup
your space, not for an argument, but simpl
ne to place this matter of distribution ~correctl
70 before the public. The first fact that claim
he. our attention is, that certain citizens of th
Id United States suffered heavily by the deprt
dationS of rebel cruisers, fitted out and mar
Nv ned in England. The United States, to sati
he fly the claims of her citizens for Reimburse
he ment, made demand upon Great Britain tt
damages. An award was made. The Tn
ted States received the money. Now, do,
all not every consideration 0 honor and Justi'
TX. demand the United States to pay this none
i to those for whom it was demanded ar
W. awarded The award itself would seem
H. settle the matter. 1t says the award is Of
ns the satisfaction of all claims preferred.' tt
10 a "claims" spoken of were made by the Unite
States for her suffering citizens. Should n
they and not the United States receive Il
len finalL enefls of it? The United States d
vi. not claim and receive the money 10 redu
ice The public debt with. The justice of the d
ket mand and the reason it was paid rests who
ne upon the fact that damages were SUSTAIN
'f by citizens of the United States. l say, al
Il,c | think l am not alone, that for the Unit
let states to refuse payment of these clail
Nv, would he a breach Of trust, not only wi
v,t suffering citizens, but with Great Britai
$50 who, as plainly as she could designated
kct whom the money was given. Let our legis
tors meet in December, and putting aside t
" dictates of ~avarice. listen to those of justi'
Inc homo. and right by paying the money
the those to whom 1t belongs. WILLS.
y. WASHINGTON, Oct. 81, 1880.
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