Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-01-30
Indian Commissioner I3ayt Re.
moved.

DRAMATIC EPISODE-GEN. HAMMoND's ILLNESS
AND CONFESSION.
Yesterday afternoon Indian Commissioner
Hayt received the following from Secretary
SchurZ:
WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. %, 1ss0.-Hon. E.
1t has become my duty to inform you that the
public interest demands change In the COM
miSSiOnerShip OF Indian affairs, and that your
further services in that Office are dispensed
c. ScHURz, Secretary"
1t will be remembered by our readers that
charges against Commissioner Hayt were
preferred by Gen. Fisk before the board OF In
sion here some time ago.
ONE OF THE CHARGES AGAINST Mr.. HAYT
was that he became interested in silver mine
on an Indian reservation in Arizona, and that
he had the boundaries OF the reservation reSur-
veyed in order to leave out the mine as public
land. Indian Inspector Hammond made the
zona Investigating charges against an Ihdian
agent. This agent Hart, found out about the
silver mine transaction and evidently made use
hs Wod sav nohn ann ahan
the mine he should not be prosecuted. This
letter came into the possession of Gen. Fisk.
The investigating committee called on Gen.
Hammond and Commissioner Hayt to explain
this letter.
GEN. HAMMOND AND COMMISSIONERS HAYT
met in New York last Sunday and arrived here
Monday. On that day Hammond went before
the committee and swore that the letter to Hart
was forgery. Secretary Schuz, chief clerk
Lockwood and others were examined as to the
genuineness of the letter They pronounced 1t
head yesterday in explanation Of the letter.
He wanted his counsel to be present. Gen.
Fisk was met yesterday by Gen. Hammond at
the Riggs house, as he was going to attend the
meeting OF the investigating committee.
GEN. HAMMOND's CONFESSION AND ILLNESS.
He was pale and greatly worried. He admit
ted that the letter to Hart was genuine and no
forgery: He was during his confession taken
to his own room. He became unconscious.
When he recovered he said he wanted to see
Secretary SchuTZ and the investigating commit
tee. He was very i'll, and the physician who
suffering from rheumatism of the heart. He
persisted. however, in making his confession
before Secretary Schuz and the investigating
committee. The investigating board was
Mr.. BarstoW, president OF the board OF Indian
commissioners; Wn. Stickney and Mr.. Sml-
ley. Mr.. Barstow, when he heard the de-
malls of Hayt and Hammond, went home and
published paper pronouncing the charges
against Hayt the outgrowth of malice Messrs.
Stickney and Smiley have since continued the
Investigation. Ex,Commissioner Hayt left for
New York last night. All along during the in
yestigation Commissioner Hayt acted in very
peculiar way. He refused to be questioned
without the presence OF counsel, and withheld
from Secretary SchuH information that was
asked OF him. Yesterday afternoon the Secre-
taTy saw the President and afterwards wrote
the above note of dismissal.
MEASUREMENTS CORRECTED.
The statements which appear in print this
morning are in points incorrect, especially
as to the action upon Mr.. Hayt's case in conse-
quence OF the confession by General Hammond
Secretary Schurz did not see General Hammond
at all yesterday and was not informed that he
had made any confession. He was told only
that General Hammond was i'll, and desired to
come before the committee again as soon as he
x1r
Hammond made didn't come to the Secretary's
knowledge, and therefore the letter ad-
dressed to Mr.. Hayt by the Secretary
c4uid not nave : peen t nv wl6ten @ IN IN consequence
any other official of the Interior department has
been put in charge of the Indian bureau. That
bureau Is in charge OF the chief clerk, as acting
commissioner, until the appointment of new
commissioner. Mr.. Lockwood has had absolutely
no connection with the Hayt case, and could
not have been assigned to the charge of the
bureau had such action ever been contemplated
as under the law no officer can be so assigned
except he be commissioned as such by the Presl-
dent and confirmed by the Senate, as provided
by section 179, Revised Statutes.
WHAT SECRETARY sCHuRz SAYS.
THE STAR reporter this morning asked Secre-
moved from his office without the action of the
Senate upon the nomination of his successor.
The Secretary replied: ''No The letter ad
dressed to the commissioner was intended prin-
cipally to emphasize the refusal to accept a re-
signation in the usual form as offered and
accepted in ordinary cases. 1t was drafted in
the presence of the President, purely for the
purpose stated, and also to signify 20 Mr.. Hayt
that his continuance in the control of Indian
affairs until the confirmation Of his successor,
was not desired. There was certainly no in
tention to assume any of the powers which
belong to the Senate, under the tenure OF office
act"
wAAT GEN. HAMMOND SAYS NOW.
Secretary SchurZ was informed this morning
by the members of the investigating committee
that Gen. Hammond expressed great desire to
modify his testimony In regard to the letter that
had been pronounced by him a forgery, but was
prevented from doing so until he could meet the
members OF the committee in his room. when he
handed them paper In which he stated that on
reflection he was satisfied that he had written
the letter. There were some circumstances
at iirst lead him to think it was forgery. Gen.
Hammond does not, however make any ma
terial modification of his testimony.
The Investigating committee have made no
report to the secretary, but are still at work.
They viii keep at it for few days yet and will
then prepare report. Gen. Hammond is very
III to-day and will see no one. 1t is stated that
the board are finding out some things about
other people that will cause surprise.
TIE HEARING ON THE SUGAR QUESTION was
continued this morning before the ways and
means committee of the House. Henry A.
Brown who was before the committee yesterday,
CuuCtuutu Ills 1te WAS Ill ldNOf Ol
allowing the Secretary of the Treasury to en-
ploy polarization, which discovers Immediately
the market value Of sugar. Assistant Secretary
of the Treasury French made q statement as to
the reasons which impelled the Secretary to
issue the orders in regard TO the appraisement
OF sugars which have caused so much COM
plant.
NAVAL ORDERs.-PaSsed Assistant PaymaSter
John W. Jordan to duty at Boston, Mass; Act
ing Sailmaker NJ. w. Watkins to the Vandalia.
ONLY ROUTINE BUSINESS was transacted at
the Cabinet meeting this afternoon.
THE FOREIGN COMMERCE OF THE UNITED
STATEs.-The sixth monthly statement of the
bureau OF statistics of the Treasury department
for the current fiscal year, of the imports and
exports of the United States, sets forth that the
excess OF exports over imports OF merchandise
stated In specie values, was as follows: Month
ended Dec 81, 1879, $21 ,040 I34; month ended De-
cember 81, 1915, $35, ,965 05l twelve months ended
December 81. 1879, S251 1850, Al; twelve months
ended December 81, 1875 $305, ,2I9 $50. The excess
OF imports over exports OF gold and silver coin
and bullion was as follows: Month ended De-
csmber 81, 1879. IS S13,754: month end
months ending December 81, 1873, $67 ,s72, ,s92:
twelve months ended December 81, 1878, 50, ,OO2,-
543. The total values of imports and Of domeS-
tic and foreign exports for the month of Decem-
Der, 1879, and for the twelve months ended Dec.
81, 1879, are presented in tables which show:
1879, exports, merchandise, $765 1870 499; imports,
$513, 1S0,016. 1878, exports $737 092 073; imports
S431 S12, ,4s3. 1s79 exports, gold and silver coin
and bullion, $25, 5,s16, ,99S; imports, $685. 1S9 800.