New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-01-30

regard TO the Arizona mlne WHICH i"Pi0"oo"
Mr.. Hayt. The latter tried to prevent the
disclosure from being made, but without
success.EEC Chairman BarstOw has admitted that
be is interested in Indian contracts.
MR.. HAYT TAKEN BY SURPRISE.
. cuRT LETTER OF REMovAL-THE DRAMATIC DIS
CLOSURES OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT In WASH
:NGToN.
TBr TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBUNE.l
WASHINGTON, Jan. 29.-Mr. Hayt, Commissioner
of Indian Affairs, was removed suddenly and per-
emptoriIy this afternoon. The following letter was
sent to him:
WASHINGTON, D. g. Jan %. 1880
Hon. E. A. HAYT, Commissioner OF Indian Ardtfs.
SIR: IL has become my duty to inform you that the
public demands change in the Commissioner
p Indian Affairs, and that your further services In
C. SCHURz, Secretary
The removal was great surprise to everybody IN
Washington except to the few persons who have
carefully watched the course of events since the
recent meeting of the Board of Indian Commission
ers. 1t was known weeks ago to several persons
that both the President and the Secretary of the
Interior had discovered that Mr.. Hayts career of
usefulness as Indian Commissioner was over 1t
was not until yesterday. however, that removal
was determined upon. That decision in the mat
ter was deferred so long due to the difficulty of
Gndng proper man to take the Office of Commits
,ioner No such man has yet been fixed upon. and
Mr. Hayt would be in Office yet except for the dis
eoyeries made by committee of the Indian Board,
some of which were mentioned In THE TRIBUNE of
Today.
Ex-Indian Inspector Hammond arrived here yes
terday afternoon determined to make full expos
are of the Arizona Mine speculation so far as be
possessed any knowledge of the subject. He was
met on his arrival by Commissioner Hayt OF one of
" p1s nd kept close
evening Mr. Hayt, it is understood, besought Gen
eral Hammond to stick to his first story-that the
Hart letter published In to-day's TRIBUNE was
a forgery. This General Hammond fatty re-
fused to do; and stormy scene took
place between him and the Commissioner.
Alr. Hayt then went to Secretary Schurz and spent
several hours vain attempt to explain the testi-
mony which he knew Hammond would give this
morning. Secretary Scburz is said to have declared
10 member of the committee that MIR. Hayt had
,pent his last day In Office as Commissioner
THIS morning General Hammond called on Gen.
,ral Fisk and intimated that he had determined to
make clean breast of the whole matter General
Fisk asked him few questions. Hammond sud-
denly declared in an excited manner that be had
been duped and that this would kill him. He sud-
denly staggered and would have fallen had
not General Fisk caught him In his arms.
General Hammond was placed In bed.
,hysician was called, and found him dangerously
IN. Hammond sent for friend. and to him and
General Fisk he told how he had been persuaded
by Mr. Hayt to assent that the absoluton letter to
Hart was forgery. To them. and later IN the day
70 the committee who visited him in his sick room.
General Hammond fully admitted that the letter
was genuine.
While the committee were engaged this afternoon
In taking Hammond's testimony. all immediate
necessity for further investigation by them sud
denly ceased The Secretary of the Interior. after
consultation with the President sent TO Mr. Hayt
the letter of removal.
This letter is said to have been terrible blow to
Mr.. Hayt, who had supposed that he would at least
he allowed to resign His request to that effect was,
hbweyer sternly denied and he at once began to
collect his private papers and personal effects. So
sudden and Unexpected the blow that the official
letters which had been prepared for Mr. Hayps
signature were returned to the clerks to have act
Iugo prefixed to the title Of Commissioner. When
Mr. Hayt had completed his preparations for de-
parture he hastily bade one of the clerks good
bycy his eyes filling with tears as he did 30. Then
he hurriedly left the Department
The removal is received with general expressions
pf approval in official circles. Mt. Hayt has made
Few friends and many enemies since he has been In
office As he has judged Others harshly so have
siey Judged him. Said one Senator tonight This
event ought to cause as much rejoicing among the
niends of the Indian as the surrender OF Lee did
among the friends Of the Union"
There are many expressions of opinion to the ef-
Get that the Board of Indian Commissioners has at
ast yndcated its ri ght to exist. 1t is undoubtedly
true that except for the bold stand taken by Gen.
eral Fisk aud several other members of the Board.
and their determination to have thorough investi-
cation of the accusations against Commissioner
iEayt, that gentleman would still be in office. II
his retirement is q good thing, then the Board OF
Indian Commissioners is entitled 10 some credit OF
course the prompt action of the President and Sec
retary of the Interior soon as they be-
tame convinced of Commissioner Hayts unfairness
shighly commended, but then 1t was to be expect
d. The Board on the other hand, has been re-
,arded by most people mere ornamental ap-
endaQe to the Indian Service, and as af1Urd,nR 10
several highly respectable gentlemen an opportunity
el tnat were aoes onx an eoho Of The
Indian Bureau. But these gentlemen have suddenly
developed determination to attack abuses wherever
they may exist the Indian Service, and have thus
surprised, and at the same time gained the respect
Of q good many people who have been inclined hth-
erto to sneer at them.
From this general commendation one member Of
the Board is exempt. He Is The chairman. He is
also he chairman OF the Committee Of lnvestiga-
lion but has taken part in the labors OF that
COMMITTEES. No longer ago than the oath inst,
Chairman Barstow wrote letter 10 another men,
Der of the Committee of Investigation, ID which he
SAID: . -
II wish to say that had conference OF an hour
with Mr. Kingsley this morning He approves the call
Of the meeting the Board beg to suggest that three
courses are open 70 us as committee FIRST 70
report n part II not ready final report though this
think would be unfortunate. Second, TO report the
evidence taken without recommendation Third, 10
can be agreed would doubtless be most satisfactory 70
the Board and all concerned In our report ana recon-
far as Mr.. Hayt is concerned. We may say what
shsli seem hest In regard to General Hammoud's
eourse.'
fair construction to place upon this letter
appears to be that Mr.. Hayt was to he cleared and
6eperal Hammond to be made the scapcgoat. II
that should seem bestD