The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-02-10
WASHINGTON

WASHINGTON, I'd, c.. Feb. 9.-The
house committee on war claims decided
to day to report adversely upon Represeu-
tstive Hunton's bill to provide for the
settlement of the unpaid claims of those
officers of the line in the revolutionary
armv who served to the close of the indie
pendenee and are so returns I'd on the books
Of the treasury. The bill if adopted would
have involved the payment of several mil
lions Of dollars.
The senate confirmed the nomination OF
Ellis Bierbower to be United States mar
shal Of Nebraska.
Secretary Schurz has addressed an open
letter to Senator Dawes, in reply to the
speech recently delivered by that gentle
man In the senate. In which he reflected
on the conduct of the interior department
in connection with the POncas, The letter
is very sarcastic in tone. and in it the
secretary quotes from that portion Of
Senator Dawes speech in which he stated
that he had complained of the wrongs Of
the Poncas to the head of the department.
entreatiBg him to endeavor to redress
them In reply TO this Secretary Shurz
says. / have made inquiry on this subject
and have been informed that there is no
man in the interior department to day
who can remember you ever to have
spoken to him upon this matter, except
in the questions asked in the proceeding
of the committee of investigation, and as
to myself, and | wish you to understand
me clearly, whatever speeches you may
have made elsewhere, you never approach
ed n e personally on this subject, either by
way of entreaty or otherwise. The sub
ject Of all your entreaties in the Interior
Department is recorded in dozen or two
of applications for Office, urged by you and
fled With your name. during that period of
your new born anguish about the red man.
| do not mean to blame you for soliciting
places and favors il this department or
elsewhere. but then you must net tell me
and the public that you come with i'm
pIorations for the poor Poncas, an: that |
coldly receive your appeals.
In reply to Dawes remarks that the
recent methods of treating the Indians
is IN American, Schurz says: There
never was an Indian upjastly killed in
shis country until German born Amer
lean citizen became Secretary of the In
terror. ALI has been peace, love and fra
tsrnity. The red man has for three
centuries reposed upon the gentle bosom
of his white brother and no man to make
him afraid. until this dangerous foreigner.
in an evil hour OF the republic, was clothed
with authority to disturb that harmonious
accord and to disgrace the American name
with espionage in Indian camps aud the
blood Of slaughtered victims. and all this
he did 10 his effort to naturalzs on Ameri-
can soil the dark and cruel methods OF the
mperial governments, of which this for
eigner notoriously is and has always been
a faithful and ardent worshiper and
champion.
The Senate went into executive session
this afternoon, on motion of Saulberry.
who. it is understood, thereupon verbally
reported the methods employed and the
negative results thus far attsined by the
privileges and elections committee in its
Investigate under orders from the Sen
ate, of the means by which publicity was
given the Chinese treaties. Considerable
talk ensued. but 1t is not learned that any
additional Instructions were given the
committee. 1t is estimated, however.
that the work of investigation will be con-
tinued.