New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-02-26
CURRENT TOPICS At TIE CAPITAL.
WAsmSGToS. Friday. Feb. %. 1881.
NO TREATIES WITH INDIANS.

WASiINGTON. fTluhY' reO' 3D. looA'
NO TREATIES WITH INDIANS
Judge Lawrence, First Controller Of the Treas
urv has inst rendered q decision in the matter of
the Ute Indian contract in which he maintains that
since the act Of March g. 1871. no treaty could be
made with an Indian nation or tribe within the
United States; that agreements may be made with
such nations OF tribes in pursuance of an act OF
that the agreement authorized by the act
of June To- 1880 relative to the Ute Indians, Is not
a treaty; and that, under said agreement ana ac',
the annual interest TO DO distributed per capita 10
the Ute Indians is TO be computed, beginning sep
TENDER IL, 1880.
ARMAMENT OF COAST F0RTIFICATION5.
General Benet, Chief of Ordnance. has addressed
a letter to tho Secretary of War inviting his alton
ton to the fact that the House appropriation OF
S4OO 900 for the armament OF sea-coast fortifica-
tons has been reduced by Senate amendment to
$3.50 600 and expressing an earnest deslIe that the
original amount may vet be retained in the BILL
RIVER AND HARBOR BILL AMENDMENTS.
The River and HarbOr Appropriation bill, as re-
ported back to the Senate from the Committee on
Commerce to-day, contains amendments inserting
new items or increasing the amounts granted by the
House OF Representatives for river aud harbOr inn
movements The increase in the total amount 10
$685. 600 The House requirement that all tho work
authorized by this bill shall be let by contract Is
stricken ont. and provision substituted that the
money herein appropriated shall be applied in carry
ing on the various works by contract as far can
be without deriment the interests of the Govern
ment and where such works cannot be done by con-
tract without injury to the public interest they may
be prosecuted by hired labor"
RELIEF OF TIE PoNCAs.
Mr.. Kirkvood, on behalf Of the minority Of the
Senate Select Committee to investigate the removal
of the Ponca Indians. has reported O bill for
the relief of that tribe of Indians 1t provides for the
allotment of lands in severalty 10 members of the
Ponca tribe both in the Indian Territory and In
Dakota 1t appropriates S165. 900 for tho relief of
the Poncas The bill also provides that negotiations
shall be entered into with the Sioux Indians at the
earliest practicable date for the REIMBURSEMENT by
Them 10 the United States of their right the old
Ponca reservation. Mr.. Kirkwood's bill differs In
several particulars FROM the bill heretofore reported
by Senator Morgan on behaf of the majority of the
committee.
BREAKING UP ILLICIT DIsTILLERIE5
Internal Revenue Collector Wheeler telegraphs
Commissioner Raum from Winston, N. c., as fol-
lows, "My force in Randolph and Guford COun-
ties last week captured illicit distilleres Of Richard
| Section, Wesley Holden, Peter Warner. Nathan
York and John Hemphll destroyed four stills, 3S
gallons of whiskey, 40 gallons singings and 8 zoe
gallons of mash. J. H. Sethco and Deputy Collector
| Worth were slightly wounded"
FREE TRADE LEAGUE.
| A dinner was gwen Tuesday night at Wormley'
| Hotel by Representative Hurd. Of Ohio to {
| number of Democratic members Of Con
| press of welI-known FREQ trade preclivities
| steDs were taken toward forming O Congressiona
| organization In the interest OF ree trade and Y
begin an aggressive free trade campaign Throughout
the country.