New-York tribune., 1882-03-02
THE WORK OF THE HOUSE.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TEIBUNE.l


WAsu1HGToN March 1.-The House of Represent
ntives was industrious again to-day, and before it
adjourned. passed, with one or two unimportant
amendments recommended by the Appropriations
Committee the Indian bill, which appropriaes
nearly $4,000. 900 for the expenses of the Indian
service during the next fiscal year. The item OF
s. 600 TO pay the incidental expenses Of the Board
of Indian CommiSSl Oners provoked considerable
discussion, several Democrats offering stout oppo
stion TO it, The Democratic warfare upon
this Board is one Of the sngUlarites of
late legislative proceedings III the House.
As soon as the Democrats secured
control of the House six years ago they began their
attacks upon the Board, and in the last Congress
succeeded in preventing any appropriation to pay
the incidental and contingent expenses, but they
did not repeal the law which imposes upon the
members Of the Board the duty Of supervising pur-
chases of Indian goods and supplies and Of eXalnn-
ing all vouchers of expenditure OH account of the
Indian service. Consequently since July the mem
bers of the Board who have been paid salaries
have been compelled to perform their duties and
pay all the expenses incidental to such performance
out of their own pockets.
Every Secretary Of the Interior since
the Board was first established has com
mendcd the work of its members and testi-
hcd that their efforts have resulted III the improve
nent of the Indian service in many ways and In
the SAVING of hundreds Of thousands of dollars to
the Indians and the Government. In view OF this
state of facts the hostility of Mr. Hooker and other
Democrats to the meagrc appropriation Of $1,000 to
pay the expenses of the Board is mystery TO many
people. Many men who used 20 receive large con
tracts for Indian supplies furnishing inferior arti-
clcs at high prices quite as hostile to the Indian
Board as Mr. Hooker is Those persons have failed
TO secure profitable contracts since hcirsampc were
subjected to the scrutiny of a committee OF the
Board and the articles actually furnished rigldly
compared with the samples submitted for Iuspcc-
ton.
The Committee on Appropriations will try to per-
shade the House to 90 on with the Consular and
Diplomatic bill tomorrow, and will probably sue
coed The track viii then BE- pretty clear for the
WAYS and Means Committee, which Is anxious to
have the Tariff Commission bill considered and dis
posed OF. There are indications Of a somewhat
lively general debate on the Consular and lIplo-
matte G o0ysoose several fn'e@Sa G accao5 desire re
lnakeS remarks on the foreign policy and
commercial relations Of the United States.
Among them is M. WhitthOmc of Tennessee, who
has prepared speech discussing the for ign policy
OF the United State, and the Hecc -sity of taking
Mexico. Central and South America, and the conn
tries OF the Pacific Ii Is understood tu4t MI Il L
tlOTuc viii present reasons which should cause The
United States 10 prevent, by all the means at lts
command the building Of an lntcroceanlc ship ca.
nal or railway by foreign capital under the control
OF foreign corporation. 1t is understood that he
will warmly commend the foreign policy initiated
by President Gariields Administration, and viii eX-
AdmInistrdtion, indicating change or reversal OF
that policy.