Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-05-01


THE WAR BETWEEN THE COLORADO sENA-
TOR AND THE SECRETARY OF THE INTE-
RIoR.
WASHINGTON, April 30.-Tae unpleasant
personal relations which, il Is understood,
have for some lime exist-d between the Sec.
Tetary of the Interior and Senator Hill, of
Colorado, have at last IN ani.ssted themselves
in such a way that wide publicity is
likely to be given TO the causss Of disa-
greement. Senator Hill, who, ii is aaid, hes
been greatly irrilated By Interpretations
of his language ard purposes by Secretary
Teller, as well by removals CT his (HilPs)
friends from positions under the Interior De.
parimfnt, has written long letter 10 the
secretary, in which ne complains bitterly Of
the latter's bshavior toward him, and attacks
vigorously Tsliei's N management. or, 10 Hiil's
opinion, mismansgemsn of the department.
over which he presides. Beginning with his
personal grievance, Senator Hui in his let
Ter charges Sscretsry Teller with attempt.
ing to place him in Gal-e and unp eas-
ant position by causing 10 be pub
iished unfair and inaccurate reports Of
his statements and quests. He states,
furthermore, that The secretary has been
guilty OF a violation Of ordinary courfe-y in
repeating to newspaper correspondents for
publication what had been ssid 10 him in
private interviews. Alter reviewing csustic-
ally the part taken by Secretary Teller in
the last campaign in Colorado, Sepaor Hill
takes up the seCretary's administration Of the
affairs Of the Joterior Department, and cub
iscs il TO detailed criticism and severe CEN
sure. Referring to The lease OF The Yellow
stone National PARK, he says Teller devised
and dictated It's terms, and then allowed his
assistant secfstsry 10 take all the blame and
public disapproyal which followed its execC-
tion. Alter Congress bad restriSted the leaIe
TO ten acres, the secretary evaded both the
letter and spirit CT the law, and practically
gave the Ruins Hach syndicate a monopoly
OF the entire park. In dealing with questions
which have arisen in connection with the
public domain, and particularly those gov
ing cut Of lapsed lapd grant, he charges
Secretary Teller with ac'IDg in the interess
of great Lnonopolies and against all the inter-
eats of the government and people. He also
asserts and attempts 10 show that Secretary
Teller has been connected with a numter Of
land frauds in Colorado. In conclusion, he
reviews the manner in which the patronage
OF the Interior Department has been dis
pensed since the sppointment Of Teller as
secretary, and cites number of instances in
which persons notorioualy unfit aud incapa-
ole have been given pltces, while expert
enced aud able employees have, without any
assigned r6asOE, DCcu u
Among the latter he refers 70 Mr.. Albert
johnson, late surveyor general OF Colorado,
a gentleman Of high character ami fine at
tainments, who he says was d smissl b.
Secretary Teller because he would not award
surveying contracts to the latter's friends.
Secretary Teller, upon being asked by the
Associated Press reporter whether he bad
received letter from Senator Hill, of which
the above ia an outline, replisd that the
letter had just keen brought 10 him, but be
had not an opportunity as yet to do more
than glance through it. He did not desire
at present 10 make any statement for publ
cation with regard to the matters thereia re-
ferred to. He understood Hill had arranged
! TO give his own letter publicity by furnish
| ing copies OF it to q number OF CORE
spoudsnta, but whether it would be
worth while for him (Tellef) to give lqnal
/ publicity to the reply, was subject he had
! not considered. He would, he said, re al
| HilPs letter carefully to morrow, and give il
! such attention as it seemed to him it de-
| served.
Senator Hill said tonight, in reepooss
| TO inquiries, he hal written Secretary
| Teller the letter above referred 10 be-
cause, in the first place, he thought
the latter had treated him with
great discount, sy Not long ago he
had had private interview with Inc sec
rstary upon a matter Of business, and had
been hurt and provoked few days later to
| find an ALLEGED account of this interview in
St. Louis paper, an account, however, IN
which his tHin's) conversation was SO dis
torted aud niis;eported that he was placed in
false and d. spica6le light. For thls distOr-
ton aud misrepresentation, as we'll
as for publication in any form o
what took plsee in a private and
confidential interview, he believed Sscre-
t.ry Teller to be responsible, and he did not
propose 10 in definitely zutmjt to this sor
OF treatment. Toe secretary'4 connection
with r. cent newspaper attacks upon hin
could, he said, be essiiy traced. AuothCl
reason for writing a letter to Teller wa
tthat he (HilD knew many things about ,h'
management Of the Interior Department o
which the public was ignorant, but with re
gard 10 which il should be informed
Some Of th-sa things he had g.
forth in his letter. As for the patronage o
the Interior D parlmeni, he did not him
self wish 10 control it or exercise any undu,
inf renee in the selection If ployss, bu! l.,
| thought he m sht reasouably Expect to be =
lessl consulted with regard 10 appointmt n,
and removals. in Colorado. Teller, however
had thus far z, rcised the funetions OF tn
Secretary OF the Interior and two senator
and Il representative from Colorado, and b
(Hiil) thought tbis vas an unwarrantabl
assumption Of authority.