National Republican., 1883-01-18
on TIE AVENUE.
smoll T.Il, Ato,, ,1.n o,,, nI.,

A dozen or fifteen very estimablo and over
worked gentlemen compose sort of a SUPER
visory Indian commission. They receive no
salaries, but an allowance of $1,000 is made to
meet their incidental expenses. This small
sum does not go far among so many, and the
| commissioners have been asking for an in
creased allowance. They met yesterday in the
office of Indian Commissioner Price, an
headed by that functionary, executed a raid
on the secretary ef the interior, Mr..
Teller They were in force, and expected
TO produce an impression which would result
in distended appropriation for travelling and
other expenses. The secretary politely adj
mitted that they were great people, and that
the country could not well get along without
them, but he could not sec his way clear to
recommending an enlargement of the official
jack pot" created for their benefit. lie was
assured that the commissioners were doing a
noble work educating and otherwise civiizing
the children of the forest and Of tho cactus
fields. The gentleman from Colorado said he
had his own viows on the subject of aboriginal
! education, and he could not conscientiously
give the commissioners moro money for the
purpose of stimulating their activity in that
direction.
"And them" continued the spokesman,
the commissioners savo the government
largo sum every year by their careful super
vision of contracts for Indian supplies, and it
is mistaken policy to treat them in mig
gardly manner"
"Yes, l know about the value Of your ser.
vices in passing on accounts and contracts"
responded the secretary, Smiling grimly and
raising his voice. "You cost the government
100000 in one case, TO my own knowledge.
Yes, your services are indeed invaluable, and
l am glad you refreshed my recollection. If
my memory serves me right, your commits
sion allowed contractors s. head more
than the figures named in the bid for
10000 head of cattle purchased for Indians, in
one instance, and the government paid the
bill ?"
ave know about that case" was tho reply,
| "but the commission should not be held re-
sponsible for that mistake. That matter was
passed upon by the Indian commissioner and
the clerk of tho commission Not one of the
commissioners was present, and We knew
nothing about the matter until afterward."
! Previous to this explanation the Indian
commissioner had been quito gay and talka-
| tive, but he suddenly lost interest in the pro-
ceedings, and as the secretary had other busi-
ness to attend to a procession was formed,
with sad toes turned toward the door. The
commissioner piloted the delegation out as he
had guided it in. Tho visitors were less buoy
ant, but they realized that they had been put
out of the misery of suspense.
90
"Did you Know" said senator to the
| avenue man, "that Senator Plumb and White
law Reid worked in the same Office one time"
The u. m. pleaded ignoranca and the speaker
continued "Plumb was foreman of q little
weekly papeS in Xenia, Ohio, of which Reid
was editor, and they worked together for quite
n while. Both have struck luck since those
days. The unknown editor of the insignif-
cant weekly got in with Jay Gould and Jim
Blaine, made money, and married millions.
| His foreman went west of the Missouri and
caught on to use n street term, just at the
right time l am told he is worth 100000
or $5,O00000."
A Pennsylvania party, just in from tour
through his state, unburdened himself last
evening in Willards as follows: "The So
called independent republicans have what
they went after, a democratic governor, but
strange to say they do not seem bit proud
Of it. You might imagine that they are jubi-
liant over the defeat of their own party state
ticket, but they arc not. Republicans who
will admit that they contributed to the defeat
of the one-legged soldier, Gen. Beaver, are as
scarce as hens teeth. Their passions have
had time to cool, and they realize that
they have mutilated their nose to spite
their face. They realize that they went off
half cooked, and that grievance was imagin-
ary, the phantasm Of Il super heated brain,
the impalpable shadow of bug-a-boo of their
own creation. Beaver was their own choice
for governor, and the only cause they had for
boiling was the fact that Cameron supported
the nomination. They were determined to
get out of the party. The cry of bossism af-
iorded them pretext, IF it hadn't been for
that bridge says Bob Ingersoll, L believe
they would have swan OUT Now they are
quite willing to return on the forget and for
give plan. They are not proud of their achieve
ments in sham reform, and will be willing to
stand up and be counted as republicans, talk
ing their chances with other republicans, and
not parading their insurrectionary record as a
reason why they should have all the pie and
sweet meats in the bakery"
Modest Mr.. Reid.
Nele York Truth.
A EAtu NJ n aarfof I'm pl. ana tI,nvn