St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-12-31
Butler S22O.OOO Short.

Special to the Globe.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 3O.-A good deal of
stir has been occasioned by the publication
of the report of the house military commit
tee in the last congress, which is just out
1t is very thick document, and contains
the result of the inquiry into the manage
ment of the Soldiers homes. The most
interesting chapter relates to an alleged de-
ficiency in the accounts of Gen. B. +. But
ler of over $220,000. Butler is acting
treasurer of the homes. Gen. Rosecrans
said to-day that he conducted the investiga-
ton on charges laid before him early in the
session. When the Democrats got control
of congress they had certain Democratic
members placed on the board of manage
ment Of the homes. In their endeavOrs to
square up past accounts they found period
of year and half
WHOLLY UNACCOUNTED FOR.
There were no books to show any of the
many transactions of that time. Gen.
Butler was asked to explain this. He did
explain some of the shortage accounted
against him, but in the end the committee
found that there was deficiency of
1920, 900 according to their estimate. Gen.
Rosecrans says the cash account appears to
NC dUOuG RS1sOOO tllu GlC OGllcI SIlOI GdSc ID
in the bonds which have lately increased in
value. He thinks the courts will have to
take up the case in order to compel settle
ment. Gen. Butler has written a caustic
letter to the committee, rebuking them for
permitting declarations of the above char
acter to appear in their report without first
waiting for reply from him.
The Little Fellows Bother Him.
Special to the Globe.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 3O.-Speaker Car
Isle is still wrestling with his standing
committees. He finds more difficulty in
the assignment to the places of the many of
minor reputation than to the few leading
men who are to be the heads of the great
committees. 1t is pretty well settled that
Mr.. Randall will be chairman of the appro-
priations committee; Mr.. Morrison, the
head of the ways and means; Mr.. Tucker,
the head of the judiciary; Mr.. Willis, the
river and harbors: Mr. Reagan. the COM
merce; Mr.. Hewitt, naval affairs; Mr. Bel
mont. foreign affairs, and so on. 1t is
fame, rather than the thirty-six of national
reputation, that the speakers find difficult.
All the old members think they are entitled
to chairmanships, and one. MI. Ballantyne
of Tennessee, even goes so far as to say that
he does not want one, but these are excep-
tions. Probably nine-tenthS, at least, of
the old members want chairmanships, and
there are perhaps 25 per cent. of the new
members who think they would be quite
well fitted for such positions. So the
speaker is having anything but good
time in holding recess.
FavOrs Land in Severalty.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 30.-The Star says
that in his report upon the work of the
special Indian committee. who visited the
various reservations during the summer re-
cess of congress, Mr.. Holman is going to
recommend the appointment Of a commits
sion to take the matter in charge, giving
land in severalty to such of the Indians as
are far enough advanced in civilization to
warrant such action, and assembling the
rest in one locality as far as practicable.
At present he says the reservations are
scattered all over the country, and their
lands are useless to the Indians in many
cases. Some of these lands should
be sold in their interest. and such of
the Indians as are friendly should be put
upon the same reservation in certain cases
and kept there until ultimately they have
reached that state of civilization that would
warrant their having land in severalty and
becoming citizens. There are some cases
where it would not do to move the Indians
from their present location or to interfere
with them, as their attachment to their
homes is very strong. In most such cases
land in severalty should be given them.
Rapid Hand.Shaking.
WASHINGTON, Dec, 30.-Four hundred
and forty-eight persons waited patiently in
the east room of the White house to-day to
pay their respects to the president The
crowd was almost twice as large as at any
preceding reception of this kind. The
president appeared just before 2 o'clock
and entered upon his task with such expe-
dition that the entire room was cleared in
sixteen minutes. Several persons tried to
engage the presidents attention with pri-
vate matters, but they were told to call
again tomorrow. One individual shook
hands in an agitated manner with one Of
the ushers and passed the president without
noticing him. He was reminded of his mis-
take by the laughter of the crowd and
strove to return and shake the presidents
hand, but was borne away by the rapidly
moving line of people behind him.
Agricultural Statistics.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 30.-The estimates