The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-01-06
NATIONAL NOTES.
Voorhees, Bnl-The President to Visit New
OrIeans-5waim Court notwithstanding
Teller on Indian Leases-Other Items.

Voorhees, BnI-The President to visit New
OrIeans-swaim Court -MartiaI-secretary
Teller on Indian Leases-Other Items.
WAsHIEGToE, Jan. >. = Voorhees, bill
amending the pension laws provides that
all pensions which have been or may be
granted in consequence of military service
rendered since March 4, 1861, shall com
mence from the date OF the death or
disability, because OF which the pen.
sion is asked, and in consideration
of pension cases the soldier or sailor
shall he presumed 10 have basn sound phys.
ically at the time of enlistment.
The Secretary of War to-day transmit!ed
to the Senate the engineers report, advising
the purchase by the Government of the
Portage Lake and Lake Superior ship canal
for $3.50, 900.
Representatives McAdoo and Randall re-
returned to Washington to-day, and express
Themselves delighted with the reception
rendered them in the Southern cities.
Nominations for postmasters: Miss Re-
becca Shape, of Petersburgh, H.; John A.
Childs, of Evanston, ILL.,; John 2. Clum, Of
Tombstone, Ariz
Roland a. Thorne, OF Lexington, Tenn,
has been restored to practice az an attorney
before the Interior Department.
1t is probable that the Court of Claims
will render decision in the Pacific Railroad
claims next Monday.
the President will leave Washington
about the 10th inst, Tor New Orleans, 10
visit the exposition, unless the condition OF
public affairs at that time shall make i
necessary to change the present plans. = :
will be accompanied by some of the meni-
bers of the Cabinet, and expects to retur
IN WaehinQt in ahout tan dava
When the Swain Court-martial convened
Judge J. J. johnson, the attorney wh
brought suit against Batemau on due bi
in behalf of Bright, Humphrey & Co, was
called. He testified that he had had cor
yersstion about the note with Genera
which the latter told him be di
not want 10 buy in his oWl
name because of his position in the army
but he had some differences with Bateman
about his accounts, and could not get q sc
Element, and wished the matter settled. H.
testified also that General Swain told him
be was willing that Bateman should be al
lowed all defenses in this suit agains
that ''dus biIi'' that he has against IT.
He also testified tina General Swain
told him that the $1,000 represented by the
due bill' was a special deposit, separate
and distinct from the deposit with Bsteman,
which was TO have been drawn up for STOCK
transactions; also. that General Swain did
not represent to him that he (Swaim)
claimed the whole amount of the note. Ad-
journed
Secretary Teller has written long letter
TO the Chairman OF the Senate Committee on
Indian Affairs upon the subject OF leases OF
Indian lands. he ssys. in part, that the
Interior Department has for years recognized
the right of Indians to receive compensation
fer the pastursge of stock on their reserva-
tions, and that such right hiss also been
recognized By the courts, and the Sen te
committee. The privilege TO pasture cattle
Is only license aHd not q lease, and there
is no interest in the lands occupied. The
Indians, the Secretary says did attempt to
make leases, but the department refused 10
recognize them beyond treating them as q
license, revokable by tho Indians at will.
No one can question their right to make
such disposition of the grass
growing On their lands as they
have made concerning the pecunisry
gains which the Indians did not denve
from licenses 70 use the products of their
lands, which they grant the whites. The
Secretary SAYS they are now receiving $50
for every dollar received under the old
system. With respect to allowing
Indians to control large and valuable
tracts suitable for agricultural
purposes the Secretary concludes they
should not be permitted to own such tracts