Mr. SHERMAN. I concur with the Senfrom Wisconsin that it is not worth while to debate this measure at any len th, because it is aquestion that has been in temind of every Senator for some time. But as an illus tration of the conflict of jurisdiction that occurs between the War Dept and the Interior Dept, involving large exenditures of money, I will read an extract fOlll a memorial signed by a portion of the Cherokees. I am not responsible or the facts here stated; but as they are presented regularly to us by them in awritten memorial complaining of certain grievances, I read their statements as alleged facts. If they are true, they certainly require some investigation: " By the act of 3d March, 1865, the SecyWar was authorized to feed and clothe the pauper Indians in the Indian Teiritory from the date of the passageof the law until the end of that fiscal year. "On the lat of July, 1865.when the military authorities ceasedto boys authority to feed refugee Indians. there was an immensesurplus of flour and corn on hand at Fort Gibson, amountingto asmuch asall that hassince been issued io pauper Indians in thateount '. Thesestores the commandingofficar at Fort Gi isoa offoredto turn over to the super intendent of Indian affairs at $350 perbarrel for flour and $2per bushel for corn. Instead of making this iurchusc.the superintendent went to Leaven wort i and entered into a contract with Medonald. Fuller 8; Sells (the son of the superintendent)at $8 perbushelfor cornand$34perbarrel forilour. This contract wnslct.as we are informed and believe, Without the requisiteadvertisementon the pretense that there was not time to advertise. The most of the flour furnishedunder thiscontrnctwassentby steam boat from StLouis, costing the contractors about 612and the Indian dept$34per bushel, while a large amountof the flour adoredby the wur I)e partrnentto the Interior at $8per barrel was being shipped down the Arkansas from Fort Gibson to Lit tle Rock. The corn furnished by the contractors under this contractwas part boughtfrom theIndians at $2per bushel, and part.bunglitof themilitary nu thori a!at Fort Gibsonby oneMcKee. who is under stood 0 have beenthe azcut and partner of Medon ald. Fuller k Sells. at 18 cents per bushel and turned over to the an erinteudont at 88per bushel. The gross amount of t csesupplieswe are unable to state.but are satisfiedthat it was several 100,000 dollars: and we have information that it. has all or nearly all beenpaid.” I do not wish to read any more from the various allegations made by these Indians. I only read this much to show that when the War Dept is charged with a certain portion of the duties connected with our intercourse with the Indians, and the Interior Dept with another portion, there will necessarily be ii conflict of ‘urisdiction and eat complaints of fraud an peculation. T is, certain], is a very serious charge which is alleged by t iese Indians. It is that the Government actually being in possession of a large amount of stores and property through the War Dept. which otiered to turn them over to the Interior Dept corn at $2 a bushel and flour at $8 60 a barrel the Interior Dept in stead of taking them purchased flour at $34 a barrel and corn at $8 a bushel. It seems to me that if this kind of tQnsactions can go on under this system of mixed responsibility, it is time we should put a stop to it. I. do not avouch the facts here stated, but I give the authority on which they are stated. We have desired, however, to place this amendment simply upon the public reasons that have been stated already. As the Army will necessarily now be without employment in a great measure, as the great body of the Army must be stationed in the Indian Territory in time of peace it is proper that the officers of the Army, who control the military forces, should regulate our Indian affairs. Prior to 1848 the ndian service costthe Government probably less than a.million dollars annually, and u to that time all that service was per‘forme by the military authorities. Many of the most distinguished and eminent men in this country have been at the head of Indian aTTairs. General Harrison was for along time at the head of Indian affairs in the Northwest. The number of Indians has been constantly decreasing, and yet the Indian expenditure is constantly increasing. Upder these circumstances, it seems to me, it would be wise as a matter of economy to give to the officers in command of troops in the Indian Territory also the'con trol of the dealings with the Indian tribes. The plan that has been adopted of late years to supersede military authority by teachers and blacksmiths, 630., it seems to me, up to this time has not worked very well; but if it is necessary to continue that system, it may as well be done under the SecyWar as under the SecyInterior, substituting from time to time, as rapidly as may be, militar for civil authority. As stated the other day very briefly the reasons of the committee for proposing this amendment, I do not propose to repeat them now.