Mr. KASSON. If the Gentfrom Kansas [Mr. CLARKE] will permit me, I will state that at the last session of Congress I acted on the part of the House in a conference committee upon the Indian appropriation bill. Near the c ose of that session there came to this House from the Senate an amendment to the regular appropriation bill, providing for the diversion of a quarter or hallo million dollars I forget which, for“ the relief and support of destitute loyal Indians. In the hurry of the closing part of that session our committee reported it to the House withation that it recommend a pass, but without any proviswii whatever urding the disbursement of that appropriation. I felt that it was wrong to pass a mere general appropriation without any guard or choc upon its disbursement and now, at this early day of this sesswn, we find another proposnion of the same character, proposing a iscretionary appropriation at this time of $500,000 without one solitary check upon its expenditure. I find in the report of the ComrIndnAffr the following sentences, which I will read, and to which I ask the attention of this House: “I suppose that I am not making a remark which will startle the Dept by its novelty, when I suggest that thoro js reason to believe that agentsare too often in some manner interested with or for the traders. Certainly therecan be no doubt thati f such to mthbeininajtuiroy nooff in the icnsttesrsehsotsuoldf to exist, it can only exist Indians and conseihnentlyof the Government. It is not uncommon to car the apparentra idly –inereasing wealthof employees of, or officers subordinate to. this offioespoken of as n reproach to the service. I dertaking have no ideaof una Quixotic attcui t tooorroot the manners or morals of public ufliccrs, uti this particular matter I have been led to believe than improvement can be effected. 311th by mm5nicowbmroufigptie n, Jiernce and further down on the same page, he says: “With a view to the correction of such wrongs as may exist, and the prevention of others in future. in relation to It combination of interests between agents and traders and contractors. lsumtnn n plientian to Congress for the passage of a law which shall Innlie it it enal offense for any agent, or otber officer in the Indian service, to be in any manner, dircctly or indirectly. Interested in tho proflts of the businessof the trader or in any contract for the purchase of goods or in any trade with the Indians, at their own or any other agency: the game penalties to apply to the li censimr of any relative to trade, or topnre usinggoods or provisions for the use of the Indians ofany firm in which they or an relative maybe partners or in any way interested. do not desireto sh legislation to a point where it cannot besafe, but I think that in this matter the most stringent measures are necessary.” Now, wc have learned from the Gentfrom Pennsylvania [Mr. Srnvnxs] that there are reports in circulation of badmanagcment, of misconduct, and of fraud in connection with the expenditure of these appropriations. I have heard a report that $280, o(X), or some other very large part of this money, has now actually been expended without warrant of law, and this is proposed for the purpose of paying what has already ecu contracted for Without warrant of law. My colleague Mr. HUBBARD says that here arr gentlemen from our own tune; the SecyInterior, the ComrIndnAffr, the superintendent, are from Iowa, and l see among the other names 2 or 3 others who are either from Iowa or connected with officers controlling the Indian Dept who are from that State. Now, I do not like that these things shall exist any longer if we can avoid it by providing properardsupou the distribution of this fund. tis sai that the son of the superintendent is a partner in a firm who is interested in these contracts. I want these matters to be so arranged that the character of thesegentlemen willnot be liable to any such imputations as are now made, and when we are doing our utmost in the comAppropriat, in pursuance of the manifest wish of this House, to guard against milladministration, and cut down appropriations, I do not want appropriations made in so unguarded a manner as to lead to imputations like those referred to upon the gentlemen engaged in that dept. think, there ore, that we ought to hesitate before thus voting awn $500,000 by what is actually a new appropriation, which, it seems to me, ought to a, under the rules, to the ComWhole. I hope that we shall not set the precedent of disposing of such an amount of money without placing the all htesl. guard upon its disbursement. f the case shall, as I trust it will refuse to sustain the previous question, I shall propose that the bill be referred to the ComAppropriat, that that committee may adopt such provismns, in connection with this appropriation, as will, in the estimation of a i) honest men, guard the disposition of this fund against any supposed milladministration. Iu prehend that a Bllly of a few days cannot maiie a very great difference. In a matter involving the expenditure of $500,000 the House ought to have a little time to provide, through the appropriate committee, that the appropriation of so arge a sum of money may o surrounded by Erolier guards, none of which are now provide. y the resolution, the money is approprietod, in general language, “for the relic and support of ndians.” I hope, therefore, that the Gentfrom Kansas [Mr. CLARKE] will see the propriety, on all grounds, of allowing the resolution to go to a committee, by which the proper uards can be provided, so that there will no onger be this liability to imputations upon the character of those who are to administer the un.