to the Indian people, should be inducements for them to enter into a measure of the kind indicated.

The commissioners were accordingly authorized to enter into an agreement with the Indians for such a removal; but if it could not be accomplished without first affording them an opportunity to visit the Indian Territory, and the commissioners should be of the opinion that the visit would probably secure their assent to the proposition, the commissioners were further authorized to send, under careful and competent direction, or to take, a delegation of the most influential chiefs and headmen to the said Indian Territory.

Under that authority a subcommittee, Messrs. Boone and Daniels, with E. A. Howard as disbursing agent, accompanied by about ninety Indians, visited the territory in question; and they lately returned therefrom, the Indians being favorably impressed with what they saw, as I am informed by the subcommittee who reached this city on the 9th instant.

It may be proper to remark that the Indians were given to understand that any agreement entered into with them would not be binding on either of the parties thereto, until approved by the President and Congress. The commission will, doubtless, in a short time submit a full report; which, when received, will be forwarded immediately to the Department.

I herewith return the resolution of the House referred by the Department.

Very respectfully, &c.,

The Hon. the SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR.

J. Q. SMITH,

Commissioner.

DEPARTMENT OF TH

OFFICE OF I

Washington, D. C

SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the r reference, of House resolution dated the 7th insta

That the President of the United States be requested, if public interest, to inform this House whether any and what are being made with the Sioux Indians for their removal to under what authority the same has been or is being done;

And in accordance with your direction submit th In the act of Congress, approved August 15, 18 ations for the Indian department, among the vario it is provided that hereafter there shall no furth made for the subsistence of the different tribes of i they shall agree

First. To relinquish all right and claim to any co boundaries of the permanent reservation secured to. of 1828.

Second. To relinquish a portion of said reservation meridian of longitude.

Third. To grant the right of way for several road. tion from points on the Missouri River to the part th linquished.

Fourth. To receive their supplies for subsistence at s in the vicinity of the Missouri as the President m Fifth. To enter into some stipulation, agreement, o culated and designed to enable them to become sel for these purposes $20,000 are appropriated.

With the view to effect the object of this provisio President, soon after its passage, appointed a commis the following gentlemen: Hon. George W. Manyper esq., Newton Edmonds, esq., Right Reverned H. B. Boone, esq., Hon. A. S. Gaylord, and J. W. Daniels, commissioners, under full instructions furnished by th date the 24th of August last, shortly proceeded to the duty devolved upon them.

No official report of their doings has yet been comm Department or this office by that commission. Their f held with the Indians at the Red Cloud agency early where propositions in consonance with the condition st referred to, were presented to the Indians and finally acc

Subsequently other Sioux agencies were visited and and the same propositions submitted, with like results. officially so advised, it is understood by this office that th having finished their work some time since, agreed to c city on the 9th instant, to report the result of their proce is thought that most if not all of them are present at this

In regard to one of the subjects of negotiation, that re arrangement to enable the Indians to become self-supp deemed that an arrangement or agreement best calculated the end devised would be one providing for the removal of t at an early day to the Indian Territory, for the obvious reas main dependence must ultimately be derived from the cultiv soil, not practicable in their own country, which is so unsuit purpose; and it was held that the better climate and supe the Indian Territory, and the fact of that territory being fore

Jo to remark that the In dans wete

ent entered ine with them T

Maates thereto, al approved

maission will decl

the resolution of the vase referred to the Impar

PARTMENT.

! NAVY,

d of the Navy

e Navy Depart

SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR.

J. Q. SKITE.

CONTINGENT FUND OF THE NAVY DEPARTMENT.

LETTER

FROM

THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY,

TRANSMITTING

A detailed statement of the expenditure of the contingent fund of the Navy Department for the year ending June 30, 1876.

DECEMBER 19, 1876.-Referred to the Committee on Expenditures in the Navy Department and ordered to be printed.

NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, December 18, 1876.

SIR: I have the honor, in compliance with the requirements of section 193 of the Revised Statutes, to submit to Congress detailed statements of the expenditure of the contingent funds for the Navy Department, and for the bureaus and offices therein, with the names, amounts, and quantities of time, service, force, &c., as therein required.

1. Statement of contingent, office of Secretary of the Navy.

2. Statement of contingent, office of Bureau of Yards and Docks.

3. Statement of contingent, office of Construction and Repair.

4. Statement of contingent, office of Equipment and Recruiting.

5. Statement of contingent, office of Steam-Engineering.

6. Statement of contingent, office of Navigation.

7. Statement of contingent, office of Provisions and Clothing.

8. Statement of contingent, office of Ordnance.

9. Statement of contingent, office of Medicine and Surgery. 10. Statement of contingent, Navy Department building.

And also, under the requirements of the act entitled "An act making appropriations for the legislative, executive, and judicial expenses of the Government for the year ending June 30, 1876," approved January, 1875, detailed statements of the expenditure of the sums appropriated for contingent expenses "in the Navy Department, and in the bureaus thereof," to which the same were appropriated, being

1. Appropriation contingent, Navy.

2. Appropriation contingent, Equipment and Recruiting.
3. Appropriation contingent, Medicine and Surgery.
4. Appropriation contingent, Ordnance.

Appropriation contingent, Yards and Docks.