All official business which by law or regulations requires the action of the President or Secretary of War will be submitted by the chiefs of staff corps, departments, and bureaus to the Secretary of War.

All orders and instructions relating to military operations issued by the President or Secretary of War will be issued through the General of the Army.

JNO.  A. RAWLINS,

Secretary of War.

SPECIAL ORDERS, No. 75.

HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,

ADJUTANT-GENERAL’S OFFICE,

Washington, March 31, 1869.

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16.  By direction of the President of the United States, Brevet Major-General A.S.  Webb, United States Army, is assigned to command the First Military District, according to his brevet of major-general, until the arrival of Brevet Major-General Canby to relieve him.  He will accordingly repair to Richmond, Va., without delay.

17.  By direction of the President, Brevet Major-General George Stoneman, colonel Twenty-first United States Infantry, is hereby relieved from the temporary command of the First Military District, and will accompany his regiment to the Military Division of the Pacific.

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By command of General Sherman: 

E.D.  TOWNSEND,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, Washington, D.C., June 3, 1869.

A commission of citizens having been appointed under the authority of law to cooperate with the administrative departments in the management of Indian affairs, consisting of William Welsh, of Philadelphia; John V. Farwell, of Chicago; George H. Stuart, of Philadelphia; Robert Campbell, St. Louis; W.E.  Dodge, New York; E.S.  Tobey, Boston; Felix R. Brunot, Pittsburg; Nathan Bishop, New York, and Henry S. Lane, of Indiana, the following regulations will till further directions control the action of said commission and of the Bureau of Indian Affairs in matters coming under their joint supervision: 

1.  The commission will make its own organization and employ its own clerical assistants, keeping its “necessary expenses of transportation, subsistence, and clerk hire when actually engaged in said service” within the amount appropriated therefor by Congress.

2.  The commission shall be furnished with full opportunity to inspect the records of the Indian Office and to obtain full information as to the conduct of all parts of the affairs thereof.

3.  They shall have full power to inspect, in person or by subcommittee, the various Indian superintendencies and agencies in the Indian country, to be present at payment of annuities, at consultations or councils with the Indians, and when on the ground to advise superintendents and agents in the performance of their duties.

4.  They are authorized to be present, in person or by subcommittee, at purchases of goods for Indian purposes, and inspect said purchases, advising the Commissioner of Indian Affairs in regard thereto.