Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-12-03
NEWS AND GOSSIP


A MEErING OF The WIG MEMBERS or
THE HousE.-we have been requested to an
nounce that there will be a meeting of the
Whig members of the House this evening, ito
convene at 6 p. m, in the chamber of the
Committee OF Ways and Means, for conference,
The CLERGY ':IN THE RING. Among the
electioneerers infesting the halls of the Wash
ington hotels, just now, may be recognized
more than one minister OF the gospel, with
sundry dcacons, elders, leaders, &C., who are
interested in the termination Of the con-
test for the Chaplaincy Of either House. From
appearances, We judge that they understand
the game quite as we'll, and enter into it with
as much zcst, as do the thousand other folks
who seem to be straining every nerve (betwecn
drinks) in the same places to aid the House in
choosing officers. To say the least Of it, it is
somewhat disgusting to find clorgymen and
their ambitions, hopes and foars mixed up in
such matters. Profanity almost at all times,
and obscenity must not unfrequently greet
their ears while they and those aiding them
must bear with such associations for the time
being at least or give up the prize for which
they contend. 1t would be we'll for Congress
to vest the appointment of their Chaplains in
their respective presiding officers, if but in
order TO put stop e the proceedings of ques-
tionable propriety, in connection with ''the
CLOTH" which mover fail to mark the recur-
renee of the election of Congressional Chap
lains.
Suffers CANNOT ACT AS ATroRNIEs OR
AGENTS IN CASES OF CLAIMS on THB Gov
ERNMENT.-A case recently came before an
Executive Department here, wherein it was
ruled that Suffer-, are clearly embraced in the
second section of the act Of February rs, 1853.
entitled 'an act to prevent frauds upon the
Treasury of the United States" as they sew
of profit by appointment of the head of an
Executive Department of the Government 1t
is conceived, therefore, that they cannot act
as agents or attornies in the prosecution of
''e1tra pay claims, or any other Claims
against the United States, without making
themselves liable to the penalties of the second
section.
MEMBERS VIEws.-Just before going to
press, We received the following despatch,
which the writer desires US to publish
. NEW YORK, Dee. 3, 1853.
To the Editors Of the Evening Star:
| GENTLEMEN: l regret an indispensable bu-
slness engagement here prevents my being in
Washington to-day but I have no desire to
withhold my preferences for officers of the
House of Representatives Orr Of South Car.
DINA, speaker George w. Clinton, of New
York. clerk. The residue of the officers, the
present incumbents. In legislation, the Bal.
timore platform-the compromise measures of
1S50-and the noble sentiments of President
Pierce's Inaugural. Please publish this des.
patch in ysur afternoon edition of today.
Sincerely yours,
HIRAM WALBRIDGE, of N. Y.
STILL ANOTHER PENSION FRAUD ARREST
We understand that the Pension Bureau have
caused the arrest of Hiram 0. Babcock, here
tofore magistrate of high standing in Coop
erstown, New York, on charge of making a
! false affidavit in pension case. The uues-
tion of granting the pension depended in part
on the fact whether the widow was married
before 1900. Babcock. who was the agent in
the case, as we'll as the magistrate before whom
all the papers were acknowledged, made an
affidavit that the books Of the physician at
tending her in her first accouchnent fixed
that event 1899; Of course after her marriage.
1t was subsequently discovered that he swOre
falsely as TO this date, the book in question
fixing it in 1902. The judicial officer before
whom Babcock was taken has committed him.
The Bureau have no doubt Of their ability to
4 produce the necessary testimony for his con-
viction. On the Goth ult., his friends were
| trying to get the bail demanded for him. The
falsehood of his testimony was discovered in
time to defeat his purpose of getting money
wrongfully fro the treasury.
CLAIMS on INDIAN TRIBEs.--It will be re-.
membered that the accounting officers of the
Treasury were directed by a resolution OF
Congress of August 7, lS4s, to make Just and
fair statement Of the claims of the Cherokees
on principles of the treaty of August, 1s4s
They reported the statement to Congress on
'A4e - VI boSo"oci, 1919, CHdTSlng tDc In
dams with all the claims presented and
properly chargeable, and the balance found
due was appropriated by Congress and paid to
the Indians, as required by tho treaties of
1875 and 1916, sin full and final settlement of
all claims &c 1t was subsequently, ruled
that claim not presented before the fund wa
paid over, and which if allowed would have
diminished the fund due the nation BY tina,
amount, could not be paid without an appro.
Priation by Congress.
Mr.. BRECKENRIDGE, OF kENTUCKY.-Per.
ceiving stories industriously circulated, per
telegraph, to disaffected Democratic journals
saying that Mr. Breckenridge is somewhat in
clined not to stand by the President, his adj
ADMINISTRATION and policy, we have to say that
all such surmises are written down to be
"bosch," by all who really know him.
/ A LIEUTENANT IN THE NAVY DISMISSED
We understand that the President having an
proved the sentence of the recent Navy Court
Martial at Boston, Mass, by which Lieut.
VIM. l.. BlantOn was broken, he has been duly
dismissed from the Navy of the United States
PROMOTIONS tx THE NAvY.-Master Chas
III. Baldwin to be Lieutenant, vice Blantop