The New York herald., 1868-05-07
WASHINGTON.
The Guano Affair Again in the House
Of Representatives.
EXPLANATION OF THAD STEVENS.
Report OF the Committee Investigat-
ing Secretary Forney's Ac-
counts With the Senate.


counts With the Senate.
WASHINGTON, May G, 1865.
General Candy Proposes Modification Of the
Test Oath.
General Grant sent letter to the House to-day
enclosing communication from General Candy who
says that In his judgment some action by Congress
will be needed In order to remove one of the most
serious impediments that has been raised which in
the execution OF the Reconstruction laws has grown
out OF the enforcement of the provision requiring all
appointees OF the District Commander to take
what Is known as the test oath. In the
States Of North and South Carolina men,
active and jealous friends of the Union and
Of restoration have been technically debarred by this
oath from any official participation in the work of
reconstruction, while many others who would have
taken the oath have declined to do SO from a sensi-
tive fear that their motives would be misconstrued.
A large number from this class have been chosen to
ONCE at the recent elections, and the dculties here
tOfore encountered again present themselves in both
States IN greater magnitude. To continue the dis
abilities which exclude these persons is to de-
prive the government still further OF the SER
vices OF intelligent and well disposed men, whose
technical disqualification is their only fruit and
whose aid s essentially importans to the speedy
ganizatiOn and successful working Of the new State
governments. The removal Of the disabilities while
it will not jeopardize any interest which 1t is the
policy OF the government to conserve and foster,
WILL in General Canby's judgment, not only meet
the approval Of large majority Of the people Of the
two States but will disarm much Of the opposition
which the new State governments must expect to
encounter and contribute generally to the perma-
nent success OF the work Of reconstruction.
Secretary's FOrney's Accounts with the
Senate.
The committee appointed under the Senate reso-
luton of April Is to investigate the accounts Of
Colonel Forney Secretary Of the Senate, from the
date OF his election to the present time to-day pre-
sented detailed report from which it appears that
the total sum advanced to him is 81 4l257l4, which is
all satisfactorily accounted for by vouchers duly
amined by the committee portion OF these vOuch-
ers have not yet been passed upon by the Auditor
Of the Treasury; but the committee report as
the result Of their investigation that the Secretary
is now creditor to small amount, and
that no losses have been sustained by the govern
men through his action. On the contrary they state
that the evidence taken by the committee completely
vindicates him from such imputation. In view OF
the remarks in the Senate at the time of the adop
tion of the resolution OF investigation, which
well calculated to provoke serious doubts regarding
felt 1t to be their duty to bestow particular attention
on the question of an alleged dcfalcation or misuse
Of that fund in the hands Of the Secretary.
They state that from the evidence taken 1t will
appear that the actual control and disbursement Of
the Senate contingent fund Is with the financial
clerk, who is one Of the officers Of the Senate, and
assigned to that particular duty by the Secretary.
He prepares rcqusitions upon the Treasury, from
which all moneys are drawn; has exclusive control
OF .he safe in which they are kept, and makes all
disbursements therefrom. The Secretary signs the
requfsitOns but in case receives pays out the
moneys drawn. 1t win be seen therefore, that this
financial cerkship Is an office Of mucn importance,
and that the person who fills 1t should be man of
high integrity and competency. The report states
that Samuel Wagner Of Pennsylvania, who filed the
office Of Financial Clerk from April, 1s63 until De-
cember, 1867 IS undoubtedly responsible for the
larger part OF the whole deficit of $35,4S6. He had
exclusive control of the moneys when the deficit
CURED. He acknowledges a misapplication to his
own use Of $2o,OOO and admits that he Is
responsible for whatever deficiency existed at the
date OF his resignation; but hts explanations
are not entirely satisfactory, as they leave unac
counted for an amount or $4,000 The report
speaks OF the high reputation Of Mr.. Wagner pre-
viOus to the discovery. This $4,000 remains unac-
counted for but there IL no evidence which points 10
any one except the Financial Clerk as responsible
for its loss abstraction. The Secretary ncurs the
loss OF the amount Of the deficiency, and must bear
It. unless he shall he reimbursed by the transfers Of
property made to him by his subordinate. In any
event there can be no loss 10 the Treasury. The
report is signed by the members Of the committee,
Messrs. Cragin, Drake and Buckalew.
Minor Ring in the Treasury Department.
The Secretary OF the Treasury has been engaged
for some time past In tracing out the methods by
which some clerks i'm the department endeavor TO
make both ends meet without the help OF the extra
compensation. A few days ago the investigation
suited In the detection OF brace OF operators OF the
character referred to In the Office OF the Fourth
Auditor of the Treasury, and the gentlemen were
titled that their designations would be acceptable to
the Secretary and beneficial to them. The plan on
which these sharp practitioners worked the fol-
lowing:-Their duties were In connection with the
division which had the settlement Of naval pay
masters accounts. Having ascertained from the
books that paymaster exhibited deficiency in his
returns they would give such aymaster an
unofficial friendly notice Of his deficiency; after
which an outside party would call on the paymastcr
and arrange for specified sum to have his accounts
properly balanced, which consideration was shared
pro rata between the operators. At other times a
fctti0us deficiency would be reported to paymaster,
and ingcnlously explained that the ocer would be
made 70 believe that he had committed an error In
his returns. This pretended deficiency would then
be squared mp by means OF the same plan OF nego-
tiaton before described and the proceeds privately
divided Some ono of the officers of the Auditors
Bureau discovered this ring and exposed tho little
game, which resulted In making two vacancies in
the bureau.
One of these gentlemen is said to be a prominent
member of the Masonic fraternity and the other IL
one Of the pillars of fashionable Methods church
Of this city.
Indian Anairs-The Dacotah Sioux.
General G. @. Campbell, Indian agent for the Da-
cotah Sioux, who has been here for some time past
engaged IN concentrating arrangements looking to
the further establishment Of agricultural pursuits
among the Indians Of his agency, has left washing
ton for the Indian country, having completed ar
rangemcnts for supplying the Indians with seeds