The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-02-07
A General Subsidy to ALI the
Pacific Railroads.
The Army Appropriation Bill
in the House.
Proposed Heavy Reduction L Men
and Money.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 8, 1859.


peaehmeut C0mmiiteo.
An interesting fact u developed to-day concern
ing the way IN which the impeachment COMMITTEE
Cied to entrap President JohnsoA- A certain news
paper man. it ia said, was employed u call on thd
President and, by representing hiInsef as conser-
vative correspondent, endeavOr 70 extract in
formation from the President a. to hrs intentions
that might be used against him by the tmpeachers.
The correspondent made several visits to the Presi.
dent represented that he got on the most intimate
with Mr.. Johnson fscd his arts to draw him
out, and then went To the Board OF lmpeachers and
told all he had heard. One day this correspondent
was examined by the Impeachment Board for over
,hree hours and subsequently questioned pri-
vatcly by General Butler Nothing important was
thus obtained however, and the record Of the cor
MnsQDdent's testimony was destroyed, II IL under.
stood that there was good deal OF testimony or ts
kind taken Ey US committee that never saw Tie
"em. u nay. y. - easss ~
81 . ne Army Appropriation bit.
The debate on the Army Appropriation bill In the
House to-day developed strong sentiment IN favor
Clan immediate reduction OF the army. Consider.
able feeling was manifested, especially on the pars
Of men who served officers in the volunteer forccs
against the regular army, ana wherever there was
40 opportunity pressptsa NE appropriation eQe BY
the committee was reduced. an attempt Vas made,
ID one Or two instances, to make the members vote
for large appropriations, which Mr. Blaine, VINO has
charge OF the BILL said were put in on the recommend
alton Of General Grant. Ia one case o letter
was produced from General Grant recon mend
ing an appropriation for some defences in
the Rocky Mountains. The House not only
refused 10 adoft an amendment reducing the
appropriation, but struck it on. altogether. The
Grant men, who stood by the appropriation, threat
encd to call the yeas nays il the House, SO
~ to make the men who have the temerity 10 vote
against Grant show their hands ana 20 Oh tho
record.
Proposed Reduction Of the Array.
The House Military Committee mad a rrotraetci
meeting to-day for the purpose Of considering the
amendment to be offered to the Army Appropriation
bill. Just as the House was about to adjourn Gen.
eral GarGed, chairman OF the committee, submitted
IL TO the House. II proposes 10 reduce the rank and
1le Of the army about 10000 men and the officers
abont B7O There are TO be eight brigadcr generals,
exclusive Of the star o. the Geneta-n-Chiei
The Quartermaster's, the Subsistence and the Pay
departments are TO he consolidated into one depart
Toent, to be known as the ''Suppy Department"
This department is 10 have an organization OF one
brr1anicr general, three colonies, nine leutennht
colonies, twenty-seven majors and sevesty-hve cap,
Sains besides elerks.. Tbs Ordnance Dep6itEAeuf V
70 I've abolished entirely and the duties thereof are
to be hereafter performed by oiners OF artillery,
der the direction Of chiof, who shalhave se rank
Of colonel and be known a. chief of artillery The
number Of surgeons is increased nom forty, ~ re-
ported in the bill oflast session, TO y, and the num-
dred and nfy 70 twenty-five. The number Of In
1antsy regiments s 10 no reduced to thirty by con
soidAtion aud Nv more enlistments are to be matls
is hal SQvn hnfo no
the House tnuch larger reduction will be made ia
TIC number Of officers than u proposes.
The FLORENCE scanned Case.
Mr. Brooks. Of New YORK. proposes 10 call up the
case OF his poor and humble constituent Florence
Scanuel, next week, probably Monday. and revive
his resolution for hs unconditional discharge. since
the damaging statements made yesterday 10 the
House by Mr.. Kelley, Of Pennsylvania, the repub-
cans are determined TO make scanned pay the cosis
Of hrs arrest or else remain IN the easy custody Of
enc sergeant.stA until the close Of the session.
More Bubbles ExpIodcd-rhe Wcll--ysarRe
and AlaskR Frauds.
The cases OF the two newspaper correspondents
were before the Committee on Public Expenditures
again to-day. Three witnesses, whose names were
given ~ the authority Of the New YORK evening
paper correspondent for making hs chas2cs against
POSTMASTER General Randall and the wells-targo
eon1nct, nntIy coptradictcd the correspondents fs
ttmony. They declared that they had not gwen The
information at all and QUIZ spoke with che cores
p0ndent after seeing his dispatches In print Thus
xhe whole story Of the terrible Wells-Fargo fraud
Arops 70 tho ground. The committee Will report
next week generating both the Postmaster General
and WellsFargo. Respecting the Alaska branch Of
The Investigation some Interesting points were de-
ve,opoai. Mr. Robert W. Latham was summoned, IN
accordance with the request OF FREDERICK stanton.
and testified the points contained IN the following
ietter:--
Hon Z. e. Buis,Ec, Chairman Sommii'ee Public
a!R-T0rougn The pubic neNspspers ~, AND i nom
haa explicitly denied the facts stated by me In nv
sestamony before Your committee. As no one wa.
present at the several conversations detailed e<cept
ourselves, cannot directly establish HE truth 81 my
statement by any other witness, nul understand
fore you and as he knows eertals facts which II.
directly sustain my statements, beg you that you
win examine him on the following points,.
ING in the House, MI. Painter sent Nj. Latham 10
quest that l should apply - t.nvernor Walker TO
have him PsinterI employed and paid 'or adv"caI'
Sscomt--Afser the passsgy Of the appropriation,
sscn NJ Latham stated 70 ms IN presence Of cover.
nor Walker that Painter had said his conversations
with me were confidential and ina. ~ ! revealed
Y1srsl--Mr. Latham also stated that Mr.. Paiuiei
informed him that he (psinter hasi IN his
uospter,ou or had seen, an afIldavit 10 the eiicc
that Governor Walker had receyso varioa. snl,s
" money, amounting In all 70 fis,oN " $4,000
Intended 10 he paid W Mr.. Painter ara oihcl
agents 81 the press, which sums Sovsrnor wals Wake,
had dish0ncsty withheld iroip tne parties " whom
have been paid on account Of the Alaska purchase
and evidence Of ", Mr. Painter ssid lad been found
In Governor Walkers ONCE
FUurth--Mr. Latham knows 10 what extent Mr.
Painter has admitted the truth " INV statements
made before the committee and ~ what extent Ia
has denied them. In justice 10 myself ueinant
that Mr. Latham shall I've required TO state what b.
knows ON this subject.
arm, very Respectfully, kc.,
vkEDERICK r. STANTON.
Mr.. Latham H. understood to have answered thes,
questions In the Affirmative.
Rucrcachuenss Of the Ilwdssu's hay Gem
psny.
An ofrciai document was transmitted to boil
Houses yesterday from the President In relatiol
On the encroschuents OF the agents Of The Hud