New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-06-12
WASHINGTON.
THE FRAUDS ON snLnIERsl

EXAMINATION FOR THE PATENT OFFICE
CLERKs-THE STATEMENT OF THE FREED
MEMS SAVINGS BANK-RETRENCHMEN IN
THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
lBT TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUERI
WASHINGTON, Friday juno H. 1869.
A question has arisen as to the responsibility OF
the Assistant Treasurer in New-York in paying Coy
eminent checks given to soldiers in payment of
bounties and arrears of pay. In large number of
cases, involving it is said abou $4,000 it is ascer-
tanned that the checks were made PAYABLE to the
soldiers themselves, and that they were improperly
indorsed-not by the soldiers but by claim agents,
under the authority of alleged powers of attorney.
The agents proving subsequently to be Irresponsible
and defrauding the soldiers out of their money,
gentleman representing a number of the defrauded
soldiers has been here for several days in cOnsula
ton with Government officers, and it is understood
that the opinion is held by the proper officers that
the Government is directly responsible to the
soldiers and can be compelled by suits before the
Court of Claims TO make tho checks good the Assist
ant Treasurer being thus personally responsible for
the improper payments.
1t is rumoured in diplomatic circles here that Mr..
Thornton, the British Minister, will ultimately be
superseded by an English diplomatic representative
of the highest embassadorial rank; that the re-
firing minister Will be promoted to Madrid; and that
the new Ambassador will, through liberal hospi-
tallty, ascertain SBsaJOIlal Opcu
ing further negotiations for the adjustment of the
Alabama question. This proceeding, it is pre-
sumed, will relieve the administrations of both Gov
eInments from the annoyance of failure to confirm
and insure settlement acceptable to the Senate.
The Commissioner of Patents has organized n
board for the examination of the qualifications of
the clerical force of the Office The examination
comprises history geography, arithmetic. natural
philosophy astronomy mechanical arts, &c. and is
very severe 1t is thought that large number of
clerks will fail to pass the examination, hence they
will be dismissed and their places supplied by
others.
meeting of the directors OF the Freedmen's Saw
ings Bank was held last evening From the financial
statement it appeared that the liabilities of the com
pany that is the amount due deposltors on the 10Th
of May to which date the report made, reaches
the sum of g. 1917 60 49, The deposits are invested
in United States bonds and stocks, and amount in
value to 81 2G7 $50 80. The business of the company
during the month of May was: In deposits, $685.,
$50 Co; in drafts $321s53 %. The deposits at the
Washington branch amount to $l5l,0O0 ~.
The plan of retrenchment begun by the War De-
partment with the advent of Gen. Rawlins Secre-
tary is still being pursued. The barracks and army
storehouse known Lincoln Depot, which has been
kept up here since the war at q great expense has
been ordered vacated and the buildings and prop
erty therein sold at auction. The order also dis
penses with the services of large number of men
who have been employed at the Department..
The Government paper mill in Pennsylvania has,
through the Treasury agent stationed at the MILL
forwarded the first lot Of the new and improved
gTeenback paper 10 the National and American Bank
Note Companies in New-York. The paper is what is
known as the French silk variety, and through its
ibers run threads of red and blue coors The first
al will trol,aIIy lao ready ou
the first Of July. All Of the present issues of legal
tenders aud fractional currency notes will be called
in as rapidly possible
Commissioner DelanO will tomorrow issue an or
der directing that hereafter 40 application for re-
lease of seizures Of tobacco, whisky and oil other
articles shall be considered by the Bureau until re-
mort shall have been received from the local officers
making the seizures setting forth all the crclul-
tances of the case and such facts will enable the
Commissioner to form an intelligent Judgment
Gen. Sickles has been granted leave Of absence by
the Secretary of War, the order OF the PRESIDENT
for one year. with permission to go abroad, IN order
that he may accept the Spanish mission without re-
signing his commission in the army.
Admiral Porter has purchased and reftted the
house lately occupied by Lord Lyons, and will soon
take up his residence here permanently.
Bids were yesterday opened at the Treasury De-
reaus thereof with stationery for the year ending
June go 1870 The bidders were Philip a. Solomons,
Blanchard g. Mohun, b. +. French and Coyle d
Towers of Washington; i. ID Lockwood of Phila-
delphia; S. p. Dnsmore, p. w. Durham, ID. w Bo-
Rardus and X. EsteTbrook d Co, of NewYork.
The contract will be awarded in the Of day
or two.
The statement that Mr.. Reverdy johnson had to
pay forfeit of $1,000, for failure TO fulfill the
terms of his lease by reason of his unlookedfOr de-
parture from his house in Portand-pace, London is
reported to be untrue.
Gen. o. o. Howard delivered this evening the
second Of his the battles in which he
gagged, taking up Williamsburgh and FAIR Oaks. The
General reminded his hearers that the preceding lecture
ended with the evacuation OF Yorktown. He thought
that the criticism upon Mcclellan would have
much less severe IL all the subsequent Pennsular opera
lions had prospered IL the Rebel army had been crushed
and Richmond taken. But msfOrtunes very apt TO
react subsequent success would have been believed
TO demonstrate that sowness with such army ours,
WAS absolutely essential tho necessary discipline and
drill; that the crossing Of the York River would have
made necessary division Of the army aud exposed our
base Of supplies that month in April lost as the
roads would be better May and operations easily
carried forward Ho then explained the subsequent
movements, beginning May L. 1862, including the
heavy siege OF the enemy's works by Gen.
Mcclellan. where army pushed over fields
literally alive with tOrpedoes hidden in tho earth Men
never marched over more dangerous difficult ground
IL took from sunset until midnight TO make five miles,
and their hual campnggrOund ankle-deep IN mud
and water General thus described the movement Of
the next day. the position of the troops in tho battle OF
Wiamsburgh. and gave an account OF the engagement,
and the sickening revolving spectacle the field when
the battle was over. He explained the march from VII.
amsburgh 10 the Chickahominy and the position OF tho
Army OF the Potomac two corps right bank OF that