The New York herald., 1870-04-15
WASHINGTON.
@~O~~~~~~~~~~~~>o>o~>~
Secret Investigation Of the Charges
Against General Howard.
The Boston and New York
Post Offices.
Alleged Frauds in Building
Contracts.
The Pacific Submarine Telegraph
Company.
0en Butler ventilates His Views
Of Political Economv.

WOrk-I00
Wood.HOward Investigation.
The Wood-Howard investigation began to-day
and several witnesses appeared for the prosecution
General Howard and Fernando Wood were both
present, attended by counsel. Among the first acts
OF the committee was the passage OF resolution
making all the proceedings OF the committee strictly
secret. Counsel, witnesses and all concerned were
enjoned not to mention outside anything that might
be said or done in the committee room. Mr.. Wood
was in favor Of having the Investigation open
and OF allowing the representatives OF the
public press TO be present. To this
arrangement hir. Arnell. the chairman of the com.
mittee, ana majority or the friends OF General
Howard objected The counsel were informed that
no copies Of evidence would be allowed and that no
redirect examination would be permitted In short
tnis committee proposes to do what no other lnves-
tgation has ever been able to accomplish-namey
stop allleaks and constitute itself veritable Star
Chamber Under these circumstances nothing can
be gained except from witnesses who have not the
fear OF the committee before their eyes, The wit
nesses examined to-day were A. s. Cox executor
OF the estate upon which the Howard University Is
erected the Recorder Of Deeds for this District ana
J. W. Rumsey and William Harney, contractors
for the Howard University buildings. Mr.. Cox testi.
ned that General Howard, as Commissioner Of the
Freedmen's Bureou had purchased from him some
$1,000 per acre. The last payment, he stated, was
draft from General Balloch, disbursing onlcer
OF the bureau on the Treasury for $114,O00 The
Register OF Deeds submitted deeds for the whole
purchase, and also three lots of the same land sold
to General Howard and trust deed for the sale Of
house and lot OF his in the city to D. L. Eaton OF the
Frecdmen's Bank. Rumsey and Harvey, the con.
tractors both testified that their contract was made
with General Howard personally, and that their pay
came from BalOch In the shape OF drafts on the Trea-
sury. Rumsey swore that he was present with
Howard and Balloch at the headquarters Of
the Bureau when $4,000 in bonds OF the
First Congregational church were taken; that
Baoch drew the cheek for the money and that How
ard sent 1t to the Freedmens Bank, with directions
to deposit to his account special treasurer
OF the church fund, ana the remaining &c. 600 to his
private account Rumsey then turned over $ls 600
In church bonds and Howard gave q mortgage
on the house he had sold Eaton as sc.
curty for the money loaned him. Testimony
was taken showing the worthless character OF
the patent brick out OF which the Howard
University Is built, and how Howard and his con.
confreres OF the bureau personally interested
In these patent brick. Seve raj Of the workmen en-.
gagged on the building and som OF the trustees and
other officers Of the First Congregational church are
summoned for tomorrow, Fernando Wood wanted
sonne one on the republican side OF the House to
offer resolution making the proceedings Of the
committee open to the representatives Of the press,
~ the investigation OF the public printer; but he
has not been able to get any one 70 do 1t.
The New York Custom House Fight-Collec.
tor Grinnel's Position Secure-Pr0posed
Resignation Of the American Minister Mt
Berlin.
The parties who came on here crammed full OF
hostile intentions against Collector Grinne are to
have their labor as their sole reward. After all the
trumpeting and blowing and bOasting in which
they INDUCED they will find out tomorrow, II in.
Decd 1t has not reached them already, that the
President has not been In the least moved; that
his faitn IN Grinnell Is quite as strong
as ever, and in short, that Moses is likely to rule
over the New York Custom House just SO long as it
suits his purpose to do 80. Mr.. Tom Murphy, OF
your city. was very desirous OF stepping into Mr..
Grlnnell's shoes, and was backed uD In his ambition
by not few OF the disappointed republicans not en-
joying the sweets of Office. But MIR. Tom Murphy,
In all probability, Will have to wait q
little longer. The Murphyites discovered that fact
yesterday, and the ant-Grinne faction forthwith
switched or on another path in search or somebody
else likely to command more Importance in Presl-
Dental eyes. They hit on Peasanton and CON-
menced advancing upon the White House, with the
motto "Pleasanton anu victoryn inscribed on their
banners. But Pleasanton, though standing
wen at headquarters, proved no more accept.
able against Grinne than Tom Murphy himself
Now they are trying to shove forward somebody
else; but my Information, derived from the best
source, is that will attend this movement
either. 1t may happen that Mr.. Grinnel may IN the
course Of time give up the Custom House or his
own accord, If his enemies have patience and let
him alone; but in the face OF menaces and misrepre
sentatioIs ne will never consent to abandon the
field.
In this connection may state that 1t Is rumored
that Mr.. Bancroft desires to home from Berlin
and that Mr. Grlnnel Is likely to be offered the mis-
sion to Prussia But that matter taken no shape
yet though does look little probable tnat should
Bancroft really come back Mr. Grinnell would be
rendered the position and likely enough resign the
Collectorship
The New York nnd BostOn Post Offices.
Mr.. Farnsworth chairman Of the Committee on
Post Onces and Post Roads, made o report to-day,
concluding as follows:-
In the opinion OF the committee building in
New York In all respects suitable and ample for the
purpose OF It's construction, namely post office,
should not cost to exceed two and half million
dollars and could be erected and completed within
that sum- that The amount exceeas the es-
tmate made by Mr.. Mullett for q granite
building IN 1858 over 100000. The Post ONCE
building In Boston should cost ST. 900 for