The Portland daily press., 1871-01-19
THE CAPITAL.
Especial Dispatch by International Line.l
Report Of the Paper Credit Comm1ssior

Especial Dispatch by International Line.]
Report Of the Paper Credit Comm,ssion.
AUGUSTA, Jan. 1S-At last the much looked
for report is before the Legislature; or at least
OF the Senate. The report proper completely
hlls fifty'eight pages of legal cap, closely writ
ten. The report is accompanied by the testi
mony Of more than 125 witnesses, covering all
the way from single page to fifty or more.
The report shows that the whole number of
naval and marine paper credits traced out is
140O, in round numbers. The investigations of
the commissioners have extended to 100 towns,
which purchased about 1000 of these. OF these
about 400 were controlled by Pike and Colby,
200 by Capt. G. P. Cochran of Augusta, but
VINO only disposed of about 80. These two
lists were marine credits. J. H. Marley of
Augusta controlled list containing 251, and
u. NJ. DelaDy and and others the balance,
which were naval credits. The next question
is. where did these parties get these credits?
In reply the testimony shows that the marine
corps lists controlled by Pike and others were
bought by parties residing out of the State, of
whose whereabouts the commissioners could
not get clue. Manley's men purported TO be
naval recruits, enlisted on board the receiving
ships stationed in Massachusetts. Delany's
purported TO have been bought of and recruited
by one John p. Heath, then stationed at Port
land as naval recruiting agent All Of these
men except Delany's appear to have been
vost Marshal General Frye. Delapy's men
appear to have been credited by the naval COM
mission on false returns of selectmen OF towns,
wherein they were claimed residents of and
liable to enrolment in such towns and in SER
vice in the United States navy The report
does not impllcate any man holding official po-
sitiOn in the State at the time, or in general
any prominent man of this State. In regard
to the naval commission, composed of ex.Gov.
Cony and Major Gardiner, U. s. A., the COM
mission say, referring to the talse returns of
towns to that commission: "The only evidence
we have taken upon the point is to the effect
that the naval commission had no knowledge
or suspicion that such returns were not relia-
ble." Referring to Gen. Hodsdon, the COM
missioners say: TN regard to an officer whose
oversight OF the military affairs of the State
was so minute, whose system of administra-
ton, arrangement and record was so methodi-
cal, and whose personal capacity so far exceed
ed even the large requirements Of his place, it
is difficult to inter that practices not authorized
by the fair construction Of law and dangerous
to the public service, escaped his vgilant at
tentOn. Gen. Hodsdon however had no off
cial responsibility for these matters. They
did not belong to the department of his office,
and what assistance he rendered was eithec
voluntary or as clerk, and his knowledge, if
any, did not necessarily affect his superiors''
The commissioners proceeded at length to
show that the statements Of Mr.. A. B. Farwell,
made at different times, lack congruity. But
nothing short of full copy of the report on
this point will do justice to this part of the re-
port. 1t appears that the towns in Maine paid
for those paper credits about half million of
dollars. The marine corps credits cost the
towns an average of about $3.50 The Manley
men cost from $4OO to $500. The Delany men
from $50 to $780, The commissioners, in allud-
ing to the difficulties of attaining information
from the departments at Washington say that
they are largely indebted to Speaker Blaine,
whose appreciation OF their requirements was
prompt and complete, aud who by personal APP
peals largely contributed to the procurement
Of the little information obtained.