Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-05-02
WASHINGTON.
The Monthly Debt Statement
The Legal Tender Decisions
Four Delinquent Paymasters
Set at L'bertyby Sec'y Belknap
ENCOURAGING EmbezzIers.

= w ASdlN6lON, ~. ". MA 1s-1u SSA-
eral order of March 25, the Secretary of
the Navy reviewing the decision in the
Institutional case of Psymaster Lock
wood and others, for scandalous conduct
and embezzlement, set aside the sentence
SO far as it created fine and imprisonment,
because there was no Law for the eXecu-
ton of such sentence. Lockwood, who
defrauded the Government cut of about
$40, 900, was therefore set at hharty, be-
ing merely dismissed from the service.
The same course with the same order,
was pursued in the cases of Paymssters
Girsrd, Morey and Rushing, each of
whom had been sentenced to both fine
and Imprisonment. These paymasters
were the cause of loss TO the Government
by embezzlement, of about $500, 0Q0.
The Navy Department has taken no steps
to bring the cases up before the civil tri
bunals, nor has il even claimed the paltry
bonds which officers ere required to give
under the law. The officers were merely
dismissed the service.
100 women Discharged from the
Treasury Department.
For several weeks past there has been
a steady reduction in the number of en-
ployees in the Treasury Department, and
the discharge OF many more is decided,
owing to the falling off of work. There
were yesterday discharged from the
Printing Bureau 160 persons, more than
half women. Notwithstanding this re-
duction, and the necessity Of still further
curtailing, applications continue to be
made for clerkships from all parts of the
country.
The Monthly Debt Statement
Debt bearing coin interest 81, 902, 1885,
$50; interest 4S, 632, 064; bearing curren-
cy interest 51O, $50, 900; interest 236, 166;
matured debt {, ,096, OH; interest 500, 090;
debt bearing no interest AT, Isl, ,29S; un-
claimed interest 6,202; total debt princi-
pal 9, S72, 39S, $50; interest 49,435, 522;
coin in Treasury LOG, 453, 979; currency
1876, $50; debt less cash in Treasury g.
sos, ,573, 543; decrease during April g.
124, 053; decrease since March l, 1871,
1875, 303; decrease since March l, 1869,
2l1, ,ss9,716.
Bonds issued Pacific railroad Compa-
nies, principal outstanding, Ga, 6l6.632;
interest accrued, not yet paid, 1892, $40;
interest paid by United States 10, 753, 919;
interest repaid by transportation of mails
1881, 1856; balance interest paid By Unit
ed States 1922 1888.
Subscriptions to new loan to-day
613, 900.
Announcement of the Legal Tender
Decisions.
There was a large number of members
of the bar present at the Supreme Curt
chamber to-day, including Solicitor Gen
eral Bristow and Senators Trumbull and
Cole, as it was known the court would
announce mary opinions prepared during
the weeks recess previous to adjOurning
till the 16th of ObtOber next. All the
Judges were on the bench except Justice
Nelson, who is absent from the city. The
Chief Justice retired at about 2 o'clock.
None of the opinions were announced by
him. At three Justice Clifford read a
brief paper in the legal tender cases Of
Knox VS. See and Parker VS. Davis, as fol-
lows:
SIN these two cases two questions were
heretofore directed to be argued, namely,
first, is the act of Congress known the le-
gal tender act constitutional, as to con-
tracts made before its passage? and, Sec
ond, is it valid as applicable to transac
tiors since its passage? These questions
have been considered by the Court, and
both have been decided in the affirmative.
The decree of the Supreme Judicial Court
of Massachusetts, in the case of Parker
vs. Davis, is therefore affirmed, and the
Judgment in the Circuit Court of the
United States for the Western District of
Texas is also affirmed"
The Chief Justice with the Associate
Justices, Nelson, Clifford and Field, dis
sent from the majority of the Court upon
both propositions and the result, holding
that the act of Congress so far as it is
applicable TO contracts made before its
passage is repugnant to the Constitution
and void, and also that it is repugnant to
the Constitution and void so far as it is
applicable to contracts made since its
passage. The opinion of the Court and
the reasons for dissent will be read before
the close of the adjourned term.
In Dunning vs.. Pears and others, two
cases from the Supreme Court of M;chi-
gan, contracts for delivery of specified
weight of gold sOlVable as coined money,
the court held below that they were dis
charged by the payment of Treasury
notes equivalent in market value to the
value of the money of the stipulated
weight, pure gold. This court reverses
the Judgment holding ii should have
been entered for coined dollars and parts
of dollars, in accordance with the decis-
ion in Bronson VS.. Rhosds, and Butler vs.
Harwitz, Wall, 229 and 25S. Justice
Strong delivered the opinion :
A Gift to Grant from His Brother
OF the BOsphOrUs.
Bsltazzieffercd, Turkish Charge DAT
fairs of this city, received from the Sui
tan to-day q magnificent carpet, manufac-
tured expressly as a gift for this Govern
ment, and designed for the East room of
the White House. In accordance with
his instructions, he has, by letter, in
formed the President, through the SeCre-
tary of State, of the desire of the Sultan
to make the present as a testimonial OF
TIE friendly feelings entertained by the
Sublime Porte iowa the Government and
people of the United States, and has been
officially notified of its acceptance. The
carpet was made at the Imperial Factory
and was an entire year in preparation.
Red and blue are the prevailing colors.
1t weighs l,5OO pounds. Competent
judges say it is worth from 50, 900 to
$4,000. 1t is woven in one piece and
was this afternoon put on the floor of the
east room.
A Mexican Claim.
The United States and Mexican Com
mission to-day allowed $14, 200 in salts
faction of q claim of the heirs of Almon
Diaz to the land and reservation on which
Fort Craig, New Mexico, is situated.
KENTUCKY.