The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-09-14

Italy.
Friendly Relations Between Italy and
WASHINGTON
The Reform Meeting.

The Reform Meeting.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 3.--The Chronicle to-
day, commenting on the pnblic Getting held
last night uader the auspices of the Woman's
ReiormatOry CLUB to consider what shall be
done concerning social evil aud its victims
says:-"The wealth and responsibility OF the
town sat side by side with women under the
ban OF society for the first time probably since
their relapse from honor. Those unfortunate
ones were able to recognize facts of trne SYM
pathy, pure friendship and Christian love-
The Patriot says:-"Al classes aud condi-
lions of life were represented. Occupying
prominent positions on the front seats were
several keepers OF well known bagnos who
had marshaled their girls and marched them
out to attend the meeting. These were ee-
ganty attired Near them sat ladies' who, uu-
der other circumstd noes, would have felt con-
tamuated' The soiled doves who were not
known TO the police but who were recognized
as mistresses of gay young men and old men
too, occupied seats near the pure and virtu-
ous."
Ku Klux Committee.
Senator Pool, of North Carolina, and Repre-
sentatves Buckley and Beck constituting a
sub committee of Ku Klux investigating com
mittee, met here to-day to examine mass of
testimony furnished by the executive officers
OF the Southern States concerning their
finances taxation, &C., in order 10 report to the
tail CON nlttee OF twenty one, which will meet
here on the Goth inst. Several Governors have
failed to furnish the information requested and
the report upon the matter indicated will prob
ably be Incomplete.
DecisiOn Relative 10 Iusoivsnt Banks
The Attorney General has decided that the
Government has no right Of priority OF pay
ment against private creditors of insolvent
national banks ior moneys which the bank
holds te the credit of the United States Treas
urer and United States disbursing officers and
Registry of the Court or either of them, over
and above the amount realized from the bonds
..ntA to NY otf. alH IL
cided, in connection with this question. that
the Comptroller of Currency has no authority
under the law to declare dividends to private
creditors of national bank before the claims
of all kinds OF the United States are first sat-
sfied.
Defauliiug Paymaster.
Major John Hodge, Deputy Paymaster in
| the army, is defaule r to The government to the
| amount of $500 600 or 100000. A year ago
| the detectives discovered his affairs 10 loose
| condition, his accounts being behind, etc, ard
| investigation was ordered, but for some reas on
| not known never took place.
| Thursday last, Paymaster General discovered
| as he thought an erroneous charge in the re-
| turns of Major Hodge, and by letter requested
| him to explain it. He still could not believe
| his deputy dishonest but expected that he
| would be able to make satisfactory expidna-
| ton. This he faled>to do aud General Brice
| then iptimated his suspicious and peremp tori-
| ly ordered him to close his accounts BY Monday
| ter from Hodge containing "a full confession of
his guilt, and stating he had been making
fraudulent returns aud statements since 1866,
and the money thus obtained has been spent
10 gold and stock gambling in New York He
mentioned in his letter the name of one firm
| which knew that the money he sent for invest
meDt belonged 10 the government, and con-
cluded by stating that he was ready to turn
over al! his property both personal aud real
amounting to something like $4,000, to any
| agent OF the Government autlnOrlZpQ TO
ceve such assignment.
| Gen. Brice, on Monday, placed defaulting
paymaster under close arrest, and yesterday
order for his confinement ia Fort Henry. The
accused, who is about 36 years OF age, is ma
tive of Philadelphia, and inherited most of his
property from his uncle. He will be tried by
| court martial, which will doubtless impose al
penalty imprisonment and dismissal from
service. He was breveted 1t Colonel He
lived in extravagant style on salary of about
$1,000 year. Detectives both here and in
New York to day were seyerally epdeavoring
| on inquiry at banks aud elsewhere to discover
further information. 1t is suspected other par
| Ties are involved in the defalcations. Hodge
| was sent to Baltimore in charge of niteC
States officers who are directed by the Gener
| al of the Armv to turn him over to command
ant of Fort McHenry, with directions 10 place
him in solitary confinement with sentinel L
| guard his CELL
| Accused has heretofore enjoyed au excellent
reputation, and the Paymaster Generals offic
was egarded as not oug thoro ughiy homes
but an accomplished scholar