New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-02-04
WASHINGTON.

morning by the House Committee Military Affairs
Gen. Butler and Gen. Farnsworth present and
Thos TuBb OF Hampton, Va, C. A. Raymond OF the
place. and Mr. HLdreth Of Lowell, Mass "a brothernlaw
of Gen Buer) were examined witnesses relative TO
the purchase OF property at Hampton for tho Asy
lum which IS now occupied the Southern Branch OF
the institution. The property consists OF 100 u
land large fourstory brick building built for college.
and dwelllng-hous II was formerly owned b. ths
Cbesapeake College, q corporate institution, and
taken by the Government and used "a hospital during
the war It appears that Gen. Butler purchased an in
terest in the property In 1864, and, IN 1859, he
ACQUIRED the remaining interest by paying
the debts OF the College, and balance
TO the owners The cost 10 him Is stated 10 nave been
about SIS apart from attorneys fees ana insurance
subsequently Butler turned over the property "a
Mr. Bidreth security for money loaned, giving an
absolute deed and In 1870 Mr. Hldreth cold 10 ths
managers of the Asylum for $4,000 made decd W them
and received the money. After hearing this evidence
the question Of continuing the Investigation was oS
cussed by the subcommittee. Cen Farnsworth re-
duested that the private bank account Of Gen Butter
should be ordered produced and his business agent
at Lowell subpenaed This the Subcommittee secined
to order, the ground that there no eydetce &c
warrant them in investigating the private business
affairs OF Gen. Butler, and that he had accounted oJ
satisfactory vouchers for all the moneys received BY
him az treasurer Of the Asylum. The Sub-Commlttee
then decided close the investigation the statement
Of Cen FarnswOrh that he had other witnesses I"
produce and did not desire to continue the inquiry I'M
less the private accounts Of Gen. Butler could be exam
ined report win be made TO the fun Committee on
Monday next and 10 Is believed that will exOnerah
the Board Of Managers from the charge OF improper
transactions in the investment Of the funds OF the
Asylun and that 1t viii commend the general manage
ment of the Institution as faithful and efficient
There has been considerable dissatisfaction manifested
I'm the Committee, and among members, at the use 10
which the ladies who here advocating the "oman5
Suffrage question, have been putting the room OF 'ho
Committee on Educ alton and Labor. Mr.. Arnen gave
the use of the room purpose Of enabling the ladies
TO meet members Of Congress and Others, oeior'
whom they desired 70 lay their alleged grew
anees. The privilege was granted u save 'ha
ladies' and the members both from the annoy
ance Of receiving and being received IN puDDc
reception rooms but the ladies acted as II the room
WAS placed at their entire disposal held meetings In
from which members and other gentlemen were ex
cluded and used 1t for mailing documents ana carrying
on their business correspondence The committee ths
morning decided to restrict the ladies' to the use IN
tended when the granted Them ConslderaDio
amusement has resulted from this. The new leader MIS-
woodruff is understood to have opposed all proceedings
bu those which she termed direct and buslnesslke
The Senate to-day agreed to the request of the House
for Committee Conference the bill to abolish the
offices Of Admiral and Vce-Admral. The senate Com
mittee are MHassrs Cragn, Wilson and stockton ~hoare
not kelv 70 agree to the House bill proper and conse-
promise Tie adverse report Of the Military Com''e'
on the House bill OF last session. procaimng the 3ts
day Of May I'm each year national holiday, made by
Mr Mayer who expressed his dissent from the conclu
sons of majority Of the Committee and his intention
to presently call up the bill Some debate occurred on
bill authorizing the building of bridge over the Mis-
souri, River at Omaha by the Omaha branch OF the Union
Pacific Railroad and IL was cOntended that the bill
thorized the company to execute a mortgase OF all
its property the effect Of which would be to render
worthless the lien of the United States for advances
made. Objection made TO the passage OF the Dill
until this contingency obviated. Mr. Williams ap
peaed TO the give him test vote on his propo-
son for Special Committee on Ocean Gables, but Mr..
Sumner used up all the time until the expiration OF tha
morning hOur TO prevent It, The NeW-Orleans ana Mex
lean Steamship Subsidy bill laid aside to take the
Pension bill for the soldiers of 1912. number OF tho
Senators who voted to proceed with the Pension bin
said that they to be understood opposing tbs
Subsidy bill. The Pension bill was debated during tbs
whole Of the afternoon, and number Of amendments.
charging very materially the scope Of the BILL were put
on Tomorrow aside for the bill 10 codfy the
Postal laws which will several hours in tho
reading.
The House devoted the morning hour to the considers
ton of private bills and Immediately after went into
Committee of the Whole on the Naval Appropriation
BILL This business, though important in ITSELF was for
the most part dull and Improbable to lookerson A
little stir made by the fight over the Nayyfards a.
nearly every Atlantic State, which has not now one OF
these institutions wants very badly while those
that have not satisfied but desire to have them
sold enlarged, removed, or in some way altered Mr.
Dawes showed the absurdty of most OF these schemes
to-day m ve-minute speech. He said that the dghs
was old one and that heretofore 1t had not been very
serious the advocates Of the several projects having
been set against each other, gave some Of them
chance OF success Now however, there seemed
to be danger that they 10 unite their
forces, as Mr.. Starkweather Of Connecticut had
announced that all the propositions were Moving Id
harmony Here was the delegation from Phia-
delphia wanting 100000 for League Island; ono
friend from New-York desired to convert the Brook
Ign Yard cash. another TO remove it 10 some other
part of Long Island. and Mr.. Starkweather desired
to at NewLondOn; then was proposed TO con-
solidate the Charlestown and Portsmouth Yards, W
abolish the first altogether or remove IL TO Portland OF
Mount Desert In short the only end OF these PROPOSE
lions which he the bottom OF the Treasury.
The Representatives of the various localities Of had
to reply; and finally all OF the amendments we're with
drawn and the business proceeded Later IN the aiter
noon there was dispute between Mr.. stevens and Mr.
Maynard the latter calling the former to account for some
criticisms he had made the administration OF tho
navy. Mr. stevens repeated his assertions, and e1
claimed that che had other relative IN tho
navy and was not therefore, Influenced by any personal
motives 1t was because he not in favor OF making
more Admirals, and Commodore for every day III
the year. that Mr.. Maynard and other gentlemen "ero
displeased" Mr. Maynard retorted that ne ad SOD IN
the navy and was proud to that in the countrys
mad having only two sons able 20 her he gave
ON, 10 the army and one the Without reaching
the end ~ the bill the Committee and the HOUSE
adjourned.
Postmaster-Genera Cresweh ana MT orooe OF 'h'
Arm Of Dempsey & OToole were before thf Appropna-
ton Committee for short tme to-day, with regard 10
the contract for envelopes originally awarded to tho
washington firm, and nuhihed by Mr.. Creswe for their
alleged inability TO execute tie same The contractors