The New York herald., 1872-11-26

upon the pOelt10n they now hOlu, anu cahhot oo-
ject 70 . Reorganization Independent Of political
opposition.
The President Pardens Paymasser
Hodge-The Reason for and Circum-
stances Attending the Pardon.
The expected pardon OF Paymaster John L. Hodge
Jrom the unexecuteA part OF his sentence was
granted by the President to-day and the order for
his release sent to the Warden OF the Albany Peni
tentary by telegraph. The original sentence con-
demned him to be cashiered, to suffer ten
years. Imprisonment at hard labor, and to
be kept in PRISON till he refunded the sum
embezzled-nearly four hundred and nifty
thousand dollars-but the President remitted the
latter provision He has served ont about thirteen
months OF his term or confinement. Under the
rulings OF the law Offcers Major Hodge e, by his
sentence, forever ineligible to appointment to any
place OF honor or trust under the United States.
II was on Saturday that President Grant satlsfed
himself that the Department or Justice could not
take preliminary measures for the pardon OF
Major Hodge, as this was u matter exclusively
pertaining TO the War Department Hodge having
been convicted OF the cmbezzlement OF $45O,OOO by
general court martial, and sentenced
to ten years confinement in the Penitentiary.
The President accordingly had a conference
with Secretary Belknap and other gentlemen in
high Official position upon the subject. The Presi-
dent was, it is understood, moved to this act OF
clemency by the belier that Major Hodge was drawn
into the defalcation by the intrigues OF Others
rather than by any prcmedilated intention OF his
own to defraud the government. His frank
acknowledgment OF the crime and his voluntarily
making all rcparatl0n in his power by surrender
ing his private property and in which his wife in
sisted upon joining him with her own individual
property, excited for him and his family the
sympathy not only Of officers OF the army but OF
many others in prominent public and social posi-
tons, who were acquainted with all the facts OF
the case. His conduct at the trial in declining to
take any technical advantage, and also his dep0rt-
mcnt since mis- confinement, have somewhat con-
tributcd to his liberation His wife, who Is in very
delicate health, and their children made earnest
appeals to the President, which were not among
the least OF the efforts in his behalf and which
strengthened the Presinent in his disposi-
tion to extend the pardonlng power. Be-
sides II was considered that Hodge, whO pre-
vious to the embezzlement, had borne high char
acter for honesty among his brother officers, and
was respected among them for his social qualities
had already been severely punished by the stigma
attached to him by the sentence as much as If he
had served out the entire term OF ten years I'M
prsonment.
The following order was issued this afternOon:-
GENERAL COURT MARfIAL-ORDER NO. SO.
WAR DEPARTMENT, J
ADJuTANY GENERALS OFFICE,
WASHINGTON, Nov. rs, 1872. }
The President Of the United States directs that
.e ,h remainder & Si the sentence TO confinement IN
United States Army published III General Court
Martial Order No. 2l OF October Q, 1871 be and It is
hereby remitteg He win be released from con-
BY 5rdef o. the secretary Of War,
E. d. TOWNSEND, Adjutant General.
1t is understood that the pardon Of John Ledyard
Hodge, late major and paymaster in the army is
for the purpose Of securing his testimony on the
prosecution Of Polehamus ana Jackson, the New
York brokers' through whom the $45O, 900 charged
against him was expended
Diplomatic and Legal WOr,I-NIcn at the
White House-A Keen Hunt for Geneva
Sp0iis i'm Prospect.
The agent and counsel OF the United States be-
fore the Geneva Tribunal, accompanied by Secre-
tary Fish, called upon the President to-day to pre-
sent their views as to the recommendations in the
Presidents Message which should preccde the in
PRODUCTION OF a bill In Congress for the appoint
ment OF a commission to take testimony and deter
mine the manner In which the award OF the tiibu-
nal should be made. TIE lobby has de.
veloped itself sufficiently TO show that
the United States representatives at &C.
neva are regarded as desirable attorneys,
and they are now offered large retaners to prose-
been approached, but declines to accept, as he
would be compelled to resign his Ofice. Several
prominent members OF Congress elect are also
deprived Of prosecuting claims under the award,
as it Is held that the amount has been assumed by
the United States and Congressional legislation
prohibits them from appearing in claims when the
claim Is against the government.
San Juan's Hasty Evacuation.
The evacuation OF San Juan Island by the seventy
or eighty British soldiers was ordered two weeks
ago, and was OF SO little Importance that the War
Department did not deem it OF sufficient impor-
tance to telegraph to General Schofeld on the sub
ject. The treaty provided that from the date OF
the decision 1t should become operative,
and had the British Foreign ONCE shown
an unreasonable delay in removing the re-
presentatives Of British force from the island it
was the intention Of our government to present a
diplomatic protest more emphatic than any charac-
terizing the Geneva muddlc. The only parties
Immediately interested in the withdrawal OF the
British soldiers are the American officers and
troops, for between the two forces there has been
the most cordial relations during the joint occu-
pancy Of the island. In official circles here there is
no praise for the act OF the British government in
view OF what was done with British cotton bond
claims year or more ago.
The Secretary OF the Navy on the Inef.
ffciency or Our Present War Vessels
The Excessive Cost Of Repairs and the
Necessity OF New and Improved
Steamers.
Important recommendations concerning the
efficiency OF the navy will be made In the forthcom-
ing report OF Secretary Robson predcated in part
upon the reports OF the chiefs Of bureaus Of that
department. 1t has been found that more money
has often been spent in the repair Of old vessels as
COn0reaa in he
construction Of new ones OF greater strength and Of
improved model and appurtenances As an in
stance OF this, the Pensacola cost $685. 900 and the
repairs more than twice as much-namely, $7eo, ooo
AS to other vessels or the navy, including the
Guerriere Nevada, Iowa and Vanderbilt to put
them into thoroughly good condition would require
an amount OF money far exceeding their original
cost Their tmbsrs are much decayed, the ships
having been built OF unsound while oak The ne.