Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-04-04
TO the Associated Press !


Representative Wheeler of New York intro
duced, in the house of representatives TODAY,
and had referred to the committee on elections
bill to promote purity Of elections in the terri
tory of Utah. 1t provides that none but male
citizens of the United States shall vote or offer
to vote more than once for the same candidate
at any elections or if any inspector or clerk of
election shall place any number or other mark
on any ballot cast at any election, he NAV be
lined $500 and imprisoned one year Ii author
ICES the governor to fix the election districts and
polling places, and appoint one of the inspect
ors OF elections. 10 requires the governor to
appoint three registers in each election district.
who shall make list of all voters who produce
satisfactory proof thirty days prior to each an
nua election, and none others shall vote during
the ensuing year unless they become voters there
after. Any person fraudulenty causing a name
to be registered, shall be punished the same as
for fraudulent voting.
THE CUSTOM HOUSE INVESTIGATION.
colonel George A. Gourand, formerly assistant
appraiser of the New York custom house, was
before the senate committee for investigating al
legged abuses in the New York custom honse TO.
day, and made a statement in regard TO the
seizure of NaylOr & Co.'s books fov under vaIua-
ton of rails and steel fish plates
PROFESSOR MORSE s DEATH.
Tonight a preliminary meeting was held I'M
der the auspices of the Morse Memorial Tee-
graph Association, of Washington, to take suit-
able action in regard TO the death of Professor
Morse. IL is understood that there will be a
general demonstration of the citizens in the
house of representatives at an early day, A
committee was appointed to prepare business
Tor an adjourned meeting tomorrow evening.
THE NAVAL INVESTIGATION.
The naval investigating committee met this
evening. Admiral Porter was sworn, and testi-
lied that since the present incumbancy of the
secretary of the navy, he had held an advisory
position in the navy department August 9Th
SInnn6 fbn t.g
a board to examine the Secor claims. He CON
ferred with the secretary after the appointment
OF the board concerning the money on hand at
the time. The secretary said he had right by
law TO adjust the claims at that time. Witness
had the impression that the Secor claims had
been settled.
Admiral Porter, in reply to a question by
Archer, said that Lenthall informed him that
he thought the claims for extra work were con-
traiy to law
In reply to question by Mr. Blair, witness
said Lenthall had informed him that he had
read an order to pay the Secor claims, and
thought that for the purpose of doing so they
would have to reduce work on some of the YES
sells, as the money would have to come out of
the general appropriation. Witness mentioned
tins to the secretary, who said, VERY well, III
look into it, meaning that he would not settle
the bills until he had examined INTO the matter
Abram Hewitt testified that he was a manu-
facturer of iron in New jersey and Pennsyva-
examined the iron for torpedo boats. The tests
were not at all favorable, The iron which would
have withstoOd the required tests could have
been bought for SS7 ,4S1 while the contract
price was $780, 45.
Secretary Robson examined the witness at
length, concerning the best grades of iron, etc
William II. Shook, chief engineer of the navy
testified that he was acting chief of the bureau
of steam engineering last year. The papers
about the Secor claims were sent to his bureau
no fla nd hn Al.
error they were sent back without official action
by the bureau.
To Mr.. Observation-Disclosures for engines are not
always accompanied with specifications. Navy
yards are superior in many respects to private
establishments for manufacturing machinery
They are inferior in no respect.
Mr.. Bartlett put in as evidence the contract
with Roach for the Tenuessee's machinery.
Witness said 100000 and the old machinery
were paid Roach for the new machinery. The
Old material was worth about $4,000. Witness
thought the price of the new engines was rea-
sOnable.
Mr.. Robson here said that he considered the
Secor claims Just and equitable, and that the
department was bound to pay them unless de-
barred by the restrictions of some law and
it was his opinion, as lawyer and as admins
trative officer, that there was no law which de-
barred these claims. Those who thought there
was were either not informed of the circum-
stances, or misunderstood the effect of the law.
Inc committee ADJOURNED.
IN COMMITTEE.
Mr.. Francis l. King of Boston was before thn
committee on public buildings and grounds this
morning, and testified TO having rendered TO Mir
Mullett the use of his patent stone dressing ma
chine for use upon the Boston post office, and
the failure of Mr. Mullett to accept his proposal.
although favorable report was made by Mr.
Bryant upon certain experimental trials Of the
machine.
The civil service committee was to have had A
meeting this morning, but again failed to get a
quorum. The only members present were
Messrs. Hooper and Willard, who seem to be
the only ones who take any interest in the reor-
9anizaton of the service The apathy of the
other members makes it extremely doubtful
whether anything will be done this session.
The subcommittee to inquire into the opera
tons OF the Southern improvement company
and the transportation of petroleum, had
another session this morning. The nyestiga-
lion so far has only ELECTED the fact that both the
Improvement company and the oil producers
made the best arrangement they could for their
own benefit and advantage, and no regard was
paid to the advantages of the public generally.
In the language of member OF the committee,
Doth the improvement company and the oil
rehners acted upon the principle of "heads, |
wln-tails, you lose"
Representatives of the Massachusetts wooden
interests will have another hearing before the
ways ana means committee tomorrow. They
ASK that raw wool may be admitted duty free
The japanese ambassador, with the principal
men OF ms suite, paid visit to day TO the signal
service bureau, where they witnessed the re-
ceipt OF the weather reports and the manner in
which they are calculated and transmitted all
over the country. They were very minute in
their investigations, and were especially interest
ed ~ the display Of steam Signals
Inc contract for reporting and publishing the
debates and proceedings Of the present congress.
as recently authorized by law was signed to.
day.
a hlNoculAh GLASS FROM THE QUEEN.
The secretary of state has received from sir
Edward Thornton binocular glass presented
by the queen TO Capt. David p. Berry OF The
American ship Amelia, in recognition of hls
services to the crew Of the British bark Danish
Princess, OF Newcastle, on the 9th Of Decem.