The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-03-01
MAINE.
REPUBLICAN CAUCUS

REPUBLICAN CAUCUS.
LEWISTON, Feb. pa Republican caucus
for the nominations for municipal officers was
held tonight. No choice was made for Mayor
David Cowan had 227; M. T. Ludden 1872 j. L.
ID. Cobb Ia Another trial will be made to-
morrow evening For Judge of Municipal Court
A h. P. Knowlton was nominated.
.g- SENTENCE FOR MURDER
BANGOR, Feb 29.-The February term (crim-
lna) of the Supreme Judicial Court adjourned
to-day after session of twenty days, during
winch time several important cases have been
tried There has been one convicted for murder,
namely, James D. Smith, for the murder of
Thomas S. Josslyn of Charleston and sentence
OF death passed upon him. Among the sem
fences pronounced to-day was that of Edward
Lake for an assault upon policeman, fined
800, and if not paid within ten days, six
months Imprisonment.
..s WASHINGTON.
THE HOUSE INVESTIGATION OF THE SALE OF
ARMS TO FRANCE. -ti-a.s-.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 29.-The House Commit
tee on the Expenditures of the War Depart
ment to-day, commenced an investigation into
the sales of arms The members present are
Williams OF Indiana, Barber, Snyder and Ack-
er, Kinsella is absent I.-ss
A. me-; Belknap, Secretary of War, stated
that from the first of June, 1870 to june, 1871,
the amount realized from the sale of arms was
$9,14S,a42 He further stated that executive
document, No SO of the date of January "a,
lSI2, includes all the principal sales from 1865
10 July, 1871, the names of the parties to whom
sold and the month and the year of the sales,
etc. In the course of further examination as
to the sales to Remington, he said that while he
was in the Post Office Department, Keller, the
Chief of the Ordnance Bureau, came in and
handed him the following despatch:
"IHon, N. Y, Oct. 13.-To w. c. Squires, Ar
lnston House, Washington. Remington tele-
graphs if you have not yet bought for govern
ment you will be able to do so on better
terms BY decree of the government
are liable to be taken as national prop
erty and paid for according to appraisement.
Spectators in arms intended for France will
find profits small: Competition with you has
been forced and fictitious "fr ~
The foregoing is copy of a telegram left at
the Ordnance Office by w. c. Squires, Oct. 49,
1870. Gen. Belknap said he instantly sent word
to Gen, Dyer by Keller that the sales to Rem
ington must be Immediately stopped, as it was
plainly shown that Remington was an agent of
the French government. Gen. Belknap then
went in a carriage to the War Department and
told Dyer that the sales to Remington must
stop. By referring to the executive document
it will be found that the last sale to Remington
was $1,000 Springfield muskets. They were not
delivered until Oct. Both, though purchased be-
toi sn.s 'iille anu oEIole 'ne uensery OF the
over again toDyer that no sales sh9uld be made
to any agent of the French or Prussian govern
ments. No arms were sold to any agent of the
aionSn goseIn IN 70 ms hhowiedge he had
a aa1 s.a.eo the amount aeaiiaed from the
sae 81 90 s .no soo a an was VI TINS
sum %, 4U9, zoo.oo mas oeen deposited In the
nleasuIy az per ceruncates on ME SlZO,0OO
was reP0Ited IN tne nands OF the depositaries
on Inc ooth OF June, 1871, and the balance ex-
pended Tor htting up stores: e8Sa
h III aepV W quesIlon as 10 tne discrepancies
ury Departments, Secretary Belknap said he
was aware of nOne. The close of the fiscal wear
of the War Department was the same as the
Treasury Department., namely, the 3Oth of June
As to the Treasury showing the amount receiv-
ed for arms Gen. Belknap explained in almost
Sas9 was auo CASH cheeks.
are reserved on large Transactions to sacnre the
United States and Checks are car-;ed aS nnic III
as possble and maid in the hands Of tba COW,
eminent agent. IISF~ - So :"
O Secretary ReIknan was askad. 10 vo,, L, ~,
of YOUR own knowledge that anv Government
officers are Interested in the SALE 6f arms d.
rectIv or ntharw;seo WIG '''o u 'iii'' vi
AnswerMT do not verv stroro s+a+on+
or intimation in connect;on w;tb 3Rh;s ,,,at.ns
was made to me nv Maron;s Char, hrr,, Ta,,
Doth. last asked him 10 nayna tba nor oon
and then we went together to NV nrvsta rno,,,
When I again asked him to name sucb nersons
or make q Statement over his S;anatnra nr arr
statement nv which 7 conld cenv;ct Of fra amy
anv Of tbese of;cers or "thar norSnnS oonnn.aJ
with the oovernment Ha ala not DO n $40
Kent a memorandnm of tha sta+an,o w 81 AL
make to me. but II contains NOTHING from wbicb
of the goyernment- : II hegoed him to S;va NC
some specific information Int had no5a 0 1mr
conversation went further but r cot notbing
hearing on the no;nt - - - o. e
uo oi, =. saia ne nau invited senator
have TO ofar bnt ba ,and nt o,'s ne mgn'
In order further to arrange for examinat;onn and
to obtain official statements which the Secre
tary indicated readiness to furnish. being de-
slrious OF the investigation to be through, the
uu.'isse' oJo''inou uii'ii Iuesuay Oh next
"'ol'
- iioN oF THE JAPANESE EMBASSY. IS
~, nc oapii t embassy Ieacnea washington
ICY. IA. sia tloin Da nv shoroiy alGer
denot bH M NJ; y WIZ G e' az tne
flares. Recommended bv Gawarnor o Conie ca
CL;,,,,,,a,, III 1. ~ oo'eIuoi OooAe, Gen;
hv III w. no,s"n.. dmye1s' VINO was uetalIed
enhassr Tie tis W lake c4arge OF tne
om,nassy. Inc lleeslng petween Mori ana ms
salutations, Gov Cooke was introduced and
welcomed the distinguished gentlemen to the
Capital of the United States After which he
introduced Gen. Myers, who, he told them,
would have them in charge and also to Gen.
Chapman. Iwakura replied also very briefly,
returning thanks.for the cordial welcome and
without further ceremony the entire party en-
tered the carriages in waiting and were driven
to their hotel The ladies of the party were
The nanilen,a, of +ba a,,h.spps. legation:
fifty rooms of the Arlington Hotel and two en-
tire buildings on the opposite side of Vermont
avenue di 58E7s5 gr.-z1 i..-i.-.
rr,r Nvw von,, c,rsr,,, ,o,,s,, ,,,,,,,,,,,,.
Inc oenate new YORK custom House Com
mittee VIII RECOMMENDS its sessions Monday
"a y uiio Guy. oeh' 1oIace Iorter Will Do the