The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-07
WASHINGTON
THE RAILROAD L0BBIES IN CONGRESS.
Tom Scott, Vanderbilt, Gould and a
Mail Service Strike.
~~c~~~~>>>~~~~~~~~>
SMITHS LITTLE GAME.
the Deficiency and Legislative Appropriation
Bills Working through Congress.
THE STEVENS NAVAL COURT MARITAL. |
>~~~~~>~-~>>>~~~O-~--S---
The Senate and House Committees After
the French Arms Sales.
TIE STEVENS NAVAL COURT MARITAL.
The Senate and House Committees After
the French Arms Sales.


half OF the Hobbies which cannot fail, If vigorously
pursued. to have beneficial effect on legislation In
both houses OF Congress. The OCCASION for the
Senator's pointed remarks was Afforded by docu-
ment laid before the Senate by Mr. Morrill, OF Yer
mont, purp0rtng to be a circular from Giles A.
Smith, formerly Assistant Postmaster General, and
well known Jobber and lobbyist. Smith says that
an agreement has been entered into by Thomas A.
Scott, Jay Gould. William II. Vanderbilt and other
railroad men to secure an increase Of nifty
per cent for carrying the mails, and the
persons to whom the circular Is addressed
are invited to join in the movement Smiths great
object seems to been to obtain retainer from
unsuspecting railroad companies for lobbying q
measure Of rhis kind through Congress. The docu-
ment was laid on the table, Mr. Morrill, saying he
was satisfied IN calling the attention of the Senate
to IT. but Mr. Wilson desired that It should 20 to tho
Judiciary Committee, so that whatever could be
done to lessen the evil OF lobbying shysters might be-
done. That this course should have been adopted
there Is Just now the best evidence in the House,.
MIR. Thomas A. Scott, who Is one OF the per-
sons named by Smith as combining 10 ad-
vance the rates or carrying the mails Is
charged by the friends of the Bayfield,
ana st. Crolx land steal with opposing their inter-
ests in the interest of the Northern Pacific Railroad
and mis- corporation Is operating through It's lobby
OF congressman and ex.C0ngressmen to appropriate
the Island OF Yerba Buena In San Francisco harbOr.
This Job came up again In the House this morn
ing. but the chances for the passage Of the bill are
being rapidly disspated. Mr. Strong. OF Connect-
cut, damaged Its prospects materially to-day by
showing the financial condition Of the road and the
aid which has been already extended to iu by the
government in subsidies and land grants. At the
close Of the morning hour unanimous consent was
given 10 print In the Globe q number Of proposed
amendments, not to be considered pending and the
time for debate extended an hour.
The ubIe-Barrelled French Arms Inquiry.
The Senate Select Committee ON the Sale OF Arms
organized to-day, and Will tomorrow proceed to
the examination OF Secretary Belknap and General
Dyer, Chief OF Ordnance. Remington and others
viii be examined. The committee express their
determination to make full and thorough lnvesti-
CATION.
Secretary Boutwell, appeared to-day before the
House Committee on Expenditures In the War De-
partment. and testified TO the amounts received
into the Treasury for the fiscal year ending June
80, 1871. from the sales Of arms ana ordnance
stores. He gave the amount OF IS, $780, 93 10. The
| difference between that sum and the amount re-
turned by the Chief OF Ordnance as having been re-
ceved from those sales 49, 3eO.O73 72 he accounted
for by explaining that the balance not carried
into the Treasury during the last fiscal year. but
was paid since then, even in excess Of the sum
returned; but 1t would be necessary to anayze the
various accounts carefully to trace up the figures.
and to separate the sums paid in account OF sales
In the last fiscal year from those paid in ON account
OF subsequent sales.
ssTomv Scott Denies the Imputntion.
Thomas A. scott, having been informed by tele.
graph that document had been read in the Senate
to-day signed by Giles A. Smith, stating an agree
ment had been entered into by leading railroad
officials, including Scott and others, to secure an
increase OF compensation for carrying mails with
out reference to existing contracts &C., telegraphed
to senator Cameron that no such use of his name
was ever authorized. He heard OF It in
washington In January last and called upon
General Smith for an explanation. wnen ne assured
Scott that no such application had been Or would
be presented to either house Of Congress.
Convict the Corruptionists.
1t was recently stated that number Of cases pre-
pared by Department Of Justice against several
ex.members Of Congress and government oficias
for receiving money for prosecuting claims against
the government while they were In ofice, had been
dropped, the statute Of limitations barring them A
number of similar cases are, however, within the
statute and the money having been paid outside OF
the District, the information has been sent to the
District Attorneys the several States where the
onences were alleged to have been committed with
instructions to bring the parties to trial.
The stevens Naval Court Martial.
trial of Captain Thomas II. Stevens for neglect OF
| duty while In command OF the Guerrero, is now
before the Secretary OF the Navy for examination.
II IL understood that the Court has sentenced him
10 be dismissed the service. q sentence which the
| President will approve.
| A SON of General MeaRher for West Point.
| Colonel william r. Roberts, OF the Fifth district
| of New York. has rendered cadetship to the only
| son OF the late General Thomas Francis Meagher,
| and the young man has arrived in New York to
enter the Military Academy ar West Point. He pre-
yiously declined the nomination, but accepts II from
Colonel Roberts, this being the desire Of many OF his
fathers friends.
Troops to Catch the Ku Klux.
General X. W. Healy, United States Marshal at
Montgomery, Ala has applied to Attorney General
Williams for troops to aid HIM In arresting parties
indicted at the late term OF the Uuited States Dis
trict Court held at Montgomery. Tor Ku Klux out
RACES, committed In Coosa, Taapoosa. Ciay Ran.
dolph and Russell counties. The Attorney General
recommended to the Secretary OF War that the ne
cessary troops be furnished.
The Southern Claims Commission.
At the session OF the Southern Claims Commission
today a loyal Southerner admitted that he had
voted for the ordinance Of secession but did MOI
consider that disloyal act. The Commission
however, did not agree with him, and prompt,
dismissed the case.
Henry F. Dix, Of Memphis, has been appointed
! Special Commissioner to take testimony, in tn,
| place OF James o. Pierce resigned. The Commits
J sioners VIII shortly submit another report to Con
gress Of cases acted upon by them. When the
House Committee on Claims is next called the
chairman, Mr.. Austin Blair will report bill appro
priating In the name OF each person concerned the
amounts awarded them by the Commission IN It's
| report.
The Naval Academy Cadets and Visitors
| Appointed.
The President has appointed as cadets at large 70
| the Naval Academy George KING, Henry A. John
| 60. n N c.o.arrar waldeusar ID. Rose. Daniel