The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-04-10
WASHINGTON.
CHAMBRUN'S INVESTIGATION.
Maine River and HarbOr ApprO-
priatiOnS.
Mr.. Dana's Abandoned Inquiry.


WASHINGTON, April 9.-The State Depart
ment has received advices from Odel, Charge
d Affaires of the United States at Madrid, to
the effect that the case of DR.. Howard has been
presented to the Spanish Government which
has called for Geographic reports from Cuba on
which action may be taken. DIR. Howard
meanwhile will remain at Cadiz, and orders
have been given for good treatment.
Maine River and Harbor improvements.
Among the appropriations in the river and
harbor bill are the following: -Pcnobscot river,
$4,000; Kennebec, $4,000; Portland harbor and
Back Bay, $45, 900; Saco river, $4,000; Wells
harbor, $1,000; at Richmond Island, $25, 900.
The total amount of appropriations for that
purpose is $4,998,00
The Arms Investigation.
The Senate Arms Committee resumed their
session this forenoon. DIR. b. Trimble testified
that he knew but little about the branch of
business attended to by his partner, Poullenay.
Gen. Frederick Dent testified that he has
stock i'll the Remington Arms Company Knew
only one other officer of the army who owns
similar stock, and he is in Texas. Never said
he wanted to dispose of Remington stock, and
knows nobody who holds that stock. The Rem
iRgton Company do not manufacture arms, not
having means enough to build factory. Never
realized a cent from the stock, and it was worth
nothing
Capt. Patterson testified to having accom-
panied Gen. ingalls, in calling on the French
Minister, when Ingalls, asked the minister if he
could not do something for Garrison as it was a
hard case for Garrison. ingalls, did not make
any threat or boast to the French Minister that
he had power with our Government
MIR. Peck testified that woman named Mrs
Mason told him that she could get arms, but
did not state from what source. Mrs. Mason
made him believe she could procure arms, but
deceived him, promising to obtain some $50, 600
stand OF arms and entirely failed. Witness
burned all his papers two months ago and could
not produce letter from some person in the
Ordnance Department who wrote to Mrs
Mason, in care of the witness, that she could
have the arms. Witness said his impression
was that Mrs. Mason informed him that she
visited the Ordnance Bureau and said to the
officers, 'YOu will sell arms to ladies as well as
to other persons?' and the reply was, YES"
but She did not mention the names of the
officers She did not show him any paper from
an Ordnance officer nor did witness believe she
received any assurance, verbal or otherwise,
Charge d Affaires of France and Chambrun
raised all this muss to create sympathy for M.
Place. Chambrun told him he did not believe
Place was guilty. Chambrun said to him re-
Gently that if he and witness had met long
time ago in New York and talked over this
matter this investigation would not have hap
pened. The Marquis said:-''There is no rea-
son Tor your being on one side and on the
other; we should not be inimical." To which
Beck replied that he would be as easy with
under oath. The Marquis, referring to business
in France, said he was sick of the thing. Sem
ator Ames, having asked what interest Cham
brun had in the investigation, witness replied,
in behalf of Victor Place, whose case has been
appealed Witness stated that he went to the
Ordnance Bureau recently and saw Col Benet
and several other officers to inquire about Mrs
Mason and learned from Benet that he saw her
once, when she enquired if they did not sell
arms to ladies as well as to gentlemen.
Bonded Warehouses.
The Ways and Means Committee to-day dis
it is understood the feeling of the committee
was in favor of abOlishing all bond
ed warehouses except those for export.
The Navy Investigation.
The Naval Investigating Committee was in
session this evening. ID. NObbitt, cabinet
maker of Philadelphia, testified to supplying
the navy with goods but the Cattells had no in
terest, directly or indirectly, with the business
neither did any naval officers.
Ex-senator Cattell testified that he was not
interested with Nobbitt or any of his family
Never bought bricks to send to California, nor
for any other purpose for the navy. Had no
interest in the iron for torpedo boats Had no
interest in John Archer's business, and have
known him only two months. None of the
Cattells had any interest in ROach's business
Never entered into any scheme for building
iron ships. The first he knew of it he saw in
the New York Sun. Was happy to say he had
been twelve years friend of Secretary Robe
son. Had no connection, directly or indirectly,
with the Navy Department or any of its branch
es Never bought for the navy.
A. Boyd, plate iron manufacturer testified
that be was connected with the firm of PEN
for iron for torpedo boats at ten cents per
pound, all round, for the best charcoal iron,
would not now duplicate the order Neither of
the Cattelps or any naval officer were interest
ed in these contracts; never gave money nor
valuable things to anybody connected with the
navy.
Decision Of the Supreme Court.
In the Supreme Court to-day the following
decision was rendered: The 1st National Bank
of Bethel VS.. National Poliqusque Bank error
to Supreme Court of Connecticut. The defend
ant in error sued to recover $4,000 which it
had presented to the receiver in possession of
the plaintiff in errors bank, and which had
been allowed by him. The action was at COM
mon law, and the process was served upon the
receiver as representative of the bank, and
the question was whether the concurring act
controlled the case and the decision Of the
Comptroller of the Currency through the re-
beiver appointed by him, was final determin-
alton Of the case in such sense that this ac-
ton could not be maintained. 1t was held be-
low that 1T was not, and that that decision is
here affirmed, the plaintiff below being allowed
to recover notwithstanding the exemption clause
in the currency act Justice Clifford delivered
his opinion.
Nominations.
The President to-day sent to the Senate the
following nominations: G. w. Legendre, Min
lister Resident at the Argentine Republic; Al
yah Smith, Pension Agent at Concord, N H.;
James II. Ingraham, Surveyor of Customs at
New Orleans; Commodore Joseph N. Green, to
be Rear Admiral; Capt. John G. Howell, to be
Commodore; John L. Broadhead, to be Third
Lieutenant in the revenue marine service