Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-06-11

and Ambrose Iisdale, county commissioners,
for official misconduct in making contracts
with themselves and drawing drafts in favor
of themselves, based on such contracts. They
also present Phillip Heller, County Treasurer,
for paying out county funds without sufficient
orders, aud w. w. Ward, the Sheriff of the
county, for fraud and corruption in office, to
wit: For perjury and for offering bribes to
"certain executive and judicial officers with
intent to influence their acts and decisions IN
the discharge of their official duties"
EDITORIAL INKLINGS.
The New Secretary Of the Treasury.
- General Bristow was sworn into office
as Secretary of the Treasury on Thursday
last, the oath of office being administered to
him by Chief Justice Cartier of the Supreme
Court of the District Of Columbia. Soon az
ter, Secretary Bristow went to the Treasury
and entered upon the discharge of his official
duties.
Secretary Bristow is native of Kentucky,
and when nominated for the position was re-
siding in Louisville, where he began the
practice of the law at the close of the war,
having previously been resident of Hopkins
Vile. Soon after his removal to Louisville
he was appointed district attorney for Ken.
lucky. A few years ago the President called
him to Washington to fill the position of So
licitor General. He was the first incumbent
of this office, which was created by the law
under which the Attorney Generals office
was reorganized as the Department of JUS
tice. Towards the close of 1872 he resigned
his office, for the purpose of accepting very
lucrative position connected with the South
ern Pacific railroad, which he yet holds. The
duties of this position required him to pass
much of his time in Washington. The Pres
ident had been reluctant to accept his resigna-
ton, and on December 3, 1873, sent his
name to the Senate for the position of Attor-
ney General, at the same time that Attorney
Genera! Williams was nominated for the chief
justiceship. When it became necessary to
withdraw the latter nomination, because Of
the opposition to its confirmation, MIR. Bris-
tows name was also, on January 9th last,
withdrawn. Mr.. Brstow is regarded as a
man of ability and integrity. The nomina-
ton of General Bristow is generally regarded
as the best cabinet appointment yet made by
President Grant.
The Army Reduction Bill.
- The bill for reducing the army, which
passed the House last week, makes reduc-
ton in the army of five regiments of infantry,
one of cavalry, and one of artillery. The
number of men is fixed at $4,000. Officers
may resign with years pay. A board is
provided to weed out incompetent and inef6-
cient officers. The grade Of regimental adju-
tant, quartermaster, and company WAGNER
are abolished. One major is abolished in each
regiment Of cavalry and artillery. The aids
of General Of the Army reduced from 6 to 3;
Adjutant Generals Department reduced from
16 to permanent officers, with 8 detailed
officers. Inspector Generals Department,
reduced from to 5, with privilege Of de-
tailed officers. Bureau Of Military Justice,
reduced from 8 to 5. Quartermasters Office,
from 81 to 40, with detail of 10 men addi-
tional. Subsistence Department, from 25 to
II, with detail Of additional. Medical De-
partment, increased in regular officers from
155 to 209. Contract surgeons, diminished
from 173 to rs. Pay Department, reduced
from At to "a. Ordnance Department is re-
duced from 81 to 43, with 16 additional de-
tailed officers. Provision is made for paying
the army by drafts on the Treasurer. The
of War can use his discretion to Or
der payments in currency, as heretofore, when
ever it works hardship. Officers are to be
selected for details on stats by board to
subject appointments to a competitive ex-
animation. They are to serve on the staff,
when detailed, four years, with an additional
four years in any other branch of staff, if
detailed.
The officers who have been detailed to do
duty as professors in colleges are hereafter
to be permitted to do that duty as upon
leave of ABSENCE As vacancies occur no
appointment shall be made until the num-
ber is reduced to the regular number, and
after that the promotions are to 60 on as va
cancies shall occur. The principal opposi-
tion to the bill was to that part of it which
provided for payments by draft; the reason
given was, that soldiers would be shaved in
disposing of the drafts. The reason for put.
ting this provision in was founded upon ex-
perience of payment made to the Pension
Office, by which sixty pension agents pay
23S,00O pensioners four times year, at an
expense to the Government of S470, 900,
while it takes forty.six paymasters to pay
10000 troops six times a year, assisted by as
many clerks, at an expense ofs35O,O 900. The
payment of pensioners costing less than 81
q head; the payment of soldiers and officers
cost over $12 head. The bill, US reported
by the committee, was passed without u single
amendment.
The Flood In the Southwest.
- Hon. Henry G. Crowell, of Boston,
who recently visited New Orleans as a COM
missioner for the purpose of astertaining what
use was being made Of the fund contributed
BY the citizens of Boston, and what further
assistance, if any, was necessary to alleviate
The necessities Of the sufferers, has returned
home and made report of his observations.
After describing in terms of high praise the
method adopted for the distribution of the
funds, Mr. Crowell says:
The inundatiou, calamity in extent and
ruinous Consequences one Of the greatest that