The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-06-03
WASHINGTON.
The Rank Note Investigation

WASHINGTON, June 2.-During the consid-
GRAFTON of the currency printing question
to-day before the Committee on Banking
Mr.. Hubbard, of the counsel for the.New York
Bank Note Companies said that the secret
process of printing currency in the government
printing bureau, which the bureau claimed as
preventive against cOunterfeitng, was nothing
more than bath of CASTLE soap and animal
glue, and that persons employed in the bureau
had given the representatives of these cOmpan-
les information that the process was humbue
Assistant Secretary Sawyer said that if those
employees of the government knew the secret
process was humbug and did not SO inform
the proper authority, they should be discharged
for derelction of duty. f. P. Stanton, counsel
for the Columbian Bank Note Company, took
issue with Hubbard. saying that it could be
established beyond doubt that printing with
the proper kind of sizing was not only guard
against counterfeting, but gave the note addi-
tional durability. Mr.. Maynard, chairman of
the committee, thought as persons in the de-
partment voluntarily gave the information re-
ported by the counsel for the Bank Note COM
panes they should have no objection to appear
ing before the committee and make their state
ment. Hubbard, in reply to demand by sew
era members of the committee for the names
of his nformers, said he was not at liberty to
give them, but the committee could summon
witnesses from the bureau to prove whether
the statements were true. Ae further said the
lnformants were not experts. The committee
took no action on the subject and adjourned
till tomorrow.
Gen. Bristow Confirmed Unanimou.I
When the Senate went into executive session
this afternoon, unanimous report was made
from the Committee on Finance recommend
ing the confirmation of Gen. Bristow to be
Secretary of the Treasury in place of Mr..
Richardson, resigned The Senate without
hesitation unanimously confirmed the nomina-
ton.
Not so, however, with regard to the nomina-
ton Of Richardson to be Judge of the Court
OF Claims, which was not reported back unan-
imously from the Com nittee on the Judiciary.
During the forty minutes session, views were
interchanged by the Senators rather in
conversational way than by debate, the Demo-
Gratis openly basing their opposition to the
nominee on the report of the Committee on
Ways and Means, and the accompanying testi-
mony IN the Sanborn case having reference to
him. With this exception no question arose as
to his fitness for the judgeship. But little was
said ON the Republican side, certainly no for
NAL defence of his condnct in the matter of the
Sanborn contracts
Finally when the question was taken on adj
Vlsing ane consentlng to the nomination,
number of Republican Senators in their seats
declined to vote. sufficient number OF them,
however, did so to carry the confirmation by
small majority. If those who opposed the
nomination by failing to respond to their names
mad voted In the negative the nomination
would have been negatved. The Senate had
Deen canvaSSed by Senatorial friend OF Rlcn-
ardson's, week before his nomination, when
when it appeared the confirmation could be Sc
cured, though by small majority. Massa-
chusetts has now two judges on the bench of
the Court of Claims, Loring and Richardson.
Confirm atiOns.
The Senate to day confirmed Peter Negley as
Assistant Treasurer at Baltimore, James b.
Mexican Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
for Utah, and VIM. Cooper Howels of Ohio as
Consul at Quebec.
The Moiety System.
The Senate finance committee to-day agreed
to report a number of amendments to the bill
recently reported by them providing for the re-
peal OF the mOiety system, &c These amend
ments which have been mostly suggested by
the Treasury Department, relate to important
matters Of detail or are merely verbal in their
character.
Important Customs Changes
Gen. VIM Wells, collector of customs at
Burlington, Vermont, and his deputy, Mr.. Ar.
thur, are here and have effected a change in
the customs regulations of the Treasury De-
partment governing the trade between Canada
and the United States, so that Canadian mer
chandise may be entered under combined
entry at Island Pond for exporta-
ton by way of either Portland or
Boston. Other important changes are