Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-03-07
WASHINGTON.
The pistrIct Inrestigatlon.


WASHINGTON, March 6.-The Joint
the District of Columbia affairs. held a long
session to-day, in which they continued the
examination of the Controller of the Dis
trict, and also examined Gov. Shepherd
and the Tax Collector and the Superinten-
dent OF Public Schools in regard to the past
and present condition of the school fund.
The Governor testified that there had been
about $4,000 paid out of the District treas
ury for school purposes in excess of the
amount of school taxes collected. The tes-
timony of three Of the officers corroborated
this statement and also the statement made
by the Comptroller. Baker yesterday said
the school fund had been overdrawn for le-
Ultimate school purposes SI13.e0e. The
acting chairman (Thunnan) informed the
memorialisers that they must present some
specific charges for the committee to act
upon by next Tuesday or Wednesday.
The committee then adjourned till Tues
day morning.
The outstanding legal tenders are $685.
100000.
What Does Present Law Allow, If 1t
Has Enforced?
The Civil Service Committee has agreed
to report the following bill to the House
with favorable recommendations: That no
officer of the United States shall directly or
Indirectly receive for his own use or benefit
any money or property whatever OF the
United States, except his salary TO be fixed
by law, and that no public property shall
be used by officials or by any persons for
private purposes. That this act shall not
beconstrued as TO prevent the payment
from the treasury Of all actual and neceSsa-
~ travelling expenses of United States Off
cials when performing the legitimate and
necessary duties pertaining to their offices.
Disgusted Boston.
Boston merchants were before the Ways
and Means Committee of the House to-
day, and characterized the present customs
laws as odious in their operation.
The Cabinet.
All the members were present at the
Cabinet meeting to-day, excepting the Sec
rotary of the Navy. No important bust
ness was considered.
Another Notwithstanding Time by
the FOrelock.
It is probable that the Secretary Of the
Treasury will order the libel of the steamer
General Sherman for violation of the neu-
trality act, in having been employed in war
against friendly power.
Lobbying.
President Grant was at the capitol to-day
and had a conference with the Kansas SEN
ators and Representatives in relation to the
Kansas Judgeship. He also had interviews
with Senators COnkling and Chandler.
A Slight Increase.
The President sent message to the House
to-day enclosing communications from the
various Departments in reply TO the inquiry
whether expenses had been increased by
them for transportation of any matter
which, before the alteration of the
Thanking privilege, was carried in
the mails. Il appears that expenses of S225
per month, incurred by the Signal Bureau
in forwarding supplies to stations and ex-
penditures about 1920 by the Navy Depart
ment will cover the increase.
After the Commissioner of Pensions.
The charges formally presented in the
House to-day, by the Speaker effecting the
official and personal character of Gen.
Baker, Commissioner of Pensions, were
made by Mrs. Helen l.. Barnard, who wants
them examined with a view to impeach-
ment, they were referred to the Committee
on Invalid Pensions.
AAGtCAtAc 2DueCs
G.. b. Eaton, of counsel of the Com
mittee on Revenue Reform, spoke before
the Committee on Ways and Means to-
night, of the fear that exists among mer-
chants in regard to the seizure of books
and papers. He knew of merchant in
New Y Ovlx whose place was entered by
number of custom house subOrdinates
without authority Of law. No warrant
was shown. They occupied the store four
days and forbade him selling goods. The
merchant, after legal advice, demanded to
see their warrant or he would have force
to turn them out, when the subordinates
left the premises. In another case they
found nothing wrong.
In another case merchant, whose books
had been seized. was summoned to the Gus
tOmhOUSe TO have them examined. A rap
was heard at the door, and voice was
heard saying: ''Shall Mr.. SO-and-SO's goods
be passed." The subs of the cTIstomhouse
shouted back, with an oath, NO, never"
Cephas Brainerd Of New York, referred
10 q case in which lie was counsel. On
warrant of the Customhouse s. miscella-
neous books, four bundles Of correspond
ence and two boxes Of papers were taken
from German importing house that had
been in existence - years. IL was charged
that the house had committed fraud on two
invoices Of hair cloth, one the 10Th of
October, 1869, and the other on
the 10Th day of October previous. A
part of these books remain in the New
York CustOmhOuse to-day. He could not
procure correspondence necessary to be used
in the suits. The SeiZing officer remained
in possession Of the store more than a
month. They took away more than S75, 900
worth OF goods, including velvets, pushes,
etc, on warrant relating TO hair cloth.
Nineteen suits were brought against the
merchants. His clients were thus outraged,
and consigners feelinCit, the governments of
France, Belgium and Prussia interfered.
through their representatives, and asked
the Treasury Department for an investiga-
ton. Mr.. Brainerd came here, and, with
Baron Geralt, called on the Secretary, who
examined the case and felt as much indig-
nation as any of them. On the 29th
of December Brainerd went to
the marshal's Office to ascertain what had
become Of the books, and was informed
they had been sent TO the cuStOmhouse. He
found they had been put into a room in
possession of this infOrmer Jayne and his
clerk. He was told by them they had
looked at only one or two books, but had
never before seen so bad a case of fraud.
They said it had better be settled for
$4,000. If it is not, we will
drive YOU men out of market.
Brainerd's clients declared they would
never pay that sum. Boutwell, said he
would give instructions to the District At
torney TO examine into the subject, which
was done, when seventeen cases dwindled
into two. The matter was terminated by
the counsel giving a check for Sl,7GO. From
this one case all could be judged.