Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-06-07
CONGRESSIONAL.
The Western District of Arkan-
sas Ventilated.
Gross Corruption in the Depart
ment of Justice.

Gross Corruption in the Depart
ment of Justice.
HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, June 5.-A number of
private bills considered yesterday IN Com
mittee of the Whole were taken up and
passed; also the bill before the House at
adjournment last night for the sale OF the
Kansas Indian lands in Kansas. The
House also, OH motion of Mr.. Wells, passed
bill removing the political disabilities Of
Geo. S. Shryock, of st. Louis, and then
proceeded to the consideration of the Sen
ate amendments to the
Deficiency Bill.
A long discussion resulted on the item
in regard 10 official reporters.
Mr.. Holman made speech in favor OF
economy and against the salaries liked Tor
reporters, arraigning the Republican party
for extravaganza in raising salaries.
Mr.. Garfeld-Holman must have extra
ordinary cheek to make such charge IN
the face of the fact that this deficiency Till
appropriaies only S3,000,000, as against
81 / 100000 last year and against an amour
three or four times, and in one instance,
seven times as great as in pre- ious years,
and in the face of the fact OF an annual re-
duction Of expenses to the amount OF 49,
100000.
Mr.. Holman again got the floor in con-
nection with another item, and read lee
ture to his own side of the House for its
apathy and for its willingness to vote with
the majority in all measures of extraya-
gance.
The discussion having dIifted inf refer
ence to the river and harbOr appropriation
bill, Mr.. Conger reminded Mr.. Holman
that the biggest item in that bill was only
a million and quarter TO pay an old debt
on the Louisville and Portland canal, and
that Mr.. Holman, because the matter in
terested his own State and district, had
worked for that item and had impOrtuned
members to support it.
Mr.. Cox followed with a characteristic
speech. and al last the discussion closed,
and the various amendments were disposed
of and a conference ordered.
The House then took up the bill report
ed from the Committee On
Mississippi Leyees
providing for Commissioner of Engineers
which was passed after substitute offered
by Mr.. Willard, of Vermont, had been re-
jected.
Mr.. Cannon, from the Post-ofice Com
mittee, reported bill for the
Pre-Payment Of Postage
on printed matter. After the speech by
Mr.. Cannon in explanation and advocacy
of Il e bill, he moved the previous question
which cut off all amendments and debate.
The bill was then passed, yeas los, nays 80.
Mr.. Parker, of Pennsylvania, from the
Post-office Committee. reported a bill to
prevent what is termed straw bids for car
rying mails. He also reported bill for
adjusting the
Salaries of POstmasters,
fixing the salary of the New York post
master at 5000 and devides all Others into
four classes: Those whose salaries are not
more than $4,000 nor less than 5000. not
more than $1,000 nor less thar $1,000; not
more than $1,000 nor less than 81 ,0O0 and
those whose annual compensation Is less
than $1,000. POstmaSters Of the first
three classes are to be appointed or remOy-
ed with the consent of the Senate. Those
Of fourth class are to be appointed or re-
moved by the Postmaster General. The
bill was passed.
The Department of "Justice-"
Mr.. Sener, from the Committee on Ex-
penditures, in the Department of Justice,
made report in regard to the expenses,
disbursements and general management of
the Western Judicial District of Arkansas,
since its reorganization in 1871. The test
mony taken covers 800 printed pages. The
committee find that the expenditures have
been extraordinarily large, and not in all
cases supported by appropriate vouchers.
For the wear ending June, 1871, the dis
bursements of Marshal VIM. \. Brilloa
were Sl3T,9IS. Nextyear, Logan ii. Roots
being marshal, they reached the extra
ordinary figure of 81 So. and next year.
Britton being marshal for most of the term,
they fell to S264,44I, making a total Of
S12405S for three years, or including the
payments to clerks, district attorneys and
commissioners, about three quarters of a
million of dollars. The committee had
been unable to discover any sufficient ex-
PLANTATION for those very large expenditures,
and agreed that there was a most
Most LamentabIe state Of Morals
among Court officials in that district. As
to the Judge of the District, VIM. Story,
the committee says that the records of his
Court show that parties have been
Bailed After Conviction
| for capital Oflenses, and while awaiting sem
| tence and while motions were pending for
a new trial which were never acted on; that
notwithstanding the requirement Of law
| that he shall examine and approve the ac-
| counts current of the Marshal before allow
ing the same, he has signed at least in one
| instance Il blank account current which
was filed by the Marshal for $4,000, the
same being allowed and paid at the Treas
ury. His explanation before the commit
| tee is characterized as
Lame, Disconnected and Unsatisfac-
tory.
| The judgment of the Committee that the
great measure of reform needed for the
Western District of Arkansas is the abOli-
ton Of the District itself, al d its annexa-
ton to the Eastern District, so that there
shall be but one District and one Judge
for the territory now embraced in both
Districts. In order TO form judgment of
the expenditures, the Committee con-
trasts them with the judicial expenses for
the whole State r
Before the War,
which were in 1855 $4,000; in 1859 S19,-
600. and in 1880 only $4,000. The
Committee believe that with the
| abolition of the District, and such legis-
| lation as they recommend for the proper
examination record and re-transmission Of
accounts in that and the other judicial dis
| tricts of the United States. Every door 10
| fraud will be closed and the administration
| of Justice can be more successfully main
tanned in the territory now comprising the
western district than at present. They
therefore unhesitatingly recommend the
| adjustment OF the western district, the
annexation Of its territory and the transfer
of its business to the eastern district, and
that the whole district as thus reformed
shall be known and called the District of
Arkansas with one judge, nne district at
| tOrney and one marshal,
| The House soon afterward adjourned,
MEMPHIS.