The Portland daily press., 1874-05-04
WASHINGTON.
The Irate Congressman,


| Mckibbon's name
A New Moiety Bill
NEW YORK, May 2.-Washington specials
say that the Committee on Ways and Means
last night finally agreed upon a Moiety bill
.epeaa.ihg the Sanborn contracts, All moieties
W olncers are abolished. Other informers are
~ no case TO receive more than the value of
Sale articles seized, and in no case more than
Soooo. hereafter an intent to defraud must be
SHOWN, ana Judgment is not to be given upon
lation.
Iufation Projacr.
General Butler proposes to pass the House,
under suspension of the rules on Monday a
oil legalizing the claimed $44, 1000, 900 reserve.
rms means initiation by the proposition actual
ly to issue the amount.
The Supreme Court
me supreme Court on Monday will adjourn
sudIy 10 the second Monday in October, when
the reading will be concluded. A great MANY
eases remain to be decided but as numb, rs of
tnem VIII follow decisions in certain important
Eases, probably not more than twenty five or
thirty opinions will be required to dispose of
the iist Among those WITCH remain are the
iate twenty per cent. cases involving the ques-
tion whether the act of 1867 increasing pay in
.ne clvil service applies to Transfers, laborers,
eu., employed by the army command, and the
necnanlcs employed in the Navy Yards and
other IKE employees of the govern work
ing under contracts for the departments or is
limited to those only who have regular ap-
pointments made directly in pursuance of the
The law or indirectly by appropriations, etc.
A number of claims to Spanish land titles in
LOUISIANA Will also be decided, among which is
| one of Caleb Gushing ard also various confis-
cations and other cases to which the govern
ment is party.
District Investlgation.
In the District of Columbia Investigation
| Committee to-day, several witnesses were intro
duced, who testified that no Salmar
| brick were used in 'B' street inter-
| cepting sewer, and that the work
| was first class in every respect. Lewis CIep-
hane admitted that one Of the objects in con
| to prevent competition. Mr.. Ray Of Chicago,
| testified that it cost about 81. 80 per square
yard to lay the Degdyer and Mcclellan pave
ment in Washington, but that he figured on the
basis OF receiving payment in District scrip and
not in money,
Kirkland was upon the stand this afternoon
aud was examined about an hour and half
His answers we're evasive and at times redicu-
lOus. He reiterated his statement that he re-
ceived all the proceeds of the Chittenden notes
with the exception of $4,000 which was receiv-
ed by Rev. W. Calvin Brown. He was ques-
TONED sharply concerning an extract from a
letter written by him dated New York, April
u, to Wilcox in this city, in which he refers to
replies to interrogations the following furnishes
a sample:
By Judge Thurman-Question- do
you mean in that letter by saying Mcclellan
is an ass?
Answer mean that he did not do good
work on his Washington contract and he so in
formed the committee,
Question-Do you mean to say that he was
an ass for telling the truth?
Answer-l say that he informed the commit
tee that lie did not do good work.
The committee are very much dissatisfied
with the replies made by witness and do not
give much credit to his testimony. He init.
mated desire to go to New York tonight but
the committee directed him to remain in the
city, and heG the Sergeant-at-Arms of the Sem
ate responsible for his presence Monday.
The Tough Problem.
The Senate Committee on Finance held
long session to-day on currency. There is no
difficulty among the members, and there is
general feeling in favor of the free banking
clause, but there is no agreement on the other
branches of the financial bill, the members
differing widely in their opinion.
The Treasury Showing.
The reduction of the public debt for April of
1866 5l is considered by the Treasury De-
partment very gratifying exhibit of the con-
dition uf the national finances, especially in
view of the tact that during that period the
Treasury was called upon for very large
amount, about $4,000, 900 for other purposes
than the ordinary expenses of the government,
nearly ST. 100000 having been paid for cotton
ed by the Court of Claims and about the same
amount for deficiencies in the postal revenue
The revenubs- rorArRi..- ara rlx POSTAGE Sc
abe estimate made last November.
No More for Buffers Friend.
The Committee on Ways and Means is now
considering the bill to repeal the provisions of
the law under which the Sanborn and other like
contracts were made. The committee is aux
ious to have these contracts annuled but have
not yet agreed upon the best manner of doing
SO. Should the contracts be annulled contrac-
tors would, under the present law, be entitled
to go to the Conrt of Claims for relief, and,
therefore, it is question whether they be ex-
cluded from this remedy and provided with an
appeal to Congress The bill, however, has not
not yet acquired definite shape, except so far as
the repeal of the contract provision is concern
ed.
Gold Sales.
Sales of gold for May will be as follows: On
the first and third Thursdays $1,500,000 each
DAY, and on the second and fourth Thursdays
| 900 each day, making $5000,000 in all.
Eepori On the sanborn Contract
WASHINGTON, May 3.-The Committee on
WAYS and Means will Tomorrow make a report
| in what is called the Sanborn cases as far as
can be verbally ascertained They recite the
| law aud give narrative of the transaction uu-
| der it, as derived from the testimony Thew
| discuss the order given under the signature of
| Secretary Boutwell, addressed to as SCISSORS and
| collectors OF inrerna revenue, directing them
to assist the several contractors in such way as
| they may ask in the examination of their books.
| They condemn the order on the ground tn at in
stead of internal revenue officers assisting San
| born and Others the latter should have assisted
| the officers. The committee find some fault with
| the unsatisfactory character of the evidence of
the officers of the Treasury Department, some
| them having endeavored to evade the re-
sponsibilit y connected with the preparation au
| making of contracts. The first contract of the
kind was made under Secretary b utwell, and
| the present Secretary of the Treasury and bis
| subordinates merely carried out the policy. The
committee does not find that any Of these Off
! GERS were, in what they did, influenced by any
| corrupt or personal motive, and IN conclusion,
the committee recommend the repeal of the
| law under which the contracts were made, and
| that the contracts be annued.
Good Advice.
Col Hynes, representatiue-at-large, who was
| elected upon the Brooks ticket from Arkansas
| and three Democratic contestants from that
| State for seats in the United States House of
Representative have united in addresses to the
people Of Arkansas. taking strong ground in ia
| vor of Brooks and counseling peace and ODD
| dience to the decision of the courts. o.,
| Various Matters.
| The Senate Committee on Military Affairs
have taken adverse action on the bill for aid to
| geological and other surveys in the several
| States.
! Some of the members think that Congress
ers are of the opinion adjournment will not
| take place till July.
! The Committee on Ways aud Means of the
| House has received from Judge Davis state
ment similar to that recently published in New
| York, which seems 10 have been considered
| proper owing to the alleged incorrect report of
Herman's testimony before the committee.
The bill extending a trimming patent to sew
| ing machines was passed in the House to-day,
95 against So.
The following payments were made from the
treasury by warrants during April: Civil and
miscellaneous, 81 $40 32 IS; war, 81, 881 ,315 q
navy, 50, 22S, 81, interior, Indians and pen
sion, $521 ,45797. This does not include pay
ments made on account of the principal or in
terest of the public debt
Commissioner Drummord retired from the
general land Office to-day, leaving it in charge
OF Clerk Curtis until successor is appointed.
Vice President Wilson had a long interview
| With the President to-day.
Forty Third Congressional Session .
|