Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-11-26
WASHINGTON.
The Cotton Claims Ring.
A Neat Arrangement Of Chand.
Ter and Butler.
Jay Cookies Wreck to be Tackled
on the Texas Pacific.
The Safe Burglary Case Given
to the Jury,
The Cotton Claims Ring.
Committee Promises.

Committee Promises.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 25.-Tbe House
Committee on Appropriations will reduce
the appropriations Cor the Indian service
$250,000 from that of last year. This re-
duction is justified by the expiration Of
several Indian treaties. Some Of the com
mittee think the appropriation for the army
should also be reduced.
Mr.. Riddle closed his three days argu-
ment to-day in the safe burglary trial
Judge Humphreys charge occupied two
hours. AT its conclusion he said the court
would be kept open until he heard the
jury's report. If they had not agreed upon
a verdict al ten O'Clock tomorrow morn
ing, they might devote the rest Of the day
to the observance of Thanksgiving Day in
the jury room, and dismiss further discus
sion Of the case until Friday. At O'Clock
the jury retired.
Melgs Refuses the Russian Mission.
Special 70 the Cincinnati Commercial.
It is definitely stated that Gen. Meigs
will not accept the Russian Mission.
The Infamous Cotton Ring.
II is understood that among other re-
commentators the Secretary of the Treas
ury will advise that the cotton claims now
pending before the Treasury Department
be transferred to the Court of Claims.
This is recommendation that ought to be
made, or the abolition of the Cotton Claims
Division seems to be imperatively demand
ed. The amount of the claims pending
is IN round numbers fourteen mil
lions of dollars, which is for cot
ton seized subsequent to instructions
from the Treasury Department in 1855,
forbidding such seizure, and the money now
lies in the Treasury. The Division vas or
ganiEed by William Z. Chandler, Assistant
Secretary under McCullOch, and it is as
serted that Chandler is about the only sue
cesSful practitioner before the Division.
The head of the Division is a man named
Noerr, who was formerly one of Pinkerton's
detectives, and his chief assistant is Major
Fessenden, Of Maine, vino was dismissed
from the army for the embezzlement of
10000 while he was holding the position
of Paymaster. Although the bureau has
been in existence since 1865, less than
a million of dollars has been
refunded for cotton unlawfully seiz-
ed. In that time nearly $4,000
have been appropriated to defend suits
brought for the recovery of this cottun,
while it is reasonably certain that $4,000
should have been ample for the purpose, the
large excess having gone, it is charged, into
the pockets OF men claiming to work in the
government interest, but who have, In fact,
done nothing. Cotton claimants say that
unless they employ VIM. Z. Chandler they
can get no satisfaction from the Division,
and that even then the cases are informally
to the Court of Claims, where
they can do nothing without the assistance
Of Ben. Butler. They outline a ring con-
siSting of NOerr, Fessenden, Chandler,
Butler and others, who bleed the claim
ants numerically. Whatever may be the
fact regarding these allegations, it
seems clear that an ex-detect-
i've and an ex-army officer dismissed
for embezzlement, ought not TO be
trusted with the disposition of a fund
nearly as large as the Geneva award. The
very gravest charges of bold attempts by
these men to black-mail claimants are
made freely. The claimants say that
sooner or later in the prosecution of their
claims they are advised by the friends Of
the cotton ring, as it is called, TO employ
Chandler, who EFFORTS most exorbitant
fees, as the quickest and surest way to Sc.
cure tue money.
About year ago Secretary Richardson
appointed Judge Frazier, of Indiana, to
audit these claims, allowing him salary
Of ten thousand dollars year. There is
30 shadow in the law for the appointment,
nor is there any use in it, as Frazier also
accepts the representations of NOerr and
FesSenden, who put matters in the light
they most desire. An effort made last win
Ter to have the matter investigated will be
repeated at the coming session, and will be
his time successful, it is thought, as many
leading Congressman who were 10th then
10 believe the charges made in this cOnnec-
lion have since become convinced of them,
and will urge action.
Next Sessions Jobs
Special to the Cincinnati Times.
Republicans prOfessedly in the confidence
Of the President are positive, and IN fact
have assurances, that he will recommend
in his annual message a system of inter-
nal Improvements, in expectation that it
will revive business in all sections of the
At the same time, he wants it
that he is firmly opposed to any
imitation of the currency. Exactly what
projects the President will favor is not def
nitely known, but persons largely interest
ed in the Northern Pacific and Texas Pa
cific Railroads are very confident that at the
coming session government aid will be ex-
tended TO them.