Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-12-26
The Second ComptroIIer's Ofilce-A YER
diet -Randalrs Clean Sweep
Babcock and Williams.
GRANTS DKPREssIoN.

ceaS1ul, aud Whatever economies lRYs
e bean secured have been at tue expenst
= OF the line, while the staff corps has
. gained rather than lost.
. GRANTS DEPRESSION.
WAsHINGTos, Deosnbar 23.-Gsa.
! tlsmen who have recently called at the
4 White Ho0se, have bsen led 70 com.
a Enent on the depression noticeable In the
: President since the indictment Of Bah.
4 cock, and the other Developments Of the
4 crooked whizky cAses. They ssy that
= be is morose, but At the same time dis
: plays Q stubborn determination TO push
: things, and to permit no guilty man TO
. escape.
! THE SCHOOL QUESTION.
, The evident purpose Of the Democrats
} In congress to out-herod Herod iu the
matter Of the schOol question, by voting
I as solid body in favor OF the proposi-
ton reaffirming the wisdom OF the con-
stitntioDN provisions for unsectarian
: schools, bids fair to take the wind cou1-
pletely out Of the Presidents calls, and
lends still more somber shade to the
. view that he is compelled to take OF the
present and the future.
THE SECOND COMPTRoLLER's OFFICE
The com mission appointed some time
since by Secretary Bristow 10 invesl.
gate the charges submitted by the dis
trict grand jury, concerning the manner
Ia which business In tIansacted In the
Office OF the second comptroller, and
third auditors office as well. have con-
ciuded taxing testimony, and will short
~ make their report. They have better
dlgesled the facts In relation to the sec
ond comptroller's Office, and find thnt
they show gross mismansEement and
carelessne.s, but little, II anything, lea
than outright criminality. They will,
therefore, recommend thorough reor-
ganizaton of the Office on a plan to be
submitted by them, which will, thev
think, more effectually guard against
the perpetration Of frauds that have been
permitted, II not promoted, by the man.
| sgemsnt OF tbs second comptrnller with |
regard TO the third auditors Office. The |
commission Will not be prepared for a |
day or two TO make any decision |
| The evidence Is not 30 conclusive |
Of criminal carelessness as In the |
case OF the second comptroller, and /
In some instances shows greatly
to the advantage Of the aud
hor, rs, for instance, in the Wit
towski case, where 1t appears that the
claim was passed by the comptroller, in
the face Of the fact that 1t hAd been
squarely rejected by the auditor. 1t is
thought that DR.. BroAdhead, the second
comptroller, will be compelled to leave
the service at an early day.
EXCITEMENT OVER VERDICT.
The acquittAl OF Green, the man who
frsudulently peTsonAted David Edes, ard
secured the Illegal release of the burglar
Soyder, creates . great deal of excite
mSnt among the citizens here, who re-
gard 1t ss an outrage. They assert bold
" that the jury was packed, and seem to4
have reason for the assertion, in the fact
that it was composed Of professional ju-
Tymen, negroes, and creatures Of The
ring. This IL another victory for tn 9 ring,
and secures the scquittAl of the other
oonspirators In this Infamous plot to de-
feat the ends OF justice, viz: Evans, the
lawyer; Fisher, late assistant district at.
torney, and Leighton, late deputy clerk ]
Of the police court. II seems to be hope
less to hope for anything Lin he fairness or
Justice, even In the courts Of the dis ,
trict.
REDUCTION OF EXPENSES.
Chicago TribunsI [
WASHINGTON, D. G December 22- ]
Mr.. Randall, after full consultation with
such members of his COMMITTEES as are |
present, and closs examination Of the |
estimates submitted from the depart !
ments, and a personal interview with {
leading officials In the various depart |
ments, maintains his belief that he will
be able to reduce the annual expsndi- ,
tures at least $40, 100, 900. He takes /,
from the army and navy establishments !
Sl0, 900 0O0 from each. This involves q !.
reduction Of the srmy to Ii, 600 men, :
and the gradual mastering out or dis.
charge Of suTernumersry officers, and
also the sale OF most OF the small ships 4
and ironcla1s OF the navy, and CORE !
spondiDg reduction smong the force of /.
officers, seamen and marines. Mr.. Ran
dali feels confident that he will obtain '
tke support OF the Republicans OF his
committee, and the majority of the Re
publicans on the floor for these two o
measures OF rstrenchment A bill o
for reduction Of the army will be intro. n
duced shortly after the holidays, and d
while the degree Of reduction already
stated Ia fully determined upon, the T
method by which il 10 to be sccom. a
plished, 50 tar ~ tine surplus officers are b
concerned, is not yet determined. The %
purpose will be either to provide for o
reduction TO take place gradually by the a
usual Casualties OF the service, and by
stopping both promotions ana new sp- n
or in some way to make :,
the matter as easy as possible for the Of II
hcers who in the end must be dropped. 81
A proposition TO place such upon the :,
retired list for limited period 10 iE con- is
lideratisn. The idea Of the majority in -
regard to the navy appears to be that
nearly sn the small ships, and In fact a.
The greater part of those which we now ~
OWN, had better be broken up and sold, ii
the construction OF few large ships be o
begun and carried on gradually until, b
with smaller navy, the effective force cC
would really be increased through te
better class Of ships thus
ion TO transfer the Indian ser q
vice mainly to the war department Is
neets with general approval in the COM Il
nittse. 1t is believed that all disburse- 10
nents and all purchases and the issue n
'f supplies can be made through army %,
Dfficers with greater economy, and that
uch q step would enable the govern =,
nent to take steps to dispense with al. =,
most the entire civil force of the Indian -
srvice. The commissioner Of pensions =,
3 convinced that certain Investigations =
which he has on hand will enable him \,
o drop from the pension rolls persons =.
Improperly upon them, In such numbsr -
s 70 reduce the appropriation nearly q ~
nilli0n Of dollars. There will be no ap-
whatever for beginning new OF
Iublic buildings, and the appropriations ln
Or those now in Progress will be very n tn
reduced, with a view of pre- az
enting all extrayagance. No money u
Fill be voted Mr.. Robson for any de- N
oiency which be may report on account On
4 his late unuRul sxpenditures. IN
his determination is likely pr
D cause considerable commotion cl'
q his department, and 10 disclose
be exact condition OF it's finances. mr.
iembers OF the committee say that no P,
xcuse which be can make will induce r,
hem 10 give him dollar, and that II he a.
as exceeded his appropriations already, az
: expended money under one head OF 90
q appropriation which belongs to an Cl
ther, be must take the consequences. Ter
| large sum viii be cut Of from the pre- din
1t coat Of transporting the mails, and q piI
Irge reduction will be made in the river
I'D harbor and fortihcAtion bills. The y,
1ngingent funds Of the various depart IN
leDts VIII be decreased at least three "a,
urths, and the large annual sppfopri- N
ion for furnishipg she public buildings o.,
III be reduced in about the same pro, al
rtion. Mr. Randall is confident that Ms
cry necessary branch OF the service AZ
q be efficiently carried on IL the cum fhs
al of the appropriations Is reduced He
ty million dollars, as he proposes. nan
BABcocK AT HOME. cou
icsge TRe&l enc
December 22.-Gen- Wi
Il BAbcock returned to the city to- car
Y. In conversation with his friends aMuc M
made no allusion whatever to his eit
ming trial in st. Louis. He had coi
Insulation with the PYesider but out '0-
this came nothing more than des- c
ory conversation. The President to
1fesses TO believe Babcock innocent, on
d until the court in St Louis decides tur
lerwise, he will stand by his military the
,retary. A gentleman from st. Louis me
otes ex-senator Henderson in refer mu
&c to Babcock. Henderson 10 report tbs
as saving that II there is no case thi
ainst the Presidents rght-hand man, ser
en- all Of the convictions in st. Louis an
us far obtained are founded upon in ha'
ieient Testimony. A great deal Of tui
mpathy is Isvished upon Babcock by col
. cronies about town. They palliAte col
q connection with the whisky-ring in an
!. louis by calling 1t imprudenee. This mi
ctim of inprudence will remain here Isl
NJ q short time. He viii return inst nc