New-York tribune., 1875-12-13
CURRENT TOPICS AT THE CAPITAL.
WAsuISGTON. Dec. 10. L.
TIE ALLEGED PENSION FRAUDS.

Much discussion has taken place in the
newspapers recently as 70 alleged ftaul, committed in
Philadelphia and elsewhere by attorneys for pensioners
and great number Of pensions, amounting IN the asSre
gate it said, to II 100000, have been suspended The
alleged frauds consist IN this: By Section 47l4 o. the
Revised Statutes Declarations ~ pension claimants
shall be made before court of record, OF bcorc some
officer thereof having custody Of its seal said officer
hereby fully authorized and empowered 20 administer
any Och Affirmation relating 10 pension or app
cation therefor" In ,he Philadelphia the app
cants for pousious mdo and signed their declarations in
the Office Of their attorneys, instead Of appearing
IN person before the court or IFS clerk; hut
the attorneys, when they had accumulated
number OF applications. took them to
the clerk of the court who certified that they had been
sworn 10 before him which not the The, Of
course wac the part Of the clerk OF the court
and AN inc xcusabe egularty the part Of the
ncys but il has been shown that the applicants for
pensions knew Eat there was any iucgu,a1ty IN the
eTrment has lost anything by IT. In al cases the record
Of military service OF physical disability contracted IN
ievcd have been regular aud satisfactory. or course
II was the duty OF he Commissioner Of Pensions To- nut
understand the suhicc, best will he very agreeaby
dis pJont IT, when tie matter u Siited TO the pOito
ana AIN the facts each ssl eId d learned, the
saving to the Government is sUhri nj to pay the salaries
aud expenses Of the secret service agents VINO have G-
earthed Tie ir1egudty The pensions which have been
suspended will al nearly ALL Do granted again as soon
suus really desires to hs money of Che Government,
he can do So right here IN Washington, by striking from
his os the OF those persons who do no work.
and appear at bis office except To draw their pay
sERENADE SPEECH BY Mr.. RANDALL
The DemOcl7ltic Jackson Association and the
Metropolitan Club after sereuadng Speaker kolr. seua
tors Wallace Thurman, English, and Stevenson, ana
Representative Cox Hs night, proceeded at Late hour
to the residence OF Representative Randall oi Pcnnsyl
vania and scrcnaded him. In rcsponee 10 tho eompl-
mcnt, he spoke as follows:
FELLOW DEMOCRATS OF wAsnTyGToS: I am under
slcci and confidence. During my service IN Congress.
the counsel and advice OF many ~ yOu wo are now oc-
fore me. III at during political minority when NY
suggestions the floor OF tOngie esq had but partial
of rccseTtatiyes Sm hes es much nor need he henf
oi your knowledge ana guidance Come me freely.
Warn me against , Sa, ~Ah is Wrong lima InG deS @
pla,,sc.l am friend OF mOpcr improve
mciis in this District, but in reference 10 our
seicnSt sn,5e 5y from TI those SEo govern hcre GoSoy
aud rtrcnehmcnt IA ihe ehpendit%9G' % must IN every
wrougocrs aud u possible their punishment, viii be
oI purpOte. Great Wrongs baye been Inflicted ulon the
prOpcrty-0wners III tis DStiiei NY adaclohs pm ana
girspng We shall eneavor 10 mi you Of all such
dung The coming two years, and In Their stead We hope
To place Ia conf persons who will not band teii every
energy 10 personal ACKNOWLEDGMENT aud individual glus,
but the contrary those who III their conduct Will have
In view only the pubic good AGAIN iet no thank you
and say goodnight
TIE DISTRICTS ENORMOUS FLOATING DEBr
The report of the Board of Audit, appointed
70 ett The accounts ut the late Government ~ the Dis
trct Of Columbia aud Board Of Public Works. state that
the outstanding bliIauODs OF the District, have been
allowed 20 amount 20 the enormous sum Of Sl3,l07,-
7s4 A. Which" they say, is the amount OF the debt
% The District audited aud allowed. exclusive OF the
funded debt existing June 90 1874 and IL TO be In
creased by further reports of the work under the Com
mi-iuners, and by whatever may be allowed on mad
iustcd claims The latter 10 the amount Of Sf772Sl %.
have been presented bat smaller ones are with
HoNu nf tba 81 ui flrN
may he slightly Increased or diminished ana on audit
Will probably he diminished" In regard to the accounts
OF Col Magruder late Treasurer of the Board OF Pnhc
Works the Board Of Audit say that they have employed
the expert accountant VIM T.. Warren OF NewYork To
examine and report upon them His report shows baI
due To the District from Col MagTuder OF SO
Of ,be treasury could not be Lad from the books. and
that resort 70 other sources OF information
saTy.
THE REPORTED SEIZURE OF PACKARD's BOOKS.
A report was In circulation in Washington
on Saturday that Nh investigation Of the United
Marshaps Office IN New Orleans wac In progress IN the
course Of which seizure OF Mr.. Packard's books and
llers had become necessary aud that the hurried ex
animation Of these disclosed frauds Of the gigantic
character No Information OF this kind had been ro
eeved by the Attorney at the close OF business
hours yesterday aud be did not believe TO be true In
I'll. nrst place no Investigation OF Marshal Packards
Office IL in progress and far be learned,
has been ordered Il has been reported to the Depart
ment that iiands hago been committed In connection
with cases n the Court OF Claims by the procuring OF
false testimony from NewOrleans and an Investigation
Of tits matter making That there bad yceer-
day oen no seizure Of the Marshaps Office, s evident
from the fact that the United States al