The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1876-05-11
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENCE.

MORE TROUBLE-THE DEMOCRATS CATCH
A TARTAR-A FEARFUL BLUNDER-
TRYING TO GET ONE-sIDED TESTIMONY
"A NEW MOVE BY BELKNAP's CoUN-
SEL-CLYMER AGAIN RISES TO EXPLAIN
--BRIsTOw BEFORE COMMITTEE-A
SWEET SCENTED LOT OF HOUSE Or
Down IN THE OVERWHELMINGLY OF
CONGRESS TO ADJOURN OBSTACLES IN
THE WAY.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., May 1st, '76.
EDS. HERALD.-The Democrats are get
ting into trouble with their investigating
committees. The committee on expendi-
lures in the interior department is nearly
driven to distraction by ''little Johnny
Davenport" who has been testifying be
fore it for several days in relation to mon
ey used to punish frauds in the elections
yet made by any of these laundering com
mitteeS, was to summon commissioner
Davenport to testify in this matter. He
is thoroughly acquainted with the ins and
outs of New York City, and knows just
how the large, fraudulent Democratic vote
of that city is manipulated. To thus give
him the opportunity to publish the facts
to the whole country, under oath, and
have them embodied in the report of a
Democratic investigating committee is,
| in party sense, blunder that is worse
| than crime. They have tried to practi-
| cally close his mouth in regard to these
frauds, by requiring him to give short and
| direct answers to questions prepared by
| the committee, but in spite of these re-
strictions, he manages to get in damaging
blows upon his inquisitors. and they
would rejoice to get rid of him.
The Belknap impeachment case was
again before the Senate on Thursday Mr.
Carpenter, one of General Belknap's coun.
sci, surprised the Senate and spectators
by asking postponment Of the trial until
the first Monday in November next. Af
ter retiring for deliberation and duly con
sidering the proposition, the Senate re
| turned to the chamber and announced
that the motion for the postponment o
| the trial was denied. The Senate were
unanimous on this point, the vote stand
ing 50 to nothing. This was the only i'm
| portant feature of the trial, and after the
decision was rendered the court adjourned
The rejoinder of Belknap's counsel, init
mating that Clymer held out inducements
for Belknap to resign, has again placed
the champion investigator in very EN-
barassing and delicate position. His
| Democratic colleagues have been demand
ing explanations, and he fatty denies the
imputation. 1t generally believed, how
ever, that there is some foundation fol
the assertion, as it recalls previous indis.
cretions on the part of the fearful chair.
man, which were very damaging to his
reputation for common sense.
This week the committee on expendi
lures in the treasury department, in ac
cordance with the resolution introduced
in the House, by G. w. Cate, of Wiscon
sin, began an investigation Of the charges
against secretary Bristow, in connection
| with the release of the bark, Mary Merritt
which had been detained at Milwaukee
for an alleged violation of revenue laws
Mr.. Cate, the author of the resolution
and secretary Bristow were both present
Bristow said that the whisky ring was
at the bottom OF the matter, and that they
were using the House as a cats-paw, tC
smirch his character, because he ha6
prosecuted them. Cate denied that the
whisky ring had any connection with the
charges. Both parties named number
of witnesses whom they wished to be sum
moncd, after which the committee ad
| journed. Secretary Bristow expressed
his intention Of being present ut every
meeting of the committee as long as the
investigation continued.
The charges of various questionable
transactions are so thick against Fitzhugh
| the door keeper of the House, that there
| Is some talk among the Democrats o.
abolishing the office of door-keeper, as
matter of economy, and directing the ser
/ geant-at-arms to perform the duties o.
| that office, as Is done In the Senate. The
House seems to have been peculiarly un
1 fortunate In the selection OF its official.
and employees, Smith, the journal clerk
being compelled to resign on account O
his attempted corner on bounty claims fol
the purpose OF gobbling O large per cent
age from needy veterans of the war; Shell
the heavy assistant door keeper was dis
charged for irrigating his averdupois will
too much alcohol while on duty; Bough
ton, clerk OF the committes on militar,
sohlfss g aow heine izyeetieated oa