The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-03-06
WASHINGTON.
RESIGNATION of Gen. RabcOck,

Resignation of Gen. RabcOck,
WASHINGTON, March At is semi.oficially
stated that General Babcock's connection with
business at the Executive Mansion has now
ceased.
The District Frauds.
The House Committee appointed to investi-
gate the alleged real estate pool in the District
of Columbia met today. Messrs. Kilbourn and
Latta, who were summoned to produce the
books of that firm, appeared and denied the
right of the committee to compel the disclosure
of the private affairs of their customers. Judge
j. S. Black proceeded to argue the point in be-
half of the witnesses.
Extending the Money Order System.
An arrangement has been made by the Post
Office Department with the Dominion govern
ment, by whichithe system recently inaugural
rated for the exchange of money orders between
the United States and Canada is extended to
Newfoundland.
Two Reports on the Finan cial Question
The Democratic caucus was in session till
IL 30 tonight, and by a vote of 55 to 46 ad-
journed till Tuesday night, without taking a
test vote on the financial question, which was
fully debated.
bill as the report of the majority consisting of
Representatives Payne, Barnum, Morrison and
Gibson, and Senators Thurman, Bayard, Nc.
Donald and Merriman.
The minority report was made by Represen.
tatives Bright, Holman, Walker and Southland.
1t simply proposes to repeal that part of the
specie RESUMPTION act which fixes the first day
of January, 1879, for that purpose.
Committee Work.
The Appropriation Committee gave its atten.
ton of putting the finishing touches on the
legislative appropriation bill, which it expects
to report early next week.
The Freedmen's Bank Committee continued
its investigation into the mismanagement of
that institution.
The Committee on Naval Affairs inquired
into matters at some of the navy yards.
The Committee on Military Affairs had up
the grave yard question, as to letting contracts
for head stones and the policy of concentrating
these encampments of the dead
The Committees on Indian Affairs aud Post
offices were at work on their respective subjects
OF investigation. Another investigating com.
mittee, known as the Select Committee on
the Real Estate Pool and the jaw Cooke In
but had not made much Roadway when it en-
countered an obstacle in the refusal of Mr..
Hallet kilbcurne, real estate agent in Wash
ington, to submit his business books to the
scrutiny OF the committee. He protested his
willingness, if any specific charges were made
on affidavit, to present his books and papers
unreservedly, but declined to submit them to
an examination on any loose general idea that
they might reveal something which the House
would be justified in inquiring into. The com.
mtteee at their meeting on Monday next will
come TO a decision on this point.
fraudulent Claim.
Upon an order Of the Secretary of the Treas
ury, Capt Craig and G. W. Bryant of Missouri
were arrested here yesterday on charge of
conspiracy to defrand the government of $780,
200 on the alleged loss of train while trans.
porting government freight between Leaven-
worth and Fort Yuma. 1t is stated by the
parties in interest that this claim had been I'M
der investigation for the last ten years and was
passed by different departments without sus-
picion of fraud, payment being delayed in con-
sequence only Of supposed want of iurisdic-
ton. In December last, however, that ques-
ton was decided satisfactorily to the Second
Comptroller who passed the claim. 1t appears
that suspicion was first excited as to the lust
ness of the claim by the camor and representa-
tons of persons who expected to share in the
award. A judicial investigation will take
place to morrow.