Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1876-03-30
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER

WASHINGTON d. c., March %, 1876.
The Specification of words has been
so much changed of late that the SER
vices OF new photographer now seem
to be needed. If one wants to travel
nowadays in comfortable manner,
he must move off in 'palace;' should
his hair or beard need trimming, he is
directed by Haunting sign to Ton
sorial Emporium; should the inner
man call f6r fluid refreshment, sam
pie room opens its doors for his use;
| if there is suspicion that a law has been
violated, the suspected man, instead OF
being tried,iS investigator and if one
of the 'unco-righteous' should by acci-
dent or on purpose, tell Il huge lie, he
has simply made statement Just
now statements and Investigations rule
the hour in Washington. The COM
mittee on war expenditures and the
judiciary committee are both 'investi-
eating Belknap and pOst-tradership ps.
Marsh returned from Canada this
week with the Presidents pardon in
his pocket, and testified before the Ju-
dietary committee, repeating his form
er story, with some slight variations.
He said that what he saw in the pa
perS in New York of the debate in Con
gress, was the cause OF his flight to Can
ada, and that he did not read what
/ it was reported Cor has been proven
falsely, as being said by the President
in regard to his prosecution, he did not
see until his arrival in Montreal. He
said that he believed should his pay
ments to the Secretary of War be
known he would be diSgraced, and he
is. One DR.. Bradford testifies that he
told Secretary Belknap that there were
reports that the Secretary was selling
po5t-traderships, and that Belknap
said, Its id lie, and l can whip
the man that says it, No one believes
that Belknap used any such language.
The Schehck, or Emma Mine inVes.
tigation, ranks next in interest to the
Belknap case. 1t has been charged
that Minister Schenck lent lis official
position in London to palm Off the
stock OF a worthless silver mine on the
English people, and the committee
on Foreign Affairs is Investigating
One Lyon, who has proven to be q
scurvy fellow, testified before the com.
mittee to vast amount of stuff about
ex-senator Stewart, Minister Schenck
and Baron Grant, who had undertaken
to sell the stock of the mine. He
claimed that these three were in con.
spiracy to swindle him and the public
generally. Mr.. Stewart has been before
the committee several days, and has
shown pretty clearly what manner OF
man Lyon is. Baron Grant has tele-
lfrra ltnd md mr. l,a
and Gen. Schenck resigned and came
= from London to vindicate himself be-
fore the committee. His examination
is to commence to-day. Before this in
vestigaticn is concluded another SIAN
der of the detective and democratic
press will be exploded.
So many papers are being called for
from the departments, to be used in the
investigations now going on, that the
Secretary of War has Informed Con
gresS that he cannot comply with the
demands and do the current business
of his Office without more help. Yet
the committee proposes to make a
sweeping reduction of 20 per cent in
the number of employees in all the de-
partments. TO do this will cripple
the civil service seriously, and instead
of being economy will be wastefulness.
Gen. Sherman is now here in re-
lsponse to call from the Secretary OF
i War, who desired to consult him. 1t
is said that army headquarters will be
removed to this city, (which would give
soIhe show of truth to the report that
misunderstanding between the Sec
retary and the General of the army
was the cause Of the removal.
The Senate can do nothing because
the. bills from the House have moi
been sent up, and no one can tell when
they will be, as That body is not trying
to legislate-only 10 make political
capital. The Republican Senators have
determined upon one thing, and that