New-York tribune., 1876-07-27
CURRENT TOPICS At THE CAPITAL.

EXTRAORDISARY CHARGES AGAINST / JUDGE.
wAsnyGToS. Wednesday. July 2G, 1876
A select committee Of the House, Of which
Mr. Warren Of Mass chnsctts ia Chairman hIs been IN
session all day investigating the charges made hy Mr. X
d. Mussey, member Of he Washington Bar, AGAINST
Justice Humphreys Of the suprc Court Of tho District
OF Columbia. The charges that Justice Inmphrcys
is ignorant OF law and given 10 feeble, vapid hcsa'ne,
disconnected utteraucos upon the uch, devoid alike of
legal point and common srGse; that on the bench hr rs
ussy, unger em1uy, discourtcous. Ovcrbcaring and
Oppressive; that he frequently intoxicated upon the
berch that he has s1t I'm least IN which he
had pecuniary interest," that be has borrowed money
from momb OF the har which o. as failed To repay
that he has isrrminatcd against tho'c who refused 10
lend him money and in favor Of lenders and that Een-
orally by his conduct judge he has hindored Justice"
rendered himself public laughing,focg, aud brought
discTndlt upon tie coEr,. Many o. thc lawyers who
have raccei before this court present. In obcd
cncc 70 a summons OF the Committee and half
dozen OF them examined the first witness being Mr.
A. c. Riddle. The burden of the testimony TO the
effect that Judge Humphreys is possessed Of much
legal know ledge, and that his manner toward counsel
witnesses and Others has been very annoying and
initiating. Some Of the witnesses llcncd his court to
the sch0oroom Of a small country scho0lmastcr whose
main object enforce absolute silence; while another
smoke Of il as being known the circus court" The
CHARGES 10 int0Xicaton ard his denals Of Justice
we no; very cuneusvoy established by tho evidence
II
o,n members Of the bar resolved into three or
four cases in which Pc made loans which ne had paid
10 pcr cent interest and either discharged loan In
whole or in part Judce Humphreys himself was
present and crOss-cXamiued some Of the witnesses
CONTRACTING THE MAIL SERVICE.
Tn view Of the reduced appropriations for
the pay Of clerks and agents upon railroads, general
reduction in force and salaries necessary Postmaster
General Tyncr has to-day issued orders reducing the
salaries of head clerks in railway pOst-Ohices from
81 400 to 81 800 per annum; clerks from $1,000 to
81 $50 per anuum and route agents 10 amounts varng
from 5000 ~ 900 per annum, according TO the mum
Der of miles run daily. This reduction, with such de
crease in the number Of employees IA made from
time to time VIII about within the limits Of the ap
pouration leaving little margin for the growth Of the
service
GEN. RAUM TO SUCCEED MR.. PRATT
The position of Commissioner of Internal
Rev nue. having been to-day formally declined by Con
cressman McDouga OF NewYOrk. WAS offered to Gen.
Green Raum OF Illinois, and accepted by him this after
noon His nomination was sent 10 the senate. Gen.
Raum lawyer by profession and about 90 years Of
age He served throughout the war IN command Of a
brigade OF the army OF the Tennessee and represented
the Cairo Illinois, district In the Kiln CONGRESS is
appo Is spoken OF highly credtaDle one by
his old Congressional associates OF bctn parties