Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-02-28
WASllINGTtDN.
Military in Civil Service.

| Washing ton, Februbry 26. communication
of the Secretary of War was sent to the House
yesterday giving list Of the military officers en-
gagged in the civil service since 1865 mentions the
name of Gen. Babcock among others, having been
detailed by the President for the performance of
duty at the Executive Mansion but not to neglect
his Office as Commissioner Of Public Buildings
and Superintendent of the Washington Aqueduct.
| Presid nt's Private Secretary.
Levi z. Luckcy is private secretary of the Pres
dcnt, appointed as such under legal author.tv
and not Gen. Babcock, as cronc"u-ly reor, ocntc l.
| Both men are on their way from ST. Louis, and
are expected to resume their duties at the ESecu-
| tive Mansion, Monday.
Alaska Commercial Company.
| The examination of Gen. Miller, President of
the Alaska Commercial Company, by the sub COM
mittee of ways and means, was concluded to-day
| Gen. Miller claimed that the company not only
fulfilled its obligations but had done more in the
| interest of the government ana nation than is
strictly required by the contract. He called at
tenton to the fact that the secretary of the treas
ury had power to annul the lease If the company
failed to comply with its conditions, and said 1t
was not only the desire but also the policy of the
company to deal with the government honestly.
If any one knows that wrong was done, why
does he not inform the secretary instead of circu-
lating lbcllous aud anonymous communications.
The pamphlet which was sent to the government
in Gen. Howard's report was only compilation
hostile TO the company, and every line of it con-
| tains falsehood. 1t issued in a secret man
ner and was signed by some person who purports
to be secretary OF the association, which could not
be found in existence. Gen Howard did not visit
the seal islands, but picked up this pamphlet year
after it had been in circulation and forwarded 1T to
Washington without vouching for its correctness.
The attacks upon the company proceed from dis
appointed bidders, who claim that their bid should
have been accepted. He claims that the company s
bid was $4,000 more than the bid of these par
ties, and the government receives $4,000 more
per annum than is required by the act of Congress-
and that the income of the government from this
source is about S326. 900 per annum.
ltcosts the company six dollars to put seal skin
on the London market, while they would only
sell for five dollars when the lease was taken.
The company has raised the value of the skins by
close attention to business, and by making seal
fur popular.
| Gen. Miller having answered fully and satisfac-
torily all the questions put by the committee will
return to San Francisco. Secretary Boutwell, will
| be the next witness called.
| Gen. Ii abcOck.
! Gen. Babcock, in conversation with friends,
says he has no present intention of resignins the
position of private secretary to the President, nor
does he consider it at all necessary to renew his
request for the army court inquiry to vindicate
him from the charges which have already been
disposed of after Il full and fair trial by civil
tc;k al