New-York tribune., 1876-04-06
THE PROCEEDINGS IN COMMITTEE.

WASHINGTON, April 5.-ZachaIiah Chandler,
Secretary Of the Interior testified before the Committee
on Expenditures In the War Department to-day In regard
10 Detective Bell. The letter OF appointment OF CEifie
g. Bell, dated Jan 10. 1876. was shown, ard Mr.
Chandler identified 1t as regular Official document
Mr. Chandler then said that Mr.. Bells name was first
mentioned by tho President Cabinet meeting. The
seertary had experienced considerable difficulty in
nga chief Of the Secret Service He had discharged t
one he haA and asked the members OF the Cabinet
help him get good cLef. few days after the Presi
dent mentioned Bell having been spy In the service
Of the army during the Bell called at the Interior
Department with card from the President The atei
hsd sa that he would make coed man on the force
but not IA chief The carl simply announced that this
Wis the man the Presi lent had Toll him about W."
ness told Bell lao not prepared then to maxi
ohspges but to come again. He called seVertH
times In sew raj weeks, and witness said h'
believed he had met Bell twice during that time
One day Gen. Hurbut sitting in witncsss Office Al
the Interior Department When Bells card came In
witness threw carcessy upon the table and told TIE
messenger to say he engaged. Gen. Hurlbui says
BELL why know that man be was a spy for me; H.
enlisted the rebel army as private, stayed in The
service seven months, during which time he was pro
NOTED to BE- sergeant" The Secretary said be replied
II he could stay in the rebel army seven months as
tpy and keep his neck out OF the halter he must be
smart fellow and ought t. make good detective Th'
Secretary ap oi ted him more on what Gen Hurlbul
said than upon the recommendation Of tie President
Mr. Chandler under the impression that Bell handed
him card but lie has failed 10 ind it since, and mal
have been mistaken
Mr. Chandler then said he had never spoken To- Gen.
Babeock or Col. Luckey about it, Bell was dscbargco
Feb l5 1876 after Al days service 1t anne about III
this way: The Secretary went to the Cabinet meetns
one day earar than the other members ana found Tie
President sitting there with Belts the table
~ haHe In a.
employ and the answer was Yes" The President then
said that Bell was scoundrel and ought 10 he dismissed
Mr.. Chandler dismissed him Jrdugly soon as Ia
got back TO the Office. because he believed MIN TO DC
scoundre The President told him that Bell had applied
70 some certify that he in the GoyernneDi
employ to furnish information for against DabcOck, lie
did not which.
Witness knew OF no subscription being taken up 10 dc
fray the expenses Of Gen. BabcOck at ST. Louis lie rc
eeved letter from Mr.. D0TIe Of Philadelphia week
after the aoqual o. Gen. Babcoek, TO the effect thal
Gtn. Babcocks trial expenses about $4,000 TIA
he was utterly ruined and that as ho young man
he coud overcome his difficulty II set upon his feet ana
encouraged by his friends. Mr.. Chandler tier
sent Gen. BabcOck check for 81 900. when Lc Barnes
finally told witness that Bell had something Il
do with the Babcock trial. he told Lc Barnes TO pay
him unless bo found him in legitimate employment ..
the Pension Bureau he did not know that Bell had bee
paid until inquiry after reading testimony before this
Committee.
The testimony Of Robert Wilson Of Bismarck, Dakota
and Robert Seip. posttrader at Fort Lincoln,
celved in regard to post-tradershps. Nothing new o.
remarkable was ehcitod.
Joseph Parran. cashier OF the National Park Bank o.
New-Y0rk, was also examined to-day in relation to the
account of George H. Pendleton with that bank lie SAID
his account closed up ana all the Cheeks papcr5,
&c. transferred 10 the National Commercial Bank in Gin
cinnHt which the extent Of his knowledge OF the
matter.
Adjourned.