Union and American. [volume] (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1875-1877, 1876-03-02

committee, The first received,
$4,000; the second, $4,000; and the
last, $4,000. In addition to these
claims (which we're paid,) a large
and exorbitant sum was paid to
Murtagh, whose BILL it appears,
Shepherd himself promised " Sc
cure; but being himself deposed,
compelled the Board Of Audit his
satellltes) to settle in full. This
ls but one of a thousand instances
in which the taxpayers of this Dist
trict have been 1eeced and plum
dered under the forms of law.
These claims were paid,too, against
the earnest protest Of numbers OF
influential citizees.
A currency famine seems immi'
nent, since none of the currency
received at the Treasury Is paid
out again, and it is stated that
there is not sufficient on hand to
last more than two months. Pref
ty linanciers, indeed, are our Re
publican friends, when they have
allowed matters to come to this
point.
In the Senate, on Thursday Sen
ator Withers called up the bill
which provides for the restoration
to the pension rolls Of the names
of those veterans of 1872 which
have been dropped from the rolls
on account of dlsloyalty. There
is really no good and sufficient
reason why these few old soldiers
numbering somewhat over two
hundred--should be deprived Of
their pensions, and kept in poverty
on account of a single mistake. 1t
may well be taken as u sign Of re
turning good feeling when the
Government shows itself willing to
set the example of forgetiulncss.
BY the way, it is thought there
will be less reduction made IN the
appropriation for pensions than in
any other direction, though many
changes will he wrought in the
manner of distribution, and a large
reduction in the employees Of the
bureau.
Arguments were listened to on
yesterday, by the Committee on
Post Offices, in favor Of abolishing
the carriage Of merchandise by that
Department. 1t will Of course re
dOund to the interest Of the eX
press companies, if such action is
decided upon; yet, Iii view Of the
apparent unreliability Of the mails
as evidenced in the number of art
icles consigned to the Dcad-letter
Office, and recently sold, it may
prove, while somewhat more expen-
sive, a great deal more certain a
means of transit.
Hon. John NJ. Rice, OK Congress
man, and recently Librarian Of the
House. has resigned; and it is ru
mored Hon. John d. Young will be
appointed in his stead.
The acquittal Of Babcock, while
it has legally settled his innocence,
has not by any means done so NOR,
ally. People shrug their shoulders
and con idently believe that he can
never again assume the honorable
position which he once occupied in
the Army. He may not have re.
ceived any of the proceeds of those
frauds, yet he "touchcd pitch, and
was dcfled.'
Speaker Kerr has returned, afte;
a short vacation. His health seems
much improved, and he now pre-.
sides with his accustomed dignity.
Senator Sharon, of Nevada, has
finally made up his mind to look
somewhat after the interests Of his
State, and is now in his seat.
1t is very patent that serious dit
iculties have occurred in the Cab.
met lately. The President has
found in Brlstow n man too honest
and determined. lie thought hin
like the rest Of them-easiiy con.
trollcd and mouldcd-and was
doubtless surprised to find the op.
positc. The great difficulty wa;
that Bristow was too dull to under
stand that his prosecutions should
not endanger the peace Of the
White House, or the third term
Matters will probably be amIcabIy
settled, as Babcock has escaped
absolute D~unishmput. RENO.