Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-06-25
The Venezuelan SWindle "A Story Most
Damning to the Reputation OF Sew
eral Prominent Republican
Leaders.
Ex-Minister 0rth In a Bad BOx-The
Army Appropriation Biil-Senate
Proceedings -Sayler Elected
Speaker pro TEN.
TaE VENEZUELAN swrNDLE.

before the committee some months ago
was that out of some tive hrndred ana
nfty thousand dCllsis awarded to him
Dy tnAt commission, certificates for hall
that amount, without his con,
sent, were handed over by
Falmage to William p. Murray,
the brother-in-lsw Of StilWelI, the
American commissioner, as q fee for
legal services, although enc OF tbs rules
OF the commission wss that no attorney
should be allowed to appear before il,
and although Murray never did actusl-
Iy appear, and never did perform any
legal services In the matter, Talmsge
submitted written statement, relating
the history or the commission, and the
oh5tacies thrown in the way u its sue
cess By the Venezuelan government.
he was then examined at great leagth
by Mr.. SpIlnger, chairman of the COM
nlttes. he admitted to having
handed over to Murray, half of
the Seth Driggs certificates,
tut explained that he did so ttnder the
power of attorney executed by briggs to
Murray and by Murray to him. Oh be-
ing pressed for the reason WHY Dfiggs
who was st that Tins in CAracus, had
not himself drawn and Tecsipted for the
certificates to which he was entitled he
said he supposed il was because neither
briggs nor Murray would trust each
Others he confirmed Driggs's assertion
to the elect thai Murray had never .p,
| psared before the commission
srs, but intimated his be-
lief that Murray had performed legal
services In preparing evidence Ia sup
| port OF Diiggs' claims. He denied most
| positively having even received from
Murray, or from any of the claimants,
| any Of their certificates, and asserted
that those certificates which he had re-
ceived under power OF attorney from
persons living in the United .ates he
delivered to parties In interest imme-
diateiy after hts reu-n to this
country. Subsequently, however, he
had bought and sold and had
had various dealings in a large
amount OF these certificates. He ad.
mltted having employed Mr.. Orth to
appear for him before the COMMITTEES on
foreign affairs, nut asserted that his sole
intent was TO have the action of the eona-
mission maintained, and his own Fepti-
tatioD, which had been assailed by the
VeneEue'Su government, vindicated.
BE denied, however, M any Of the state
ments OF Mr.. .Orth in his testimony, par
ticularly those in which Odh represent
ed that ne had gone to the State depart.
ment la relation to dividends on certfi
cafes hS1d by Talmsge, and that he had
IeosiVeo certificates from TalmRge il
compensation for his services, and thai
he had learned from Talmage that he
was q large owaer OF q large amount Of
these certificates. Oa ali these points
he contrsdicted orth's testimony most
positively, and asserted that tie only fee
which Orth had received from him was
two hundred and fifty dOllars in cash.
He was examined stlength as to whether
John M. Mashede, the umpire selected
by the mixed commission, had not been
nominated at his suygts ion, and as 9
friend and agent OF his. He explained
their business relations, but denied any
fundamentally in the selection OF Ma
shede. To-day Seth Dtiggs pteYed suit to
recover one hundred and fifty Thousand
dollars damages, alleged to nave been
sustaiEed by the defendant refusing to
deliver to him certificates in payment OF
claims Of the plaintiff, adjudicated upon
by the American and Venezuela mixed
commission of 1865.
THE ARMY APPROPRIATION BILL.
The army appropriation bill reported
from the senate committee on spprOpri-
which the house proposed to reduce ard
reOrgsnize the army, and to establish
lower salaries for officers. Amendments
are reported increasing the house items
Of appropriation to an aggregate Of over
three millions Of dollars, so as TO provide
for continuing the present force Cf iwen-
ty-fve thousand men and officers sala
rIes as prescribed by existing law, aud
also to more nearly conform to estimates
of Secretary Tsft in other respects. The
conference on the legislative and judi
cial appropriation bill separated without
agreement, and q new conference will
probably be appointed when the house
meets Monday. This is the fourth con-
ference had on this bill by the existing
committee.
CONFERENCE OF PosTMAsTERs.
Postmaster General Jewell has in.
vited the pOstmasters of the larger
cities to q conference here upon the new
lsw reducing appropriations.
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.
Senator Allison, from the committee on
appropriations, reported with amend
ments the house bill making 8ppTOpTia
tions for the support of the army for the
fiscal year ending June 80, 1877, and
gave notice that be would call il up on
Monday.
AT the close Of the morning hour
the senate resumed the consideration of
the bill to regulate the assessment and
collection of taxes for the support Of the
government Of the District of Columbia,
but after long Discussion, the whole
subject was recommitted.
Mr.. Ferry submitted an amendment
to the sundry civil bill, making apPrO-
priations to build light. house aud fog
signal at Little Traverse ard light
houses and fog signal at Siannard's
Rock, Lake Superior.
Mr.. Wright, Of Iowa, called up the
house bill for the allowance Of certain
claims reported by accounting officers
of the treasury, when verbal amend
ments were agreed TO and the bill passed.
Ga motion Of Mr.. Bogy, the house bill
for the issue OF coin was made the spe-
cial order for Monday at two O'Clock.
MIR. Caperton was appointed 8 mem
ber Of the conference committee on the
Indian appropriation bill, in place Of Mr..
Ransom, excused.
Mr.. Paddock called up the bill reported
by him on the twenty. 9Th Of May to
restore the frsnking privilege, so as TO
have Ii come up as unfinished business
on Monday.
The Senate then went into executive
session, and when opened cdjourned.
HOW sAYLER WAS ELECTED SPEAKER
PRO TEN. OF THE HOUSE.
1t was designed by some Of the Demo
Gratis to elect Representative Holman
speaker pro tenn. in tbs place of Repre-
sentative Cox, who is now on his way
to ST. Louis. The resolution read origin
ally as follows:
Resolved, That Hon. VIM. s. HOl-
man, 3 representative from the State of
Indiana, be the speaker pro tenn Of this
house during the present absence Of the
speaker and Of the speaker pro tenn.
heretofore elected by the htuae.
1t has been ssesr aimed that there was
q movement among the Republicans to
substitute the name Of n. 2. Banks for
that Of Holman, and Couger had been
selected TO move an amendment The
principal duty Of the speaker pro tenn
during the remainder OF his session,
and especially during the coming week,
viii be to appoint committee on con-