The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-04-26
AFFAIRS ACROSS THE WATER.
What the Washington Committees ars
Dofns---The BeIknap Tmpeaehs
ment---A Troy Editor I'm
Trouble, ETC., Etc.

menf-..A Troy Editor I'm
Trouble, ETC., Etc.
AvTH CONGRESs--First Session.
- WASHINGTON, April IS, 1876.
~" SENATE
The bill appropriating $4,000 TO survey
the Austin-T opoloYampo Pacific route was
indefinitely postponed. -,
The Judiciary Committee reported favor
ably on the bills removing the political disa-
bilities of William l.. Maury, Francis T.
Nichols, Samuel Jones, and W. 81. Jenifer.
Calendar.
The Committee on the District Of Column
bia reported unfavorably on the bill author
izing vote of the people Of the District as
to whether Congress shall establish gov
eminent for the District to be elected by
the people. DIR. Spencer dissented. Cal
endar.
The bin removing the disabilities Of
James E. Slaughter was passed
The Senate insisted upon its amendments
to the deficiency bill, and asked a confer
ence; also on the diplomatic bill.
DIR. Jones resumed, and continued his
speech on the silver-tender bill.
Executive session. Adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
There was a contest between the Elections
and Appropriations Committees for prece-
dence, which, upon call Of the ayes and
noes, resulted in 1T to 70 in favor Of the
Appropriations Committee.
The Navy Committee made report OF
testimony taken. Ordered to be printed
and recommitted.
The legislative appropriation bill was re-
sumed. An amendment giving $4,000 to
the mint at Charlotte, n. c., and S14, 900 for
was adopted. Six pages of the bill were
considered.
The impeachment managers presented
Belknap's replication; which was adopted.
Adjourned. T..-.-
EX-ATToRNEY-GENERA AKERMAN ON
THE WITNESS-STAND-HE IS REQUIRED
TO TESTIFY, WHICH HE DOES UNDER PRO
TEST-WHAT HE KNOWS ABOUT THE EX-
PENDITURE OF SECRET-SERVICE MONEY,
ETC. .....-f
WASHINGTON, April 25.-Akerman was
before the Committee of Expenditures
Of the Department Of Justice to-day,
and asked that the committee would
withdraw the question whether the Presi-
dent had directly ordered him to pay money
| to Davenport. The committee was not full,
and adjourned to a later hour, when they
will decide whether Akerman shall be
pressed to answer.
Upon reassembling this evening the COM
mittee insisted upon an answer.
| Alderman, under protest, said the subject
OF frauds had frequently been the subject OF
conversation between himself and the Presi-
dent. Senator Conkling and other gentle
men deemed the prosecution OF frauds
at elections in New York OF such
Importance as to suggest the employ
ment Of special counsel, as the Dis
trict Attorney and his assistants were
very busy. Caleb Cushing was SO employed,
and was paid out Of the ordinary judiciary
fund. He had heard it charged that MEM
bers of Congress were fraudulently elected
in New York, but could not tell any par
ticular district. The President advised
Alderman to assist Davenport in suppress
ing such frauds without making any refer
ence to political parties. Alderman had no
fear Of duplicating any one; deemed it
against public policy to give publicity to
answers to the questions the committee pro-
posed. .'.
He then proceeded to state that in 1871,
while the President was at Long Branch,
he (Akerman) received q letter written by
General Porter, in accordance with the
Presidents instructions, stating that MIR.
Davenport was engaged in searching out
frauds against naturalization and registra-
ton in New York, and suggesting to him
(Akerman) that he could useully en-
ploy portion OF the money given
him by Congress to suppress the
election frauds in New York. Witness
was at that time investigating the kuklux
affairs in the South, and replied to the
President that he had already appropriated
his money in that direction. He was told
in subsequent communication from the
President that the fund could be used with
as great advantage in New York city as in
the South. After full explanation he au-
thorized the payment to Mr.. Davenport.
His conversations with the President
extended through the fall Of 1870 and
spring of 1871. He could not recol-
lect that any of this money was used
to detect frauds in Philadelphia, it being a
Republican city, and New York was Demo-
cratic; but that did not influence the Presi-
dent in his actions. The frauds in New
York seemed to be systematic. That was
the field Of Dayenport's operations, and the
President was OF the opinion that if Dayen-
it would be OF advantage elsewhere. The
was acting in partisan manner.
After some general questions, which ell
cited no new facts, the committee adj
iourned.
THE BELKNAP IMPEACHMENT sUR-RE-
JOINDER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTA-
TIVES
{ WASHINGTON, April 25.-The impeach-
ment managers of the House of Represent
atives to-day filed with the Secretary OF the
Senate their sur-reioinder to the reioinder
OF General Belknap, which was filed yes
terday. They relterate in the name of the
House, Of all the people OF the United
States, the assertions OF their first replica
ton to the pleas OF William W. Belknap,
to the effect that the Senate has Jurisdiction
to hear and determine the articles of i'm
parchment preferred, and that the House
OF Representatives are ready to verify
and prove the same, and continue:
" Wherefore, inasmuch as the said
William W. Belknap hath not answered the
said articles of impeachment, or in any
manner denied the same, the said House OF
Representatives pray Judgment thereon ac-
cording to law. In the next place they ae-
cent SO much Of General Belknap's reioinder
as demands trial according to law, but as to
the remainder OF his reioinder they deny
that the House of Representatives should
be barred from maintaining the said articles
of impeachment against him By reason OF
the statements: contained therein, because.
reserying to themselves oil advantages Oh
-, osl r%rk %