, 1876-04-01
Our washington Letter.


wAsHrsoros, D. c., March, Is. 1876
EDrroR SrKrEsNAS:-The campaign may oe saia a. q
have fully opened with the organization on the Ma
tonal Democratic Congressional COMMITTEES. sho ar
installed ut Their rooms AZ ls24 street IN thf
city. The assisted press has failed to give, IN oe
tail, and desirable accuracy the PeTsolsel ol ene o.n
mittee. and as state ard local Organizations, snc
other democrats all ever TIE country, viii have ire
queDt occasion 10 address the officers, We sPpena Al
the request of the COMMITTEES. the following infor
nation:
RooNs OF NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC J.
CoNGREssIoSAL COMMITTEE,
1874 street, Washington. D. C.J
SENATE.
Hon. j. W Stevenson OF Kentucky; Hon w. W
Eaton, Of Connecticut Hon. W. 2. White, ot Mary
land; Hon T. @. DAVIS, Of West Virginia Hon: j.
B. Go,don, Of Georgia
HorsE OF REPRESES1ATiyEs-
Hon. Eiester Clyner of Pennsylvania; Hon. c.
W. Chapin, of Massachusetts; Hon. J. W Throek-
norton of Texas Hon. A ;. Hewitt, Of New YORK
Hon. c. Z. Hooker, of Mississippi Hon NJ Sayierr
of Ohio.
DISTRICT oP ooLUMBfs-
Mr.. W. W. Coooran, Mr.. James E Harvey, and
The demoratic organizations in all the states and
territories are requested 10 send the names OF their
committees, Immediately, 10 the Congressional COM
mIttee.
Anplications for do-rments, speeches, and other
political matter and all communications relating c
the business of the committee should be addressed g
the secretary, Hon James Z Harvey, at 1924
street, Washington City
Editors who may send their newspapers 70 the
committee will be furnished with all documents pub
lshed by them, free OF chsrge.
HESTER CLYsiER, Chairman.
W. H BARSUN, Secretary
JA1ES z HARVEY, Secretary.
Of the committee which investigated the Belknar
scandal also chairman of this committee, and nc
man better &ted for the position could have been
chosen. Mr.. Clymer n q Of particularly suave
and agreeable address, and, up9uestolably, man OF
great ability The committee are fortanate also IN
securing the services, secretary, of Hon. James E
Harvey, late u. 8. Minister 10 Portugal, man OF
letters journalist Of note, and OF varied and
extended infoI oImation whose large acquaintance and
experience must prove OF great value 10 the party.
The DIsIRICr INVESTIGATION.
The investigation into the affairs of the District
government and OF the board of audit, which is being
continued from day 10 day by the House committee
on the District of Columbia disci0ses a system OF
official swinahng and robtins, by wholesale and re-
tail, that completely throws into the shade the
crimes of Tweed and his associates in New York.
This and other Investigations that the several COM
mittees OF the House diligently pursuing disclose
the astounding fact that there has not been for years
honest man in any prominent PosItlon under
either the feieral the District government; and
that even the men In subordinate positions who have
had opportunity 10 steal have invariably followed
the example set them by their Official superiors.
There has been, really, no law in the proper aecep
tation of the word administered in Washington fOr
long time. We have been under sort of provost
marshal rule. From the President and his cabinet
down 10 the chief of bureaus and from judges Of the
supreme court of the district and the attorney dow
TO the constable, utter disregard of the law where
anything could be made by violating IT. where the
interests of any of the various rings were at stake
has been the rule.
MORE OF BEIKNAP's EAsCALITIEs
Another one of ex-Secretary Belknap's post-trad-
ing operations has come to light. The informant is
C. s. Bell, a man well known in Washington He
will give his testimony before the committee shortly
At tue close of the war, Bell, who had been scout
in Gen. s. A. Hurlbuts division, was appointed to
The Secret Service Department on Gen. Reynolds
staff, IN Texas. He remained there for several
years. and in lS72 learning that the post leadership
at Fort DAVIS, Il station the Western frontier of
TeXas had bcCOms vacant, he came to Washington to
secure the vacant post leadership He brought with
him letters of Recommendation from Gen. Reynolds
and other prominent gentlemen. Shortly after his
arrival here he went TO Secretary Beknap, exhibited
his recommendations, and asked for the position
The Secretary appeared somewhat indignant ut being
approached personally upon such petty subject
inasInuch Che post leadership at Fort Davis WAS
not u very large affair Bell, being igh-tempered
replied sharply and left the Secretary's presence
lie had gone no further than the entrance 10 the
War Department off e, however, when n clerk of
Mr. Belknap came after linn, and asked him t1ret,tIr
for a few moments. Mr. Bell did as requested. The
Secretary treated him kindly; said that the post
leadership at Fort Davis vacant but that it was
worth u him s2O00 year Bell said he would con-
sider the proposition; but concluded that S2O00 per
snnum more than he couli pay for the privilege
of obtaining the pest, and did not accept it. lie Is
willing TO testify TO this statement, u fact.
GRANT RECEIVES PAIR or Fusfss FOR Az IsnIAE
Posr-rIADEEstlIf.
As soon the committee can get at IT, "A well
known gentleman OF unirnpeachable integrity will
testify to fact which places the President In hardly
less diSgracetul position than that of Belknap The
geatlemaR 10 whom refer holds himself ready e,
swear that, on certain OCCASION. he Wr1t to the
White House, and introduced to the President a
gentlcman who want d IL UoSt.traherShip on an In
dian agency. This gentleman made his application
and, after hayIEg made It, then remarked TO the
President, in the hearing of the witness that in
traversng the Indnn country he had cs,rne across
the finest pair of Indian ponies which he had ever
laid eyes pfon, and If the gift Huld le acceptable
he would ike TO make present Ut them 70 the Pres
ilent's boys. IhereupOn, without any hens OF
haws, the President accepted the gift and at once
sent telegram 10 the comngn nGiunt of the post where
the ponies then were, ordering them 10 he ilnInedi-
ately Forwarded at his Grant 81 expense Shortly
after, the applicant received appointment; /; not
indeed, TO tine post or agency for which he had ar
Piled, but 70 another equally as lucrative.
TIE SAFE BURIAhLY business TO BE s4FrEp.
The confession of NettleShip, one Of tn, safe bury
ary consprat r, is hk y TO lead 10 the Indictment
OF several p ointment members of tie district ring
This confession has thus far been crrefaIry guarded
by district attorney Wells, who admitted in his t4s
timony given To the Judiciary committee of the
House, on Saturday th:t he had promised Netteship
immunity from prosecution in return for his testi-
mony- Those most familiar with this case believe
that, If the whole truth discovered it viii impli
cate two Or three men who were, at the time of the
burgarly. public officers besides others who were
interested in hedistriet investigation If Harripg-
ton is shown TO have been Of the eonspirators as
he probably was 1t is belit we'd that be will prove TO
have btcn Simply and mt OUG of ba
cipals. The committee are conducting the iryesti
CATION IN secret, and this way hope 20 get to the
lotion facts A large number of Witnesses have
been summoned TO appear before them this week. in-
eludIng several persons in New York. Newark and
Boston. Mr. Proctor Knott. the chairman of the
committee says that this investigation will be deeper
than the last, and that he Is determined to let no
guilty man escape