New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-05-19
Especial Correspondence Of the Republican |
FROM WASHINGTON.

FROM WASHINGTON.
The Government Archiv ps-Tho Demo.
Gratis Invade Thorn, and the Sad Re. |
sult-War on tho President Declared, |
but Finally Abandoned-Bogus Savings |
Banks-How the Government Is Cheat |
ed Out Of Its Taxes-Wealthy but Stu-
pld Democratic Leglslators-S pecimens |
from Now England States.
WASHINGTON. May l2, 1876.
When the President declined to allow |
original papers on tile in the respective de- |
partments of the government to be removed
to the committee rooms at the Capitol for |
the use of the investigators, the Democratic
and ex-Confederate members Of Congress
were at first inclined to make war uroa
him. and ut the same time establish some
political capital for the Democratic party
as we'll. These members of Congress threat
ened to show that the sole reason for the
Presidents action in the premises was that
he was afraid to allow the original papers
to leave the files because they would be
the means of unearthing frauds, ETC., dam
aging to the Republican party, but these
rampant investigators cooled down con-
siderably. When all aglow with indg-
nation they tackled Secretary Bristow,
the only Cabinet Minister whom the red
hot Democrats and ex-COnfederates are on
good personal terms with, and that high
functionary informed them that some of the
papers on file in his department which had
ho for
now be found, and that as the said papers
showed very clearly questionable transac.
tions on the part Of prominent members Of
the D Democratic party, they will doubtless
never be restored to the archives of the
Treasury Department. Bristow informed
these indignant gentlemen that there was
not the least probability, according to the
committeeman before whom the originals
were presented, that these lost papers would
ever turn up again. The Democrats, there
fore, have con ,luded to postpone their fight
against the President for refusing to allow
original papers to leave the files Of the de-
partments.
Hon. Montgomery Blair, counsel for the
late Secretary Of War, in arguing the juris-
diction of the Senate to impeach that gen.
tleman after he was out of office, made by
far the most able and exhaustive argument
delivered upon the question by either side.
The great learning which has existed 80
plentifully in the Blair family seems to
have centered and shown forth m Ost abun.
dainty in the person of Montgomery. His
aoH 10
close attention of the great lawyers in the
Senate. His manner in setting forth prece
dents, and general delivery, interested Sen
ators and spectators generally. Although
Mr.. Blair, in arguing the question of juris-
diction. had difficult and uninteresting
subject to handle, he made the most of it,
and convinced the court and the honorable
managers on the part of the House that all
the authorities applicable to the case in
point had been pretty thoroughly quoted
and ingeniously applied to the question
| which the Senate, as high cour; of i'm
peachment, must soon pass upon.
Senator Mcdonald, Of Indiana. says he
will reply to Senator Morton's explanation
in open Senate. the other day in regard to
| the $3.50, 600 used in defending the State
| from the inroads of secession as soon as the
recess is over or as soon as the impeach
ment trial will permit.
| An effort is now being made in Congress
| which ostensibly will exclude brokers'
bankers and other like business from in
ternal revenue taxes. This can be done by
styling such FIRMS as savings banks, as in
stitutions under that head are exempt from
many taxes 70 which general banking anG
brokerage Institutes are liable. There is a
bill now pending to exempt saving;
banks from stamp tax on receipts to saw
| iugs banks or institutions for savings "hav
ing no capital stock and doing 10 othe
business than receiving deposits to b
loaned or invested for the sole benefit o
the parties making such deposits, withou
profit or compensation to the ASSOCIATION o
company 1t is quite amusing to the few
who understand how scarce such banks ar
in this country which come within the scop
OF the words above quoted. Yet thos
words are substantially those that shoul'
apply to legitimate savings bank, accord
ing to the Supreme Court of the Cnite'
States, which has decided that say
ings bank is one without capital
whose earnings are for the beneh
Of its depositors. The government has al
along been aware Of the fact that there ar
thousands of curb stone brokerage offices
banking houses, ETC., which by law ough
to contribute something in the way of take
to the public treasury, but are ena
bled to avoid the payment by styling them
selves "saviugs banks" The governmen
is also aware that many banks of hig
standing which call themselves saving
banks are not such according to law; tina
instead of applying their earnings for III
benefit of their depositors, their earning
20 into the pockets of few managers, an
moreover. have capital stock. An a
tempt was made by the governmen
few years ago to secure reports fro1
all savings banks. The effort was PARTIAL
successful, and in the great States lik
PENNSYLVANIA and New York somethin
like ten out of thirty-six savings bank
were such in reality. Banks in the othe
States would not allow any reports to &
out regarding their condition, claimin
that they kept no reports, but sutficier
, evidence was obtained by the governmer
, to show that the real, legitimate saving
banks in this country were few and far b.
tween, and that there are large numbt
of brokerage offices and private bankin