The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-04-06
LAST EDITION.
WASHINGTON.
War Department and Committee
Matters..Fr0m MatamOras.

WaT department dn0 COuhm1ttee
Matters-.FrOm MatamOras.
By American Press Association to the STAR.
WASHINGTON, April 6.-Generals Sher-
man and Mcdonald had a very extended
interview with Secretary Taft yester-
day. General Sherman and the Secretary
afterward visited the President at the
White House.
There will be reduction of at least
twenty per cent. OF the force in the
Treasurer Office OF the Treasury De-
partment, in consequence of the appro-
priation being exhausted.
Secretary Chandler, testifying before
Clymer's Committee, further said that
the President said he wanted Bell dis
missed because he was scoundrel and
had been hunting up testimony either
against or for Gen. Babcock, he did not
care which. 1t was not in his line OF
duty, and as Bell was' scoundrel he
wanted him dismissed.
Witness said he then at once directed
LeBarnes to dismiss him, and asked Le-
Barnes what service Bell had rendered
when his accountwas pres sented. Thinks
LeBarnes told him Bell said he got his
appointment for service rendered to Gen.
Babcock at the time of his trial; that he
was appointed for what he had done in
that case; Bell himself never told wit
ness 80.
Witness then told LeBarnes that If
that was all the service rendered, Bell
should not be paid. Gen. Cowan, AS
sistant Secretary, subsequently ordered
the account to be slated, and witness
signed the voucher in the usual course
of business, but did not recollect 1t par
ticularly. When he signed the voucher
he did not think Bell had rendered any
service. Bell had been paid month in
advance, but that was often done, in Or
derthat when detectives were sent away
they might have money to pay travelling
expenses. Neverknew anything of Bell
except what was said of him by the
President and Gen. Hurlburt.
Robert Wilson, trader at Fort Lincoln,
testified that in 1874 he was partner OF
Dickey at that post. Dickey got the ap-
pointment through the influence Of his
brother, Captain Dickey. Witness and
his partner were subsequently put out
through the influence Of a MIR. A. G.
Lexington, and Mr.. Sipe was appointed.
He had silent partners, who were under
stood to be General Hidrichs, OF Iowa,
and e. w. Rice. OF Washington.
to the appointment of an Indian trader
at Fort Berthold, and he said that in
1874 Orville Grant was at Bismarck, Da-
kota, and he telegraphed to Delano or
Commissioner Smith what was an order
to appoint man named Lincoln at Fort
Berthold. The same day answer came,
signed by Secretary Delano, saying
Raymound would be appointed.
Mr.. Danford, member OF the Com
mittee, read those portions OF Belps tes-
timony detailing conversation with
Mr.. Chandler, when he told the latter
that he had been employed in BabcocKs
case, I'LL Of which Secretary Chandler
pronounced false. The Committee, af-
ter deciding not to examine Gan. Bah
cock and Mr.. Luckey until this after
noon, adjourned.
The Secretary Of War has issued or
ders transferring the headquarters of
the army back to Washington.
The Secretary of War has received a
dispatch iron General Ord confirming
previous information relative to the
state OF affairs in and around Matamoras.
General Ord states that such disposition
has been made of the United States
forces on the Rio Grande as will, In his
opinion, serve to protect the lives and
property Of American citizens.