Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-04-26
EX-AttOrney-General Ackerman's Ex-
planatiOn Of the Use of the Secret
Service Fund.
The President Responsible for the Ex.
penditures Made by Davenport in
New York.
John DelanO ON His Surveying Contracts
Admission Of New Mexico Sale
Of GOld-Etc.
Impeaehment Mi1nesses snmmoned-

impeachment Witnesses Summoned.
WASHINGTON, April 25.-The man.
ayers OF the impeachment trial have
summoned Marsh and wife, Vail, the
cashier Of the Bank OF Commerce, New
York, E. T. Bartlett New York law.
yer, and General Custer. Mrs Marsh
is ill.
Sale of Gold Tomorrow.
WASHINGTON, April 25.-The secre-
tary OF the treasury has directed the as
sistant. treasurer at New York to sell, on
Thursday next, the gold to be paid into
the treasury on account of bonds sold to
pay the awards Of Judgments of com.
missiOners of Alabama claims.
Admission of New Mexico.
WASHINGTON, April 25.-The house
committee on territories has agreed to
report tavOrably on the senate bill for
the admission of New Mexico. The
only important amendment provides
that the election for the adoption Of the
State constitution shall not be EARLIER
than June, 1877. The senate provided
not later than January, 1877.
John DeIanO under Fire.
WASHINGTON, April 25.-The com.
mittee on expenditures in the interior
department to-day examined John Del
snO with reference to his Iand-survey
contracts. From his testimony it ap-
pears that he had an interest in the
Hammond contract, though his name
did not appear. Colonel John l.. Mer-
riam was his partner. Witness did
nothing but furnish money. Witness
received notes or checks from Colonel
Merriam, who made the checks payable
to him. He made no attempt to conceal
the receipt OF the money, nor did he
think what he did was dishOnorable.
His recollection was that he did not re-
ceive over three thousand dollars from
all his surveying contracts. Witness
was asked whether he told DIR. Reed, in
April, 1875, that the President had eVi-
dence of his interest in such contracts,
and replied that he did not recollect.
Being closely questioned, he said that,
according to his recollection, the evil
dence was shown to him by General
Babcock at the White House. He never
had talk with the President about the
matter.
The Brooklyn NaVy-Yard.
A subcommittee, headed by Repre-
sentative Willis, Of the house committee
on naval affairs, will, on Monday next,
begin an investigation of the manage
ment Of the Brooklyn navy-yGrd, and
generally Of the expenditures and con-
tracts in and about New YORK city for
naval nUrpnses.
The Emma-Mine SwindIe.
The house committee on foreign affairs
to-day received from England certain
dOcum ents from the office OF the Emma
i1,fr 1t,al,,A;v,,- .Lz
which M'DOugsl tel 'graphed several
weeks ago as being in his possession and
General S3henck. At the
meeting OF the committee on Tuesday,
General Schenck msy again be heard
from concerning the points against his
integrity.
Ackerman Refuses TO Answer.
WASHINGTON, April 25.-Ex-Attor-
Ackerman to-day asked
the committee on expenditures in the
Of justice to consider
whether they would demand of him an
answer to the question prOpOunded
whether he conferred
with the President before paying GER
tain moneys to John l. Davenport. A
full committee not beirg present, re-
cess was taken until two O'Clock. On
the committee decided
to require an answer of Mr.. Ackerman,
who then put in a protest on the ground
that it was both illegal and prohibited
by statute, that such communications
with the Executive should not be
made public. He then testified to the
they being similar to
those nsrrate6sby Ex-AttOrney-General
Williams with the President.
Ackerman stated that some time in
1871, while the President was at Long
Branch, and he CAckermaul was in
Washington, he read letter written
by General Porter, in accordance with
from the President, stating
that Mr.. Davenport was engaging in
searching the frauds sg ainst raturallZs-
ton and registration i'll New York, and
to him [Ackermau1 that he
could use freely ana employ portion of
the money given to him by congress to
suppress election frauds in this NeWYO
case; witness was at that time engaged
in investigating kukluX affairs in the
south, and he replied to the Presidents
suggestion that he had already apprO-
priated his money in that direction. He
was told, in a subsequent cOmmunica-
tion from the President, that the funds
cou'd be used with as great advantage
in New York city as in the south. After
g full explanation he authorized the pay
ment to Davenport. These converse
tiOns with the President extended
the fall Of 1870 and the spring
Of 1871. The frauds in the elections
were matters of frequent consulta-
ton, and witness recommended
Of special counsel and
among others who were employed in
the New York cases were Caleb Cush.
ing. He could not state any specific
cause in which frauds were committed,
but he knew they were general. MIR.
Cushing was paid for his services out Of
what was called the judiciary fund. The
witness never thought that the PIesi-
dent was Influenced in the action by
any partisan motive; he wanted to pre-
vent frauds; he did not care what party
they affected; he could not recOllect
that aay portion OF this money was used
to detect frauds in Philadelphia. The
latter was Republican city, and New
York was Democratic; but that did not
influence the President in his action.
Frauds in New York seemed to be sys-
thatwSs the field OF DavenpoTt's
operations, and the President was of the
opinion that il his system could be of
there it would be elsewhere.
The President never for q moment
thought he was acting in a partisan
manner. Adjourned.
Postal Matters.
NEW YORK, April 25.-A Washington
special says that the house appropriation
adopted the pOstoffice bill
this morning, which provides that free
delivery system shall not be introduced
in cities Of less than forty thousand in
habitsDts, and also adopts the new sys-
tenn of compensation for mail service by
space instead Of weight, ard virtually
cuts off the present fast mail trains.
The maximum Of speed is fixed at thirty
miles per hour.
Sad CatasIrOple.
Iowa CITY, April 25.-As Prof Par
ker, professor OF ancient languages in
the State university, was out rowing on