The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-07-20
Forty Fourth Congress First Session.
SENATE.

Mr.. Cragin, from the committee on naval af
fairs, reported favorably on the House bill in
relation to the promotion of commodoreS on
the retired list of the navy. Placed on the cal
endar.
Mr.. Allison, from the conference committee
on the army appropriation bill, made a report
which was agreed to. In submitting the report
Mr.. Allison explained its provisions and said
all matters relating to the reorganization of the
army were to be submitted to committee to
consist of two members of the Senate and two
of the House, the Secretary of War and two
army officers. The House had receded from
all its amendments relating to the reduction of
the organization and psy of the army. The
bill as it came from the House of Representa-
t.ves appropriated 1924, $50, $50. That amount
was increased by the Senate 1921 900. The
conference committee had reduced the amend
ments OF the Senate 81 1872 1873, leaving the total
amount appropriated by the bill if it should be
passed. $26 069 065, or 81 1864 900 less than APP
propriated by the army bill of last year.
Legislative business was then suspended, and
the Senate resumed the consideration of arti-
Giles of impeachment against Belknap, late Sec
rotary of War.
Jno. S. Evans was called and sworn.
Carpenter, counsel for the accused, said E.
ans was now on the stand, Ii the managers
desired to examine him they could do so. If
not, defence would insist upon their making
proper cross examination.
Manager McMahOn said the managers would
claim the right to call out on cross examination
whatever was legitimate and proper in the
| case.
After further discussion Mr. Conkling SUBJ
mitted the following:
Ordered That the managers proceed to exam
inc the witness, Evans, in chief, or shout they
decline to do so, the respondent may proceed to
examine the witness in Chief with the right of
the managers to cross examine him like any
other witness.
| Agreed to.
The witness was then examined by Mr.. Nc
ATa1.1 ay,A I'd hot h4 Hal LNAv~ ~no1k
| trader at Fort Sill since 1869; was removed on
| the 9th of March last, and Rice & Byles of st.
Louis appointed in his place. Witness was
| first appointed upon the recommendation of all
| the officers OF the post; when the law in regard
| to the appointment of post traders was passed,
witness came to Washington to seek reap
pointment, but the Secretary of War was in
Keokuk; first saw him in that city; was intro
duced to him by Mr.. Peck and had a brief con-
versation with him, but the Secretary said he
could not attend to any business until he re.
| turned to Washington; when the Secretary
| returned witness saw him; he said the papers
| of witness were satisfactory, but he had prom
| ised the post to another person; the Secretary
said he did not know whether that person
wanted to go to Fort Sill or not, but that he
would soon be in the city and witness could see
| him on the subject and might make some salts
| factory arrangement; saw Marsh a day or two
| afterwards when he came to Washington; he
| at first wanted $780, 900 per annum for the post,
| York with Marsh and he fnally agreed to take
| ST., 900 for the post. The agreement between
Marsh and Evans was here exhibited and iden-
tined by witness. He further testified that
| Marsh came to his hotel in Washington to see
him on the subject; the total amount paid to
| Marsh up to November Both, 1875, was $40, 317.
The Secretary of War.never inquired of me
whether had contract with Marsh or not;
Marsh had no capital invested in my concern;
witness said that he stated to Marsh that him
| self and partner had then invested at Fort
| Sill sum amounting to 100000, and that it
| would be great loss for them to leave that
| post; witness offered to enter into partner
| ship with Marsh or to sell out to him; he I'M
| derstood at the time of this conversation that
| the appointment. had been made but would be
| assigned to witness in case he could make an
| agreement with Marsh; Marsh never stated to
me what he proposed to do with the money
| received from me.
| Cross-examined by Carpenter.
Witness saw Belknap in Washington after
| he returned from Keokuk; told him Of the
| stock of goods he had and asked Belknap if he
| thought he could dispose of his interest to
/ Marsh or form partnership with him; Bel
| KNAPP appeared to have some sympathy for wit
| ness and said he could see, Marsh and might
| make some arrangement with him; Belknap
never requested witness to see Marsh; Marsh
| never told me he had to divide with any one;
never heard of any money being paid to the Sec
/ rotary of War until the publication of the Tri
| bune az tcle in 1872; witness was granted leave
to introduce liquor for the army officers through
| the usual channels; never had any indulgences
from the Secretary of War not common 10
| Others
Adjutant General Townsend was recalled
and identified certain documents.
Evans was recalled and testified that he new
| er communicated the fact of his having COZ
| tract with Marsh to the Secretary of War; did
not Increase his prices after the contract be-
cause the extension of railroad into the In
dian territory made it easier to get his goods.
The Impeachment proceedings were temper
| arily suspended add legislative business re
| sumed.
Mr.. Window. from the conference committee
| on the sundry civil service bill submitted re-
| port which be read. In explanation of the re-
port he said the bill as it originally passed the
| House appropriated $15, 256, 731 IS; the Senate
added 81, 1876 $780, and as now reported it APP
| propriated SIG, 229, 777S2. The total amount of
| reductions made from the bill as it passed the
Senate was $4,156, 15529. The sundry civil
bill of last year appropriated $685. GA $4,000, or
| SlO, 4l4, 572.Z7 more than the present bill He
was unable to see any great saving to the gov
eminent in the reductions made in the confer
ence committee from the bill as it passed the
Senate. So far as the amounts were concerned
| the concessions were all made by the Senate
conferees He was not satisfied with the bill
| as agreed upon in the conference, but he
| thought it the best bill which could be got un-
der the circumstances. He commented on the
various items and argued that it would be nee
l Coodly W pass 0tuCi6uCy AS Inc
bill had been agreed upon in conference it pro-
vided that the public printer should be appoint
ed by tie President. That officer had hereto
fore been elected by the Senate. but the House
for several years had disputed the right of the
Senate to do so, and the Senate conferees had
thought it best to yield as the House had re-
coded from its provision repeating the election
law. After long and tedious efforts this bill
had been agreed on and he thought it was
about the best that could be made under the
cirpum and honpd of tha
be agreed to.
The report was agreed to-yeas 80, nays u.
Those who voted in the negative were Mesers.
Anthony, Bruce, Conover, Edmunds, Hamlin,
Harvey, Hitchcock, Ingalls, Logan, Mitchell,
Morrill, and Spencer.
The impeachment trial was then resumed
One or two witnesses testified to defendants
good character after which the case was closed
After ordering that managers and counsel
argue in such order as they may arrange Senate
adjourned till tomorrow.
HOUSE.
Mr.. jerks of Pennsylvania offered resolu-
ton directing the Secretary of the Treasury to
have careful and exact surveys made of dis
tances of lines of the Union and Central Paci-
tic Railroad for which government bonds were
issued. Adopted.
The report of the conference committee on
the bill declaring forfeited TO the United
States certain railroads in Kansas was made
by Mr.. Goodwin and agreed to.
MI. MOrrlSon OF the Ways and Means Com
mittee reported bill to amend laws relating to
internal revenue. Made special order for the
22d of July.
The Senate bill extending the duration of the
Court of Commissioners of Alabama Claims
until the first of January next was passed,
The House proceeded to the consideration of
the South Carolina contested election case, the
unanimous reportlof the committee being that
neither the sitting member (Mackey) nor the
contestant (Butts) Is entitled to the seat
After speeches by Mackey in his own cause,
and Thompson of Massachusetts in support of
the committees report the report was agreed
to without a division.
Mr. Walling of Ohio asked leave to offer1a
resolution authorizing the committee on public
lands to prosecute through a sub committee
during the recess, the Investigations into the
Desmoines river land grant. the Northern Paci-
fc Railroad Company's transactions and those
OF the Lake Superior and Puget Sound Land
Co., but objection was made by Mr. Hale of
New York, who expressed his intention of OBJ
jecting to all investigations during recess.
Mr.. Atkins of Tennessee made conference
report on the army appropriation BILL The re-
port was agreed to and the bill goes TO the
President for signature.
Mr.. Jones Of Kentucky, from the committee
on railroads, reported bill Incorporating the
nil Pail r.