The Portland daily press., 1876-07-31
WASHINGTON.
The WhiSkeY Thieves.


WASHINGTON, July 29.-The attorneys Of the
sentenced Western whisloey thieves are hnra in
considerable numbers to secure the pardon, or
the mitigation of sentences, of their clients.
Attorney General Taft is generally understood
not to favor these applications Upon being
lnterrogated this morning he said: "There is
nothing that can be said about it, There seems
to be great sensibility on the subject There is
perfect storm of applications for pardons, as
If the Administration were to try all the whis-
key cases over again.
The Legislative Appropriation Commit
tee.
The committee of conference on the legisla-
tive appropriation bill were in session until q
late hour last night, and made some progress
toward an agreement A communication was
received from the Secretary of the Treasury in
response to general inquiry recently address,
ed to the heads of all executive departments
relative to reduction of their clerical force,
consentlng to compromise to the extent of 765
employees. Secretary Morrill,, on whose depart
meEt the proposed reduction would fall most
heavily, Informs the committee that it would
unquestionaby cripple the public service but
he furnishes detailed schedule, including
places where reductions will, in judgment of
the department, do the least harm 10 case the
contemplated compromise should prove to be
the legislative ultimatum Another meeting
will be held Monday.
Increasing the Cavalry.
The Secretary of War has sent to the House
the despatch of Gen. Sheridan recommending
the increase of the companies of the I'd, 3d. 4th.
9th and 7th cavalry to 100 men, as was done for
the two regiments on the Rio Grapde, and sub.
uniting an estimate for the number of men
now required in addition to the $4,000 men
which are authorized to fill the regiments of
cavalry on the frontier and Texas to the maxi
mum OF lO0 men to each company, of % 900
and expenses therefor, 1864, 100
General Sheridan says in the telegram above
raYffJ II. Oh,
and my best knowledge of Indian strength and
affairs at the agencies and in the field will not
warrant me at the present time in asking for
volunteers. L have no objection to asking for
them as soon as L conscientiously believe their
services necessary. but do not from the disas-
ter that came to Custer from a divided COM
mand, desire to take the responsibility of ask
Ing Tor volunteers now, thereby entailing on
the government an enormous expense. If Con-
gress Will increase the companies, as was done
Tor the TWO regiments on the Rio Grande we
can MI them up at once, and they will be suffi-
GENTLY large 20 meet the wants of the service
and relieve the public mind of constant fear of
disaster on account of our present insufficient
force ID the Indian country This could be
done at much less expense than by calling for
volunteers, as the organizations are already
prepared, and winter would be on US before we
could get volunteers fairly in the field"
Ex.SOIicitOr Wilson's Testimony
WASHINGTON, July 30.-Additional testmo.
ny of Bluford Wilson respecting the whiskey
fraud prosecution and the connection Herewith
of certain officials and the endorsement of the
action of Bristow and Wilson by the President
is finished, the injunction of the Secretary be-
ing removed. 1t is mainly corroborative of
what has been already published 1t traverses
mass of detail relating to trials of Joyce, Nc
Donald and others, but gives nothing new ia
that regard.
The Adjournment of Congress.
1t was supposed several days ago by promi-
nent Democrats that Congress would be pre-
pared to adjourn by the end of the present
week, but this is not probable as business has
not advanced as rapidly as was anticipated.
British Consul for Maine.
The President has recognized Arthur Roby
as British consul for the state of Maine. to re-
side at Portland.