The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-20
FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT.

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THE WAR ON SECRETARY BRIsrow-AN OLD
SCANDAL REVIVED AND Exploded.
story quite widely circulated to-day involving
charges against Secretary Brstow the effect that
when he was Solicitor Of the Texas Pacific Railroad
Company, after his resignation as Solicitor General he
succeeded inducing Secretary Deano to appoint r.
G. Hopkins, Of San Francisco. a special agent OF
the governments 10 proceed to Mexico obtain
transcripts Of land grants which the company
could not obtain without the authority Of tho
government and that this appointment and
the service performed under Il were solely in tho
OF tbs Texas szxsnS companv and at the
pense Of the government This is revival OF story
which printed at great length In newspapers Of
California and various other East in March and
April, 1873 The story has this foundation namely
That the officers Of the Texas Pacific finding that fraud
ucnt Spanish land grants were being extensively To-
Gated for the lands along the line OF their road which
had formerly been cedcd TO the United States by
Mexico, II determined to send agent Mexico
for the purpose or obtaining transcripts OF nil valid
land titles in northern Statcs Of Mexico in order to
preclude the possibility Of fraudulent grants being
brought forward to lands Of the road AS the
government equally Interested with road in this
NATTER since owned half of the land question: tho
other half being granted the road tho Department of
the Interior requested 10 give agent selected by
might facilitate him in his work. This was done, 1t
being expressly stated in the letter Of appointment
transmitting this letter Of credit that appropria
ton for such purpose was at tho command
of the department, his services must be rem
dered without compensation. The agent Sc
lccted for this work Mr.. r. G. Hopkins, Of
San Francisco, gentleman well known throughout
that section and TO the Supreme Court here expert
in all matters Of Mexican titles He performed tho
work entrusted to him and the railroad company trans
mitted copies Of his report tho government its
and Information and the railroad company paid all
the expenses OF the agent.
As to General Brstow's connection with the secur-
ties OF the road, at the he became officially con-
nccted with IL hc purchased about $l2 900 or
ties and held them up the timo that he was nomi-
mated Attorney General and then without waiting
for confirmation he at disposed OF them very
great sacrifice solely because he unwilling enter
upon public Office in position where he might DO
called upon pass upon the interest Of this company
with any Of its securities in his possession.
THE THOUSAND DOLLARS WHICH DID NOT GO
TO BABcocK-THE AMOUNT PAID ny POST
TRADER TO HEDETcK.
Clmcr's committee heard to-day tho witness Rcy-
nods, Of Camp supply, who expected to that
he had 81 900 cash Babcock In purchase post
trading privileges But he positively denied having
done 50, but admitted having paid Hclrck $500 in
stead Of 81 100 which latter Hcdrick admitted
receiving The question where did the difference got
THE MOTH coNTRAcr--GENEGAL INGALLS, tx
oSERATED FROM ANY CONNECTION THERE
WITH DOM PIATT AS LOBBYIST.
George w. 2rcga of the firm who had the govern
meni for the preservation OF clothing from
moth and miIdew N his testimony before the Cymcr
committee today, says that General ingalls, had
connection with tho business. remotely otherwise,
In any character description whatever; that
Dom Pa,t was retained as agent merely 10 present
the Official reports the Secretary OF War and ask
HIM TO read them to him. This in 1874 Piats
subsequently presented a request to the firm for an
unIiquldated balance duo his contract with them
Piatt. II alleged, got consideration OF Ave per
the contract for lobbying Il through Congress
THE REVENUE FRAUDS IN cALIFoRxIA-GRAvE
CHARGES AGAINST SENATOR SARGENT.
The report OF Special Agent n l. Phillips on the mis-
conduct OF Treasury and officials in California
and the frauds ell on the revenue III
that State, abstract Of which was published
in the HERALD ten days ago, attracts good
deal OF remark here especially because Mr Phillips very
plainly hntcd that Senators and Representatives
California, and especially Senator Sargent. have
encouraged these frauds and stand behind the corrupt
officials whom Mr.. Philips exposes. He charges
directly that Senator Sargent had made charges
Of misconduct against Clarke, an honest and
inccrruptibIe officer, and underworld to pro-
cure his removal and Tor tho reason
III q Clarke ordered the seizure OF distcry owned by
poIils. al ally Of sargent IL has long been known
here that revenue affairs In very disorderly
condition III California, and has noticed that as
Mr Phillips states the officers there arc te
creatures OF the United Senator's which makes
rslorm very dnlcut II IL not known whether scna-