Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-03-24
VASHINGTON DESPA TCHES.
Funds for Election Purposes.


The Boston journal of yesterday had the fol-
lowing specials
Funds for Election Purposes.
The House debated for nearly six hours the bill
prohibiting officers and employees of the govern
tons, and finally passed very different bill from
that which was originally introduced. The fea-
lures of the bill as passed are in brief these
All officers and employees of the government
are forbidden to contribute money any vau-
able thing, or to make personal canvass for po-
litlcal purposes in any national election, under
penalty of punishment for committing INSIDE
meanor. The inhibition as to the use of money
extends to congressman, and penalties are also
prescribed for the threatening of injury to life or
limb of a voter to intimidate his vote. The u.
5 courts and their marsiia!s are empowered to en-
force the law.
More than the Democrats Bargained for.
The last provisions contained in the Goode
amendment, and the republicans claim since the
passage of the bill that they have much wider
meaning and greater application than the dem
ocra's who proposed the amendment imagine. 1t
is certain that the republican lawyers at first
inclined to oppose tins amendment, but southern
republicans approached, after reading the amend
meDt, which had not been printed, and urged their
northern associates not to oppose its adoption. 1t
is claimed that this Goode amendment in
cludes every feature of the proposed republican
force bill of last year with the single exception
OF the power to suspend the writ OF habeas cor
pus. The republicans maintain that under 1t they
can enectuaiiy prevent what is termed the ntiml
dation of the black vote. One of their number,
more enthusiastic than the rest, declared that I'M
der these provisions he could take The u 5. mar
shall and lock every democrat in his district up
the day of election 1t is not to be expected that
the democrats who offered the amendment antici-
pate such an execution Of its provisions.
Not much Of a Shower.
Ex-senator Cattel of n. J. was examined to-day
before the House committee on Naval Affairs. but
those who had predicted Startling disclosures"
and astonishing developments" were disappont
ed. lie answered all questions propounded with
alacrity, and emphatically denied some statements
with which it had been expected Secretary Robe
son could have been denounced. lie had never
had any business relations with ). F. Brown X
Co., as Wolf had testified, never paid them any
money, and never received any money for them.
He had a contract with the Navy department for
furnishing hemp, but cargo Of it became dam
aged on the voyage, and it became total loss. to
him. lie had been charged with the settlement
IS an account of the Navy department with Jay
Cooke x Co., for money deposited in their bank.
This debt was fully secured by railroad iron,
part of which had been sold and the proceeds
covered into the treasury. He never had a con-
tract with the Navy department for furnishing
ship timber of any description.
He had never been connected with Secretary
Robson in any commercial or business transac-
tion except in the purchase of piece of land at
Washington. He had known Secretary Robson
for years, and he knew that he was a moderately
wealthy man when he entered Grants cabinet