Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-07-18
Mr.. Brtstow's Answer to the Presi-
dent.
THE Elk SECRETARY DECLINES TO TELL
TALES OUT OF SCHOOL.

THE Elk SECRETARY DECLINES TO TELL
TALES OUT OF SCHOOL.
Elk Secretary Bristow has written a reply
TO the Presidents letter relieving him and
other members of the Cabinet from all obli-
cations OF secrecy in testifying before Con-
gressional committees as to what took place
In Cabinet meetings. Mr. Bristow says:
when appeared before the commits tee
las week in obedience to their summons,
refused TO answer any and all questions
which required me TO state any con versat lon
between you and myself touching Off nal
matters, whether such conversation took
place st meeting OF the Cabinet or at an
other time, saying, however, to the com N t.
hou'd be drawn from my refusal to ans yer
their questions. / took the position dis
tlnctly that 1 considered all Conversation rs
between the President and heads of dep Art
ments on official matters confidential and
privileged, and that the privilege existed
not so much for the protection OF the parties
Immediately concerned, as for the interest
OF the public service. II / was right in this
view OF the matter, 1t would seem to follow
mat the privilege cannot be waived ny
either or both of the parties Indeed. said
To the committee that | would not feel ar
liberty TO answer their question with your
consent. Although 1 have not had an np !.
poTtunity to examine authorities on this
subject, am still OF the opinion that the 90.
legation OF public duty to treat such CONVEX
sations as confidential aud privileged is not
removed or modified by your iconsent that
should make full answer to the questions.
y 1t seems to me that duty reou res
me TO adhere to my announced purpose not
70 answer the questions propounded to me
by the committee. beg to remind you IN 1T
my opinion on this subject was repeatedly
stated to you and the mem oers OF your Cab
met, and as l understood met your and
Ineir approval. My withdrawal from the
Cabinet does not alter or modify my duty in
This respect, nor have my own views under
gone any change.
The Navy Department. InvestiS att On
REPORT OF TUE COMMITTEE.
Chairman Whitthorne, of the House Ma
val Committee, to day read report drafted
by him concerning the six mouths investi-
CATION OF the administration OF the affairs of
the Navy department by Secretary Robe, IN.
The abstract Of the testimony which will sc-
company the report aggregates 400 printed
pages. The report concludes with q severe
acts, and Tecites that the Naval Committee
IL not clear that they are fmpeachabIe, mt
In view OF 1t being complicated question,
recommend that the House direct the Jddi-
subject.
Up to O'Clock p. m. the committee was
SUI In session, and the report was unier
Will probably be sustained, as he had a pri,
vate conference with his dem 1cr attic col
leagues OF the committee last night, and the
prospects at that time we're that they would
unite with him In signing the views pre-.
scented. The republicans will make mi
nority report.
LATER p. M.-The democratic members
have all signed the majority report II
arraigDs Secretary Robson In very &c we're
terms, charging him with gross violation of
Jaw IN maklng contracts; in making pur-
chases without advertising; In expanding
money In excess OF appropriations, and In
aiding Jay Cooke d Co. with governm ent
bonds when they were in bankrupt condl-
tion, and in sundry other alleged illegal acts.
In regard TO the alleged corruption OF Score
taTy Rooeson the report recites that 1t is Que
70 aim TO say that there is no evidence that
ne has profted by any of the alleged frauds
aEd wrong practices, although his intirn ate
relations with the Cattell's who sold con-
tracts Is subject TO censure.
THE SPECIE RESUMPTION ACr.-The Com
mittee on Banking aud Currency to-day
again postponed vote on the proposition 70
ft peaI the specie resumption act. NJ Lny
" mocrats believe that the course OF the
comm iltee is quite conclusive that 1t d1ss
not intend TO take decisive action on ne
subject, lift can afford 1t.
THE SILVER CIRCULATIoN.-The amo mt
OF subsidiary coin paid out since the pas age
OF the act providing for the redemption OF
fractional currency is sII74S93l OF this
amount 50 962 So was paid out n exchange
Tor kfeenbacks, and S7,TS6,019 in exchange
IOr fractional currency. The amount OF sill
yer on hand to date is S6,05S, 1913, and Lhe
amount OF fractional currency outstanding
70 date Is S33, 9l5 975 80. The new silver hill
% 81
coin. add to this s6,0jS, l20, the amount OF
silver coin row On hand, IL makes a total of
s56, 05S. 100 Ont OF this amount the outstald-
ing fractional currency is to be redeemed,
leaving balance on hand of S22,1i2 III CT in
silver coin TO be used for other purposes.
THE APPROPRIATION BILLS are still in
an unsettled condition, with the prospect of
favorable adjustment farther away than on
Saturday. The sundry civil bill was xed
upon Friday last in conference, and was sup
posed to be ready for reporting to both
houses; The bill, however, has been taken
which will require at least one day more for
adjustment, II it does not delay the bill q
much longer time. The same thing has oc-
Cured TO the army bill. The conference
agreed upon a report on Saturday, and 1t
was written out yesterday. When IL was
ready for the signatures Of the conferees 1t
amendments to submit, and the bill will be
delayed another day. The conference on the
legislative Dill spent the entire time at their
meeting last night in discussing different
made no visible progress on the bill. Propo-
sitions were submitted looking to an entire
TseS s9Iee S some Of the bill
ten days TO prepare the bill for action. Al
together the outlook is not so favorable for
a satisfactory termination of the differences
between the two houses as when the adjourn,
ment took place on Saturday.
AGREE.-A special dispatch TO the New York
Tires from Indianapolis, July Is, says: A
reporter sought an interview today with
Gov. Hendricks, who has just returned from
bis conference with Tilden at Saratoga, but
was unable to get any thing out of him, the
Governor refusing very decidedly to talk
upon that subject. All that was learned was
that after Gov. Tilden has had his say TO the
committee, which will be in eight or ten
days, then he will announce his decision. 1t
was quite plain to be seen from the Cow
ernor's manner that Tilden aud Saratoga
had no delight for him. What the trouble is
1t is not SO easy TO say.
Dom PEDRO CREATES A BARoN.-Chrs-
tan Thomson, OF New York, a member of q
well-knOwn Brazilian mercantile house, has
been made baron by Dom Pedro. Baron
Thomson was diligent In his efforts to make
pleasant the visit of the Brazilian emperor
to New York. He Is q native OF HOlstein,
Germany, entered the Brazilian trade while
young, and has been earnest and successful
In promoting the commercial interests and
educational system OF Brazil.
INDIANS MOVING on THE UNION PACIFIC
RAN R0AD.-Telegrams from the west state
that Indians are moving ON Medicine Row,
@ station on the Union Pacific Railroaf, al