Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1876-04-12

The chairman of the Finance Com
mittec (Sherman) states that the sill
yer dollar whose coinage is thus pro-
vided for will be of the same weight
and fineness as the old silver dollar,
the coinage and issue of which was
stopped number. of years ago, and
that its value will be about six per
cent. more than the value of two Of
the present half dollars.
WASHINGTON, April 6-The Com
mittee on War Expenditures to-day
examined James Traynor, post-trader
at Ft. Concho. He went to see the
Secretary of War in order to secure
an appointment. Was referred to
Gen. Hedrick who subsequently was
appointed, and commissioned witness
to do the business. Paid A. C. Leigh
ton, who went to TT. Concho with
letter of authority, countersigned by
Gen. Belknap, $500 in greenbacks
and afterwards paid to Hedrick 81 600
through a mail contractor named
Cheney by draft on Northrup& & Check,
bankers of New York. Witness
agreed with Leighton to pay $4,000
cash, and 5000 yearly il the post
paid. He paid without asking a ques-
tion draft drawn by SAWYER, mail
contractor, now dead, for 81 600; also
paid 500 or $500 to Representative
Clark, of Texas. He always regarded
these payments as a charity. Clark
asked the money as loan. Witness
never expected it would be refunded.
Paid $3.50 to Simon Wolf, recorder Of
deeds, at Washington. Wolf was to
have $1,000 if he got him the post.
Since his return he had paid Wolf
$3.50 for political assessment.
Friedlander and Bowers, post-tra-
ders in Arizona testified that they
never paid money directly or indi-
rectly for their office.
WASHINGTON, April THE Ser
geant-at-Arms of the House of Rep
resentatives has instructed the War
den of the United States Jail to fur
nish means to Hallett Kilbourne, not
to exceed one dollar per day..
WAsHINGToN. April THE War
Department Committee examined
Gen. Cowan, cx-Assistant Secretary
of the Interior. He testified that he
be gave Bell card on his representa-
ton that he had been employed by
"the folks at the White House," and
was entitled to his per diem and al
lowances. Knowing Bell had been
appointed upon card from the Pres
ident believed him for that reason.
Witness did not know how much he
was entitled to. nor did he certify to
the accuracy of his account. 1T was
the duty of proper officers of the de-
partment to examine into that. Bell
said he did not, under the circum-
stances, want to tell LeBarnes, Chief
| of the Secret Service of the Interior
Department, what service he was per-
! forming. Witness had never been
spoken to by the President. Babcock.
4 or Luckey about the appointment of
Bell--said he had not communicated
with either of them on the subject OF
his appointment and pay at any time.
/ David Webster, of Concord, N. H.,
testified that he came to Washington
about the 18th of March, 1872, to sell
/ to the War Department a moth ex-
terminator made by him. He went
with Austin +. Pike, a, member of
Congress from New Hampshire, to
Gen. Meigs, quartermastcr general,
who then asked him what benefit il
would be.
i Witness answered. 1t will kill
your moths.
/ Gen. Meigssaid--How much will
you give me if put it in general
use?
Witness answered-Not id cent
| General.
f Witness said Gen. Meigs gave him
| to understand that Cowles i Co.,whc
were furnishing the moth extermina
! tor, were paying him q part of tht
, proceeds. Witness said that yester
day he met man near Judiciary
! square, who told him he had better
/ not go before the committee. In til,
mans hand were two 800 bills. HI
; did not know the man, but told hin
he was going to tell the truth TO til.
I committee and did not want an,
money. The man turned and wake,
o off rapidly. Witness followed him t
. see where lie went but coul,
i not walk fast enough. Witnes
= has not paid money to any officer o
|. Ueeu dskcu lcE dH SAtcpt ps AciS
Witness presented number of letter
( to corroborate his testimony. He ha'
: never received any order from Meig
4 for a moth exterminator except on
!. for 800 worth. Witness refused t
n have anything to do with it. After
II wards witness got representative
4 Parker Craigin and Wadleigh t
Il write a letter to Meigs, whereupo
if Meigs agreed to test the merits of tn
i. thing. The preparation was teste
!. and approved by Capt. Rogers oc tn
10 Quartermaster's Department. Wi
t ness then went back to Meigs, VIII
h told him he should have contrac
ii Meigs asked him the price and ho'
y much the Government would wan
er Witness said he did not know, b'
r. would not require the Department
d. pay for more than was used. Witne
il afterward stated the price by lett
To and Meigs decided to use it. Gel
is Meigs was summoned before IL
4 ~.