The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1876-05-12
ASHINGTON.

THE naval appropriation bill has been in
creased by the full committee $270, 600
making total sum of about So, 100000,
more than five millions less than last year.
The bill provides for stopping enlistments
until the number of seamen is reduced from
$500 10 1900 in the navy, and in the ma
rine corps to 800 men and 20 officers.
ABOUT 50, O0O,00 in silver has been paid
out at the treasury and sub-treasuries since
April 10.
ORDERS have been issued from the War
Department directing Gen. Custer to rejoin
his command in the Indian expedition I'M
der Gen. Terry. He has already started.
THE Senate, by SO to %, refused to post
pone the Impeachment trial.
THE committee on expenditures in the
treasury department have closed the inves-
tigation of charges against Secretary Bris-
tow in connection with the release of the
bark Mary Merritt, by the examination of
Feland and Trice, of counsel for the own
ers of the vessel. They corrobnrated the
witnesses testimony that Gen. Bristow's con-
neCtion with the case was a mere matter of
friendship; that he never received any fee or
compensation of any kind, and that his en-
tire record throughout the affair was in no
manner impeachable.
THE committee on expenditures in the de-
partment of justice, continuing the examin-
alton Of John |. Davenport, in answer to a
question by Chandler, the witness said that
the entire cost of his work had been $65, 900.
RANDALL and Cate, the subcommittee
obs wifi no of ha
appropriation BILL completed it to-day. 1t
foots up about 81, 500, 000 as against about
ST., 100000 of last year. The reductions
are principally in items for bureaus of con-
struction, steam engineering and repairs.
BEFORE the Committee on Expenditures in
the Department of Justice, John l. Daven-
port testified that he could not produce any
particular set of vouchers that would cover
the particular sum of $25, 900 received from
Whitley, but he could.
DR.. LINDERMAN, Director of the Mint
gives assurances that there need be no feals
entertained of scarcity of silver. He has
already about fourteen millions of silver
coins on hand, and he can coin at the rate
of a million and a half or two millions a
month from this time on, without neglect
ing the gold coinage.
THE House adjourned May to avoid tax
ing vote on a resolution introduced by
Vance, of North Carolina, the ultimate OBJ
ject of which was to provide for the pay
ment of mail-contractors in the South for
services performed during the last quarter
before the breaking out of the Rebellion.
The settlement of these claims in 1861 was
prevented by the intervention of war.
SECRETARY BRIsTOw, in his testimony in
the Mary Merritt case says that he did not
absent himself from Washington that his
acting secretary, Conant, might decide the
matter according to instruction, but that he
went to Philadelphia to be treated for
throat disease. Conant, as supporting ties,
timony, swore that he did not exchange one
word with Bristow, but decided the case on
his own responsibility, and upon its merits
II is the general impression at Washing
ton that the Senate will decide that it has
no jurisdiction over Belknap's case. This
will leave the ex-Secretary to stand his trial
in the District Court only. Should the case
proceed to trial, there is not much doubt
that Belknap will be able to sustain his
plea that Clymer guaranteed immunity
from impeachment if he resigned.
A CONGRESSIONAL committee has com.
menced a secret investigation of the Brook
Ign navy yard affairs.
THE friends of Senator Morton express
themselves confident that he is able fully to
meet the recent charges against his integrity
in connectin with the $25O,OOO he received
from the Government in the spring of 1863.