New-York tribune., 1876-03-04
FURTHER STEPS AGAINST MR.. BELKNAP.
IBY TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUNE.

IBY TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUNE
WASHINGTON, March 3.-The story of Gen. Bel
knauIs downfall was so fully told yesterday that
IT'LL remains TO be said about it, The disclosure
Tvept over Washington like tornado through
ssnsa forest. Yesterday. excitement was ct fever
haat To-day. the calm which follows is only
made the more oppressive by the contemplation
of the ruin that has been wrought. The
onlv important event Of the day was the
official announcement TO the Senate OF the
lmueachment of ex-Secretary Belknap, which was
made about l o'clock The members of the Com
uittse headed by the SsrReant-at-Arms OF the
House. Col. Thompson, proceeded to the Senate ana
on passng within the bar were announced by Ser
Veapt-at-Arms French of the Senate. MIR.
Clymer then, in g tone OF voice that
svinoed great emotion, read from a paper,
which he held in his hand, the announcement
that the House had impeached Gen. Belknap for
high crimes and misdemeanors, IN the name Ot the
peope of the United States and that it would in due
time make good the indictment which it thus pre-
,onted. He also said that the House demanded of
che Senate that it should organize itself high
court of impeachment and call the late Secretary of
War beore 1t TO answer to the charges thus preferred
Senator Ferry, the presiding officer, simply replied
that the Senate would take action as requested lhe
Committees then returned to the House and an
nounced in the usual manner that the duty which
had been entrusted TO II had been duy and properly
Derformed The unusual number of persons
gathered in the House galleries and on
the AOOr to-day under the impression that
the Committee on the Judiciary would present
its articles of impeachment during the session OF
this afternoon. When it became known that these
articles would not be ready until tomorrow Mon
day the crowds gradually dispersed and hav-
ing filed to overfOwing the galleries Of
ngad ba
rdors, apparently expecting that after
all some further interesting proceedings might take
place. Later in the day, the Capitol resumed Its
usual aspect and as the House settled down 10 the
consideration of private bills, and the Senate to the
discussion of the interminabe Pnchback case, there
were many vacant seats, both on the oor ana IN the
galleries in both ends Of the Capitol.
Mr. Clvmers Committee held 10 meeting to-day
and therefore has pursued it's Investigations no
further It must not be supposed from this that the
inquiry is to stop with the impeachment OF the
Secretary of War. Since 1874 1t is said, not
single important post-tradership has been secured
without the payment Of large sums OF money
and It is the determination of Mr. ClymeTs
Committee, If possible to trace his money
to its final restng-place. To accomplish this every
post-trader on the frontier has been will be sum
moued before the Committee and closely examined
on the subject 1t is believed now that the line has
been broken by the overthrow of Secretary Belknap
who will hereafter be poweress 10 inure any trader
for telling the truth, every one Of them Will disclose
oil he knows, in the hope that by so doing he may
nd himself Of the impositions under which no has
suffered for years. The officers Of the posts Will
also be able TO give the Committee important in-
formation on the subject and will feel that they
can do 30 now without being subjected to unpleasant
Inconvenience such a. martals for frivolous
oh
ating from the War Office.
All sorts of rumors have been s1oat to-day, as 20
what will he the result of the examination OF these
Witnesses For instance. il is said that one Harry
Reed, post-trader at Fort Wingate, NewMexico,
and General" Rice Of this city, might make
very important disclosures, if they would,
about the business Of pOst-traders, the manner
In which appointments are obtained, and the cost
Of them 10 the traders themselves Another report
Is that H. F. Crosby Chief Clerk Of the War Depart
ment may possibly be discovered to have been inter
ested, through either brother or near friends III
the same business thorough exanna-
gent fund Of the War Department has
been disbursed under Secretary BelknaPs
administration might also result in some very III
terestiug disclosures. Large sums it is said have
been paid to Gen Belknap, his private secretary.
and his chief clerk Crosby during the last bve OF SX
years for travelling expenses, &c. which could not
be explained OH the assumption that all the Journeys
were taken for the transaction Of public business.
Other scandals 1t is said, will be disclosed, similar
70 those which instrumental in causng the de-
feat Of Attorney General Williams when nominated
By the President to be Chief,Justice of the
Supreme Court For instance, Gen. Pelknap's
carriage driver and two other persons, prin-
cpally employed es footmen or porters In
Gen. Belknap's house. sald to have been paid
out Of the public funds Of the War Department.
Among tho extTavagances Of tho Department which
are likely to be criticised severely il the keeping Of
carriage for the present chief clerk of the Depart
mcnt, while the faithful and capable John
Potts chief clerk during the war, when the
business Of the Department was much greater than
g: present. able to perform his duties
foot. Another subject likely to DO investigated by
the same Committee is the manner Of letting con-
tracts for headstonss for sodier graves for which
appropriation was made by Congress. An interest
ing question 10 be solved ut this time win be who
secured these contracts. whether they were the
lowest bidders, and whether any residing 1t
Reokuk Iowa, was allowed 70 put IN bid after the
time for receiving proposals bad expired. One Of
the most important witnesses that has been sug-
gested for examination, in connection With many Of
those matters is james r. Roche formerly disbrSSS.
ing clerk of the Department but now paymsster In
the United States Army.
An army officer, who has spent great many years
on the SrOuter and who has long been familiar with
the profits arising from these tradeships furnishes
Ihe following statement ss to the number aud profit