New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-04-28
PRINTER CLAPP,S DEMURRER.
A CLAIM THAT THE HOUSE HAS No JURISDICTION
OVER HIS CAsE-sURPRIsE OF F,IENDs WHO BH-
IlEyHD HIN INNOCENT OF TIE CHARGES

A CLAIM THAT THE HOUSE HAS No JURISDICTION
OVER HIS CAsE-suRPRIsE OF FIENDs WHO BE-
LEVIED HIN INNOCENT OF TgE CHARGES.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO The TIBusEl
WASHINGTON, April 27.-A NJ. Ciapp, Gov
ernment Printer, has formally demurred to the juris
dction OF the Committee Printing over his
Office for the purpose OF investigation On April
81 he addressed letter TO the Chairman OF the Commit
tee Mr. Vance OF Ohio OF which the following is copy
ASH have been assured by your Committee that may
have the privilege az reviewing the testimony taken IN
tie printing nyesati and OF introducing bnttng
testimony md not yersed III the laws and rules
of evidence desire the privilege or being attended Oy
counsel Will you please answer II that P,l'egc WI, DE
grantedi a. NJ oLrF'
In reply to the letter, the clerk OF the Committee on
Pointing addressed the following to Mr.. Clapp on
April "a:
am directed bv the Committee on Printing to inform
YOU that they ready TO hear the testimony OF such
additional Witnesses you may desire TO produce am
further instructed To say that the Committee have,
your rcaucst, already examined number OF witnesses
fu the Government office; ou deslrous thai no neans
e left unired arrive at the truth regarding the cost
of Ire public prnting they shall be pleased hear the
ncnts Of others 1t IL necessary tat the inye g-
t1u brought 10 close, and You VIII Therefore bring
forward your Witnesses during the latter part Of the
present week. You arc further informed that You can
ing nj 10 o'clock in the Committee ROOM and the Com
mtee desire add that you are at liberty to brin
before them any reputable member OF the legal profess
sion counsel.
The condition that Mr.. Camps counsel should be q
reputable" member Of the legal procession was pr-
inserted members OF the Committee say because,
during an investigation OF The Government Printing
Oce by the House Committee Of the last Congress- Mr.
Clam introduced tho notorious Dick" Harrington as
mis- representative and the Committee Were unwilling TO
have anvth ng to do with men OF his character.
The following letter received by Chairman Vance
OF the Committee to-day:
OFFICE OF THE CONGRESSIONAL PRINTER. !
WASHINGTON, ID. C., April -, lS76.)
Hon. J. T.. VANCE. ChrirmaH Of the Comn"nes on
IriHtiR0.
DEAR SIR desire to acknowledge the receipt OF the
note Of your clerk under date NJ the 2tth instant On
consultation with counsel. advised thet, inasnllch
as am an officer of the Senate OF the United states,
your Committee has Jurisdiction to mye.iSnie my
Conduct in office as Congressional Printer ana tha your
Committee viii not pretend to do go far as your IN
aues the resolution of tho House OF @
tiyes il concerned special interest," ana lnere
fore have concluded that have no duty 10 perLofiu
except to give you any Information IN my power in re-
tr." ~ . haze already done, A. NJ. CLAP.
The law to which Mr.. Capp refers Is Section S7os OF
the Revised Statutes, which provides that the senate
.ha elect perou who must be practical printer ana
verscd I'm the art of bookbndng 10 sko charge OK aud
manage tho Government Printing ONCE. He shall De
deemed AN officer Of the Senate, and shall be called The
Congressional Printer" Mr. uspp's friends are greatly
at bis demurrer the Jurisdiction or the House
Committee during the whole investigation. They have
believed that oil tho alleged Irregularities and apparent
exrayaxsuocs In the printing oce could be sstsfAc
8ae Hifth Rugo,