The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-03-21
ByTeIegraph
ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORT.
TO THE DAILY NTELLIGENCER
WASHINGTON.
The Spencer investigation

llUL was CuHLIIuSaDN LuC ECHutc SOu4lAAA-
Tee to-day. The examination OF Robert
Barbour began Saturday, was continu.
ed to considerable length but developed
nothing Of interest. The committee an
nounced that the evidence offered went to
show what means were used 10 prevent
the members OF the Court House
Legislature from going over to the Capt.
tai body, and thus breaking the formers
quorum is not within range Of testi-
mony that !can properly be taken by
this committee.
SECRETARY DRlsTow BEFORE THE WAR
COMMITTEE
Secretary Brlstow voluntarily appeared
before the Committee on Expenditures
in the War Department to-day and made
q statement under oath in relation to the
letter which appeared in the New York
Herald Of Saturday, dated Louisville,
March II, in relation TO u mule case.
He said he had reason to believe the
letter was not written In Louisville but
in Washington, having been advised some
weeks past that the statement would be
made. He ought to say that he did not
deem it any part Of his duty to undertake
the preparation Of the case, the duties in
which he was engaged being purely pro-
fessIonal. He said lie never had the
slightest reason TO suspect the fairness oi
the case or the integrity OF the party in
whose behalf in was prosecuted. The
parties were citizens OF Kentucky. Re
siding in Clark county, remote from his
place OF residence, one Of the claimants
has since deceased. He had intimate and
pleasant relations with him, having
served with him in the Kentucky Senate.
Harrison Thompson-The Secretary
was here in the spring Of the GUNNER Of
OF 1873 on business, having no connection
ut that time with the government, having
resigned the offer Of the Solicitor General
in 1872. Benz. B. Groome engaged him to
argue the case and gave him statement
OF it saying that his firm were en-.
gagged in stock raising and-had invested
much money in the purchase Of mules,
but owing TO the collapse OF the rebellion
the government refused TO take the ami
mails. In consequence OF this the firm had
sustained heavy loss, having recently in
vested 100000. On account Of the pur-
chase GrOome said they would pay him
no fee if he did not succeed in procuring
the payment OF the claim, or at all events
they would pay him only n small fee.
The Secretary said TO Groome, that 1t
was not his habit to accept contingent
fees, but in view OF the dilimma in which
the firm found themselves and desired to
have his professional services, he said
he would argue the case before the
Court Of Claims, or before the Supreme
Court II it should go there, Groome
ngreeing to pay his expenses incurred in
coming here and a compensation OF 10
per cent in the case Of the claims, be-
inr allowed by the Court OF Claims.
Thomas J. D. Fuller, resident solicitor
in Washington, formerly member OF
Congress, and who was Auditor OF Comp
troIicrs under Buchanan's administra-
tson, prepared the case. The Secretary
took FuIler's brief Of the case and on
that brief he prepared his legal argument.
The only questions raised there were on
points of law. Mr.. Goforth, Assistant
Attorney General, made no question us
to facts which seemed to be conclusive.
The facts were, the firm had mules at
proper points to be shipped and some OF
them were on the train at the time the
Government refused to take them. There
was in consequence u sudden depreciation
in the value Of the mules the low prices
at which they were compelled TO sell
them was uncontrovertable, and even
Chief Justice Drake, who dissented, did
so only on question OF law.
ACCEPTED INVITATION.
Secretary Bristow and ex.speaker
Blaine have accepted IN invitation OF the
committee OF arrangements to be present
at the semi.centennial celebration at
Wesleyan Seminary, Wilberham, Massa-
chuscts, on the 2lst Of June.
TIE CAUCUS FINANCIAL n1LL-
Representative Payne, if an oppOrtu.
nity had been presented to-day, would
have introduced the House caucus fnan-
cial bill. A Democratic opponent Of the
measure says that il the bill had been
presented, and vote taken, majority Of
The House would have voted against it
THAT CONFIDENTIAL LETTER.
1t having been charged that the conf
DENTAL letter Of the Attorney General 10
the District Attorney pending the whisky
trials met with the approval OF the Pres
ident, it is authoritatively denied that
the President ever saw the letter until it
appeared in print.
THE COMMITTEE on FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
Ex-senator Stewart will be heard by
the House Committee on Foreign Affairs
tomorrow on the subject Of his connection
with the Emma mine, Mr.. Schenck is
not expected to appear before the COM
mittee until Wednesday.
THE GOLD AND SILVER BILL.
The bill to utilize the products Of gold
and silver mining in the United States ,in-
troduced by Banks, provides that the Sec
retary Of the Treasury shall establish in
the great mining districts additional de-
positaries and re6neries, and receive from
miners and owners gold and silver to be
coined on certificates OF the Government
assayer, and issue certificates Of deposit
therefor, payable 10 bearer and for such
sums as the depositor may desire, and
when issued for more than $500 in one
certificate NAV be made payable to order.
Each certificate shall promise the return
OF the amount OF gold and silver called by
the certificate, and shall be legal tender
for all transactions. The government il
to be liable for the safe keeping Of gold
and silver, and may become owner there
Of by obtaining the certificates through
purchase or reduction. The Secretary
Is also authorized to issue similar full
value certificates on coin that is now or
may be in the Treasury, reserving coin
for their redemption.
THE APPROPRIATIONS.
The House Committee on Appropria.
tions to-day, by a vote Of G to 8, refused
to grant an additional appropriation Of
S5OO.OO0 10 the Government Board
charged with preparing articles from the
several departments for exhibition at
the Centennial. The Rub-committe Of the
same Committee on the postal appropria.
tion bill propose an amendment to pay for
the conveyance Of mails on railroads &C.
cordine to the space occupied, and not 40
cording to weight, rs ut present. They
also propose to base the pay Of postmas.
tiers on graduated percentage OF the re-
ceipts OF their respective offices and box
rents, by which n saving Of 100000 or