Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1876-08-02
WASHINGTON.

WASHINGTON, July 26.-McDoupal |
having declined the office of Commits
sioner of Internal Revenue, the Press
ident to-day offered the place to Gen.
Green 3. Raum, of Illinois, who ac-
cepted, whereupon his nomination
was sent to the Senate. Gen. Raum
is lawyer by profession. about "a
years OF age. He served throughOnt
the war in command of brigade of
the Army of the Tennessee, and rem.
resented the Cairo, Ills, district in
the Fortieth Congress. His appoint-
ment is spoken of as highly credita-
Bile one by his old congressional asso-
ciates of both parties.
The views of the Committee on Ma.
val affairs, signed by Harris, Danford
and Hays was presented to-day in
the House. The minority severely
criticise the majority report, alleging
that it is unfair in its statements, fai.
lacious in its conclusions, is evident
" promoted by a partisan spirit, ig-
nOres entirely the testimony fayora-
bic to the Navy Department, and per-
verts other portions in such ways as
to reflect gross injustice upon the Sec
retary and other officers. In reply to
the charge of the majority, as to the
alleged deterioration of the navy un-
der the present administration, the
minority show that the navy is to-day
in more efficient condition than IL
has been at any time since 1865, not
withstanding the limited means plac-
ed at the disposal. of the Secretary.
The policy of recrn iting vessels that
would have soon become useless, ia
defended by the minority as econom-
ical, prudent and judicious,
The Secretary deserves the thanks
Of the entire country, not censure, for
this. All the testimony proves that
he never has, as Secretary, endeavor-
ed to influence any purchase or con-
tract either directly or indirectly, by
intimidation or otherwise. The
charge by the majority that the Sec-
retary had used Government materi-
ais and the labor of EMPLOYEES for
his own private benefit, is pronounce
ed by the minority as frivolous, and
is supported by Mr.. Cattells, who
says the practice of levying percent
ages on contractors was carried on
unbeknown to the Secretary, and who
vigorously opposed it when he learn
ed 1t. Whatever abuses or frauds ex-
ist in connection with the contracts
for the purchases of the Navy De-
partment, are the results of defects
inherent in system long established,
and for which the lawmaking power
and not the department, is RESPONSE
BILE, and for which the majority sug-
gest no adequate remedy, although
they have been Investigating for the
last six months. The political influ-
ence exercised in navy yard appoint
ments is an evil which originated un-
der, and was fostered by, all preyi-
GUS Democratic administrations. and
the only effort made to check it has
been made under the present Repub-
lican administration. Such political
are attributable chiefly
to the opportunities of members of
and not to the action of the
Secretary and the respective chiefs of
bureaus. The minority enter fully
into an examination Of the foreign
navy account in London, showing
that the action of the Secretary was
entirely legal and beneficial to the
government. Not dollar has been
lost. The majority has drawn wrong
from ihe testimony on
many points. The proposal Of the
majority to refer the whole matter to
another committee of the House for
final disposition, indicates either
disposition to evade the responsibii-
ly imposed, or conscious of an ina
bility to dispose of the subject sub
mitted to them in a satisfactory man.
ner. The views Of the minority con-
,luded with resolution declaring
hat no evidence has been adduced
Turing this investigation tending to
show that Secretary Robeson has been
guilty of any official misconduct or
corruption, or any wilful speculative.
law. The minority denounce the ac-
ton of the majority. who, they say,
Whit Hurnurry nc frfarc rirr- errrsurt-'----
tee report, which he was about to
read d,replied: 81 recognized my polit-
ical friends on the Committee Of the
House, and consulted them only, and
proceeded to report. During the
reading of the report. it became ap-
parent that it had.been already agreed
to and passed upon by majority of
the committee, and the declare that
facts and figures have been shame-
lessly perverted against the Secreta-
ry.'
WASHINGTON. July 27.-The Sec'y
of the Treasury has stopped the COIN
age of trade dollars at Philadelphia
and Carson City mints. and orders
the San Francisco mint to coin only
sufficient to meet the actual
export demand. The mints will be
run to full capacity on subsidiary
coin and necessary gold coinage.
WASHINGTON, July 81.
The Washington monument bill
appropriating 100000, passed.
A message from the Senate ar
nouncing the death of Senator Ca
perton, of West Virginia, was pre-
sented, whereupon, upon motion of
Wilson, the usual resolutions were
adopted Wilson, Banks, Luttrell,
Douglass, Harkenburg, Faulkner and
Kasson were appointed committee
to accompany the body to West Va,
and the House adjourned.