The Portland daily press., 1876-02-18
From the Maine State Press of Feb. II, 1876.
History of Seven Days.
The News for the week ending Wednesday
Might, Feb. rs.
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.

THE NATIONAL CAPITAL
A report of the subcommittee on the Texas
Pacific railroad bill signed by Messrs. Lamar,
Atkins & O'Neil favors the proposed subsidy.
Mr. Luttrel and also Mr.. Garfield dissent
The committee on the Freedmen's Bank has
examined the Secretary of the Seneca Sand
stone Company, who described the means by
which the Freedmen's Bank for a debt of
$4,000, now amounting to about 100000, was
induced to take as collateral security second
mortgage bonds of the company for $95,0OO
which are of no market value whatever. He
also produced the stock book of the Seneca
Sandstone company, which showed that on one
and the same day certificates of stock for 200
shares each were issued to U. S. Grant, Gen.
Dent, Surgeon Gen. Barnes, VIM. Fl. Seward,
e. B. Washburn, Caleb Gushing, and B. B.
French. Witness did not know anything as to
the payments for these shares. He only knew
that the certificates had all been delivered to
VIM. S. Huntington, then cashier of the first
national bank.
The Congressional Temperance Society met
for business Saturday in the Vice Presidents
room at the Capitol. Hon. T. W. Ferry was
CuOstu IISSiuout, w LIZ DdllUu, NlC6 IT6Sl-
dent, and Rev. j. W. Chickering Secretary.
1t was resolved to hold public meeting Sun
day evening, Feb. Goth, at the Congregational
church, the 43d anniversary. Hon. Julius FL.
Seelye was requested to deliver the address.
CONGRESS.
Sendte-Thursday- was passed to ex-
tend the time for the completion OF the North
ern Pacific railroad. At the close of the morn
ing hour Senate took up the Centennial bill
and discussed till adjournment.
HouSe-House went into the committee of
the whole on the consular and diplomatic bill
Mr.. Hale of Maine argued against the pro.
posed reductions of salaries of foreign minis
tiers and consuls. Mr.. Blaine then addressed
the House on the currency question. His
speech will be found in another column. Mr.
Tarbox replied to Mr.. Blaine. Mr.. Randall
then spoke in defence of the consular and
diplomatic bill as reported. Committee rose
without action.
Senate-Friday-Th Centennial bill was
passed by vote of Al to Is.
House-House spent the day on the consular
and diplomatic appropriation bill, and finally
it was passed with four amendments. 1t APP
propriates 1000, being reduction of about
$4,000 from the bill of last year.
Saturday neither House was in session.
Seaate-Monday-M Ingalls, introduced
bill to protect agriculture against injurious in
sects. A resolution passed instructing the ju-
dietary committee to inquire into the expedi-
ency of establishing penitentiary on Fort
Smith reservation. Bill was passed to better
protect animals in transportation. Mr.. Nor
ton spoke in favor of the admission of Pinch
back.
H0use.-House adopted resolutions to investi-
gate the management of the pension bureau
and the fraudulent importation of WOOL Mr..
Hale offered a resolution in favor of the re.
sumption of specie payment and moved the
suspension of the rules, which was refused by
a vote of SO yeas to 1877 nays, nearly a party
vote.
Senate.-Tuesday.- Committee on Territories
reported a bill to enable New Mexico to form
state government. The Pension bill was
taken up. 1t makes appropriations in part as
follows: Pensions for army invalids $11, $780,
600; widows, minors and dependent relatives
$14, 100000; survivors and widows of the war
OF 1872 $15,000,000. The committee on appro-
priations reported amendments striking out
the amounts inserted after each class as above
and inserting the sum total, 1928 100000. In
course of discussion on the bill Mr.. Davis
moved the appointment of a commission to
investigate alleged frauds in pensions, but no
action was taken The bill passed. Bill to
repeal restrictions upon the sale of public land
in certain states was passed.
. House.-The fortifcation bill was reported.
1t appropriates for repairs of Notifications
100000; for armament $165;OOO; for torpedos
and harbor defences, sc, $4,000; total $315, 600
The bill also directs the sale of all obsolete and
condemned projectiles and heavy ordinance 1t
passed without amendment.
iSendte-W Wednesday Alcorn denied that
he had engaged in a conspiracy to uphold Nor.
ton in the bloody shirt business as alleged by a
Western paper. A resolution was submitted
looking to the publication of speeches as they
were delivered and forbidding the publication
of those not delivered. An ate mpt was made
to take up the Pinchback resolution, but it
failed.
HouSe-House went into committee of the
whole on the Colorado bill, and after long
NsSSNSoiOh ~ WIS ASPoh eOo oL-o PoooSu'
BABCoCK's TRIAL.
In the trial of Babcock Abijah M. Everett.
collector of the ring, testified that 10 yce once
sent him to the sub-treasury with package of
$1,000 in small bills, to get two $500 bills. He
brought them back and Joyce put them in an
envelope and told him to take them across the
street and put them in the letter box, which he
did. He noticed that one was directed to w.
o. Avery, Washington, d. c., and the other to
o. E. Babcock, Washington, d. G. Saw Joyce
put $500 bill in one of the envelopes, but could
tell which envelope it was.
Maj. Grimes testified to delivering letters
from Babcock to Mcdonald.
The following dispatch was in Gen. Bah.
cocks handwriting:
WASHINGTON, d. c.. Dec. Is, 1874
To Gen. Jno. Mcdonald, ST. Louis, Mol
succeeded. They will not go. 1 will write
you. (Signed) SYLPH.
The deposition of the President in the case of
Babcock was taken Saturday at .he executive
mansion. There were present Chief Justice
Waite, Secretary Bristow, Attorney General
Pierrepoint, Col. W. A. Cook, one Of General
Babcock's counsel, and Mr.. Eaton, who repre-
sented the prosecution. The examination was
of considerable duration, beginning at II o.
clock and terminating at 2 o'clock in the after
noon. 1t is said to have been very thorough,
and was characterized by the straight forward
ness which marks the Presidents utterances.
The oath was administered by the Chief Jus
tice and the examination developed facts that
Babcock had not influenced or attempted to
influence the Executive in selecting any official
involved in the so-called whiskey ring; that he
had not interfered in any manner to cause the
suspension of the celebrated order for the trans
fer of supervisors, but that its revocation was
directed by the President himself In order that
suspension being removed from the minds Of
those engaged in the frauds they might the
more readily be detected in their efforts to
cheat the government out of the revenue Oh
distilled spirits; that the President still has
implicit confidence in the integrity of Babcock,
and is satisfied with his explanation of the dis
patches which have formed SO important an
element in this prosecution.
The cross-examlnatioD ELECTED nothing of
importance whatever. Its object seemed to
have been more directed against the President
than Babcock. 1t, however, developed the
fact that if there had been anything wrong on
the part OF that officer, which the President
emphaticaly stated he did not believe, it was
entirely without the know ledge of the Execu-
inn A.