The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-03-18

mile long. They were reviewed by the
President and Cabinet. TMoN.
xLVTH CONGRESS-First Session,
WASHINGTON, March II, 1876.
SENATE.
There was no session OF the Senate to day.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE.
1t being private.bill day in the House,
there is nothing Of importance to report.
The bill removing the political disabilities
of Robert Tansill, of Virginia, was passed.
GOSSIP AND NEWS.
WASHINGTON, March 1.-THE following is
given as gossip: Witnesses have turned up
who admit receiving $4,000. $1,000, and
$4,000 for their personal influence with the
Secretary Of the Navy to secure the payment
of old claims. No part of these fees reached
the Secretary or members of his family. The
committee may convict the Secretary of bad
conduct in transactions with Wizard in gun
bursting experiments, involving the use of at
least 1872, 1000 of Government money.
District Attorney Dyer, ex-senator Hen.
dersop, Colonel Brodhead, and others have
been summoned by the committee to testify
regarding Babcock's abstraction of papers. :
HalIett Kilburn, the recusant witness, Will
succumb. His investigation will cover Grants
purchases of property from members of the
pool. Secretary Belknap, Judge Macarthur,
of the Supreme District Court, and eX-
| Congressman Eldridge are involved. Secre.
tary Boutwell,, during bis administration,
ordered a subordinate to balance discrep.
ancv of S20O,0O0,0O found in the books.
Half million was expended for the benefit
of mal-contractors on one long and COM
paratiyely useless mail line in Montana
during Creswel's administration.
The sentiment of the Republican caucus
Yesterday was for fight over reduction OF
ten per cent. of force and twenty per cent.
lin. pay also, against any reduction in the
consular and diplomatic bill, already passed
in the House. = lila
General Peck will testify before the COM
mittee that four traderships were taken from
him and given 10 persons more or less con-
nected with the ring. ."
WASHINGTON, March IT The Republican
caucus TO-DAY unanimously agreed that the
necessary efficiency Of the civil service
would be seriously impaired If a sweep
ing reduction be made throughout all
its branches By the application of = the
reported policy Of the House commit
fee to cut down nearly all salaries ten per
cent. and the force employed twenty per
cent, and also that the action of the House
10 proposing to abolish number Of our mis-.
sions to South America, and reduce the sala-
ries of the principal ministers in Europe, IS
unwise and impolitic.
THE SPENCER AND OTHER INvEsTIGA-
| ~,;f TIONS. -
WASHINGTON, March 1.-THE Spencer in.
vestigation was taken up to-day by the Sem
ate Committee on Privileges aud Elections.
John j. Moulton was the only witness ex-
amined. In every material point he sWore
directly to the reverse Of his deposition be.
fore the investigating committee Of the Ala.
bama Legislature. He admitted he signed
the original deposition, was present, but
denied that 1t had been read to
him, or that he knew its contents,
and accused the Alabama committee Of hay-
ing garbled and misstated his evidence in
every essential particular. He admitted that
be had been appointed deputy interna! reve.
nue. collector at Mobile under Lou. H.: Mayer
| since his deposition was taken by the Ala
bama committee. gle ststed, in conclusion,
i that the members Of the Alabama committee
were well-knoWn gentlemen of good repute.
| The investigation will be resumed to.
morrow. 4, -. = - h.
WASHINGTON, March 1I-The number and
Iextent of the investigations that are being
carried on before the various committees OF
the House are unprecedented in any previous
Congress, as the following partial iiss VIII
1 show: ,5,zlt :stsS I'D
i The Judiciary Committee, through several
sub-committees, is taking testimony in the
! matter of the Belknap Impeachment, OF the
Bearslsee cadetship purchase, and OF the
Texas and Pacific railroad iegislati ion.
The Committee on Foreign Affairs, be.
sides the question of Cuban complications 10
connection with the State Department., has
To grapplea with the Emma Mine scandal,
which isto be re1pened next week. Is,
The Ways and Mesns Committee, 10 the
Intervals Of. it's discussions on the tariff bill
| and OF It's giving audience to bankers In cons
neetfon with the funding la8, and t0depu-
i tatioDs of the wiHe and spirit and other
trades, pursues an Investigation into the
operations OF the Alaska Fnr, GompanE J, !.
4 d TIE members Of the Committee on Naval
Affairs give thsir. whole lime 90 tha. inyesti.
4 CATION Of supposed trandain the Navy De