The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-02
FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT.

WASHINGTON May l. 1876
ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO REPEAL THE REsUMp-
TON ACT.
Mr.. Holman brought up once moro to-day q resou-
ton for The repeal OF tho Resumption act, but as two
stood lis TO Ill, and substantially the on
tho previous occasions except that to-day Mr.. Payne
voted with tho majority for the first time and the
change attracted good deal OF attention in the House.
THE NEW ARMY BILI4-oFFICERs OF RANK IN
CREASED BY IT'S PRovIs1oNs-oP IN
THE SENATE.
The Army bill, which has been prepared by the Mill
tary Committee Of the House, set apart tho special
order OF business for Wednesday Though it pro-
vidcs for 'gradual reduction OF the United States
Army actually increases II by two brgad generals
one lieutenant colonel, two majors and
two captains Tho Increase mado among tho
brigadier generals is iound in sections 2
and IA respectively, which provide for a
chief OF artillery, with the rank OF brgader general
and that tho Paymastcr General Of the Army. whose
rank is that OF colonel, shall be brigador general
Tho bill creates one original vacancy Of lieutenant col
onel OF artillery. There only twenty majors now
and the number is fixed At twenty four, making an
OF two. These. when filled by seniority, the
bill provides. create original vacancies in Tho rank
OF captain
senator Logan win not favor it, and it will mcct with
strong opposition In the Senate.
THE MARY MERRITT scANDAL---cLosE OF THE
BRIsTow HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE
CASE.
Secretary Brstow appeared before tho COMMITTEES on
Treasury Expenditures to-day and made very full and
complete statement under oath concerning tho bark
Mary Merritt case showing that he had anything
do with the after he became Secretary of the
Treasury, aud that he did not know being
settled during his absence by the Assistant secretary
Mr.. Conant Mr.. Conant then sworn and testified
that during Secretary Brsiow's temporary absence he
took up the case, and that he decided il and
rcmitcd tho sentence without tho knowledge
or tho Secretary, and that Tho did not let
Mr.. Bristow know anything about IL when he
returned. Hc was asked by Mr.. Ely whether he knew
OF any previous instance where case, having been de-
cdcd by the Supreme Court and passed upon after
ward by Secretary OF the Treasury In this It
was originally by Secretary Richardson was then taken
n, and reversed by subordinate officer OF the Treas
ury Mr. Conant replied that he thought there
such record though he could not just then
member any,
Tho committee has closed the examination OF the
casc and tho testimony is admitted on all hands and
ing to do with the case and that the charges against
him are false.
FREEDMANs BANK AFFAIss-oPIxIoH or THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL ON THE STATUS or THE
COMMISSIONERS.
It's stated that the Attorney General has signncd
his opinion that the Commissioners Of the Frecdman's
Bank cannot be turned OF onicc neither they
resign tho duties imposed upon them by act OF Con-
were appointed to perform certain specified duties
which have not yet been fulfilled and for which they
have given bonds from which they cannot IL Is also
sad, be released Mr. Douglass, chairman OF the com.
mtce investigation Of the Frccdmcn's affairs also
with this Of tho case and has already had
trying time with the Commissioners OF the bank, con-
spicuously Mcssrs Purvis ciroId who want TO be
relieved and get out OF the dilemma
THE COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE THE FEDERAL
OFFICES OF LOUISIANA.
Tho New Orleans Committee VIII oc composed Of
Randall Gibson, chairman, aud Mcssrs Blackburn,
New Vance, sandcrson Reilly, democrats. and Charles
Foster Grape and Darrali, republicans Mcssrs Glib
con and DsrraIi both from Louisiana The COM
mttec expect to start for New Orleans within Tow
days, and hst,c 10 complete their investigation less
than three weeks IL is said this evening that Mr.
Foster VIII ask 10 be excused