The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1876-04-21
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, ID. O., April IS, 1876.
Special Correspondence.

Special Correspondence.
The kilbourn Habcas Corpus case is the
only topic of conversation here. And it
deserves to be, for it is one of the most i'm
portant questions ever before Congress. |
will briefly recapitulate the facts kilbourn
was summoned before committee of the
House and directed to bring his books and
pepers relating to what is known as the Real
Estate Pool. Kilbourn gives the names of
some of the members of the pool and among
others that of Jay Cooke & Co. This firm
was indebted TO the government in a large
sum of money and the object of the inquiry
was to ascertain if they had any interest in
property not surrendered. Mr. Kelbourn
stated that the courts had examined that
question and that all the interest of Jay
Cooke & Co., had been given up. He re-
fused to give the names of the other PARTIES
in the pool or to exhibit his books and pa
pers. The committee reported him to the
House as in contempt for refusing to answer.
The House ordered him into the custody of
Thompson sergeant-at-arms and to be con-
fined in the District Jail. Kelbourn stated
before the committee and repeated it before
the House that if "any gentleman here or
any member of the committee will express
his conviction, grounded on any fact known
to him, that there is any connection what
ever with any public act that Congress has
right to investigate or to found any legisla-
ton upon, that he was ready to answer any
questions that might be put to him" But
he declined upon the ground that ';his busi-
ness was with private citizens and that the
government had no right to inquire into it,"
Many Democrats hold that Kilbourn was
right and that the House committed an err
ror in sending him to Jail. Under law
passed some years ago, the Speaker certified
Kelbourn's case to the District Court and he
was indicted. Marshall Sharpe demanded
his body but it was refused. Kelbourn then
sued out writ of Hdbeds Corpus before
Judge Carter, chief justice of the District
TIE writ was made returnable last Saturday
and Mr.. Thompson upon whom it was served
asked until Tuesday, as he had submitted
the question of whether he should produce
the body to the House of Representatives
by whose order he held it. The question was
referred to the Judiciary committee and on
Saturday they made two reports. The ma
jority reported against permitting the body to
he delivered, but the minority consisting of
Proctor Knott of Kentucky, Lynde of Wis
consin and Frye of Maine reported in favor
of obeying the writ. Frye is a Republican
and Lynde are Democrats. They
presented the following resolution. Re
solved. That the sergeant -at-arms be, and he
is hereby directed, to make careful return
to the writ of Habeas Corpus in the case of
Hallett Killbourn, that the person is duly
held by the authority of the House of Rep
to answer in proceedings against
him for contempt, and that the sergeant-at
arms take with him the body of SAID Kel-
bourn before said court when making such
RETURN as required by law" After long dis
cussion the minority report was adopted by |
a vote of l05 yeas to ~ nays. Seventy-six |
Democrats and eighty-nine Republicans
voted yea, and sixty-eigbt Democrats three |
and Mr.. Banks voted nay. To- |
lay Mr.. Keibourn is before Judge Carter
md his attorneys claim that he is unjustly |
leld, as he was not bound in law to answer
he questions put to him not to to produce
he books and papers required. So the
question is settled for the present aud Con-
,ress acted wisely in obeying the writ.
Should Judge Carter decide to inquire into
he legality of the action of the House and
o determine whether it had the right to
)ut the questions and in event of failure
o answer to imprison for contempt, then
he Supreme Court will be called ON to de-
tide.
uc STduu Jury Vi lut biSiIlCI uus
licted General Babcock, Harrington Dis
rict Attorney, Whitley and Nettleship de-
ectives and the burglars whom they en-
oloyed for the safe burglary conspiracy. The
indictments set forth that these parties con-
'pired together for the purpose of robbing
he safe of the District Attorney and putting
he books and papers taken therefrom into
he possession of Columbus Alexander, thus
enabling them to charge and convict him of
he robbery. Babcock was bailed in the
um of ten thousand dollars. The payments
If the Geneva award will be made on the
irst of May, and the Secretary of the
Treasury has ordered the sale of six millions
If bonds To raise the money. Gen. Belknap
appeared before the Senate to-day to answer
he impeachment charges. He was repre-
ented by Montgomery B air judge Jere.
Black and ex Senator Matt Carpenter. He
,leads to the jurisdiction of the court, upon
he ground that having resigned he cannot
,e impeached. Time is given for the parties
q prepare their arguments upon this ques-
ion, which is reallyt the most important one
II the case, for it makes very little difference
whether Belknap is found guilty or not, but
t is highly important that it shall be def
litely settled whether an officer can escape
by resignation.
IL Is said that leading army O1ncers are
skiing for court martial to try Babcock.
some of them say they do not want to be
ssociated on terms of equality with man
Who is accused of such crimes as he is accus-
ID of.
The finance question has dropped out of
Congress, seemingly without any precon-
'erted arrangement to tina: effect. Whether
his is wise movement on the part of the
Democrats or not time will tell. am in
lined to think that the people want some
ction on this subject and will not be salts
led without it. A strong movement in IA
'or of Judge David Davis is being develop
d. His friends claim that he is the strong
st man that can be put before the people by
he St. Louis convention and are urging
lin for the place. The friends of Bayard,
rilden, Hendricks and Thurman each make
he same claim for their favortes, and the
Democrats must finally determine. Blaine
till leads on the Republican side, though
ome efforts are being made to smirch him.
So far they have resulted in nothing definite
enough for him to demand an investigation,
md have been successfully answered
RENO.