The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-03-24
From the Maine State Press of March %, 1876.
History Of Seven Days.
The News for the week ending "wednesday
Night, March %.
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.

THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
The week has been famous one for scandal
mongers and bad QUE for the Belknap bust
ness and those who have been involved in his
ruin and disgrace. The testimony goes to show
that quite number of those post-traderships
have been sold and that the whole thing is dis
graceful. Orville Grant has had remote part
in one or two and Gen. Babcock's brother has
taken q hand in several. The testimony comes
from parties who didn't get appointments and
is possibly colored a little by defeat, There are
many other sensational stories further mplicat-
ing Belknap but it is only in the form of gen.
eral newspaper gossip, and not as testimony.
Pendleton, however, is involved in Belknap's
ruin. He got railroad claim, once disallowed
and considered worthless, allowed by Belknap.
Pendleton kept most of the proceeds, $14S, 900
and ir is shown that Mrs. Belknap got $4,000
but she was one of the original owners Of the
claim. 1t has killed Pendleton politically.
Congressman Hays of Alabama is not guilty
of selling cadetship. A fellow named Lilly
has been trading in cadetships. He paid a
Pennsylvania Democratic member of the Both
Congress 5000 for a cadetthip.
Appraiser Darling has been dismissed be-
cause of incompetency and neglect of duty.
Marsh Is coming back at the request of the
Attorney General to testify in the Belknap
case.
Hallock, the Treasury robber, has been SEN
fenced to four years imprisonment.
Testimony tends to show that there have
been gross frauds in the soldiers tombstone
contracts.
There is much and contradictory testimony
before the Senate committee on elections in
regard to the election of Senator Spencer of
Alabama. The evidence tends to show bribery
and corruption.
The investigation into the affairs of the post
Office department acquits officials of all fraud
though there has been some sharp practice in
regard to bids for mail contracts.
The Emma mine investigation has begun,
and ex-senator Stewart is now under examina-
ton. No testimony of importance has vet
been ELECTED.
Investigation of the post-traderships reveals
much corruption. Hawkins Taylor has test.
fed that he has procured several traderships
for fees.
1t having been charged that the confidential
letter of the Attorney General to the District
Attorney pending the wbiskey trials met the
approval of the President, it is authoratively
denied that the President ever saw the letter
until it appeared in print.
WASHINGTON.
A silly story was circulated last week to the
elect that during the campaign of 1872 Sena-
tor Boutwell,, then Secretary of the Treasury,
directed Henry Clews & Co. to send $50, 900
to the Republican state committee of Penn
sylvania for campaign purposes, promising to
reimburse them by giving early information of
government sales of gold, so they might gamble
safely in Wall street, Gov. Tilden and Lieut..
Gov. Dorsheimer of New York were quoted as
having documentary proof Of the truth of this
story, but when interviewed both denied that
they had any such proof. 1t is needless to say