Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-05-26
WASHINGTON.
Action Of the Various Congressional
Committees Proposed Restoration
Of the Franking Privilege
Bakers "SWeet" Story.
Schenck Replies to ChesebOrOugh-The
Presidents PrOclamatiOn-The
Blaine Bond Business Etc,
Etc, Etc.
ETEcurrvE APPOINTMENTS.


dent has nominated James s. Rutan, OF
Pennsylvania, to be consul at Florence,
Italy, vice Writ Sykes, withdrawn; Rob.
ert p Richardson, postmaster at st. Jo-
seph; George ". Patton, United States
marshal for West Virginia.
EXAMINATION INTO POSTAL CONTRACTS
The house committee on postofices
and post-rosds to-day examined John
L. French, chief clerk of the contract
division, regarding the system of award
ing contracts, especially as TO fraudulent
bids smuggled into the pOstcfice depart
meat by the aid Of false seals and COL
luding clerks during the spring let
tings last year. He said he nor his fam.
lily had ever received a present from 8
contractor for any act of his in the de-
partment. He admitted having acted
as llicitor for an insurance agent, and
had obtained from mail contractors ap-
plicstions for policies Of life insurance,
but he usually attended to this business
after Office hours, and denied that he
had ever favored any contractor in con-
sideration of his taking out policy.
AMENDMENTS TO THE APPROPRIATION
BILL.
The senate committee on apprOpria-
tiOns, to-day, struck cut of the
legislative, executive and judicial ap-
propTistiOD, sections providing for re-
ductiOn Of ten per cent. of all salaries of
clerks in the executive departments;
prohibiting political assessments, re-
quiring the secretary of the treasury to
make q reduction Of ten per cent. in the
salaries of all custom officers and en-
ployes, and prohibiting the employ
ment OF any persons except those for
whom specific appropriations are made.
THE FRANKING PRIVILEGE RESTORED.
The senate committee on Iostoffices
and post-rosds, to-day, agreed to report q
bill to restore the frsnking privilege for
all letters or packages sent on purely
official business by heads OF bureaus and
executive departments, or by senators or
members Of the house of representa-
tives. Tne bill will contain severe PEN
altiss to prevent a misuss Of official
franks.
MORE SILVER COIN.
The bonding and currency committee
to-day unanimously agreed to report
and recommend the passage of Repre-
sentative Ran6all's bill to authorize the
purchase of silver bullion to the extent
Of twenty million dollars, with any
money in the treasury, and Issue result
irg silver coin; provided, that not
mora than one million dollars of money
shaIl not be issued at any one time ia
the purchase of such bullion.
THE BLAINE BOND BUSINESS.
The committee investigating the
Blaine bond business met to-day, when
Inf Of ID hvvN Il
agreed to, to the Ell. ~at the Tesolu-
ton of the COMMITTEES a.-sHUrIz1ng Ine
subcommittee 10 conduct the investigs-
tior did not authorize any investigation
of the question as to whether corrupt
use OF the bonds was made to secure
legislation, unlees it related to Little
Rock and Arksnsss bonds, which came
into possession OF the Union Pacific
company. On motion OF Mr.. Lynde, the
committee thereupon resolved that the
objection made by Mr.. Lawrence to Sick
les answering the question in dispute
was we'll taken and must be sustained.
AS TOLD BY BAKER.
Ex-Commissioner Of Pensions Baker
told the civil service committee to-day
his side Of the story in the matter of the
Chicago pension agency. He told Miss
Sweet when he Waited her Office that
the deficit must be made good to the
government, and if it was he would say
nothing sDout it. He did this and took
other acdon out Of friendship to Miss
Sweet, and told her she must not pay
any more money on the Campbell note
for her appointment. He denied Miss
Sweets testimony to the effect that he,
in company with Blskely, visited her
Office and demanded payment of the de-
ficiency in one day. Witness expressed
surprise when told that Miss Sweet had
made payment on the note as late as
April, 1875. Dispatches Of Blakely
while in Vermont to Miss Sweet, say
ing: "Baker is all right; do not worry"
were read to witness, and he said that
whatever Blakely says in these dis
patches is an assumption on his part.
sCHENCK REPLIES TO CHEsEBoROUGH.
General Schenck has sent to the COM
mittee on foreign affairs long letter,
replying to Cheseb OrouRh. He reiterstes
that when he arrived In Paris from
Italy he first heard the alarming news
OF the probable stoppsge Of dividends
on the Emma mine. Still be had no
thought of parting with his shares, not
Standing the loss which stared him in
the face. S5henck continues: "At the
action subsequently taken with CHEESE
borough was to guRld the interest OF
General Woodruff, who was his cousin,
and myself, CheseboTOugh was fully
empowered to act, and knew my views
on the matter. During the few days Of
anxiety that followed their passed be.
tween US several kilograms and let.
terF, which regret not preserving. l
did not sell two thousand shares, as was
suggested me to do, nor any other
sbsres, except those which were sold in
Woodhulps name, for him and myself,
by Jay Cooke, M'Culloch & Co. l have
believed, while looking back at the
matter, that did not telegraph to
Chessborough at any time in regard to
the two thouaand shares, and have
stated, as my distinct impression, the
telegram of which he gives now what
purports to be copy, do not remep-
ber, but dare say it is correct" Gen
erai Schenck then adds; He is con-
firmed ia his belief that be had not tele.
graphed Cheseborough in any form
whatever on the subject of two thou
sand shares.
PROCLAMATION BY TEE PRESIDENT.
The following was issued to-day by
the President Of the United States:
A Proclamation:
WHEREAS, a joint resolution OF the
senate and Of the house of representa-.
tives was duly approved on the thir.
teenth day OF March last, which resolu
ton is as follows:
Be ii resolved by the Senate and House
Of Representatives of the United State,
If AHlsTicQ IN Congress assembled, That
ii be, as hereby recommended by the
senate and house of representatives to
TO the people OF the several States, that
they assemble in their several counties
or towns on the approaching Centennial
anniversary of our national tndepend
ence, and that they cause to have de-
Iiveted on such day historical sketch
Of said county or town from its forma
ton, and thsts copy OF said sketch may
be filed in priRt or mRnuscnp! in the
clerks Office Of said county, and an adj
rnpry in cr ~ ~ D.