New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-03-19

moth. II should be said, in explanation OF MI war
moths plan, that he apparently believes that lie
could control sufficient number OF the votes Oh inc
anti-Packard Republicans to hold the balance oi
power in the Legislature, reconstructed as ne sus-
Cests and could thus his own election 10 the
United States Senate. The Nichols Legislature II
it becomes the only de fdoto body, would certainly
not select him of its candidates. ana the Douy
that recognizes Mr.. Packard will also refuse to do
So Mr.. Warmoth has therefore selfish interest IN
an adjustment such as he suggests.
THE TREASURY SCANDAL.
| FRESH ATTACKS ON MIR. CoNANT-AN APPARENT
CONSPIRACY AGAINST HIM HE Is NOT DIS
TRUSTED.
fur TELEGRAPH 10 TIT. TRiBUSEl
WASHINGTON, March 1S.-NOtiiing new can ne
learned touching the TumOrs which connect several
| Treasury officials with alleged completely in the
fraudulent collection of overdue interest on regis
tered bonds Friends of several of the oficals uehy
that they will be found to have the reInotes con-
nection with anything improper which has been
discovered alleged to have been discovered. IL Is
simply Justice to Assistant Secretary Conant to say
that during his long service in the Department
under several Secretaries of the Treas
ury his record has been an exception
ally honorable one and his services TO tho
| Government have been Of very great value. No
Circumstance has ever been discovered dulDg tao
investigation OF the great scandals which nave Deeh
uncovered in the Treasury Department during the
last four or five years throwing tho least suspicion
on him; and no one has ever been bold enough even
fo suggest that he had dishonOrabc connection with
any of Them On the other hand, has services 10 the
several Secretaries under which he has served nave
been almost invaluable. Many abuses have boon
attacked and rooted out in the Treasury Depart
4 l,xrl hmm
have been investigated under his direction. His
high character his long service, and his uncXccp-
tonabc record in Office ought therefore TO place him
above suspicion until some actual proof OF his con-
ncction with frauds or irregular proceedings is pro-
duccd.
The peculiar kind OF frauds now suspected may he
briefly described as follows In computing the IN
ierest due N United states bonds il Is necessarily
important that the books all be closed at some
stated time. Hence the rule of the department has
been always TO close them 30 days prior TO The date
when interest is due, and 10 transfer Of bonds can
he registered during that period. person there
FORE buying bonds within that period is unable 10
have the purchased bond registered III his name M
ill the 80 days have expired ana interest IS only
computed from the date OF registration o.
transfer Tue accrued interest between the
date ON which the books were closed and
crly dnc to tic seller who generally either forgcts
or is ignorant Of the fact doubtless thinking he has
rot all thc in tcresi due him at die date Of selling.
According to law all unpaid interest is covered into
The Treasury at the end of 80 days, and remains ON
the books as liability TO be paid whenever demanded
by the person to whom II IS due
Some time ago it was suspected that some OF the
employees IN the department were giving lniorma-
ton ef the interest thus due which enahed out
sdcrs 10 claims. An investigation q. TIC mat
ter by the secret service detectives rested tho sS-
picon pretty concusiycly on one Douglass, clerk III
the department. who appeared to have been III cOllu-
sion with New-Y0rk attorney AS soon as THIS was
discovered Mr. Douglass was immediately dismissed
from the department. by Assistant Secretary Co
naut. A consultation was then held IN She Treas
my as to the feasibility Of in>tihhing legal proceed
ings against Douglass but It was decided by
the department officials TO Turn tic matter
over to the District-AtoncS fox whatever
action he might deem proper. There was some
oneslion as to the Jaw NairantnE amy such prOcetd-
iDps. Douglass having only furnished information
to outsiders which, though IN violation Of ,1Iic OF
! the department, rot considered as wholly
coming under any statutory law. Assistant 5ccrc-
tary Conant did not himself institute legal proceed
ngs against Douglass. and this seems to bcthc only
! ground upon which some members of the secret ser
vice of the Treasury Department were led 10 suspect
! that he himself had some connection with them.
Secretary sherman on taking charge of the Treas
ury Department and learning the facts in the case
| Immediately directed an informal examination Of
| the subject which is in progress. No cOncu-
! sions have vet been reached affecting any of the
Treasury officials aud those familiar with the mat
| ter deny that such il likely 10 be the case.
! Secretary Sherman is reported TO have said
| on this subject: mo charges whatever have
| been made 10 me impngning the character OF
| Assistant Secretary Conant who took very active
part in the previous Investigation, with view fully
TO expose the frauds nothing has appeared to cast
the least suspicion on him. Aside from ACCUSATIONS
connected with Assistant Secretary Commits official
duties, others of an outrageous aud indecent char
ac;er have been published against him to-day which
those making the alidayits insist their ability 10
sustain. Mr.. Commits friends say that the manner
IN which these stories told and the sources from
which they have emana'ed lend color 10 the theory
that the whole movement is a conspiracy against the
Assistant Secretary.
GEN. GRANTS TOUR.
| TO BF Is EUROPE TWO IEARs-A DESIRE 70 TRAVEL
PRIVATELY.
IBT TELEGRAPH 10 TIE TGIBUsEl