The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1877-10-04
Washington Matters.
TIE SPEAkERSHIP.

on Capitol Hill, while Mr.. Cox has en-
gagged quarters at the Riggs House, where
ne VIII doubtless keep open house until
alter the Democratic caucus, which will
be held one week from next SATURDAY.
Congressman Saylcr is not expected here
to stay until after the Ohio election, but
friends OF his are expected here within
day or two to open his canvass and look
after his interest until he comes. He
viii have headquarters at Wizards. The
trends OF each of these three, report each
confident of victory, and Mr.. Randalls
trends claim that he has in the neighbor-
mood OF ninety votes. A careful COMPARE
son OF the views of members who have
been here within the last month warrants
the belief that Messrs. Cox, Savler and
Randall divide the Northern Democratic
vote about equally, and that no consider
able portion of the Southern Democratic
vote is Yet pledged at all That vote is
the unknown factor in the canvass. Mr..
Randall claims a majority Of the South
crn vote, but three Virginia members
whom Randall claims to have sure, while
admitting that Mr.. Randall is now their
own choice, have each said within
month, over their own signatures, that if
a southern man IS put in nomination they
shall certainly support him. Prominent
Southern members say that Alexander H.
StephcnsS statement that the Southern
vote is almost solid for Randall is rnwar-
ralted. The Southern members will hold
a quiet caucus before the regular caucus
to decide whether they shall support a
southern man. If they decide yes their
candidate Will be elected, as the South
has nlnety-o nc Democratic votes in the
next Congress- The friends of Congress-
man Caldwell of Alabama, who are press
ing him vigorously for the clerkship, will
try to persuade the Southern men that it
is not eXpedient to ask for the Speaker
ship yet. Mr.. Caldwell has arrived here
to conduct his own campaign. Three
candidates are already in the field for
Door keeper Patterson of New jersey,
the last incumbent, Wedderbuml of Viz
@inia and ScatOn Gales of North Carolina.
For the House Postmaster the candidates
thus far are Stewart Of Virginia, the last
incumbent, and Clampitt, an Indiana
lawyer, who is backed by EX-Gov Hen
bricks, Gov Williams, Dan Voorhees, and
other prominent Indiana men. Until the
Southern members decide whether OF 30
They want the Speakership, all predc-
tons as to the probable officers OF the
next House will be mere guesses.
DOWNFALL OF AN EX-SENATOR.
The jury in the case of the United States
against eN-Assistant Secretary SAWYER of
The Treasury Department TODAY returned
verdict of guilty Of conspiracy with
MesSrS. HaneS and Brooks to defraud
II :. -
stances of the transaction in brief are
that Parkman Brooks 4 Co. of Memphis,
while Sawyer was Assistant Secretary of
the Treasury under Richardson, filed pc
tltI0nS Tor cotton claim, and through
the connvance of Sawyer and Haines.
the latter being at the time Commissioner
OF Customs 1T was paid. Sawyer is con-
Hlcted of conspiracy and Haines and
Brooks OF bribery. All three have been
arrested and are now in Jail, and will I'M
dergo sentence tomorrow, unless new
trial IS accorded them. The downfall of
sawyer Is distressing. He came here
during the days OF reconstruction us Sen
ator from South Carolina and served a
full term in the Senate. Subsequently,
he was appointed by Grant Assistant
Secretary of the Treasury. 1t is believed
that he made the office profitable to him
self, but being protiigate in his habits he
accumulated nothing. When he was re-
lleVed from duty in the Treasury Depart
ment, he took to gamblin and almost
any night before the faro banks on Rum
row were closed Sawyer could be found
playing cheap checks on the green baize
tie drank a good deal latterly and SEEM
nglN lost all selt-respect. When lodged
III JAN to-day he gave Way to his emotion
and Wcpt like a child. He is a native of
Massachusetts, and tor some years in
early lite was a SchOol-teacher in Boston
and principal ola High school in the CEN
tral part OF the state. The jury recon-
mended Sawyer to the mercy of the Court.
The penalty of the offence is from one to
1lNe years imprisonment at hard labor, or
flne OF not less than 81 900 or not more
than $4,000. William H. Barstow, late
clerk in the Treasury Department, and
zen. Roddy were also indicted, but Bars
tow was acquitted, and Roddy, being alb
sent from the country, could not be tried.
THE ARMY.
Secretary McCrary's mind is fully made
up to Recommend to Congress at the eX-
IRA session. an increase of the army to 40
Wo men His plan for accomplishing
inns purpose is to increase the present
number OF regiments to their full compile
Iilenl, ana not To organize any new rGgi-
luehlS, or to require the employment of
any more officers than are at present in
lllc service OF the government. This of
course Is the most economical way in
winch an increase of the army could be
elected Although the opening llp of
Official appointments in the army to eX-
Confederate officers would be a very POD
lIar measure in the South, President
Hayes VIII undoubtedly approve Of Mr..
McCrary S recommendations, and it would
not be strange if there should be an in
crease OF the army this winter The Re
pnhIlcans in Congress will mostly support
some addition to The United States mill
tdrN forces, while the Democrats will be
divided upon such measure, and a suffi
clcnt number will vote with the Republi-
cans, if the Republicans will vote solid to
enable the Administration to strengthen
The army very materially, even if il should
not be raised to the number of AZ, 900 SOL
dlers. The addition of $4,000 men it is
estimated, would add 80, OOO, 900 to the
cost OF the army, which would go far
toward oi1settlng the reductions effected
bY the last Congress. Secretary McCrarv
laNols the idea advanced by the Army
Commission appointed by the last Con
9ress, that the German company system
should be adopted, which provides that
the minimum number of men in compa-
ny shall be IS, and that each company
may be raised to 25O men when an in
creased force is required.
A Rockland Captain Sutfocated.
RoCKLAND, Sept. 26. Capt. Samuel
Gross of the schooner Commonwealth.
was found dead III the cabin of his vessel
ut Atlantic Wharf this afternoon. The
vessel sailed hence with lime for Boston.
Thursday, the captain and his two sons,