The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-01-29


the several navy yards. the men having gone
unpaid nearly year. f
Among witnesses recent lily before the committee
discharged oookkeerer OF OF the bureaus, who
that surplus OF $l2, 900 at the end OF fiscal
year had not been covered the Treasury as tho
Law requires but had been carried over and swced
the available appropriation under the same head
for the next year. Hc testified In general terms
to the diversion Of FINDS and 10 gross irregu-
larity in contracts for some dredging machines
Undertaking contractors in some instances wore
declared defaulIers to allow the bids of svores 60
through. In certain specification Tor paving stone
Tor navy yard the article required described
granite blocks, whereas the favored contractors get
the hint that hubble was all that was required in
tmation that enabled them to secure the contract
The'committee themselves altogether
saed as to The reliability and sincerity OF this witness
especially as he admitted, cross-cxamin nation,
that for nssderaton Of ten per cent OF the amount
in each case he had given the cue to brokers.
bought up contractors claims at a discount
Mr.. John o. Evans, another witness. acknowledged
being interested IN the dredging machine contracts
referred TO, while hc was at the surety OF
the party 10 whom the contract nominaIly
givon. Outside Of this technical mattor
there had been nothing whatever improper
IN his business relations with tho TINS tho
substance of all the testimony taken So far.
ton Iron Company are believed to evidence tho most
1agrant violation Of law, and II explained mod
ied by something the committee have not yet
found in the records Of the Navy Department may
prove, IL IL said, the basis OF the long threatened
proceedings against ex-Secretary Robson for maad
ministraton of his Office.
THE UTAH ELECTION BILL-THE MORMON SIDE
OF THE QUESTION BEFORE THE HOUSE CON-
MITTEE ON TERRITORIES.
The argument the Utah Election bill before the
House subcommittee on Territories was concluded
to-day The speakers against the proposed enactment
the Mormon Delegate in Congress- George Q.
Cannon; DR.. Mary Walker and Mrs. Spencer, OF this
city, representative OF the Social Science Assoca
ton. Delegate Cannon reiterated The arguments fro
quenty urged the interest Of his Church, claiming
that because the Mormons first settled Utah they
ought to DO allowed by Congress to that Terri
tory their way, and reasscrted that those who
desire any other OF affairs than that existing
Utah carpebaggers and ndven Jurors whose only
desire is to get control OF the finances Of Utah. drive
out the Mormons and then appropriate their homes.
Dr. Mary Walker aired her pantaloons before the
committee for half an hour and nsrposed objections
| TO the Acknowledgement Of Mormon polygamists and
bigamists She declared, however, that she would
never--no nevcr-share her affections for man with
another woman.
Mrs. Spencer urged q against q favorable
report tho Utah Election bill by the committee that
It would bc in bad distranchise Mormon polyg
amists In Uan, while as she asserted all. the Con-
gressmen in tho United States practical polyg-
amists who do NOT their crimes under tho
religion and ought not therefore, TO interfere
with others who do
MEETING OF THE GnEENBACK AND SILVER
DISQUALIFICATION TO RENDER REMoNETI-
.zAT1oN EFFEcrIvE--oENERAL BUTLER ON THE
MEANS TO BE ADOPTED TO CONTROL THE
SECRETARY or THE TREASURY.
At the close OF the session OF the House to-day the
Clerk that there would DO meeting OF the
members who were in favor of tho reconciliation OF
silver in the OF the Judiciary Com
mittee. Between seventy and eighty members
assembled and the oacer appointed at the
last meeting oGlcinted. Mr.. Buckner, the
chairman announced the names Of tho Finance
and Executive committees, which have already becn
published. The Chairman Of The Finance Committee,
Mr. Wright OF Pennsylvania, said that u was i'm
portant that documents bearing upon the objects for
which the members had leaausd together should be
freely circulated, ana especially IN the Now England
States and New YORK; tho votes OF the Representa-
tives from those States to-day showing couclusvoiy
that the people needed informason Some complaint
had been made about the price charged for print.
| ing speeches at private job Offices and It
stated that the same work could be done at the
| Government Printing Office at saving Of At least
thrcehfths OF what PAID TO outside parties Funds
were necessary TO put a largo number Of the docu-
ments in circulation. and the members ought to DO
! prompt In paying Whatever they saw proper toward
forwarding the object of the association. 1t vas
agreed alter some general conversation that the
members should pay whatever they deemed prober
toward defraying the expenses OF circulating such
| documents.
General Butlcr said he heartily in favor OF
liberal subscriptions, and drawing out his capacous
asked to be credited with $50 toward
tightening the people Of hts section, any other part
OF the country that needed Information this
silver and currency question. He then said that
II vas important this timo to calmly consider
what action the members might be called upon to
take reference the Silver bill He would suggest
some thoughts for reflection. II evident that the
reconciliation OF silver would take place. and that
they should now begin to deliberate upon
| tho plan by which tho measure should be
made effective. Its passage by Congress and
| Its becoming O law was not eno7gh Tho
measures TO carry It into successful operation must
be developed, and that, too, as rapidly possible.
| Tho undertaking was not OF trfng magnitude. They
could think OF It without passion and feel
| ing, whereas later In tho session the forco
| OF Presidential obstacle might blind them
| with Indignation. II was q vital question
whether tho Treasury Department would properly
sustain the silver baby; whether would be properly
nursod or permittedto die from hamilton. General
| Butler went on 10 say
| We must means in our power control
the minstration Of tho Treasury There
aro important differences between tho relation OF
| the Secretary oil the Treasury and the heads
of other departments TO Congress-. Tho Secretsry OF
tho Treasury Is required TO report directly 10 the
House. He Is the only Cabinet officer OF whom
is required. When the Treasury act was drawn by
Alexander Hamilton he had this TACT In view, and he
placed II as a provision that the Secretary OF tho
Treasury should Ds required TO report either In per-
son or In writing. 10 Congress direct, and
through the President He TO DO
responsible to the legislative branch Of the govern
ment which controlled the purse strings, aud he
might be called before the House TO any ques-
lions which might be addressed TO him by members
In iaci he might be INTERCEPTED and