The daily gazette., 1878-07-25
SECOND EDITION
From Washin gton.
The Charges Against Collector
Th m a s-Ex-POstmaster
Parker. OF New Orleans
The District 3.65
BOnds-SensatiOn-
al Charges of
Corruption.
COLLECTOR THOMAS.

w AShlNoToN, July Z4.-ASSiStaDt
Secretary OF the Treasury Hawley said
Today that he had not reached any COR
clusion on the subject of the charges pre-
rerred against Collector Thomas, of Bal
timore. He has not yet even time to ex-
anime several of the papers which were
submitted. As MI. Hawley is now the
acting Secretary of the Treasury, his
time is entirely occupied with the per-
formance of the ordinary current duties.
and 1t Is not likely that he can devote
any attention TO the case of Mr.. Thomas
until the return OF Secretary Sherman
from Atlantic City. From what is said
on the subj ct al the Treasury DepaIt-
ment the Impression is conveyed that the
examination of the chargt will be a
mere matter of form, at any rate.
GEN. BUTLER's BRoTHER-IN-LAw.
In the archives of the White House
there will be found ON file two teleqrama
from New Orleans, received in the late
spring OF 1877, and add, essed to the Prosi-
dent. One of these kilograms reads IA
follows: "Y our Withdrawal meets the an
proval Of the community" the other.
"f our policy is success thank God. d
These two kilograms were sent by j. M.
G. Parker, Ben. Buffers brother-ln-l la
and the lately-deposed postmaster at
New Orleans. Parker was the
single Federal official in Louisiana who
approved the desertion of Packard by
The administration, and who upheld the
policy. In consequence he has been since
That time very unpopular with the whole
race OF carpet baggers, and il is reperi ed
from New Orleans that they are Overflow
ed at his downfall. One thing in bis IA
vor is that neither he nor any of his en-
ployes were naked up In any way with
the returning board villainies. When
Parker sent his teiegrams to Mr.. HAYES
1t is very probable be thought such ac-
tiOn would help to make him solid with
The administration, but his approval of
"the policy" was it seems, not sufficient
to compensate for bis connection with
Gen. Butler.
CHARGES OF CORRUPTION.
Charges are made publicly here to-day
to the effect that large corruption fund
was used to secure the passage by Con-
gress of the provision relative to the paw
ment OF the principle and interest of the
District 3.65 bonds. One statement is
that ga Vermont Representative got away
with $25, 900 and Chicago member and
a Maryland member with $12, 900 apiece
and that the balance of the fund went to
the Senate committee" Some are even
undertaking to mention the names of the
members who it is alleged received this
money. The amount of the corruption
fund is put at quarter of million dol
lars. The history of the 1855 bonds of
the District is too well known to need re-
cital. The amount outstanding of the
bonds is very nearly $14,000,0OO, and
while there are some very large holders,
like the First National Bank of New
York, the bonds are to very consider
able extent held by private persons, in
cluding widows and trustees who sought
safe investment, relying OH the nn-
doubted pledged faith of the govern
ment. 1t is very true that pending the
action of Congress and in anticipation of
favorable action there was considerable
speculation in the bonds, and a number
of persons here and in New York made
very handsome turns. But as to any cor
ruption fund used to operate on members
of Congress, there does not seem to be
the shadow of foundation for such asser-
tion, and that the assertion is made with
so much confidence on the street corners
and elsewhere is only another proof of
the facility with which sensations are
manufactured in Washington. A member
of Congress who nowadays takes bribe
to influence his official action is either a
wonderfully bold man or wonderfully
stupid one, for that his sin will find him
out, and speedily, he may be certain
There was no need, at any rate, for
money to be used to pass the provision
relative to the 3.65 bonds.
There was scarcely leading member
of either House that was not warmly in
favor of the 3.65 provision as being en-
tirely just and proper. A measure in
dorsed by Senators Conkling, Bayard,
Thurman and Edmunds would not need
the aid of corruption fund to get it
through the Senate, and if any money was
given to the Senate committee on the Dis
trict OF Columbia it was SO much thrown
away. In the House there was objection
to the provision as first passed by the
Senate, but the substitute which was !
adopted by the conference committee and
which is now the law, was accepted |
almost without dissent. The lobby |
funds which were used during the last |
session to influence legislation were in
several instances very large, but they
were consumed by the outsiders, except
such portions as were spent in dining and
wining members. AS above shown there
was no incentive even to spend money
for terrapin and champagne in behalf of
,he 1856 bond provision.
THE SOUTH CAROLINA REVENUE CASES.
Mr.. Earle the special counsel for the
government in the South Carolina revenue
,ases is expected here Saturday or Mon
lay to consult with the Attorney Gen
raj.