Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-12-14
The Hot Springs investigation.


The Senate committee Investigating the omis-
sion Of the Hot Springs clause from last session
appropriation bill heard Hon. Kenneth Raynor,
solicitor OF the Treasury, this morning. He
testified that Benson caine to him and stated
that he had Sufficie3t evidence to convict Sena-
tor COnOver of completely with the transaction.
and desired his {RaynOr's) law clerk to GO with
llln before the grand Jury In have hin Com
oVeI) Indicted. Witness told Benson he should
wait until his chief (Mr. BrookS} returned from
California and that as the reputation of men
high in position was involved he should be very
careful 10 be sure of his groun&.
STIIsoN HUTCHISS on THE STAND.
SlllSon llutchins. publisher Of the Washing
ton Post, testified that member OF the Capnoi
police came to his Office and related 4 CONVEX
Satfon he had overheard between one OF the
clerks at the capitol and another party. and
said that II the clerk could be looked up III
formation about the missing clause could prob
ably be obtained. Search was made for the
clerk named. but. not finding bin. the state
ment OF the officer was printed The next day
to know where the information came from
and asked that no more publication
be made, as it might defeat the end of Justice
and prevent the discovery OF the person who
distracted the clause. Benson said il further
publication was suppressed he would. in two
days, give them full statement OF the case
exclusively. He came at the end OF two days
and said he had traced out The matter. and
could convict Senator COnover, his clerk. Rice
and John V. Foster. One statement made by
Benson Mr. Hutchins wrote out himself SUP
posing Benson desired it kept from the emploFes
OF the Post. 1t was set in type and submitted
to Benson, who said it was substantially cor
ii would ruin him in the secret Service dl-
vision for having divuged the secrets OF The
bureau. Benson said if IFS publication
was held sip he would give additional facts at
the proper time which should be for the Post
exclusively. The matter was kept in type a
month, during which Benson frequently reiter-
ated his statement as to its truth. and said he
would have Senator Conoyer in the pententtary
In month. Witness kept the article ia type
until. from inquiries elsewhere, he aScertained
that Benson had deceived him and was likely to
get hlm III Scrape IL il was published, and then
lad IL distributed.
These witnesses were called by Senator Como
yer TO Show maiignity towards him on the part
of Benson.
TWO OF three witnesses who had hann aim
moned failing to appear. the committee ad-
Jotlrned 10 meet again at the call of the chair
man.
THE ORDER of the Navy department. issued
In ISL. which limits the extra COMPENSATION OF
Seamen. ordinary seamen. or landsmen serving
In IN me engineers force as firemen and coal
IeaN eIs, VIII not be regarded as in force from
ana after this date. An order by Secretary
Thompson, just issued. directs this
The DISTRICT BOND INvESTIG ALTON The COM
mittee on reform in the civil service to-day no.
titled the president OF the First National Bank
OF New York that they desired him to be here
on Monday. AT 10 O'Clock, to testify touching the
vi lfdHu Ill connection with the DaS-
Gill; 5i 0' 'He 800 District OF Columbia assessment
THE PROSPECTIVE RETIREMENT OF JUDGE
oLIN from the bench of the District OF Column
bia has not only brought TO the President ap
phcatons for appointment TO the prospective
vacancy from residents OF the District, but also
ifsm almost every state in the Union. Some
many more than ope Il. W. p smith, of Nash
vile, Tennessee. is the most persistent OF all
the outsiders, and is pushing vigorously his
c!alms TO the appointment
PURCHASE OF NAVAL SToRES-There being
misapprehension OF misunderstanding in the
matter OF purchases by purchasing pay officers
OF the navy upon open purchase acquisitions,
secretary Thompson has issued an order on the
subject. lie directs that all such purchases
must be made either by the Secretary of the
Navy. The chiefs OF bureaus, or the purchasing
pay pay master at the station This authority doe,
feaus at any yard or station. Articles 10 be pur-
chased on open purchase requisition are sub
lected 10 inspection by inspecting officers but
the latter are not To purchase them The mr.
chasing agent will be responsible that they are
Oolalned AT the lowest market price The ap-
plOval OF requisition by chief of bureau and
the transmission OF IL TO the officer epreseutinr
that bureau at any navy yard or station wifi
not give validity to the purchase unless il b.
nla0e Dy the puachaslng paymaSter Where
there is an immediate necessity for medicines
or surgical instruments, the officer repreSen
the bureau OF medicine and surgery may make
the purchase, and will certify the facts on the
ti1plicate bills before payment The term
medicines" herein used, will not include
liquors, or medical stores generally
COrNTERFEITERs ARREsTED-The secret ser-
Vice division OF the Treasury is to-day informed
OF the arrest at Washington, Indiana, of John
McCafty for issuing fifty cent counterfeit silver
terfeiting and his success in passing spurious
com. The secret service men have been after
him for some time. He was released on 5000