The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1880-04-15
WASHINGTON LETTER.
THE RULER OF THE NAVY IN couRr-Two
THOUSAND PENSION CLAIMS PENDING
Mr., ACKLIN's CASE.

THE RULER OF THE NANl Nv N'pN' WV
THOUSAND PENSION CLAIMS PENDING
MR., ACKLIN's CASE.
From our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, April, 18th, 1880.
To see the admiral Of the navy in court
as defendant and a small pug'noscd clerk
who once held subordinate place in the
admiral's office, as prosecutor, is an in
structive tableau, as one calculated to pro-
duce reflections IN the minds of those well
enough acquainted with history to know
that this situation would not have been
possible few generations ago. The SUIT
was to recover money said to have been d.
verted from the pay of the clerk Wetmore,
to his divorced wife. Until he INSISTED
upon going upon the stand to testify IN MS
own behalf, believe against the ADVICE
of his counsel, Admiral Porter was Dig
nifed looking object, But now, how re-
versed the position OF the ruler of the navy,
the quarter deck martinez Admiral Port
er started out confidently; he talked well,
but he talked too much. His counsel, Mr.,
Merrick, the same who argued Mr.. Tildens
claims before the electoral commission,
tried to restrain him, but the ruler OF the
navy was not accustomed TO restraint
The admiral thought the ship was going
swimmingly, but there came squat in the
way of a cross-examinatlon, The modest
little counsel for the plaintiff handed him
letter and asked him if he recognized the
hand writing. "Let me see, said the adj
miral. He read it carefully and said 81
object" with comical emphasis that
brought down the house. The admirals
confidence was gone. Letter after letter
was handed to him in his own hand writing,
and his confusion grew. He argued that
they had no relevancy, told the counsel for
the plaintiff that he was no lawyer, and
said many other indiscreet and indiscrimi-
nate things. The trial is not yet concluded,
and is of course of but little general inter-
est. l refer to it only because of the prom
inence of the defendant and because Of the
sharp contrast presented of man accus-
toned to autocratical authority compelled
to defend himself against one Of the weak
est of his former subordinates.
Some time since the senate adopted a res
olution asking the secretary of the treasury
whether any reduction in the clerical force
OF that department could be made with adj
vantage to the government. To this the
secretary yesterday sent a reply stating that
no reduction of clerical force can advan-
tageously be made in that department, ex-
cept, perhaps, that some old and intirm
employees might be replaced by younger
men. The Secretary thinks, however, that
their dismissal would be unjust, unless
some provision be made for their old age,
in recognition of their long service to the
government.
There are already pending before the
house of representatives upwards of two
thousand pension claims, and, unless night
sessions are ordered to consider such
claims, not more than one hundred can pos
sibly be disposed of. Thus far the house,
out OF this large number, has disposed OF
only about twenty cases.
The investigation as to Mr., Acklen's mo-
tive in reporting to the house document
which he was not entitled to report, which
has been conducted by the Judiciary COM
mittee, has closed. The committee will
soon make its report, and, it IS understood,
will exonerate Mr. Aclllen from any cor
rupt motive.