Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-04-16
OUR NATIONAL CAPITAL.
The HuieT orthe Navy I'm Court-grpvo
Thousand Pension Clsims Pending
-Mr. AeiElsn's Case.
FTom On Regular corre.nondent.

From Our Regular Correspondent
To see the Admiral Of the navy in court
as defendant, and small, pug-nosed
clerk, who once held subordinate place
in the Admiralb Office, as his prosecutor.
is an instructive tableau, and one calculat-
ed to produce reflections in the minds Of
those well enough acquainted with history
10 know that this situation would not have
been possible a few generations ago. The
suit was to recover money said to have
been directed from the pay Of the clerk
Wetmore, 10 his divorced wife. Untn he
insisted upon going upon the stand TO
testify in bis own behalf, believe against
the advice Of his counsel, Admiral Porter
was a dignihed looking object. But now,
how reversed the position Of the ruler Of
the navy, the quarterback martinez; Ad-
miral Porter started out confidently; he
talked we'll, but he talked too much. His
counsel, Mr.. Merrick, the same who had
argued Mr.. Tilden's claims before the
Electoral Commission, tried TO restrain
him, but the ruler OF the navy was moi ao-
customed to restraint. The Admiral
thought the ship was going sWimmingly,
but there came a squall in the way Of
cross examination. The modest little
counsel for the plaintiff handed him a let
ter and asked him il he recognized the
handwriting. Let me see" said the Adj
miral. He read it carefulyand said: Il
object" with a comical emphasis that
brought down the house. The Admiraps
confidence was gone. Letter after letter
was handed 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 lndiscreet aud indisorimi.
nate things. The trial is not yet conelud-
cd and IS OF course Of but little general in
terest. refer to It only because Of the
prominence OF the defendant, and because
OF the sharp contrast presented Of man
accustomed 10 autocratical authority com
PEELED to defend himself against one ofthe
weakest Of his former subordinates.
Some time since the Senate adopted a
resolution asking the Secretary Of the
Treasury whether any reduction In the
clerical force OF that Department could be |
made with advantage to the Government. /
10 this the Secretary yesterday sent re-
ply stating that no reduction OF clerical
force can adyantageously be made in that
Department, except, perhaps, that some
OLD and intirm employees might be replaced
by younger men. The Secretary thinks,
however, that their dismissal would be un-
just, unless some provision be made for
their old age, in recognition OF their long
service 10 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 possibly
be disposed Of. Thus far the House, out
Of this large number. has disposed Of only
about twenty cases.
The investigation as to Mr.. Aoklens mo-
tive in reporting to the House a document
which he was not entitled TO report, which
has heen conducted by the judiciary Com
mittee, has closed. The Committee will
soon make its report, and it is understood,
will exonerate Mr.. Acklen from any cor
rupt motive