Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-06-13
TREASURY LUNCHES.

Served at Public Expense and Charged as
Candles-Sixty-Four Thousand Checks
For Payment of July Interest-Mr. Pit
ney's Refusal to Testify-Robertson's
Commission Waiting the Result of the
Albany Fight
WASHINGTON, June 1.-THE treasury de
partment is getting checks daily for payment
of the July interest on the per cent. bonds.
ItreQuires $4,000 checks to pay this interest.
Mr.. Ptney, custodian of the treasury, has
refused to testify before the investigating COM
mittee, and he maintains they cannot compel
him to testify under oath. There is no way
under the ordinary rules of evidence to force
him to testify. The ground that he might
thus crimmate himself protects him. He was
willing to answer questions if not sworn, but
would not be put under oath This
action of his causes considerable
comment, one report being that he holds his
mouth to protect men who have held
higher positions than he holds. In fact in
talking at times Pitney has let out hints to
this effect. AmaRg the items he had entered
on his books as having purchased was num-
Der of boxes of candles. No candles are used
in the treasury and when asked about it he
stated that he had never actually bought any
candles, bnt that, under orders, he had at
different times provided nice lunches for some
officials and he covered the expense by charg-
ing it up to candles.
Robertson'S commission as collector of the
port of New York, will be made out for sign
ing about the Odd. Robertson expects to en-
ter upon his duties as collector on the first of
July, as he believes the New York Senatorial
contest will be ended before that time. He Is
required to give heavy bond, and this bond
must be filed and accepted in the treasury, and
,foi., la lafa xNfI Ii
Should the Senatorial fight drag on, then
Merritt will remain in the collectors office
until Robertson can take charge; but he
thinks the Senatorial fight is to be ended in
time for him to become collector July 1st.
Secretary Kirkwood denies the report that
Assistant Secretary Belland and Chief Clerk
Lockwood, of the interior department. are to
be removed
Gen. Joseph Johnston tells a New York cor
respondent in reference to the disparaging
statements which Jefferson Davis has made of
him in his (DavisO recent book, that he has not
seen the book yet, only such extracts as the
papers have published, as well rs the report of
Gen. Sherman's remarks in Hartford. He said
he did not think when he came to read the
book he should feel it necessary to make pub
lie statements in contradiction of anything
that Davis might say regarding kim. He did
not believe Davis could or would say anything
rejecting ON his personal character He, how
ever, was quite willing to make such
hasty and informal denial of Davis reported
statements as a brief intervIeY would allow.
The suit of Walsh against Brown, entered
yesterday in the circuit court of the
district, Is regarded by those familiar wi tn the
"star route" frauds as the beginning of the
end. 1t is said Walsh has already supplied the
government with much damaging evidence
against the ring.
Prominent Ohio Democrats who ale in
Washington say that the talk of running
Thurman for Governor of Ohio, was started
by irresponsible parties, and such nomna-
ton viii not be thought of in convention.
They say, in the first place, that Thurman
would lot have the nomination if he
could BE- elected without any effort.
One of fhurman's most trusted friends
says, besides, that Thurman does not expect
TO return from Europe for year. If an cleo
ton OF Governor could be followed by any
considerable benefit to the party, then Thur
man might be brought forward The talk
here indicates the nomination of Cincinnati
man.
Prof Riley, of the United States Entomo-
logical Commission, says the locusts now ap-
pearing in the West and South are two Gis-
tlnct broods, that one is thirteen years and
the other is seventeen years locusts, and this
is the first time they have appeared in the
same year since 1860. They are accompanied
by wasps and people have been stung by these
wasps, from which a belief has sprung that
locusts sting. Riley says the locusts will
suddenly disappear before long.