The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-01-31
WASHINGTON.
News Gathered About the CAPITAL
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! WAsiiiSGToN, Jan. 25-Col. Isaa,
r. Hill, of Ohio, has been appointed
assistant soTgeant-at-armS Of tht
House.
The national board of trade this
morning discussed the matter of ticti
tious bills of lading. The discussion
arose from a reference to alleged
fraudulent bills covering fictitious
shipments from points far South tC
New \ DIRK and New England. A com
mittee was appointed to propose a bill
on the subject to be presented to Con
sress. The same committee was in
structed to prepare Il bill securing adj
! Yances Of money made upon bills OF
lading. The subject of interstate
| commerce was also discussed. 1t is
the purpose of the board to pass reso-
buttons urging the president to ap
point a national committee to protect
the interest Of the public in railway
management.
The House committee on claims di-
rected favorable report to be made
on Mr.. Holman's bill, to prevent
fraudulent duplication of accounts
and claims by officers of the govern
ment and others having dealings with
the government. The bill provides if
any officer of the United States, or
other persons who knowingly present
or cause to be presented any voucher
on account, or claims, to any officer
OF the United States for approval or
payment for the purpose of securing
credit or any account with the United
States, which shall contain any ma
terial misrepresentation of fact in re-
gard to the claim, he shall not be en-
titled to payment or credit for any
part of the voucher on account or
claim.
The House committee on postotlices
and postroads agreed 20 report favor
ably on Moneys bill fxlDg the rate of
postage of second class publications
deposited in letter-carrier offices at
cents pound.
The House committee on invalid
pensions adopted the following reso-
luton: ut is the sense of the COM
mittee that whenever the government
has enlisted soldier and accepted the
service of such soldier, it should not
be required, in order to obtain a pen
sion. to prove that he was sound and
in good health when he enlisted, and
the government should be stopped
from setting up that disability existed
prior to enlistment" The committee
will report bill embodying the sense
of the resolution at an early day.
Benjamin Gaines, nephew of eX-
Speaker Keller, was to-day examined
by the House sub committee on con-
tracts, investigating the removal of
of the last congress. Gaines
was appointed to fill the position OF
made vacant by the res
lgnation of Tyson, March 3, last year.
He testified he was confidential clerk
Of the eX-speaker at the beginning of
the Fortyseventh Congress; about the
middle of the first session he re-
marked to Keifer that the positions
occupied by Dawson and Tyson were
very desirable places, and if things
could be brought about he would like
one. Gaines said it was tacit I'M
Outstanding between himself and his
uncle that he should have one of the
positions. At about the close of last
session, he continued, Dawson and
Tyson made proposition to me that
they would each give me 800 month
if l would allow them to retain their
positions, and a few days
later L told my uncle of
the offer. He said, "Have nothing
to do with the proposition" With |
$500 / could have hired assistance |
and done the work performed by both
Dawson and Tyson the last session of |
The Forty-SeYenth Congress, and with |
$4,000 l could have done all committee |
work of the stenOgrapherS which cost !
the government over $4,000"
EX-Speaker Keifer was to have ap- |
peared before the committee to testify, |
but pleaded fatigue after the delivery
Of his speech on the FitZ John Porter
case, and asked to be allowed to APP
pear tomorrow. Request granted.
The solicitor of the treasury recon- |
nended to accept the offers of compro-
mise in the cases of the Union bank |
and Citizens bank OF Louisiana, for |
1880 and $3.50, respectively. These |
eases arise from cotton claim of |
Noblon Il Bellocque, of New Orleans, |
which are now before the United |
States supreme court on appeal from |
the court OF claims, the latter gave |
Noblon 81 Bellocque a Judgment of |
$4,000. Subsequently they recon-
sijered the case and reversed the |
judgment. The money, however. in
the meantime had been turned over
to the assignee's claimants who had
gone into bankruptcy and had been
among the creditors,
about sixty in number. The list in
Guided the two banks already men
toned. The government has brought
suit against all these persons to recov-
or the money in question. Many of
them are willing to compromise, and
the solicitor is in favor of accepting
these terms. He says the govern
ment may recover 100000 in this
way, whereas, otherwise they might
not get cent.