New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-04-29
MIR. HEWITT'S CHARGES.
He BASED THEM UPON MsIyFoRMATIoN.
STILL He SAYS MR.. CHANDLER DID NOT OBEY THR
LAw-MR. HEWITT REBUKED.

lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuNE.l
WASHINGTON. April 2S.-Abram S. IIewitts per-
sona explanation in the House to-day attracted
general attention, and was listened to with much
interest, also the reply Of Major Calkins. who
again took up the culgcls for the Secretary Of tho
Navy. Mr.. Hewitt's effort to maintain, in part
the ground taken by him on Thursday, was not gen.
orally regarded as successful lie expressed his
sorrow that on account of insufficient information
given him by Treasury officials he had been led TO
assert that the money received on account of tho
sales of unserviceable vessels had not been placed
in the Treasury.
In his speech on Thursday Mr. Hewitt said lie
w0nld not trust an officer 10 spend money who re-
taIns public funds in his custody which by virtue
OF law ought to be in the Treasury that he did not
know what use may have been made of the money,
but that unless the Secretary is governed by the
law he may keep the money out Of the Treasury
"unl after the next election" that the money. II
not now in the Treasury, is in somebody custody,
possibly drawing interest which does not inure TO
the benefit Of the United States" Later in tho
same day Mr.. Hewitt so far modified his charge as
10 say that while the money might be in the custody
of the Treasurer it had not been "cOveTed INTO tho
Treasure in the manner the law requires y; bnt he
did not withdraw his previous insnuatOns that the
Secretary might keep control of the money until
after the next election and that "sonebody
might be drawing the interest on it,
MR. HEwIrT's LATEST POSITION.
Neither did he do to-day, but contented him
self with an effort to show that the law requires
the Secretary to "cover the money into the
Treasury" and then draw it ont again, if necessary.
TO pay the expenses Of selling some vessels, and
breaking up others. The law requires that out Of
the net proceeds of sale" the expenses above men,
toned shall be paid. Mr.. Hewitt contends that in
this case the " net proceeds are the same as he
gross proceeds" and that after the money 10
covered INTO the Treasury the Secretary ut the
Navy may draw out on his warrant so much as may
he necessary TO pay the expenses mentioned. Both
these propositions MAJOR Calkins cOntrOveltcd The
general rule Is that money once covered into the
Treasury" must remain there until Congress grants
auth rity 10 take il out Major Calklnss argI-
ment IN favor of the legality of Mr.. Chambers
action seemed 10 be conclusive aud this cOnstTuc-
ton Of the law is supported by some OF the Dess
lawyers in the House. Alr. Hewitt is not lawyer,
but he affirmed that lis Interpretation of the law
sustained by some Of the most eminent Demo-
cratic lawyers" in the House.
WHAT REMAINS OF THE CHARGES.
All that remains of Mr.. Hewitt's original charges,
therefore, s that his construction of the law differs
from that of the Secretary Of the Navy and many
other good lawyers, with whom, however. some
eminent Democratic lawyers do not agree.
In his concluding remarks. Major Calklns was
severe on Mr. Hewitt, declaring in effect that bis
conduct had been ke that of " an assassin" and
that IL lacked "bOnesty and decency' MAJOR
Calkins vas loudly applauded Mr. Hewitt made
short reJoin6er but declined 10 notice the personal
attack upon his motives and conduct. His best
friends in the House regret that on account oi IN.
sufficient information or otherwise. he was led, n
the first instance to make charges which he could
light of facts easily accessible were unjust, both 20
the Secretary and To himself.