The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-06-12
Our Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, June Z, 1884
Special to the Democratic Press:

ticians, Senators and Congressman,
who are in Chicago. There is, there
fore, very little Of interest to write
about.
BREWSTER TO SPRINGER.
Acknowledgement Brewster has
written to Mr.. Springer, Chairman of
the Committee on expenditures in the
Department of Justice, relative to the
changing from the fee to the salary
system in cOmpensating United States
considered the subject in every aspect,
and the result of 'deliberation and re-
Election is that the change is impera-
tive. He further says: IA strong ar,
gument in favor of a change in the
law is that the most faithful and con-
scientiOus officers, attorneys and Mar
shals desire it, while any change is
opposed by persons who are wrongfully
using the process of the court at the
expense of the 'eitizen AZ d the Gov
ernment, larrassihgthe one aud plum
dering the other. Experience has
shown that few persons are able. to
resist the temptations to increase their
| fees, though they, differ in their meth
ods. J." In reference to the payment OF
special counsel, he points out the ad-
visibility OF leaving the compensation
to the discretion of the Attorney Gen
eral. l.z-aiid .s5Taae. 81
/ THE FINANCIAL SITUATION.
| The Comptroller of the Currency
upon being asked what he thought OF
the present financial situation, said he
believed that it was improving. The
banks in New York and other money
centres had lost a large share of their
country deposits, but he thought that
as soon as confidence should be restored
money would flow again into it's usual
channels as it did after the panic of 1873
"Some Of the best and most cOnserv-
ative people in New York, y he con-
tinued, " think that great progress has
been made, and that through the
summer money will be dull and rates
low. From all that can be learned
from the bank examiners who are
watching the situation the country
banks seem to be in good condition" /"
! Upon being asked what legislation,
if any, would probably jes ore conf
dence, Mr.. Cannon said g L think
the Mcpherson bill is the simplest aud
most available of the measures that are
in condition for immediate action. II
it should become a law it would in
crease the circulation of the country
by more than S3O,0OO, 600 and would
contribute greatly to the restoration Oi
confidence. There are now lying in
the vaults of the Comptroller's Office
bills, all ready for issue to banks to re-
place worn and mutilated currency.
These notes could be made Immediate
| ly available if the Mcpherson bill
should become law, and every ma
tiOnal bank in the country would re-
ceive circulation equal in amount to
| ten per cent. of its bonds now on
deposit. This currency, under the
provisions of the Mcpherson bill, would
be sent to every city, town and village
in the countrywhere there is a national
bank, and thus not only increase the
aggregate circulation but everywhere
restore confidence. This would not be
an initiation measure, because the call
ing of the three per cent. bonds and
consequent retirement of circulation
would, to certain extent, offset the
| increase.
"Unless the Mcpherson bill, or some
other measure giving relief to our
banks, is passed by Congress-and the
| Mcpherson bill seems to be the only
one that is likely to be reached-there
will be e contraction Of the currency
during the summer and early fall, and
| it is possible that more financial trouble
may occur when it becomes necessary
to move the crops"
ANOTHER OFFICIAL GONE WRONG.
A few days ago the attention of POST
master General Gresham was attracted
by statement that Col. Burnside had
lost large sums of money through
speculatiOns in connection with the
fraudulent oil syndicates conducted by
the broker Lewis, who absconded last
week. Burnside was called upon to
explain how he could speculate in this
way and live as expensive as he did
upon a salary of 81. 100 per annum.
He replied that, besides his private
means, his wife was in receipt of a
large income. The Postmaster G General
however, was not entirely satisfied with
this explanation. and ordered careful
examination of Col. Burnside's ac.
counts, which revealed that he was a
defaulter in the sum of $45. 900. He
waived examination in the police
court ON the charge of embeZzling $45,-
600, and his bail for appearance at the
Criminal Court was fixed at $45, 900.
NOTES.
The Senate has agreed to the confer
ence report on the Agricultural Appro-
priation bill and passed the District of
Columbia bill. The House joint reso.
luton appropriating 100000 for the
relief of the Louisiana food sufferers
so as to appropriate the unexpended
balance of the Ohio flood fund,
amounting to about $1,000
The Committee of Commerce of the
House reported unanimously In favor
of the bill authorizing the construc-
tion of bridges from Staten Island
across Staten Island Sound to New
Jersey ut Elizabeth and Perth AmbOy.
The bill has now been approved by
the Commerce Committees of the
Senate and the House, and its passage
is expected.
The House has completed the con-
sideration of the Legislative, Execu-
tive and Judicial Appropriation bill,
but final action was postponed. An
amendment was adopted providing
that from and after June 80, there
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