Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, December 18, 1881, Page 9

se) THE CHICAGO: TRIBUNE: SUNDAY, DECEMBER. 18, 188I—TWENTY-FOUR PAGES. 9 WASHINGTON. the Assasin’s Trial ' May Last Through Jan- uary. peappearance of a Brigade of : Yalentine-‘Scrippers Urg- ing Their Grab. ments of Leonard Swett-and ze H. 0. MeDaid Before, Kirkwood. Maoy of the Congressmen Perplexed as to the Necessity of i Refunding. fargtnt Has Set the Gossips Agog by Starting for the National Capital. Commissioner Dudley's Explanation Re- garding the Reported Pen+ sion Frauds. a She Chicago People Still on the Rag- ged. Edge—Star-Route Cases. Tho Committee to Investigate “‘Pituey’s Carpen™ ter-Work” Sitting with Closed ° Doors. THE ASSASIN. SCARING HIM. Byerial Disvatch to The Chicago Tribune. WasuixGrox, D. C., Dec. 17.—The suspi- douslouking package which it was feared might be an infernal machine that was sent to Georze Scoville, Guiteau’s counsel, has, after some rather formidable precautions, been opened, and the box was found to con-" tain 2 coil of rope with a noose at the end. ‘The box also contained a polite note saying, “With the compliments of the Garfield and Arthur Club of Meyersdale, Pa.” Some po- lice officials who had been spoken to about the box were arranging to have it opened by some electrical apparatus, but their elaborate preparations have béen stopped. Mr. Scoville has received a postal-card dated Mauch Chunk, Pa, Dee. 10, 1881, and signed “Dale, exMolly,” which contains the following startling warning: a Watch the van on the Sistof December. An attack will be made on Guiteau's life. Men of Molly Maguire order. ‘They ure detailed to work on his life. DISTRICT-ATTORNEY CORKMILL thinks that the final argument in the case may not be ended before the 10th of January. The.examination of the regular insanity ex- perts will commence about next Wednesday. No addinonal testimony will be put in by the ;prosecution in rebuttal. Gen. Reynolds has been discharged as a witness, and left for home to-day.. Gen. Reynolds says that Gui- feau’s memory was something remarkable, He never knew but one man, like him, and that was EC. Crawford, a Sergeantin his regiment during the War. who _is "now serv- “{ng under the banner of-the Crescent with the title of “Pasha.” 7 Pee ‘TNE-OFFICIAL REPORT of the testimony"thus far makes a volume of ‘about 1.200 printed pages. Charles Reed, of Chicago, ‘has not yet decided to undertake the examination of the experts. He may do it. Gaiteau’s brother and Mrs. Scoville have eamestly requesced him to do it. Reed thinks that it was a great mistake to place Guiteau on the stand, and that he shouid not have been ¢ross-examined. _ ‘THE “ AVENGERS.” A photograph of a man named Uttely, who issaid to have left Nebraska a few days ago tocome here to assasinate the assasin, has been received by the authorities here. VALENTINE SCRIP. ‘THE GRABBERS AGAIN WIRING HIGH-PRICED : . LAWYERS. Special Dispatch to The Chicago Trisune Wasnincron, D. C., Dec. 17.—The Valen- tine scrip claimants areattempting to reopen. the case,, which was decided adversely to them by Secretary Schurz. An argument” forarehearins of the case was made today before Secretary Kirkwood by Leonard _” Swett, representing the unnamed owners of the Valentine scrip. Messrs. Swett and Me- Daid-are. both in the city in the interests of ‘these crip-owners.* The following is an out- line of the new argument which was made. today by Mr. Swett: Fort Dearborn Reser- vation was laid in “1806, It did not embrace the land claimed by the owners of the: Valentine scrip, which. is Dearburn Park, and the land between it and the Jake. 1n189 Congress authorized the sale of sites Which had become useless for military pur- Doses." Judge McLean, construing the Jaw, Stated that it was not intended to bea gen- eral regulation, but authorized the sale of + MILITARY RESERVATIONS hich at that time had become useless. The Winois Supreme Court rendered a similar opinion. “In March, 1857, Congress itself construed the act, and extended it to all mili- taryreseivations which then were or might be- come useless for military purposes. Conztess did not authorize the sale. This construcSion . Fas given to the uw by Secretaries of War Toinsett snd Jefferson Davis, Attorneys- Genefa! Bates and Butler, and by a commis- sion which investigated Fort Sterling. No contrary construction has ever been given to the act: In 1824 this reservation was changed and limited to Boag FRACTIONAL SEC. 10, 2 hich embraced the fort as it was built and the tand ‘South. and east of it towards the like: Within this fractional See. 10 lies the incontraversy. In 1839 the Secretary of “War ordered the sale of the site 3&8 it then ‘existed, on the round thatithad become useless. He ,based his Action on the law of 1819. 1f, therefore, Mr. Swettargued, under the act of 1519 the Gov- fent could only. sel! such reservations as thad avthat date which had become use $s, it could not sell a reservation which was lade! four years after that act was passed, and twenty years after the original act was "Passed, According!: THE VALENTINE-SCRIP PEOPLE }. Claim that, in. 139, there was no power: to - Slland that had been added to a military Teservation, In 1824, they also claim, that, if : e Was no power to sell, there was cer " Yainly no power to dedicate. All dedications Sf lauds which have been dedicated in Cou- Riess‘ have been by special authority. If it Jands were neither sold or dedicated, ‘Was public land, belonging to the Gevern- Ment, and still belongs to it, and,as Valen- Scrip authorizes its holder to. take any eae eles and unappropriated, which e mae ate D LEGALLY UN- a PPROVPRIATED,” _Bbt te scrip anay properly attach to the Hént Mr. MeDaid amade no argument. tm representing the Ilinois Cen- the Hailroud Company, and also representing "hie ty, commenced but did ‘not complete - 2 yyeaeument, It is understood that he has 7 Made no new argument, but will present the Fame facts which he did at the hearing be- fore Secretary Schurz, when’ the Ja cided against the scrip claimants. Eee torneys forthe Valentine scrip people labor under a rather serious disadvantage. The E yers will, at least, be glad to kuow that Secretary Kirkwood will doubttess'be apt - TO VERY SCRUPULOUSLY CONSIDER ine the carefullly§considered opinion of Sécretary Schurz and giving Dearborn Park. and the jand adjacgnt to ft east to the lake to speci- lative capitalists for a mere nominal. sun. No persons appear of record as tmaking this speculative venture. All that can‘be Jearned is that those who are behind the attorneys | are men of'wealth. They do not, however, have the courage to face public opinion, or,’ as is usual in such cases, to attach their own uames to this sctip which théy claim toown, and by means of which they arg seeking. to grab Dearborn Park. Seeretary Kirkwood, ot course, gives no intimation as to what‘his decision will be, and the argument, for that inatter, is not yetended, but itis ° + VERY DOUBTFUL. ~ * - ifeven the lawyers for the applicants have much confidence in their prospects of suc- cess. The attempt to reopen the case has perhaps been instigated by speculators with a view to prevent. action’ by. Congress upon the bill to give Dearborn Park to ure Public Library. Itis very possible that some one could be found in Congress tourge that until the Valentine scrip claim was at least settled it “would not be wise for Congress to undertake togive away that which the United States might notown, By such means, it is po: Die that the scrip speculators hope to post- pone the library scheme to another Congr but there is every reason to think that Sec- retary Kirkwood will not allow Himself tobe the instrument of any such purpose. REFUNDING. TNE CONGRESSMEN SOMEWIIAT MUDDLED. Swecral Disvatch to! The Chicucg Tribune. Wasuinctox, D. C., Dee.’ 17.—Judging from the character of the conversations one hears among Congressmen, it isquite evident, that the refunding question is at present puzzling many, even of these whose opinions - vu the subject last winter were .clear and de- cided. The change in the nature of the bonded dent effected by the: continuance of the Gs and 5sat a lower rite. thrusts itself into the consideration of the question. Mem- bersare compelled to take notice of it, and the result is that some Senators ‘and Repre- sentatives who were last winter, strongly in favor of the 3 ver cent, bill are today somewhat doubtful whether such a Dill for instance as that intreduced by Mr. Randall should now be passed. His Dill proposes to convert all the continued bonds into 3 per cents, which are to be re- deemable only after the expiration of five years. - If this bill should become a law, and the loan. should prove. successful, the Gov- emment, six months or less from now, would have no bonds which it could redeem at pleasure, and would have to go into the market to buy bonds at a premium for the. sinking fund, and as a means of using the surplus revenue. It is doubtful whether a majority of cither party in Congress is ir favor of that policy. Some of these who last winter favored the 3 per cent bill are now very, suspicious regarding the motives of Sherman, and it would not be surprising if not a few Congressmen who were last winter desirous of funding into 3s the $700,000,000 of Gs and ds then outstanding, and about to become payable, should now conclude that it would not be wise - “TO SURRENDER THE OPTION of the Government by authorizing such a Joan as that provosed by Sir. Randall. “1s will readily be seen that opinion‘on the ques- tion is as yet chaotic amongCongressmen pf all parties. The outcome of the controversy will depend largely upon the coming debates. There is one feature of. Mr. Randall’s bill which is exciting much interest. ° It is con- tained in the first section, and relating to the so-called ‘Ireasury reserves. It is therein provided that the reserves held in the Treas- ury shall be equal in amount to 30 ver cent of the outstandins obligations, except in the case of gold certificates, silver certifi- cates, and certificates of deposit. The en- actment of this provision would release and make available for the lemption of bonds an amount of gold “and silver not far from $75,000,000. There is, no doubt, 2 strong sentiment in Congress in favor of the above ora similar proposition, and the subject will be debated and passed upon. in both Houses during the present session. « THE CABINET. __ EX-SENATOR HOWE. Special Dispatch to The Chicago Tribune: Wasuixcrox, D. C., Dec. 17.—The friends of Sehator Howe, of Wisconsin, ate evi- dently ‘surprised .at the appointment of Brewster. as Attorney-General. Some of them tonight said that they were by no means any longer certain {hat Howe would be given a portfolio, but Senators who are as near to Gen, Arthur as.any one. are saying tonight that they aré confident that Judge Howe will be appointed Postmaster-General, and that the matter was determined nponatthe time it was decided ‘to appoint Brewster Attorney-General. Filley has been very seriously considered by the President for the Post-Office Department, but the op- position to him within the lasttwo weeks has been,so strong that Filley is probably de- feated. : t CALIFORNIANS here have information that ex-Senator Sar- gent, of that State, left San. Francisco for Washington last Tuesday night, and their impression is that he is coming here with the expectation of receiving a Cabinet appoint- aient, : TE SOUTIL. To the Western Associated Press. Wasuinetox, D. C., Dee. 17.—There has been considerable talk the past few days of ex-Goy. Dayis (‘fexas) for Postmaster-Gen- eral, and some of his friends quite confident asserted that he would get the position; but, so farascan be learned from the best- informed sources, there is no basis for any” such confidence. Efforts. were mide to ob- tain. for Davis the indorsement of all the representative Republicans of the Soutn, and to put him before the. President us the. unanimons choice of the. party in the South, but these.” efforts were not successful. On the contrary, they partook more of failure. ‘The Southern Re- publicans were divided in their preference. Many adhered to Longstreet, some were for Settle, a few for Hunt, some for Davis, and notufew prominent ones openly declared their preferences for Villey, of St. Louis. The result has been that the movement has probably benefited Filley, if indeed he needs any further assistance. Prominent Southern Republicans went to the President and as- sured hin the appointment of Filley would give more general satisfaction to the party in the South than the selection of any other man. i iS = WHEN HOWE, WAS PASSED BY for Attorney-General, all his Cabinet pros- pects ended, and since then he has not, ac- cording ‘to some.guessers, been thought of, though it is believed the President will give him some good appointment, possiply on the bench if a vacancy occurs, ora foreign inis- sion. Gen. Beale will, from present indica- tions, probably be Secretary of the Navy. ‘The President is inclined to gratify Gen.- Grant’s wishes as to one Cabinet place, and Grant wamnly indorses Beale. 7 YUE PENSION BUREAU. POOH-POOMING THE IDEA OF FRAUDS. Special Dispatch to The Chtcaco Tribune. Wasutxctox, D. C., Dec. 17.—Commis- sioner-of-Pensions Dudley made today some further statements with respect to the recent reported discovery of an-organized con- spiracy in his office. “to, secure the passage of fraudulent pension claims, that serve “in. a measure to explaiy the apparent disagreement between him and Secretary Kirkwood -as to the im- portance of these discoveries, teferred to in these dispatches some. days ago. Secretary Kirkwood ‘had intimated in- au. interview that the discoveries appeared to point to a conspiracy in the bureau, and had said that he had urged upon: Commissioner Dudley the vigorous prosecution of. the matter. Mo had refused to give any details, referring the inquirer to Mr. Dudley, stating tht he feared the ends of justice would be defeated by a premature publication of the information in his possession. Dudley, when approached -on the subject, made light of it, and said ALL THERE WaS IN THE CASE was that he had arrested 2 manuamed Sulli- van for using an oflicial ‘envelope. of the bu- reau on non-vflicial business. This Sullivan, he said, had been ait unsuccessful applicant for position of clerk in the, bureau, and had In some manner secured ‘possession of some of the oflicial envelopes which he had uséd to vover correspondence soliciting busi- ness as a claim agent, he stating in his letters that, by virtue of his position ag a clerk in the bureau, he could easily pass such claims. Mr Dudley, however, states today that when Sullivan was first arrested he claimed to be in the possession of facts to prove a conspiracy to secure the.passage of fraudu- Jent claims existing among the clerks in the. bureau, but t] he (Dudley) has since dis- covered that Sullivan ‘nad no such facts in his possession; that he had secured a pen- sion himself by fraudulent representations. - ‘ WIS;REASON < for not making this public before now was, he says, because he did not wish to tarnish the reputation of the men under him on the word of Sullivan, Le kept, the Secretaty fully informed, however, as to the facts, and it was after he had put him in possession of the confession and statements imrde to him by Sullivan that.Mr. Kirkwood had made the statement as toa conspiracy and about urging Dudley to a vigorous prosecution of it. With respect to Sullivan, Dudley says he had a lot of papers anda book in his pos- session in which he represented were the data to prove the conspiracy, but, on exami- nation, he had discovered there was nothing in them. Sullivan, he says, has since then jumped his bail,” and is-‘now a fugitive from justice. Mr. Dudley deprecates the publication of statements as to frauds prac- ticed by clerks in thé bureau. e ME SEEMS TO THINK nothing of the kind exists in the office, but that outside of it there is a large field for in- vestigation. Ife and Secretary Kirkwood said yesterday that there was a large per- centage of the cases adjudicated by the bu- reat that were fraudulent, ‘Che only remedy they could suggest,*however, was for Con- gress to appropriate a suin of money suf- ficient to give thein means to investigate sus- picious cases and prosecute fraudulent ones, Sevretary Kirkwood said: “It will uot do a particle of good for Congress to attempt a repeal of the Arrearages of Pensions bill, or to begin tinkering at it ‘The only thing they ean do is to appropriate money to give the Commissioner of Pensions a large cnough force to act on ail the cases of claitis with- out delay, and attlie same time put the means at his disposal to investigate fraudulent eases.” : CHICAGO. THE PLACE-UUNTERS WARD AT WORK. © ‘Spectal Disvateh to ‘he cnicago Tribune. Wasutnetos, D. C., Dee. 17,—It Has been a busy day with the applicants for the Chi- cago Collectorship. Daniel Shepard openly admits that he is a candidate, and it is be- coming more evident now daily that he is to havethe active support of Senator Logan, although that is not yet officially an- nounced. Indeed, friends of Dogan say. that he has not yet deciged on his candidate, Various new attempts have been made to unite the ‘Chicago delegation upon Nixon, or to unite tne three Congressmen upon him against Logan, in the expectation that, if Nixon could ‘receive the support of the three Representatives, he aight have a better prospect of success. Shepard has been visiting. the. different members during the day to discover whether ANY ARRANGEMENT OR COMPROMISE can be made, but nothing definit has as yet been determined by the applicants, nor does it appear atall certain that an adjustinent can be made. fe REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS s reported as being very determined to se- . cure the appointinent of a West Side mam and it is. not believed ~ that the Nixon forcés have obtained any satisfac- tion from their repeated efforts to win him over to their cause. Meanthile, none of the claimants pretend to Know what the views of President Arthur are upon the question, and it is by no means certain they will know until the President has made his decision. Uf the Senator and tlie three Congressmen are unable to come toany understanding, it is by no means impossible that the President will secure outside advice, and act upon it. SHERMAN INVESTIGATION. THE COMMITTEE NEFUSE TO ADMIT RE- PORTERS. Spectat Dispatch to The Chicago Tribune, Wasutncr6x, D. C., Dec. 17.~The sub- coumittee of the Senate Committee on Ap- propriations having in charge what is known as “the Sherman investigation” has de- cided to make its inquiry with closed doors, ‘Two’ reasons are assigned by the members of the committee for their refu to admit reporters to their sessions—one being that the presence of representatives of the press would retard them in their business, and the other that they are desirous of keeping the witnesses who are called froma knowledge of what has been testified by those preced. ing them. Senator Cockerell, of Missouri, who fs one of the members of the committee, said tonight that nothing had been developed. as yet by the investigation. For his part he would say, however, that the investigation would be thorough, and if there had been any rottenness it would be exposed. One reason why he felt it would not be right to make public any of the testimony taken by the committee just now was because he did notthink it right to besmirch the character of any man until he had been clearly proven guilty of the offenses with which he was charged. Just now the committee had noth- ing detinit. SEVERAL WITNESSES had been examined, but the committee had not finished with any one of them, and the testimony taken thus far was in an incom- plete state. .The method of procedure fol- lowed by the cominittee was to call a wit- ness, examine hhn on certain points, and then dismiss him, subject fo. recall at.afly time when the committee thought fit... In this ‘way they hoped to get at, the bottom facts. One thing was certain, according to the Senator. The conmiitee would go to the bot- tom of the facts presented by tlic report of the Meline committee. They would -not be con- tent with a bare statement that several hun- dred yards of carpet, for instance, had been illegally charged for. ‘They would want to know who was responsivle for the illegal charge, and who benefited. by it. . They would seek for the. truth .and wonld not shield any one. .Two of the witnesses ex~ amined today during the FIVE, HOURS’ SESSION OF THE COMMITTEE were Messrs. Powerand_ Pitney, the former Chief Clerk and the latter Custodian: un- der the Sherman administration: . Pitney was only ‘on the ‘-stand ‘for a few minutes before the ‘adjournment of the committee, and they did not get very far advanced with his examination. Power was submitted to a lengthy examination, but is liable to be recalled again. “Power's testi- mony was an amplification of ‘his’ general letter on_ the subject, sent. to the Senate last session, and already published. .He admitted that the system was wrong, and that there should have been‘ an inveutory; that. pur- chasts should have been made: by advertise- ment. As a rule’ he had not inquired into te inanner in which’ Pitney. expended the 01 ntingent fund, and had ‘signed papers in’ an informal way. ; ss 3 age ti STAR ROUTES. Fi ANOTHER TURN TO TIE SAME"OLD, story. * Spectaypispatch to The Chicago Tribune, 4 WASHINGTON, D..C-, Dec. 17.—Postmaster: General Janes, before leaving his office, will sirike “a crushing blow” at the’ members of the star-route ring. Civil proceedings to re- cover moneys fraudulently -obtained :from the Government by the contractors: will be, instituted in a very short time... Sec. 4,057. of. the Revigeu Statutes: provides that’ “in 'all cases whbre money-has been paid outot the funds of the Post-Office’ Department undér the pretense that service has been performed therefor, when in fact such service. has not. been performed, or 2s additional allowance for increased service actually rendered when the additional allowance exceeds . the’ sum which, according to law, might rightfully haye been allowed: therefor, and in all other eases Where money. of the department has Deen paid td any person’ in consequence of fraudulent representations, or by the mis; take, collusion, or misconduct of any officer or other employé in the postal-service, the Postmaster-General shall cause suit to be brought to recover such wrong or traudulent paymentor excess, with Interest thereon.” A UNDER TIUS ACT, next week, the Postmastor-General will lay before Attorney-General Brewster and Spe- ciaJ-Assistant-Attorney George Bliss the evi- dence upon which. about fifty suits will be begun against prominent contractors, The amountof inoney involved iu all the cases of which the Government has cognizance, where evidence exists of frauds in the stur-route service by which the ‘Treasury’ has been robbed, is. about $5,000,000. In many of the cases the evidence is So overwhélming that no reasonable defense can be interposed. ‘The suits will not al! be tried in Washing-, tonybut will be instituted in such of the United Statés District Courts as may seem to; the Attorney-General fo be most.convenient. Under the statute above quoted CIVIL ACTIONS will lie against those persons formerly con- nected with the department who participated in and abetted the gigantic conspiracy by which the. ‘Treasury was plundered. To name the various routes upon which pay was. fraudulently granted would be a repetition of the publications of the past “six months. Suits. to recover money paid on the Rock Creck and Custer route, Patrick & Brown contractors, where the pay was increased from $12,000 to $90,000, will be begun, and also on- the steamboat route from St. Payl to St. Louis, wh sands of dollars were paid for carr empty poneh back and forth on the boats Postmaster-General James was originally of the opinion that the proceedings against the ting should have been begun in civil-suits for the recovery of stolen money in advance of criminal prosecdtions. COUNTING FOR PRESIDENT. HASKELL’S VIEWS, Spectat Dispatch to ‘The Chicego Trimune, Wasurnctos, D. C., Dec. 17.—“ There is a misapprehension as to the purpose’gf my. resolution the other day,” said Cquzressman. Maskell, of Kansas. “I never desiréd to re- peal the twenty-first joint rule. Ithinkita wise provision, although it might be mo tied in some particulars. (There is, however, a disposition to modify the rule to an-extent “that L-do not approve of. My position is sim- ply this, and I should very much like to have the people of the West understand it: My resolution is the formal resolution intro- duced at the beginning of ‘each Congress to settle the auestions. usually raised by some member as to the fact whether or not. the present House has any rules for its guidance whatever. Sume insist thatthe rules.of the previous, Congress contro} it, and some that each Congress must adopt. ifs own rules. In order to settle that duestfof some resolution is necessary. I introduced THE USUAL RESOLUTION, declaring that the rules of the last Mouse should be enforced, and that the Committee on Rules, when appointed, should lave the privilege of reporting any modifications thereto at any time. Idid not. intend to be considered us making any. attack upon the y-first rule. My resolution is the same ehtial particulars as one that was introduced by Speaker Randall himself at inning of the Forty-fourth Congress; and since Speaker Randall is the author of the twenty-tirst rule, and since he has intro- duced a resulution identical with mine, [ should think it was clear to infer that iny resolution does nes declare war on that rule. Such certainly was not my intention. Lagree with the general line of comment upon TUE CHARACTER OF THE TWENTY-FIRST it is a wise and I believe, as a whole, t a complained of m S have nev anything in regard to it, exc warranted constructions. which ha put upon it. i should prefer to have it re~ Inain as it is, with these unwarranted con- structions, rather than that it should be re- pealed, but J.do not know that itgan be modi Randall's: position, just novg with respect to the rule fs easily, whderstood? He objects to it now because he is’ in the mi- nority, and the rule gives the majority some advantage. Randall objects: to ‘seeing his own resolution of the Forty-fourth Congress adopted. now that he is in the minority, that-rule gives the majority a little pow which he would like to deprive itot. Iti mere parliamentary movement on his part for the sake of his party. : OKLAHOMA. NOTHING HEARD OF PAYNE. AT WASTING- ‘TON. Spectal Dispatch to The Chicazo Tribu Wasutnaroy, D. C., Dec. 17,—Seeretary of the Interior Kirkwood said today that neither his department: nor-the War Department was in receipt of information corroborating the published reports that Capt. Payne and his band ot colonists, had made an entry into the reserved Indian‘lands, He said that, on thestrength of the reports, the Secretary of War had on yesterday telegraphed Gen. Pope, at Leavenworth, Kas., for informa- tion, but he had not heard of any reply hay- inz been received. The Secretary stated, further, that during the past summer strin- gent instructions had been issued by the De- partment of War and the intérior Depart- ment to officers of posts in the Indian ‘Lerri- tory and Indian Agents on the reservation to report the first appearance of any move- ment of the kind said. to have been made by Capt, Payne. \The fact. that no such information had been - received by either department caused him to think there was no truth in the story, although the Indian Agents, being located some distance in the interior of the reservation, might not yet have learned of the move. BEER. , TTS ADULTERATION. Svejat Dispatch to The Chicago Tribune, Wasmxcrox, D. C., Dec, 17.—Commission- er-of-Internal-Revenue Haum does not ap- pear to consider it binding upon him to main- tain seerecy as to his discoveries With regard to the use of deleterious articles in the man- ufacture of beer. Under one of the laws regulating the busivess of manufacturing beer, brewers are compelled to make a return to the Commissioner of Internal Revenue of all the articles purchased by them for use in the manufacture, and some of them seem to think the Commission- er is bound to look upon tie information ob- tained in this way. as. confidential between the Government and the brewers, and not divulge it to the public. The-Commissioner, | however, takes A DIFFERENT VIEW-OF THIS MATTER. “Gonversing on the subject today, he said: “ Brewers, like distillers and manufacturers of tobacco, are required to keep books open to the inspection of revenue officers, showing the purchases of articles used in the mam ymation I have “facture of beer. This information comes into iny possession, and, if I find - the deleterious articles, I seé nothing in the iw to compe! me to. keep the information to m selt: The brewers of Chicago, St.~Loui and Cincinnati: “have © written’ asking’ -mé to. make. public the infor- regarding ~.the articles they use, and it is. only the New York brewers who‘are disposed toresent it. With Tegard to their business, the secrets talked ‘of arent secrets at ail, as onty the other day I received a publication of the Modera- tion Society ot New York giving a list of the articles used by the New York’ brewers in their manufacture.” i SILVER, THE GREENBACKERS. Wasninctos, D. C., Dec. 17.—The Green- backers in Congress are determined to join any party or element in the House that will oppose the restriction of the silver coinage. Representative Ladd said tonight: “If the Democrats tuke a'sensiblestand on this ques- tion they can carry the next Congress. The Eagt as wellas the West is dpposed to the restriction of silver coinage and the Admin- istration has made a big mistake in recom- menting it. Every Greenback member will Yote against it. As to the 3 per cent funding bill, I don’t know. how they will vote.. We Greenbackers believe there ought not to be any bonds.” A number of Western Repub- Iicans will also oppose, any curtailment of silver, but they will probably be offset by ew York-and other Eastern . Democrats, who will go with the Administration on this question, +, ° FS _ PERU. THE PRESENT SITUATION Wasninaton, D.C., Dee. 17.—The Pern- vian Minister here has received confirmation of the news that ex-Director Pierola left Peru ten day go. is absence, the Minis- ter says, Idaves Montero, who had been: pro- claimed Vice-President of the Peruvian Con- gress, the acting President so long as Presi- dent Calderon is held prisoner by the Chil- fans. Montero is now the only person with whom the Chilians can negotiate, and the situation at present is such that the Peru- vians are in a intch better position than ever before to secure an honorable and fasting peace with Chi NOTES. NEW YORK SuB-TREASURY. . Wasinnetoy, D. C., Dee. 17.—The name of Thomas C. Acton, of New York, jt present Superintendent of the Assay Office, will be sent to the Senate by the President on Mon- day as Assistant Treasurer of “the United States at New York, vice Lillhouse, re- signed. _ THE WASHINGTON , MONUMENT COMMISSION held its annual meeting today at the White House. All the members were present, in- etnding President Arthur, It was decided to ask Congress for an appropriation of $200, 000 to continue the work of completing the monument. 7 THU LOUISVILLE POST-OFFICE. ‘The general impression in regard to the Kentucky post-ollice is that few, it any, Post- mnistresses will be retained. Mrs. ‘Thomp- son, of the Louisville office, has a better show of being retained than auy other of the Postmistresses, She.has the active support of the Disciples Church here and elsewhere, and is working vigorously in her own behalf. Ifany of them.are retained it will probably be she,” Were the applicants for the place. more thoroughly representative men ‘and active workers she would probably be super- seded. APPOINTMENT. . The President has decided to nominate George M. Duskin to be United States Dis- trict-Attorney of the State of North Carolina. THE AVALANCILE OF BILLS. ‘Up to the adjournment of the Senate and House yesterday there had been introduced into -the- Senate 592 bills and. sixteen joint resolutions; in the Louse, 1,013 bills and jointresolutions. The call of States for pres- entation of bills in the House for reference rests with the State of -Penisylvania. It is supposed that nearly 1,090 more bills and joint resolutions will be introduced when both Liouses meet Monday. GOV. SHEPHERD POISONED. : Spectat to Cincinnati Commerctut. : Wasutncton, D. C., Déc. 14.—Mrs. Alex- ander Shepherd writes to relatives in this city that Gov. Shepherd has been bitten in the leg-_by a tarantula, and it is feared that the limb will have to be amputated to save his life, w! from the poison, as bitten in an old mine in Chihuahua, which he was examining. lle expects to come to this country for treatment as soon as heis able to move, and, if possible, will be here in January. No CIULDREN AT THE WITITE TOUSE. Special to Cincinnati Commerciat. Wasuixatox, J). C., Dee, 16—The Presi- dent’s children will, i i ius with him, at. the His son isin his *fi x i *tirst year at Columbia Col lege, and the little girl is at school in York. ‘The President does not intend having his children remain here, as there will be no Jatly in the house to take care of his daughter... As he justly says, he would have no time to look after her, and he could not permit her to stayin the house without somebody to take charge of her. Since Mr. Buchanan’s Aduinistration until now there have been young children in the White liouse, either the ehildren or grandchildren of the President. A TERRIBLE TALE. Nears of Marital Misery End with the Murder of the Husband by the Wife, -Special Dispatch to The Chscayy Tripune Lirrne Kock, Ark., Dec. 17.—The particulars of the tragedy at Newburg were received toduy. It will_be remembered that on Thursday last Heury Blankenship was foully murdered at his home near the village named, At the time of the murder’ Mr, Blankenship was asleep, and was awukered by a blow from’ an ax, which cut afrightful sash in the site of hishead. After inflicting the wound his assailant ded, and he urose, and, though bleeding profusely, started to seek assistance, but soon sank to the ground und died on the following day. His wife avas arrested on the suspicion Uf axving: committed tre murder. S quently she made a confession, admitting ber guilt aud wrg- ing numerous elretmstances in justiticution of thedrendful crime. {t appears that the couple hive Hyed unhappily together for yeurs, and that ow the day Succeeding the tracedy Blank- enshtp had a series of bitter quarcels with nis wite, and repeatedly threatened her lite, The Ruppy wornun, brooding over her wrongs, and fearinue be would Kul her, became. des- perate, und stole into "his “bedroom and inilicted upon him # death-woung. She then tied, but. afterwnrd surrendered ‘to the authorities. The preliminary examination re- veuled u terrible ‘story of marital misery, and aroused deep sympathy for the miserable wife. She isnow at large, having been admitted to Duil. Biankenship was a reputable citizen, and, with his wife, stabd high in the community, He way reputed to be quite wenlthy. Mrs. Diank- ensbip isdescrived as betog a handsome and fuscinating woman. MRS, PRAY DIVORCED. Wr. Pray. Found Guilty and Mrs. Pray Found Net Guilty under the Cross= Bil. ‘Special Disoateh to The Chicago Tribune. Lewiston, UL, Dec. 11.—The Pray divorce came toa aS . when Mr. Storrs concluded the argumeyb which he begun last night. . He reviewed tiffevidence in the munner for which he is celebrated, and there wus prob- ably nothing left unsaid: ‘Tne charge of: Judge Shope was a model of brevity and legal ucumen, and the opiniou of all parties was that ne hud borne binsels aera case with impar- tality, and without prejudice. The jury returned a verdict of guilty against the defendant Pray under the original bill, and of not. guilty ay to Mrs. Pray under the cross~ bill. They were out about six hours." The ver- dict is universally approved bere. _——_—————— STEAMSHIP NEWS. New Vonk, Dec. 17.—Arrived, the Australia, from Hamburr; the Maas, from Rotterdam, and the Adriatic and the Scythia, from Liverpool. °_ New York, Dec. 17.—Arrived, ‘the Vandalia, UTE. hs oon om Des 17.—The steamships Assyrian, ‘Monarch, and: Ferdinand De Lesseps, from New York, and the. Braunschweig, from Baltimore, haye arrived out. : eS ers COWBOYS... Another-Exciting Day in the Wide- awake Town of Caldwell,” Kansas. A Large Body of Drunken Cowboys “Whoop Things Up for Fan.” : Murder .of the Mayor, Mike Meagher, a Killer” of Many a Cows boy. 3 Parsuit by the. Citizons—Death: of Four of the Desperadoes Reported. The Same Gamo flayed at Independence, Cal, Resulted Badly for the Cowboys. Soeetat Dispatch to The, Chifcago Tribune, Wicurra, Kas., Dec. 17.—A. dispateh just received in this eity from Caldwell, Kas., re- ports thata large body of cowboys, compris- ing some of the most reckless in the Ter- ritory, have just raided the town, riding up and down the priucipal streets, hooting, yell- ing, and. firing their revolvers indiscrimi- nately, : THEY WAVE KILLED MIKE MEAGHER, the Mayor of the city, and one of the most iytrepid men on the frontier. Mike Meagher was Marshal of this city for several years, when the most lawless men of the Territory made their headquarters hére.. Many a cow- boy aud. many a ‘Texan has bitten the dust betore Mike “Meagher’s steady aim. As always predicted, he has suceumbeu to his ancient enemy, and died with his boots on. LATER Four cowboys have-been killed, The citi- zens have rallied and, armed and. mounted, are in hot-pursuit.- fhe cow-boys are re treating into the Indian Territory, which is only half a mile from Caldwell NO CAUSE Fon THE RAID is given. It isan old trick of the cowboys to take a town. “In 1873 cowboys raided Wichita, but retreated in confusion before 2 shotgun brigade which inet them at the out- skirts of thecity. : . ‘ FURTHER DETAILS. To the Western Associated Press, 3 . CALDWELL, Kas., Dee. 17.—One of those terrible border shooting affrays occurred in this city about lL o'clock p.in., resulting in the death of Mike Meagher, formerly Mayor of this city, and George Speer, a gambler. Particulars cannot be . obtained In the general ‘excitement that prevails, ‘even at this late -hour,. but it~ seems -that, last night and this morning;.a party of cowboys named Shenan, alias ‘Talbot, Jim Martin, Bob Munsing, and Bog Bigtree, with George Sharp, and a fellow named Lowe, were drinking and carousing. About So’clock this morning they *began to show a disposition to raise a row, and, as a pre- liminary move,. George Speer shot. off his revolver into the sidewalk on Main. street. ‘Through efforts of the police thedisturbanze Was suppressed, and, as a precaution, addi- tional policemen were put on, among them Mike Meaghar. About 1-o’clock, the party above named TURNED LOOSE and began to shoot indiscriminately, Tatbot shot Meaghar from the rear of the bank building, killing nim instantly. The citizens turned ont atonce with such guns. as they coukt get hold of, and attempted to take in the party, who, in the. meantime, had pro- cceded toa livery stable in the north part of the town, compelled “the man in attendance togive them horses, mounted, and started. off. Speer attempted to saddle a horse near: the Redlight dance-nouse, and while doingsd WAS SNOT ‘by some one of the. citizens. The others struck off in the direction of Hunnewell, ‘and, about two miles east, struck south for the Territory. A -patty of citizens started after them, and at lust accounts were in sight of the four fleeing cowboys. It is likely they will be taken, and, if brought back alive, nothing will save ‘them from pulling hemp. The excitement here is in- tense, and the present disposition is t@make the aiders and abettors of the murderous gang * pull out” from this neighborhood.” JIM TALBOT. Wettixctoy, Kas., Dee. 17.—Jim Talbot, who shot Meagher in the fight with the cow- boys, was one of the leaders of the element. that wanted to hang Danford without giving him an opportunity to settle, and was one of the leaders of the party who took Danford from the Sheriff at” this point. - Dave Speer belonged to .the Speer fam- ily. of Caldwell, who are engaged in the liquor and dance-house business. Dave was arrested during: last year, charged with shooting and killing Frank Munt, the Marshal of Caldwell, through the window of a dance-house, but discharged for lack of evidence, and was hardly 20 years old. ~ THE LATEST, ACCOUNTS are that the cowboys are surrounded in the timber some twelve miles south of Caldwell. 2umors Of an engagement in which three oc four citizens and two of the cowboys were killed were rife, but-nothing definit can be Jearned. : THE INDEPENDENT WAY OF FIXING IT. ‘Svecial Dispetes to The Chtcago Tribunz. Lrapvinie, Colo., Dec. 17.—Two despera- does by the name of Ed Patton and a fellow called “Kokomo’” Malley got drank today in Independence, about forty miles from Leadville, and riding into thesaloons, shoot- ing at people, terrifying the town, and break- ing up things generally, a vigilance commit- tee of twenty men organized and marched ‘into a saloon which the desperadoes had taken possession. of and riddled thea with bullets. west ANOTITER ACCOUNT. To the Western Associated Press. Denver, Colo., Dec. 17.—Independence, a mining camp twenty smiles west ‘of J.ead- yille, has for 2 long time been overrun. with desperate characters, who kept jt in a per- petual state of turmoil. Often ‘several of these would band together and virtually take possession of the camp, shooting men down jn the streets and’ closing stores, blocking business for several hours. Shortly’ after dark last night Patton and Malloy, two desperadoes having the Teputation ot killing a number of ‘men, be coming intoxicated, «started ~ up_ the streets , firing . revolvers promiscuously. General indignation ensued, and the peo- ple turned out en masse and pursued the desperadoes, who were finally brought to bay and literally rindied with bullets. They returned the fire of the mob, but without effect. A little later the vigilance commit- tee formed for the purpose of. hanging three or four of the worst blacklegs, but that class nearly all took frightand left town imme- diately after the shooting of Yatton and Malloy. F A BRUTE FITLY PUNISHED. New Brusswicr, N. J., Dee. 1—In the Court of Oyer and Terminer this morning, Judge E. we Scudder sentenced George W. Hinchman, of South Brunswick, to the Stute Prison at Trenton. for ten years for beating and ill-treating his children ina brutal. manner. Hinchman took his sentence in a quict manner, pleading guilty to the charges read to bim by the Prosecutor of the Pleus. The pvints of tbo evidence brought. guinst Hinchman on the triat areas follows: Out arty Afterrioun, Nov. =, two little girls, Georgiana and Cecelia, daughters of Hinchumn, respectively 15 and ll years old, cume tothe house pp stephen A. Scurles. on the It{de road, about {hree-quarters of a mile frou: Kingston, N.:J., and begged to be taken in and protected aruinst er." The.elder, a child between 1f and larger than an. ordinary , was "a “mass, ot bruises from head to foot. Her head was cut and hair. matted with blood; an ear wus of | wounds" gashed; her hands, whith she had evidently held up to shield her. Bead, were cut: and led fearfully: one of her arms wus bruised so ‘that sbe could scarcely ruise_it; two of her ribs were broken; her ctothing was’ discolored and -atitt with blood, and on one: of her limbs was.an ab- + soess, tho effect, she siid, of-a kick her father had given her some time before. . She has Iain in A critical condition ever since. MreScarles-and his tamily took them In and dressed the wounds. After having. hy his own admission; beaten: the eldest child severely on Friday,Saturday, an Sanday, tho futher went to tke barn fora little while, saying, as he-left the - house, “Ili tinis, you when Lcome hack,” and the girls avuiled themselves of the opportunity to cstape, as they had done once before... Hinchmun said, They * agsravi me-and would not do the’ house~ work,” in excuse for nis cruelty. 6.7 Judge Scudder said to the criminal ashe steod before him: “It seems almost impossible: to this Court tata jnan,a father of two such bright-eyed little girls us these before me,shoutd. de sucnit brute. Lhave never ducing the whole course of my curcer in court scenes, witnes such a sightas this and heard snch evidence Against x father of afuinily. You are simply a brute, Hinchman.. You fiave no heart, You should thunk. your God that youvdo nut now stand here upon a charze, of. murder. ‘The | statute in this State limits the imprisonment to ten years, and if we could go beyond: that we would, For cruelly beating your eldest danghter, Georgiana, you are sentenced to the State Prison at hard Labor for the: term of ten years.” For Deating und ill-trexting tho youngest, Cecilia, you arg tO Work out # sentence of tivo Years, the latter to run concurrently with the former sen- tence.” Hinchmun was then led out to the jail near by, from which he will betaken to the ‘Trenton prison on Wednesday. -A PREJUDICED JUDGE. - Ser mate d Prejudiced in Favor of the Rights of the People, and Against Thugs and. Murderers, ~ “| Spectat Dispatcn to The Chtcugo Tribune. Srruttna, UL, Dec. 15—The Cireuit Court is in session tt Morrisun, the Hon. J. V. Eustace, Judge, presiding. The grand jury was in ses- sion tae unprecedented time of one week, and * returned thirty-one. indictments. The spirit of lawlesness lias prevailed ‘in this whole county for months past to au ularming extent, and when the court cdnvened nineteen prisoners were in §uit, The articles in Tue Trasuse and other pupers censuring courts, juries, und lawsers for not enforcing the laws have aroused pabtia sentiment wonderfully, and the local paver here, the Gazette, published recently un article written by A. A. ‘ferrill on the same queation that caused agrent umount of comment und come snendation. ‘Tho result was an exciting scene in Judge Rustace’s court yesterday. A man by the name of Farrell without any cause,or provo- cation attempted to murder a man on the curs and crippled him for life. Unscrupulous law- yers have-sereened the murderer from merited Justice for wo or three years, und, knowing of no other Judge to play, came before -Judge Eustace with the altidavits of two or theee pro- fessional witnesses, who little dreamed what the result of their swearing that the Judge was prejudiced against che prisaner would be. ‘The attorney for the prisoner“finished roading the uulidavits for a caange of venue and opinmenved to urgue the cuse wien the Judge stépped him, and io thunder tones ordered Blin tor take bis seat z ‘The upright Judge, who keenly felt.the Insult that had been put upon him by the bougoten afliduvits, branded them from the bench us per- jurers, and he then and tere refused the ebunge of venue, said the trial of tho prisoner should 0 on with some other Judge on the bench, und ne at onee ordered the convening of a-speclaL grand jury to indict for perjury the witness- es. who had“ sworn that’ ne—tho Judge— was prejudiced against the prisoner ‘Farrell. ‘Tos was ut judicial earthquake no one was look- ing for, and struck consternation to lawyers, professtonut witnesses, und guilty wretches, white the people telt like shouting “Glory Hil lelujan.” ‘The event has created intense excite- ment all througa the country, and Judge Eustace is the most popular man among the -people this county ever Knew. It was this Judze who some shyster raflroulJuwyers undertock to bulldoze - into doing their Wirty.work. and when fuund bo was not tobe bought or frixbtened, sought to circumyent him by going to Judge Drammond to get it out of Judze:Bustice’s jurisdiction. Judge Drutamond held that Juage Eustace bad jurisdiction, and thon the vpposition soughs tw frighten bim by threatening impeachment. But the unswerving Judge held to ais honor and in- tegrity, und waen his acts cume tu be.teviewed by the Associate Judges. he was sustained in. every step be had taken in the case, and he came out of the contest with honor to hiinself, dignity to the bench, und an oruament to the judiclary of the State. i ae Me FIRE RECORD. The Peabody .Fiotet, at Wemphis,-Nare rowsy, Escapes Destructione 055. Mesris, Tenu., Dec. 17.—A fire originated in the kitchen of the Peabody. Hotel: during: the breakfast hour this wiorntng. The soot.in the pipe over the boilee caught tire and sedta snéeé ~ of fame up. the flue, which ‘runs ‘from tho kitchen to the roof of the house. The walls of ao |. the Hue imust have been defective, for. fumes were soon geen issuing from-thé’roof, ‘and in a Very short time the entire western portion of the building was ou,fire. The prompt: attend~ ance of the Fire Department had its effect, and, aiter an hour's hard tight, the fire was gotten, under control," ‘The. principal damage to the, hotel will be from water, although the kitchen, pantry, und servants’ quarters are badly broken, ‘The damage to the hotel will amount to abous $20,000, fully insured. > A Towboat Burned. Special Dispatch to The Chicazo Tribune. CaiRo, IIL, Dee. 17.—A little after 1 o'clock this, morning the towboat itovin, with a barge of lumber in. tow, bound for St. Louis, burned, turned over, and sink ut Greenleaf's Bend, a few miles above this city. She was lying ut the bank ut the time. A smell of tlre was noticed enrly in tho evening, but could not. be located, but severnl hours later everybody on board wat awakened by 2 cry of fire, aud found the bout f tunes, Every one escaped, but without saving any etfects. ‘The cause of the tire is not kuown, ‘Tue boat isa totalloss. Shoe was owncd by Capt. Peter Conrad, of St. Louis. A Hotel atLudinzton, Mich. Speerat Dispatch to The Chicaco Tridune. Lupixatos, Mich, Dee. 11.~The _ Holton Rouse, better known as the Sbermin House, was burned last night, with a 1033 on the bulld- tng of $5,000 and on the furniture of $2,300, The building was owned by Mrs. Isabella Sherman, and was insured for $18W), the furniture wus owned by Mr. Jacob Statfon, and was insured In the raders’ fur $120. The origin of the tire i unknowa. * A Glove-Store at Cincinnatl, 0. CixciNNAtr, O., Dee. 17.—Fire in B. Roth's kid glove-store on Fourth street, next.to the St. Nicholas Hotel, inflicted damage on the block, fixtures, and building to an amount eatimated at $30,000. Insurance on stock, $14,000; damage to building comparatively tritling. ; SUNDRY MISDEEDS. —~—_ Items of Criminal News Reported Yeso . terday. : Special Dispatch to The Chicago Tribune. Fast SaGrnaw, Mich:, Dec. J.—At 5 o'clock this morning Deputy-Sherit! Amos. Forbes waa rourlered at toseommon by Robert E. ‘Titus, a notorious cuaracter, whom tke olflver was: en- deavoring to arrest on 2 warrant for disorderly conduct. Forbes died in thicty ininutes, having received « bullet in the Jefe breast. aud one in the thigh... The murderer was arrested at Oge- man and taken to Roscommon. Thisevenmng 2a attempt was made to take hitn from the otlicer and lyneh him, but be was sufely lodged ja jail spectat Dispatch to The Chicogo Tripune Hor Srutxas, Ark., Dec. 17.—Thurley’s gro- cory store was cntered Jast night by three boys —William 5. Cyrus, Janes King, and Thomaa Stagws—and a Jarge amount of tobacco and money stolen. Ollicers started in. pursuit and captured Staggs, the others making good their escape. The cause of the robuery was the read- ing of yellow-back literature, Pou 4 N.Y. ee of ugtcee pale, to River State Hospitai as un insauc criminal, to be brought out fur examination as soon us the hospital uuthorities sny be is in a proper condi- don. z DAuias, Tex., Nec. 17.—H. A. Chambers, mer chant tulor, wag shot aud: killed .by, Alfrea Freeman, photographer, Cause of the homicide, un intimacy between Chambers and Mrs. Free- man. é A SENSATION ANONG COTTON GAMBLERS. New Oa.eass, Dec. 17.—The general meeding of. the Cotton Exchange today appointed a com- imittee to act with similar committees of tha Produce and Stock Exchanges, to waiton the Governor and Seuate ani’ protest against. the adoption of Sec. 6 of the License act as passed by the House. ‘This section !evies 2 license tax on ull “future” cotton-brokers of from $5,000 to $10,000. License for the sale’ of futures’ fa grain-and other produce fs placed at $120 and $2,500.. Cotton facturs and commission mer- chants wre divided iuto seventecn classes, in proporcion to the amount of couuissioas, and ‘the: license ranges from $30 to. $5,000. The adoption uf this sectiba by the House of Repre~ sentatives creates a sensittion among the par. tes interested, including all membérs ol Cotton, Pro‘luce, and Stock Exehan; ————a ‘The Weber-branch house, at 250 ‘and 252 Wa- bash avenue, telegraphed. for forty uprights on Tuesday evening to mecs the heavy demands on thelr retail trade, si urea,