The New York Herald Newspaper, February 12, 1873, Page 3

DISCREDIT MOBILER. —— + The Most Interesting Session of the Poland Committee, HOAX AMES’ MEMORANDUM BOOK. patted hw Another Entry of a Dividend Paid to Schuyler Colfax Discovered. WHERE ARE THE RECEIPTS? Henry Wilson, Dawes, Scofleld, J. F, Wilson, Garfield, Kelley and Alli- son Again Shown Up. Gerson THE VICE PRESIDENT’S DEFENCE A General and Particular Denial of Hoax Ames’ Statements. a WHERE THE MONEY CAME FROM. A Hind Friend, Now Deceased, Sent Him a $1,000 Greenback in a Letter. Mr. Colfax’s Relatives Remem- : ber It Well. —<— Testimony of the Witnesses and Scenes in the Committee Room—Hoax’s Clerk Looking for Schuyler’s Receipts—The Commit- tee to Make Up Their Report To-Day. WASHINGTON, Feb, 11, 1873, The interest in the Crédit Mobilier investigation to-lay was very great. Ames was to appear with his much-talked-of memorandum books, and the anticipation of what they might reveal was hardly equaled by the reality, Long before the commit- tee room was opened this morning there was quite gn eager crowd in attendance; and when the doors were thrown open at ten o'clock the room was goon packed, greatly to the discemfort of the com- mitteemen and the reporters. Vice President Col- fax and his counsel, Mr, Hale, were present from the first, but the hero of the day, Oakes Ames, was not forthcoming. Ashe was ordered to be present atten o’clock the committeemen could do nothing but sit and wait as best they could. Hall an hour elapsed, and the minutes dragged @u wearily in the crowded room, until about eleven, when a bustie at the door announced the great ‘Hoax. He came forward, struggling through the crowd, looking far more nervous and haggard than ever before since he has been ex- amined. As he took his seat Judge Poland looked reproachfully at the clock aud said, “A LITLE LATE, MR. AMES 1°? “A little late, sir,” was the only reply vouchsafed in excuse, There was then a brief silence. Mr, Ames looked over at Mr. Colfax, seated opposite, and Mr, Colfax looked steadily at his paper before hum, Judge Poland broke the silence with, “Have you brought the memoranda books with you as re- quired, Mr. Ames 7” “Ihave, sir; but, as I understand that there is to be introduced evidence to impeach my testimony, I have consuited Iriends who think it best Jor me to withhold them after that.’ Poland said the evidence was not com- plete without the memorandum book and required him to produce it. Ames disappointed everybody present, who were aching to see the much talked of memoranda, by saying that he had left with a friend that one particular book which was 80 much wanted, Judge Poland was a little nettled at this: delay and requested him to send for it at once, saying that the commitice was so unfortunate as to differ with his friend about what was the proper thing to do, Ames then said he had left the memorandum book for 1868 with Horace F. Clark and he would write a note to him for it, With a nervous hand he scratched off a little note, and as he was writing asked whether ‘w send for Clark or the book. POLAND, COMPLETELY OUT OF PATIENCE, said, sternly, “The book.” Ordway, the Serceant- at-Arins, then went away with the note to the Ar- lington Hotel and soon came back with the refresh- ing intelligence that Clark was at breakfast and would come down with the book after finishing. During the interval of Ordway's absence, Oakes Aes, nervously fumbling in his pockets, pulled out two pocket memorandum books. The crowd, weary of staring into vacancy, as pictured upon the faces of the committcemen, turned its atten- tion to Hoax’s books, Judge Poland, noticing this, mquired about them. Ames said they were mem- orandum books of 1867 and 1869. In answer to the query as to whether they contained anything of importance bearing upon the subject, Ames said, “No, with the exception of one item in the 1807 book, which was confirmatory evidence in refer- ence to Patterson’s $3,000 Crédit Mobilier.” During the absence of Ordway after Clark the time was also beguiled by asking Oakes questions about the Sioux City Road, but in point of eliciting any infor- mation this proved a failure, Shortly after twelve, when the oxygen in the atmosphere was completelyxhausted as well as everybody's patience, Horace F, Clark entered the room and took his seat by Ames’ side. This gesti- culating white-headed friend then proceeded, by permission of the committee, to repeat his advice to the young, unsophisticated Hoax, regarding THE RIGHIS OP OWNERS OF PRIVATE MEMORANDA. He claimed that this book was of no value as cor- roborative evidence and valuable only for impeach- ment. If the «adverse party wished to imtroduce it for that purpose, weil and . He chatted blitnely about this little , Clothing it with so much mystery that it ap- peared to grow in size and seemed to every ove nt an encyclopedia of scandal. Clark claimed t only such parts of the book should be revealed as related to past testimony given concerning Con- tern implicated, in order to avoid further Poland listened with a weary smile, and brushed away Clark’s arguments as one would troublesome fi saying, ‘e must see the book all the same,” adding that the committee did not desire to go into the memoranda further than it related to Congressmen. Clark hoped it would not be THE MEANS OF DRAGGING IN COLLATERAL ISSUES and clouding the main one, when Judge Poland humorously remarked that it was hard to tel! what the main issue was. The book was then produced ‘with a flourish amid a universal craning of necks. Ames and Clark would hont op a name, turn down ‘the leaves adjacent, hand it over to the Chairman, who examined it, read out loud certain cx- tracts, and then returned it for fresh subdjecta, This consumed a _ wearisome amount of time. The book did not come J to general expectations under the management of Ames and Clark. Nothing, with one exception, was elicited not already mentioned in Ames’ testi- mony heretofore. From this book the crowd heard again the mournful particulars of subdued Patter. son; \ gi Henry Wilson, seduced Colfax and the rest of the mart; Garfield, Kelley, Dawes, ok ham, Scofield, Allison and J. F. Aye It was in Ames’ handwriting and in every essential corrob- erated his testimony previously given. The rebut- tng evidence required to shake the tale told by this little book must be powerful indeed, When it came to Mr. Colfax’s case the necks craned again, and the Vice President betrayed no Seen emaatk Golfax looked like @ man who has was now desperately strugg! vo make a decent exit by saving pasty m4 SHREDS OF A TATTERED REPUTATION, case were found to be all set =] t yp stood e, @ row y figures that repre- sented the spoiis afvided among the Greate Mobilier ressmen. When asked whether he had found any other evidence againet Colfax, in She shave Of reocivts px other papers, Amen said he NEW YORK Deen in hi of finding a receipt but had thus pen Does im be he had discovered another entry of @ dividend. Here he dove down in his pocket and brought up the book for 1869. Ap entry was then shown of his havirg paid Schuyler Coliax in cash $60 75 as interest on his dividend of $1,500 worth of Union Pacific bonds from his (Colfax’s) shares of Crédit Mobilier, This made a sensation, as it was entirely new testi- mony, and the only real pew testimony brought forward by the book. As they were about to go on to find other entries Ciark suggested that there be no research in cases where Congressmen had not disputed Ames’ evidence, “THE COMMITTEE 18 NOT CERTAIN, EVEN WHERE ALL AGREE, said Judge Po'nnd, with ashrewd smile, At this the prodding iu the book was resumed with a wea- risome waste of time, osting: more of interest came out, Mr. Clark was indefatigable in assist- ing his client, helping him to find the places and also helping with a word when he stumbled, Hale’s cross-enamination of Ames that followed was not brilliant. ‘The counsel of the Vice President showed, to put it mildly, more zeal than discretion, He confused and badgered Ames sorely, 48 the mind of the latter is such @ ponderous one ab could not act nimbly enough to keep up with Hale’s tortuous tactics, Counsel on both sides were ter- ribly snubbed by Judge Poland—as once when there was a hot dispute between them abont the pro- priety of a certain question Poland benevolently remarked, “Weill, your senseless chatter is of httle consequehce, If you will insist on argufying upon a subject With which the committee er of you can be, itsell is more familiar than St go om. We can stand it for a littic while.” HOAX TALKS BACK WITH VIM. Ames at times was goaded into making hot re- plies to his tormentor, Hale. Once, in answer to inquiries why he had not told more at first, he saul:—‘‘lerred upon their side, and tried not to make it hard for them, but now that they combine to break me down, they will see.”’ The two lawyers made the mistake of imagining that. they were be- fore a petit jury. Poland made some capital jokes to-day. Taking the idea from the poet laureate of the HERALD, he said that the proceedings of the committee were “an inquest as well as an in- quiry. Colfax’s attempt this afternoon was only an at- tempt to shake Aines’ credibility as a witness, In this he has failed, By way of interlude at the performance of Po- land’s committee to-night, Mr. Ames narrated how he was persuaded by €enera) Butler to contribute $19,000 towards the election of Senator Carpenter, o& Wisconsin, Buttington, another Massachusetts member, endeavored to let Butier down easily by stating that he had requested the money at the urgent solicitation of Wisconsin politicians, Mean- while THE MEMORANDUM BOOK has been handed over to the committee for their edification and instruction, with the understanding that everything in tt not relating to the parties im- plicated is regarued as perfectly confidential, Colfax made a long statement this evening be- fore the committee, and had his sister and step- father, Mr. Matthews, put upon the stand, as to the source whence he derived the $1,200 alleged to have been given him as dividend. Coifax’s story avout the receipt of a letter with @ $1,000 bill at the breakfast table and his opening it before his sis- terand stepfather is painiully transparent, and his statement is considered a lamentable failure, His unqualified denial of the $1,500 Union Pacific bonds dividend which was found in Ames’ memo- randum book to-day, is not believed. Thus ends the most exciting and most active day of Poland’s committee. Nine hours were consumed in Coifax’s detence alone, and yet in the eyes of unbiassed men the Vice President stands before the country in C amaiaee light without being able to clear himself, PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMITTEE. 3 WASHINGTON, Feb. 11, 1873, Judge Poland’s special committee to inquire into the distribution of Crédit Mobilier stock among members of Congress resumed its session this morning. : Vice President Colfax, with his counsel, Judge Hale, was un attendance. ‘The committee room was densely crowded, and by half- past ten o'clock it was impossible to gain adinission. After waiting half an hour for Mr. Ames Judge Poland said he had been notified iast night to appear before the committee atten o'clock this morning, but not having et made his appearance the Chairman’ inquired it Mr. Uollax wasready to submit his turcher statementor intro duce the evidence referred to by him. 4, Judge Hale replied that it would be a manifest injMtice for Mr. Colfax to go on the stand until Mr, Ames should complete his testimony. . Judge Poland—The committee would not require him to do so until after Mr. Ames should give his additional testimony. i; A tew ininutes before eleven o'clock Mr. Ames made his appearance, and there was some sensation in the room when he euiered. : Judge Poland inquired of Mr. Ames if he had with him the original of the memorandum, copies of which he pro- duced betore the committee in his former testimony. Mr. Ames—I understand that evidence Is to be put in to impeach my testimony by Mr. Colfax, and my friends tay that I should have that evidence before { produce my book. Judge Poland—The committee think it should be pro- duced now. HE FONMMD WITH THE POCKETBOOK. Mr. Ames—-[ have ieft the book with a friend who has legal knowledge to examine in the matter. Judge Poland—Please send and get it now. The pro- igment and ceedings here must. be governed by our not that of others. So 78 will please send somebody for re rat the book, st it or tell us where to Mr. Ames—Horace A messenger was despatched fox it inmediaicly, There was some disappointment manifested when it was dis- coVered that Mr. Ames had not brought his book with him, and when he was interrogated as to the wher abotits of Mr. Clark his answers were short and to t oint, without explanatory remarks, and he man fested the utmost coolne: While awaiting the return of the messenger Mr. Ames produced a memorandum book, in which he found that on Hay, 4, 1867, he sold to G. Bradford 100 shares of Credit Mobilier stock at par and gave him a discount of five per cent. He also found Senator PATTERSON PAID 11M for his thirty shares of Credit Mobilier stock on the 3ist of Auguat, 1867; the impression of the withers when giv: ing his former testimony was that Mr. Patterson paid him in December, 1867; the entry was as follows :—"J. N Patterson, credit by cheek Credit Mobilier stock of Amie iea, $3,000." : Witness testified he made the entry at the time. In answer to a question as to whorn he held the Towa Falls and Sioux City stock in trust for, he stated he took pe, Dut for no one in particular; the road was @ good investment, and it was discovered that the sub- scriptions to the stock would overlap, or that more mone was being subscribed than was wanted; hence he tool gome as trustee in order to get all he could; subsequently he let James M. Becbe have some, also H. J. Gardner and Aaron Hooper; he also let MR, BINGHAM have $500 or $600 worth. * Ata quarter-pasteleven the committee took a recess for halt an hour. ‘A few minutes after twelve o'clock the Sergeantat- Arms returned and notified the chairman of the commit- tee that Mr. Clark was at his breakfast and that that gen- tleman had stated that as soon as he had got throagh he would be down. (Laughter.) After waiting another quarter of an hour Mr. Horace F. Clark appeared and a whispered conierence ‘between himself and Mr, Ames was held, Mr. Clark then pro- ucec THE LONG-TALKED-OF MEMORANDUM NOOK and laid iton the table before him. Mr, Clark then in- quired of the committee at whose instance was this imemorandum book called for—was it at the instance of the committee ? Mr. Merrick—It is at the instance of the committee. Mr Clark then stated that between himself and Mr. Ames friendly relations existed, and Mr. Ames had asked him as to his legal rights and duties connected with the memorandum book, apd he considered the memoran. dum book was not evidence per se, and as it, embraced matters with private citizens he did not think the com- mittee should have Itt could be used only tor the p pose of impeaching Mr. Ames, and he had advised Mr. Ames not to withhold any fact material to this investi- ation: & great bulk of the book related to private mat- ferscnuirely, and he suggested thata copy of such por tions of the book as related to this investixation be made and compared by the members of the committee; a pri- vate citizen should not be asked to speak hus private transactions before the public, which he Was sorry to say looked rather for calumny than truth, Judge Poiand said the committee did. not entertain the same views as Mr. Clark, but thought the book was com- petent evidence, and must be produced before the com. mittee. The committee, of course, would only examine such portionsas related’to the investigation and not his rivate affatrs. Judge Poland then requested Mr. Ames 19 show such original entries on the books as related to the matters testined about. OPENING THE BOOK. The first entry was then read, as follows, it was dated Tuesday, January 14, “Henry Wilson, to credit by account of Credit Mobilier Stock of Ameri- Then followed an entry under date of February W:—"Paid Henry Wikon $584.” The witness testified that entries were not in all cases at the time of the transaction, Under date of June 22, 1868, a statement appears of H Wilson's account showing $1,200 in U ifle Rail- road bonds, $960 in Cedar Rapids bonds, a Interest, and check tor $223 given to him. then turned to. January. ti, 1868, and read as follow: “Mr. Dawes, Credit Mobilier of America, January $80; January 14, $235; total, $1,035." Witness in expl nation of the entry ‘said the $1,035 was the par value of the stock and interest on it up to that time; this sum wag PAID TO MR. DAWES, ‘The witness then turned to Jeaf in the back of the book and the entry, without date, under the head of “cash accounts” was “H. L, Dawes, by cash, $1085; amount due on bond, $1,000; bond, $1, edit Mobilier, $1,000; Union Vacitic, $1.00." 'Tn’ explanation of this witness stated that Mr, Dawes took the bond and paid the differ- ence between the eighty per cent divideind and its valuc, Witness then turned to the date Thursday, Mareh 5, 1608, and read as follows :— “RECEIVED OF SCHUYLER COLFAX check for balance, $534 72.” ‘The next entry was a check on the Sergeant-at-Arms for $1,200, given to Mr. Colfax, but the date not given. Then the following :—"Colfax, 2 shares Credit Mobilier, cost $2,000; 7 months W days in: terest, $86 72; total, 2,086 72; less 80 per cent bonds, at $97. $1,652; paid March 5, $64 72; 4,000 Union Pacific stock, 2.000 Credit Mobilier stock.” Withess next produced INAL STATEMENT AN showing a calculation of amounts due on thirty shares, twenty shares and ten shares. There were no names on it, but he testified that either it or & copy wax shown to ich one of the gentlemen for whom he held the stock in trust. All names on the book having @ cross mark affixed were settled with, ‘The hext entry was in June, 1868 :-~"Deposited with the Sergeant-at- Arms $10,000,” q Have you An entry on this or any other book in ref- erence to Mr. Coifax t” A. T have, Judge Poland—Well, let us see it. Mr. Aines—Let us go through this book first, Judge Poland—No. we must see the cutee, Mr. Ames produced the book and read as follows :— “Friday, January 22, 1869—Paid 8. Colfax $60 75 for in- terest on $1,500 certificates Union Pacific Railroad.” Witness testified that the certificates alluded to were DIVIDENDS ON CREDIT MODILIER STOCK, Me He money Muth paid Pat fn Washington, ed . Have you beer le to find any receipts si b; Mr. Coltax? A. I have not found fs ‘yet, bat have searched carefully. nirv from the date of Janu- he ian showing uat he. Fecctven $780 ary 2%, |, sho’ ver 50 in mone; road’ bonds, to De. tik ‘und compotis of Cedar Rapids in Credit Mobilier stock ; took nd made the investment hepruary', ie, the vested money, DELIVERED TO HON. G, W. SCOFIELD of Credit Mobitier stock . ington , delivere Reotleta due bon $1.00, Jeb pares stock, $1 received of , W. Seow “for } be of any fact in the past that Mr. A HERALD, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1873.—TRIPLE SHEET. balance due on bond over dividend $195 3%; April 24, 1863, received of Wiltiam B. Allivon $271, balance due on stock sold him. ‘Then followed a statement in figures showing the value of n $1,000 bond, &c. ‘The vextentry was IN KEFERENCE TO JAMES F. WILSON, showing $329 paid him and the calculation above referred to. Witness next read the entries in the case of Mr. Pat- terson, copies of which and receipts were betore the com- mittee’ @ few days since. He next exhibited the state- ment in the case of Bingham, which agreed with the figures submitted by that gentleman. Has had no settle- ment with M, Garield nor Mr. Kelley; read the entries ip their cases and testified that he paid to each of them ; has no reterence on his memorandum book IN REFERENCE TO SPEAKER BLAINE; in settling with ine Painter gave him a check received trom Mr. Bartiett for a Cedar Rapids bond; had settled with Mr. Logan and gave bim a check, . Have you any more entries? A. No, sir. . . You believe we nave now scen all the entries on the book in reference to any of these gentiement A, Yes, sir, By Mr. Niblack—Had not found receipts from any, of those gentlemen of any unportance ; had found one of Mr. Allison without date; his clerk was now making @ fur- search, and he would know some time this week if he should find any; the receipt by Mr. Allison was as follows:—“'Received of Oakes Ames ten shares of stock of Credit Mobilier of America,” which I hold, subject to order. Tn answer to questions by Mr. Hale (counsel for Mr. Coliax) witness testified that he leit the memorauduro kx at his office in Easton when he came here after the olidays; the one for 1863 was brought to Washington by hig son since, and taken back to KAston by Mr. dy. Mr. Ames was then put through a long and severe cross- examination by Judge Hale as to how the copies were made, but the witness testified that they were not copies of the original entries, but made up of various entries, While the cross-exatmination was in progress, and after ithad been kept up an hour or more, Judge Poland ng- tifled Mr. Hale that the committee’ was thoroughly ac uainted with all these matters, having had itall in evi dence, and if there were any inconsistencies in Mr. Ames’ statement the committee ‘could judge for itsel, He thought this all ain ARTE OF TI AW. fire, and going over what the committee aiready had, ‘the wiiness further testified that he did not remember of having got any receipt trom Mr. Colfax, and never said so to any person; reinembered that he jave to Colfax the check tor $1,200; when he made his statement In Deceinber, to the effect that he could not remember if he had paid once to Mr. Coltax any dividend, he had not seen the memoranda and M18 MEMORY WAS NOT REFRESHED. Q. Did you mean then to tell a lie or the trutht r. Ames—I won't answer that question; itis an im- pudent one. In explanation of his former testimony the wimess said as he could for allot these men, and he had probably erred on their side, but now they'came in here to make him ont a har. : Atter much bantering of words between Mr. Clark, as counsel for Mr. Ames, and Mr. Haie, as counsel or Mr. Joltax, Judge Poland announced that, unless this was sto ped, the committee would be coinpelled to dismiss ot ‘of them, as there was ‘A’ GREAT CHATTERING FOR NOTHING. Mr, Ames (pointing to Mir, Hale)—I have been thinking soever since he began. (Laughter. Witness was positive he either gave or showed to Mr. Colfax a statement showing the balance due, &¢., and he (Coliax) gave a check tor the balance; it is hot probable that he would have given me @ check for $684 unless he knew what it was for ; he is not so green as that—(augh- ter); Mr. Colfax never notified witness that he would give up the stock ; at fret witness wanted to get all these men off as easy as possible, and rather stated their view of the case, not relying on his own memory. Sidney Dillon, a’ clerk in the office of the Sergennt-at- Arms, was recalled, and testificd that it was his impre: sion that he paid the $1,200 check marked "8. C.” to Mr. Oakes Ames; thought he paid him in two $600 bills; i talking with’Mr. Ames during the last thirty hours wi ness had asked him if he did not pay the check to hit and Mr. Ames said he thought it was very hkely; wit could not swear he paid the check to Mr, Am At five o'clock the committee took a recess until seven o’clock this evening, — Evening Session. The Poland Special Committee reassembled at seven o'clock, and Vice President Colfax read the following letter (rom a gentleman, whom he de- clared to be THE BEST PARLIAMENTARIAN STATES :— IN THE UNITED CrERR’s Orricr, House or Rerresentatives UNirep States, rob. 10, 187% Hon. Scnuyier Courax Dwar Sin—Atyour request Ihave examined the proceed- Ks of the House of Ri jtatives tor the session of Con- gress coinmencing De as reported in the Con Jour rulings as Sp ing the entire session b; nber, 1867, and ending July, 1868, igressional Globe. T have examined all aker on every proposition made dui Hon, £. B. Washburn He Union Pacific Rail- ©.C, Washburn in relation ‘to. the road, and find no ruling made by my jdgment, commended and justi law. Very respecttully, IN Journal JC Clerk, House COLPAX’S 8) dressed the committee as follows : Genrienen—Last Fall Twas one of a number of per- sons in public life charged with having been bribed by gifts of stock in the it Mobiller, trom which enor- mous dividends had been received an ro i P at south Bend, Ind which, after showing that the mos legislation had been enacted fou bribery, [responded to the personal attack as tollo which Tread from the Chicago /nter-Ocean he next da: “Never having in my life a dollar of stock ot any ki that I did not vay for, I claim the right to purchase st in the Crédit Mobilier, or Credit Immobilier, if there is one, nor do T know of’ any law prohibiting it, Do I need to add that neither Oakes Ames nor any other person ever cave or offered to give me one share or twenty shares or two hundred shares in the Credit Mobilier or any other railroad stock, aad that, untortunately, I have never seen or received, to the value of a farthing, out of the 270 per cent dividends or the 800 per cent dividends in cash, stock or bonds y have read about for the "past month, nor er cent nor the tenth of one percent. 1 have said that if twenty shares of it could be purchased at par without buying into a Prospective law suit it would be a good investment, if as valuable stock as represented; but never having been plaintiff or defendant in a court of justice | want no stock a. any price with a law suit on the top of it.” it be seen from these extracts that I publicty claimed last Fall the right to purchase the stock, and avowed frankly that lL would have been willing to pay for twenty shares if I did not buy into a prospective law suit, but that no } ble profits could induce me to in- volve myselr in litigation, having over four years before this speech volumtarily abandoned a contract to purchase at the rate I had stated, and i grounds T had stated; and having no certificate, uo ownership of stock in it, my answers to the charges then made are th ct truth. “And then I trankly accepted also whatever odium might attach to the willingness to purchase and to hold the stock as I then understood it I will add that what f then said last September, that neither Oakes Ames nor any other person ever gave or offered to give me any of this stock, has been rep this session with the essential in_ a spec ab portant p ars before the alleged egtcaly printed during give” omitted, en tirely changing its yense, Mr. Ames having sworn’ De- cember 17, in his original statement before the commit tee, which he declared (see page 21 of the evidence) em: | bodied tht exact facts, that he could not remember hav. ing paid me any dividends, now declares that in June, A CHECK PAYABLE TO THK INITIALS 8. C., or bearer, for $1.20), but not endorsed by me nor any one else, was ‘paid by fim to me asa cash dividend of the Credit Mobilier. “In answer to this charge I repeat a that { have not the slightest knowledge, or recollec or belief that I ever saw this check or any other che Mr. Ames till he presented it before this committee, that I have ever been paid or proffered by him, dircetly or indirectly, in check, stock or bonds $1,200 or $100, or Ion any account whatever. I further state that I hive not the slightest_ knowledge, recollection or beliet th at 1 ever heard there was ‘or could be any cast dividends on the Credit Mobilier tit the dis- cussion of last fall, and J am as positive as I can Jes never spoke to me of the last dividend, and never paid or proftered to me int person or through any other channel any cheek or money, or bonds on that orany other account, It seems tome impossible and incredible that I should have re- neck without remembering that addition to my income, and especially ina check drawn so singu lary to inthis, and not containing my maine at all: nor could Ihave taiked to him when he failed, as I did, about 1 the $500 go which T had paid him On the dividend if he had paid me an overplus of $700. 1 add that until to-day I have never heard of the cer- te for $1,000 of Union Pacific bonds, $60 intere which Mr. Ames says he paid me in ‘y, 136 would not have been more axtounded fo have bi chaged by him with the assassination ot one of his fam: Thave been by his charges that he paid me ther $1,200 or $60 or any other amount whatever on the d. I will add that for over four years T have spoken 1m my family of this transaction ex- actly as T described it in my testimony of January namely, that I had contracted to purchase, had paid about $600, had heard of THREATENED AND ACRIMONIOUS LITIG Kholders, ON and had therefore ¢ Gr at at a loss of the money [had p fact of these conversatiens I will produce ¢ ‘tof $1,200 in bills tor Jun ommittee will remember that I reall examination of my bank accounts-by st unasked, that I kept my accounts at the et tional Bank. where all my checks deposited would be found endorsed by me, whether payable to order or bearer. Diffcult as it is to recall all the transactions of five years in a public man’s Ite, {will state to the com- mittee WHERE ALL TH deposited from June 22, 1 mth immediately sticcee MONEY CAMP PROM and will add that it was the n for the o there being no previous deposit later than the Ist ¢ itshows that this amount was the accumulatio heys paid to me during the intervening three weeks. This is also proven by the dates of the checks deposited. One check was for $15 63, dated June 13, signed by J. N. Seymour, since deceased; one for $250, dated June 12, signed by E. ©. Cardin, and one for $00, dated June 17, signed by T. Denny & Co. none of them having the slight’ est connection with the subject of investigation before this committee. Of the depostt of bills for $200, 1 sitive they were paid me by my step r. Matthews, on acc of a& debt he owed me. In December, 667 1 $455 for a aid piano bought of Stemway « Cu. through W, G. Metzerolt Jor his daughter, the check for which is in the bank, and Tagreed to waitfor the most of it until the Summer, when he expected to be better able to pay me, Aiter my nomination, in May, 1863, 1 had numberless appeals for contributions for political expenses in various, localities for processions, bunds, charity, religions aid, c.. and had promised to contribute as promptly and as larvely as possiple to the find Ar a ene of the canvass in'my sharply contested State of Indiana. I therejore asked Mr. Matthews to pay 1 indebtedness as soon as he could raise it, to assist me in meeting those demands in cident to my hew position. During the month of June, and, as nearly as I can fix the time, about the mid: die of the month, he paid me $200 in bills on account, and early the next month he paid me another instalment, seepbieting the payment before Congress adjourned, late 1 AM VERY CONFIDENT that this $200 formed part of this $1,200 deposit, being part ot my cash receipus between the deposits of June land 22; about the time of this payment, and asnear as I can fix the date about the middie of the month of June, and very soon after the payment of Mr. Matthe’ opening my letter mail at the breakfast table, In ance wil my usual custom, and found within another — envelope — postmarked New York; on opening the inner enyelope. I found it contained a letter, written by George F. Nesbitt, congratulating me most cordially and warmly on my nomination for the Vice Presidency and saying that the writer desired to send me confidentially tlie remittance enclosed to aid me in the heavy sareaee in the canvass, but wished it kept a secret, as ‘neither his family nor any one would ever know it unless I told them. Enclosed in this was a greenback or @ pational bank note ior $1,000, it was AS GRATIFYING AS IT WAS LIBERAL, and, holding up the letter, and the bill, I asked the atten- tion of all my family to it, and then read them the letter. ‘The fact of sending so large a bill cy mel Was commented Epon, ane the magnitude of the gift was discussed, when rr. jaithews remarked that it came in en time, he or I, especially the ‘appeal of Mr: Conner, Chairmat the Indiana Republican Committee, for money to aid 0 0 arranging for tho canvass already in active progres there’ the bill was then pi around from ‘hand to hand at the ‘$200 1 hi 3 then, referrin examined; I am sure I deposited it with iad received from Mr. Matthews, and purchasiny on the very same oft the bank books show, a draft for the exact amount of this remittance, and in exact ac- cordance with the donor's wish, and exactly ae discussed at my table at the time, sent it at once to the Chairman of the Republican Committee at indianapolis, Fortue mately thigdoes not rest on my own Wetimony alone. Liv. ing witnesses will tell the committee that U the receiptof this Dill and the contents which it Was enelosed, and how it could be wsed to carry out Mr, Nesbitt’s «ts and the draft presented and. sworn to by. the ¢ the bank preves that the very day | depos Bills 1 boi mitted UUt-of my. deposit 1,000 10 of the Indiana State ¢ nat drat y Mr. Con fo bank here and laid before your committee the next day after the bank deposit was teviified to, my counsel at the time pyomising to counect it with my evidenc My family at the time consisud ‘of — mother, since de sed, my stepfather, Mr. Mathew: and, my, hal-sisier, ira, “Hollister! whose pesden isin isant ‘Territory — beyond Roeky mountains, 1 said it was tortunate there were living witnesses to this besides myself, for, on a thorough exam- ination of the accounts and pipers ot Mr. Nesbitt, wad by his exeeutor at my request, Mr, Nesbitt having. die the next year, no trace of it is there fonnd, He had car- ried out éxactly what he wrote that it was INTENDED TO. BE CONFIDENTIAL, unknown even to his family, and if it was revealed it would have to be by me; and he evidently sent it in a bill the more surely to accomplish the object. Durjng the last eight or ten years the accumulations of my let- ters has been so extraordinary that it has been my res lar habit to destroy nine-tenths of them. ‘Those that ars not destroyed are not filed, but kept in their envelopes antil they crowd my drawers and tables and are then tied up, but not chronologically, to be stowed tra rooin tor them can be found. In- deed, Mr, Chauncey, of the House employes, after | had th of the Capitol for the Senate wing, in 156), happened to find a box full of old letters thus tied up, the loss of whien I had entirely overlooked. 1 have gone three times over all the letters I have preserved ut paye not found this letter or any political letter tor June, up AcENOwuNBiRhT Op this pRarr of $1,000 sent io Tnilinna cannot be found, though fortu- nately the bank was able to find the draftitsel!, The letters aceompanying the three checks deposited on the 22d of June have also been destroyed, so that Lam unable to produce ether of the five lettérs relating to the trans- actions of that day. I remember disturctly that after my nation my inail increased enormously, amounting lity, M “not sometimes 100 letters per day, and their preservation seemed so impossible that L remember, as others do, more than once almost filling a wastebasket with the ‘trazinents of destroyed letters; Dut, as! have said, beside the draft, which testifies for itself, there are living witnesses here to prove that I re- ceived at that time this thousand dollar bill—one of them having made a three thousand mile mid-Winter journey alone” to. tell this Committee her recollectic of it, When my bank account here "the cashier was asked what footings meant, and he repliod to the inquiry that it was. the amount of the debits and credits. When the accounts were finally balanced it was telegraphed to the New York Triume that night that the books showed that I de- posited % in one year, and the inference of course was that 1 could therefore easly have forgotten the $1,200 in qaestion. As my general accounts have thus been made # subj cet of discussion, and as TP HAVE NO SECRETS IN REGARD TO THEM 1 felt it my righi now to correct this misstatement, This total was for three years, not one year, viz., (rom Decein- r, 1805, to October, INH, inclusive, and embraced, sides other cash accounts, the changes made on my investments, the avails ‘of a laborious jie, and which changes were mainly on the advice — of Valued fricnds in New York, Baltimore and the West. On the debtor side are purchases of $5,000 seven- thirties of the bank between mer, 1865, and April, 1866, mainly from the ipts for lecturing; one: share of New York Trimune stock ut $6,000 in January, 1667 present of $1,000 in the carly part of the same year to iny mother, then the head of my tamily; an investment of $9,000 in an iron eompany of Lake Superior; an. invest ment of $6,000 in the bonds of the Pennsylvania Steel Company; a hovse and lot in South Bend, near the Post ofli¢e, whic! to state,’ is worth now nearly double 1 paid’ for ity a Joan — of $495. to . Matthews, as stated; an investment of $5,000 in a Western rolling mill and pay mentor $170) to Mr. Rickstsen Burvoughs for money borrowed Of him; this amounts to $30,000 out of the $45,000 transaction of! these three years; the deposits on the’ credit side that enabled me to pay these amounts were as follows :—During these years T Was lecturing on My stage-coach ride of 1265 across the Continent, during November, in the holiday recess;on Saturdays, in the early part’of the session ‘and during the Spring, when Congress adjourned. in March, receiving from one hun- dred to two hundred dollars’ per lecture; L received in all over twelve thousand dollars {rot this source,of hich Testimate about ten thousand doliars was deposited here ; T sold the five thousand in seven-thirtes and also sold the Trévune share wt $010), and Mr, Matthews returned me the $455 he owed me; besides these items T sold sixty-two shares of Adams Express stoc 4, and # lot of second morigage bonds of the Alton and Terre Haute Railroad for $n), making about thirty-one thousand dollars it al, whicli offsets the $3,000 in in nts charged against n; of Course th nities understands that in bank ants where changes of investinents are made the same money alters figures three or tour times over; i thus deposited niy LReTur MONEY, bought seven thirties, sold them at an advance and used the proceeds for another investment; 1 bought a Tribune share mainly out ot satin) vance and again invested the p the money 1 drew trom the salary was deposited in the bi keeping expenses there; it hax be to pay my ex iny Willingn 1n- than myselt in investments and eipts, sold itan ad ds: A large part geantatArms for 1 K, as I paid my house- taken, aus y divide 8 f nts. nsof Judge Poland the thought he received the $ ved the money from Mr, Ma 88 told Mr, Ames that he (Coltax) must be out Aines put his hand in his pocket, took out a dd offering it to witness, said, “Consider Tb Kk ;” withess always had a great re studs, and dlrew out of tho Credit Movil would have been glad to get out cost of twice the suin he paid An THRONE THOUSAND . NESBITT about the middle of the month succeeding the uomina. tion; if he had received the $1,000 from New York and the $1,200 from Mr. Ames also he would have deposited both of then G. W. Matthews, sworn :—Witness testified he was the stepfather of Mr. Colfax and resided with him in 1867 and 18% and borrowed the money trom him in 1865, as lated by Mr. Coltax; paid hiin $20) about the 16th of June, and another $100 about the Ist of July followiug ; the “biance was paid at the adjournment of Congress; witness corroborated the testimony of Vice President Coltax in relation to the receipt of $1,000 from Mr, Nesbitt; at the breakiast table Mr, Colfux held up the lett Mr, Coltax tes- v0 the a we: whi - f it, Mr. mall coin ve bought that re peoniiie rata ter with 000, and said “$1,000 from a gentieman almost a stranger to me ;” Ii raaid, “Read the ter, Schuyler ;” it was @ short let nd congratulatory in’ its tone; the writer beg Mr. Colfax to accept the enclosed, without naming the amount; witness thought the letter was received about three days after he paid Mr. Colfax the $200, and when Mr. Ames tailed the matter was the subject or con versation; Mrs, Matthews and Mrs, Ames being great friends, much sympathy was expressed tor Mr. Ames by Mrs, Matthews, and Mr. Colfax suid, "Never mind, mother; Mr. Ames owes me a little and I will never ask him for it until he is able to pay me,” he mentioned the amount as $800, but did notsay what it was for. MRS. CAROLINE, HOLLISTER ess resides in Utah, and is half-sister of Mr. resiied with him tn Washinyrton in i868, remem- bered that Mr. Colfax received a $1,000 bill while st the breaktast table, in June, i864; it was enclosed in a letter ulating him on his nomination; the letter eame trom Mr, Nesbitt. Judge Hale said Mr, Nesbitt was a wealthy stationer and paper manatacturer of New York, and he ald otler evidence to that fact. He would also state that Mrs. Colfax was present and could testify as to the $1,000, she having been informed about it on the Colorado trip in the summer of 1868. Judge Poland said the committee did not desire to hear further testimony on that subject. Mr. Ames, reeulled :—Had no knowledge of any money being paid to aid in the election of Senator Carpenter; General Buller recommended that Mr. Carpenter. be em: ployed as counsel tor the road about the time that Mr. Carpenter was & candidate for the Senate ; witness would ot agree to employ Mr. Carpenter, as they did not want any counsel, and Mr, Carpenter wis not émployed ; had no knowledge of Mr. Alley or any other director taking such action; witness ne mad any statem Mr. Carpenter being employed as counsel tor presence of Mr. Buffington or any other member of the House; had no knowledge of any application being made to the Central Pacific Road to retain Mr. Carpenter. Hon. James Buffington sworn:—Q. Did y any conversation with Mr. Ames or hear any conversation in relation to Mr, Carpenter being employed as counsel: A. No, sir; never. Q. Did you have any conversation with General Butler erence to thatmatter? A, Some time ago I heard joneral Butler st that the Ns a had been made tor the Union Pacifi id to retal ME. CARPENTER AS COUNSEL for the Union Pacific Railroad, Q. ‘Tell us all that was said. A. General Butler said that M: rpenter’s triends had sent down here to have Mr. Carpenter retained as c he saad that Mr. Alley obj eral Butler was employed. Jnége Poland announced that the examin ded. If any new eviden mittee, of course, would rit n, at halt-past nine P. M., adjourned prrow morning, when they will pro- unsel for the sum of $10,000; ed to it; witness did not « Atwer the ad of the committee to-night Vice #resident Coltax received the following despatch from his married sister in lowa:— Keno Mother wrote me in the Summer of 1865 ing a $1,000 bill. Mentioned it with other tl ich you were appreciated end it ff found. above despatch will be fled to-morrow. Towa, Feb. 11. 8, showing Seare! for letter. MARY 8. COWLES with the committee Oia eer oe MAYOR HAVEMNEYER’S POSITION. ilalfiinnani EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, Crvy HALL, New York, Feb. 11, 1873, To THe Epiror OF THE HERALD: As my position before the people of this city seems to be rendered somewhat questionable by the persistent mAsrepresentations of that class of | our fellow citizens who would make the public be- lieve that I was elected Chief Magistrate of the city by the republican party, for party ends, I herewith send you @ copy of the letter addressed to me Oc- tober 21, 1872, by the chairman of the Republican County Convention, and my answer thereto, as ex- planatory of the position I then occupied and con- tinue to occupy, and from whichI am _ not to be drawn by any man or set of men, be they demo- cratic or republican, W. F, HAVEMBYER, New York, Oct. 21, 1872, Hon. W, PF. Havemever :-— sin—We are charged Bi, the Republican County Con- yertion with the agreeable duty of informing you that that body has unanimously noininated you tor Mayor, and of requesting your acceptance of that nomination. Ln making this communication we may be permitted to say that the Convention was quite aware that you have not heretofore acted with the republican party, and you would not, if elected, be the Mayor of that party; but the repub- licans of this city desire to give their supportto the cause of reform, and they believe that they can do this most efficiently by casting their 60,000 votes tor the man whom public sentiment has so untmistakably selected as the ex- ponent of reform. If you shall accept the nomination ‘we pledge to you the faithtul, earnest and undivided sup- port at the polls of the great party which we represent, THOMAS MURPHY, Chairman Republican County Convention, New York, Oct. 23, 1872, To Bi 8 Murray, Chairman Kepublican County Con- venti Drak 81n—I fee} highly complimented ty, the receipt of your communteation tendering me, in behalf of the Re- publican County Convention, the nomination as its cand: date tor Mayor at the approniching election, It is, our political oe 80 great and influential ganization is found willing to subordinate its distinctive characteristics and merge itself tor the occasion with the patriotic citizens of al) political sentiments in efforts to elevate and Banat A our municipal government and to re- move Lyf lace and rie, those who have dishonored it. Itis bat just and rigbt that to this great object and to this most important and all good citizens should direct their attention and lend their united and zealous co-operation. If placed in the chair of the Mayoralty my best efforts will be directed to give effect to these views and to add to the material greatness and prosperity of our city the reputation of 4 just and honorable government. With the request that you will communicate to the body you represent my high appreciation of its generous and pa- Poe ae J remain your oan WASHINGTON. >_—— Roosevelt’s War with the Dis- trict Board of Works. a IMPORTANT * TREASURY ORDER. Mail Facilities in New York To Be Extended. FUNG WING ON THE CHINESE INDEMNITY, A. W. Tenney to Succeed District Attorney Tracey. WASHINGTON, Feb. 11, 1873. Roosevelt’s War Against the Board of Works—A Spicy Debate in the House. The District Board of Public Works had a fleld day in the House this afternoon. Robert B. Roose- velt made another spirited attack on the Board, Whose organs had been blackguarding him fora week past. He now seized an opportunity to re- turn the compliment. An effort was made to keep Roosevelt off the Noor, but Fernando Wood, by a skilful Nank movement, headed off the enemy and came to the rescue of his colleague against the Board. Roosevelt commenced py a graceful tribute to the Board of Public Works, which he called Tammany No. 2, and to its Vice President, whom he dubbed the Tweed of Washington. He compared the latter to one of his own sewers for carrying filth, this being a ref- erence to certain articles which have appeared lately accusing the great opponent of the Board of being actuated by unworthy motives. It is a pretty fight as it stands. Whenever Roosevelt Sails in and shows up a mass of false figures the Board immediately gets out a new edition of its report, omitting these figures, and then denounces Roosevelt as the prince of falsifiers, producing its Jast report to prove it. Roosevelt had four of such reports on his desk, and created quite a sensa- tion by showing that there were no two alike ex. cept in their covers, He has made three speeches on his pet theme, and tne magnates of the Board have produced four reports, being now one ahead of him, They are at present getting up another, so there is little hope of his ever coming up with them, unless their funds run out, of which there is arumor, confirmed by the gaunt and hungry as- spect of hordes of contractors and employés who hang around their headquarters at Four-and-a-Half street, Roosevelt explained the various plans of the Board. He said theré is supposed to be about forty millions in these operations, a part of which is to be “placed where it will do most good.” Every- thing being already gobbled up by the bosses of the |, Board, there is little left for the small fry, who are growing hungry as starved tigers and betraying all the secrets of the Board to Roosevelt. The latter plunges about, hitting in all directions, like an awkward but courageous giant. His speech made quite a sensation in the House, Chipman, who is nominally the Representative of the District of Columbia, but seems more devoted to the Board, in reply assailed Roosevelt in a savage manner, without disproving the principal facts presented by the latter. Quite a laugh was created when he wildly demanded of Roosevelt the name of his informant, and Roosevelt replied that the Board wanted to know solely to ruin the unhappy wretch, giving several instances of citi- zens being afraid to be seen with him lest they should be spotted by the Board. Chipman said Said Roosevelt had made an attack on the Board of Public Works at the beginning of the session for the purpose o/ sensation, and then left for New York, where he remained several weeks, to organ- ize a dispensary democracy. In fact, he character- ized Roosevelt's speech as @ dispensary one, be- cause, he said, he dispensed with facts. He thought Roosevelt had no right to talk about Tam- many No 2 when he was sent to Congress by Tam- many No. 1. Roosevelt says he can easily disprove Chipman’s assertions by the well-known fact that he had to remain in New York on account of sick- ness, and that he was prominent in helping the overthiow of fammany No. 1. Important Treasury Order. The Secretary of the Treasury gave positive di- rections to-day for the payment of interest coupons cut from the two years) notes of 1863, on which 18 printed, “This coupon is void if detached from this note except by an anthorized agent of the govern- ment’? Treasurer Spinner has heretofore po: tively refuse to pay any of these detached coupons. The Day in the Senate—Louisiana “Let Slide”=—Important Amendment to the Navigation Act. The republican Senators decided to let the Loui- siana question slide, even if the Greeley electoral votes are counted, and the afternoon was devoted to the consideration of those cases successively on the calendar, to which no one objected, bills were thus considered and passed, while some were defeated and a good many were skipped. The only House bill of national importance passed was that so amending the twelfth section of the Navi- gation act, passed in June last, that it will not apply to masters of vessels where the seamen are by custom or agreement entitled to participate in the profits or result of a cruise or voyage, nor to masters of coastwise vessels, or of vessels engaged in trade between the United States and the British North American possessions, Tie House had also exempted vessels engaged in the West India trade, but the Senate refused to include them. Colfax’s Alibi and What May Result. Colfax has produced his alibi, and his name it is George F. Nesbitt, deceased. Colfax remcmbers that Nesbitt sent him a $1,000 bill in @ letter, to be used for electioneering purposes, Colfax’s father- in-law—Matthews by name—remembers seeing the letter opened at the breakfast table, and his daughter remembers it also, Having accounted for $1,000, it was shown that the remain- ing $200 was paid on the, day before the deposit was made by = the same Mr. Matthews, who had borrowed it to buy a piano. Curiously enough, the donation and the payment’ were .in greenbacks, although the national banks were then paying out national bank notes and hoarding greenbacks for their reserve. Now, sup- posing that Oakes Ames’ clerk has found a receipt signed by Colfax for the very $1,200 thus inge- niously accounted for, Ames would not swear that he had no such receipt, or that he might not be able to find it, although Hale pressed hard, Lf it does turn up what will become of the alibi? The Chinese Indemnity Fand—Fang Wing Takes a Rhetorical Flight. The Senate Committce on Foreign Relations considered to-day the bill to restore the Chinese indemnity fund, bung Wing, @ Chinese mandarin of the fifth class and @ graduate of Yale College, ‘was present at @ part of the proceedings and gave his views on the subject. He expressed his desire that the money be expended for the education of his countrymen in the arts of Western civilization, Fung Wing has been instrumental in bringing many Chinamen to America to be educated, and he believes that all the Orientals wno desire an education should come here instead of going to Europe. He spoke for half an hour and was lis- tened to with great attention by the memberg of the committee . Pomeroy’s Case To Be Quickly and Thor- oughly Investigated—“York, You're Wanted.” ‘The Special Committee appointed in the Senate yesterday to investigate the cuarges of bribery against Senator Pomeroy in connection with the Jate Senatorial election in Kansas had an informal meeting this morning. All the members—Messrs, Frelinghuysen, Chairman; Buckingham, Alcorn, ‘Thurnfan and Vickers—were present, Aftera brief consultation it was determined, in view of the want of time, to conduct the examination as rapidly as possible, in order that the co;mittee may be able Ww present their report before the close of the prea. Fifty-two | It was #lso ae ermi to summon ph, aad a despaten Was sent to Mr, York, Schator Vomeroy’s principal accuser, asking him when he ean bo in Washing- ton to give his testimony before thb committee, ‘The investigation will be publicly conducted, Not. withstandiag the shortness of the time, the com- mittee intend to thoroughly investigate the subject, Th me for the next meeting will not be fixed until it shall be known when the witnesses in the case shall be present. Pomeroy and Patterson—Logan Urged to Purge the Senate. TWO strange faces were in the Senate to-day be- hind the desks formerly occupied by the Senators jrom Kansas and New Hargpshire, but no one recognized Pomeroy in the shrunken, careworn face, with side whiskers, or Patterson in the pale, guilt-haunted features, furrowed by anguish. They knew each other, however, and as “a fellow feel- ing makes us wondrous kind,” they chatted about the ingratitude of York and of Ames, the inquist- torial power of the press and the effectiveness of a Senatorial whitewashing. General Logan, when a Representative, did good service by demanding the expulsion of Whittemore, the seller of a cadet> ship. He is now urged by some o1 his colleagues to drive from the Senate men who profited by their position to enrich themselves at the public ex- pense and then committed perjury to escape public opinion, The Want of Mail Facilities in New York, A. 8. Solmons, of this city, called on the Pos! master General to-day to represent the complaints ofa number of leading merchants in New York of the wretched system of letter delivery in that city and of the want of mail facilities on Sun no mails have been made up after ten o' ‘The Postmaster General said that he was welt aware of the necessity for a reconstruction of the system of letter distribution at New York, and was now considering a plan for its improvement. He should also take measures to have letters collected and mails made up on Sundays, to go out by such mail trains as left the city, A Night Session of the House—' hirty Millions Voted Away. The night session of the iouse attracted the en- tire corps of lobbyists of both sexes to the Vapitol, and they were overjoyed by witnessing legislation, | which, df periected by the Senate and ap- proved by the President, will take at least thirty millions of dollars from the national Treasury, under the pretence of paying tor sup. plies taken for the Union armies while in the enemy’s country. Four of the bills making extra | payments for iron-clads were taken up, and the claimants were referred to the Court of Claims, A few more such night sessions and Boutwell will have to issue proposals for an additional loan, Reduction of the Postage on Letters and Newspapers. One of the features of the bill to amend the Postal laws, reported in the House by Farnsworth, is the reduction of the postage on letters from | three to two cents, which was agreed to by the House with little or no objection. Mr. Ellis H. Roberts, of New York, carried an amendment reducing the postage on daily newspapers from $1 20to sixty cents a year. Mr. Farnsworth op- posed this, but Mr. Roberts argued that if Farns- worth was right in claiming that a reduction ot postage on letters would prove of advantage to the revenue, still more would a reduction of rates on daily newspapers increase the revenue. Mr. Roberts rightly contended that at present the eharge is exorbitant, Cheaper postage and more promptness and efficiency in the service, he said, will give the carrying of all the daifies to the mails, while now one half or more of them were carried by express or private enterprise. Mr. Roberts im- pressed the House with the good sense of his argu- ment, and carried his amendment by a large ma- jority, THE SEVENTY. A Discussion on the Advisability of Backing Down to the Republican Committee. The Committee of Seventy held a meeting last evening, at 938 Broadway, at which an important discussion took place upon the prospects of the committee acting without the assistance of the republicans. Mr, Brown, the chairman, made the opening speech. ADDRES OF THE CHAIRMAN, After the organization of the meeting Mr. Brown, the chairman, arose and said he would interrupt * the usual course of business to say a few words, meyer to this commitiee, and the press upon both, make it 1 at this juncture, to act eak earnestly and plainly. re {ull measure of retorm promised by our ti can bow result only troy Last year the were antagonists; tow, b en on the same reform platform, a rep to secure mph at 2 Ine ti car's failure should be as Impossible as it | will be unjustifiable. Amendments to the charter of this | city have been submit e which we have endorsed ; tions, material on some, of minor conseq The fundamental difference i r’'—whether it shi ‘app to the Mayor. or 1 of “Alder. aiated to city, which the most likely te cure ho! petent officials and to keep them so. ‘This committee has deciared in favor of the power being given to the or. The amendment of the Ke publican Central Committee associates with him the Board of Aldermen. And here ‘This difference shou ag we are concerned, it it can be removed Of ours that does not involve 4 sacrifice of responsibility for whatever charter we Ket, goo must rest’ entirely upon — the lature; and should it fail city such @ measure of reform as ils people anil sorely need (swindled and robbed as they ha’ to a frighttul extent by rings of corrupt politi have no iear that our ellizens will relax their exe ple. ‘the oF bad, present La 0 give pope for been | to piace in power those who will give what ix need« secure “a yood and honest administration of inunicip aflairs, aad that without regard to party conside | Ifthe amendment to which 1 still pressed by the Repub tice, and | is likely to become part of the city would, in my opinion, be wise us to endeavor ‘to have some ‘provision made that the or rejection of the Mayor's appointees shall not be gov- by considerations of party interest. or (ecling, but only by reasons affecting the nominee's fitness or unfit. ness for the position assixned him. It certainly does not appear too much te the Legislature that some Provision ce made of this sort, if only to show that oar | city shat not again be looked upon as the hunting ground | of ‘the protessional politician. ‘The address of Mr. Brown was warmly received, and frequently during tht delivery he was ap- Pplauded, MAYOR HAVEMEYER’S LETTER. The letter of Mayor Havemeyer to the Committee of Seventy at the previous meeting was called up on the report of Professor Theodore W. Dwight, Chairman of the Commuttee on Legislation, to which committee the letter had been reierred. The Professor stated the committee had conferred with the Mayor, who, while satisfied of the trustworthi- ness of the source of his information in regard to statements contained in the letter, did not feel at liberty to give the names of his informant, and that he thought enoagh had been accomplished for the present by the publication of the letter, as the at- tention of the people would be directed thereby to the subject of the city's charter, Mr. John Wheeler, also of the Committee on Legisiation, mrde a simijar report. CONFIRMATION OF THE MAYOR'S APPOINTEES BY THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN, When the subject of the Mayor’s letter was dis- posed of, by referring to the chairman the power of calling the committee together in case of emer- gency, Mr. Dorman B. Eaton invited the attention of the committee to the address of the chairman, dwelling especially on that part referring to tue possibility of the Legislature giving to the Board of Aldermen the power of confirming the nominations of the Mayor for heads of departments, and offered the following resolution :— Resolved, That in case the Board of Aldermen shall be iven the ‘authority of acting on the nominees of the ‘or the right of public examination of the members that Board 4s to the honesty and integrity of their action in that ged should be secured to the same extent ws wane ry Sae asto other official abuses is s s ei pending charter. ua Proposed amendments ) the This resolution called forth considerable discus- sion, which was participated in by Messrs. Jona- than Sti 8, Henry Clews, Jackson 8, Schuitz, B. Randolph Robinson, Robert B. Norney, Benjamia Tatham and others. The result of the discussion xin that hepanenen was referred to the — mittee on ‘tion, & motion to lay it on the table being lost, THE POLICE BILE. Mr. Eaton then offered tue /ollowing resolution, which was adopted :— Resolved, That this committee the pending tink Improving the administration of our Police Courts as & most finportant measure of reform ia which all honest and law-abiding citizens have reason to take an active interest. ‘The committee was adjourned. subject to the call of the Chair, ogards the passage of