The New York Herald Newspaper, January 6, 1877, Page 5

) “ i jew WASHINGTON. | A Florida Representative on the Elec- tion in That State. AN INTERVIEWER INTERVIEWED. Memorial of the Beard of Trade on the Bankrupt Law. THE EXTRADITION TREATY WITH SPAIN. + FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT Wasuixcrox, Jan, 5, 1877, THE BANERUPE LAW-—-MEMORIAL TO CONGRESS OF THE NATIONAL BOARD OF TRADE. The memorial of the National Board of Trade of the United States, preseated to the House of Representa- tives to-day by the Speaker, states that, having care- fully considered and discussed tho varied features of the existing Bankrupt laws of the United States ana the acts supplementary thereto, thoy call the attention of Congress to the following particulars and make the annexed suggestions :— First—That the law be adjusted so as to secure a more ‘speedy and inexpensive distribution of the assets ot solvent debtors among their creditors and at the tame time to afford full protection for poor but honest traders temporarily embarrassed but endeavoring to regain their financial standing. Second—That cases of compulsory bankruptcy be limited to those acts which show fraud om the part of the debtor, or attempt on his part to preter a creditor, or attempt to remove his property beyond the control of the court. Third—That the assigoment made or attachment taken under any State law ior the cqual beretit ot all weditors be invalidated, except in cases where tho iebtor had previously made some fraudulent disposi- ton of his property. Fourth—Vhut all judgment notes, bonds or otber in- struments contirming or authorizing an entry ot judg- met or other lien agaiust personal property shull be entéred of record’on the proper dockets of the county wherein the debtor resides and where he does his prin- upal business at least four months prior to the filing of any petition in bankruptcy by or against him, as sontem plated in the thirty-fifth section of said Bank- upt act; and, in default, the said devt or security erefor shall have no lien, priority, preference or pre- sedence over any other claim in bunkruptey, and that all mortgages on realty by way of preference shall take ‘fect from date of record and not {rom date ot execu- tion, betore taking precedence of the claims in bank- taptey, provided that all securities taken {tn good faith ‘or money loaned at the time be protected, if such tecurities or liens be properly entered of record within a limited time afterward. Hifth—VChat all securities or liens effected to secure a treditor shail be liable to Ye set aside within a certain period after they are entered of record instead of the time ot their date. Sizth—That all exemptions in favor of a bankrupt be made uniform thronghout the country by superseding conflicting laws of the different States covering exemp- tion in favor of insolvent debtors, ‘The memorialists also ask that stipulated salaries be made to take tho place of fees, now allowed to Regis- ‘ers in Bankruptcy. The memorial was reterred to the Committee on tho Judiciary. \. PURMAN, REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE FROM FLORIDA, ON THE ELECTION IN THAT STATE—SIGNIFICANT INTERVIEWING OF A CORRESPONDENT. Congressman Purman, republican, of Florida, who bas held his place during three terms and who returned yesterday to Washington, was reported by an evening paper to be preparing a speech on the re- ent clection in his State in which he sould denounco the action of the Returning Soard. In an interview had with him this evening he declined to say more than that he was preparing a speech, in which he should endeavor to state all the pssential facts concerning tne Florida election; but in in interview which he subsequently had with the tepresentative of tho Herat occurred the following father significant questions and answers:— Mr. Permax—Do you think that a candid repre. Yentation of the iacts in the case of Florida, if it should show that Tilden had a fnir majority of yotcs there, would bave weight in the country ? CorresronnEnt —Yes, if it came {rom impartial, dis- interested or republican authority. Mr. Pormax—Do9 you believe it would have the effect to unloose among the republicans the preponderance of conviction and prejudice in favor of Mr, Hayes ? Corresvospext—There are republicans in the Senate ind the House who are willing to swear that they are yuprejudiced, and you see what the merchants ot New ork, Boston und Philadelphia say irrespective of. arty. Mr. Purman—As for the two committecs who aro re- turning from Florida, the House Committee is hkely to make a democratic report, the Senate Committee a republican report. What the country wants is to see into the facts as into a clear well. ConrxsronpENt—Have you any doubt of the election of the Tilden electors in Florida? Mr. PuRMAN (laughing)—Stop there! viewing me again, Apparently Mr. Purman, if he is not unduly beset by Hayos men, will present tho facts in the caso of Governor Tilden in Florida with all the persistency and oquence he can summon. EXTRADITION WITH SPAIN—THE TREATY NOT YET CONCLUDED—CRIMES TO BE EMBRACED IN ITS PROVISIONS. Notwithstanding the cablegram of the 5th inst. from London, it is not believed here that a treaty of extra- dition between the United States and Spain has been You are inter- signed as yet, The. best informed author. lies say that it may have deen proposed, but is not yet accepted, because it «appears from cable advices received that Mr, Cushing arrived in Madrid only on Now Year's Day, and a matter of such gravity as the troaty could not be disposed of in three or four days, especially whor it is remembered that the subject has been more or Jess under consider. jon for thirty-three years, since 1844, when Pierro Soulé was lirst sent abroad oMetaily by the Uniied $tates government, with full powers to negotiate a weaty with Senor Calderon de la Barea, Spanish Min- ster of Foreign Affairs. Minister Cushing bas the whole matter in Mis hands for negotiation on the part of the United Staies government, The most re- Hable opinion attainable here 1s that nothing has yet oeen decided, though vontidence is felt that the satitl- cation of the extradition treaty will be suecessiully ac- complished by the United States and Spain. The prin- cipal extradituble crimes which will be covered by tho treaty are:—Assassination, voluntary homicide, at- tempt to commit murder or rape, forgery, arson, em- dezzioment of the public moneys or of those belonging to societies chartered by the government, robbery on {ee public bighways or of inhabited dwellings and larceny. MK, STOUGHTON NOT A CANDIDATE. It is understood from a reliable source that Mr. Btonghton, whose name has been tavorably mentioned Jn connection with the appointment of United States District AUorney a! New York, is not a candidate for tho position and bas no aspirations tn that direction. TELEGRAMS. PRIVACY OF RESOLUTION IN THE SENATE TO COMPEL MAN- AGER TURNER, OF OREGON, TO ANSWER— DEBATE ON THE G L, QUES1ION—Mn, BARNES ALT THE BAR OF THE HOUSE—HIS EX FOR NOT ANSWERING THE CALL oF THE MORRISON COMMIT£RE—ACTION OF THE TWo nov! Wasmixetos, Jan. $, 1877. In tho Senate to-day Mr. Monxtos, of Indiana, called up the resolution submitted by the Committee on Privileges and Elections on Wednesday lest declaring Vbat William M. Turner isin duty bound, under his oath, to answer the questions propounded to him vy the comunittee in regard to the transmission of tele. graphic mersages through his office at Jacksonville, Oregon, and that he cannot excuse himself trom an- | ewerlng the same by reason of his official connection with the Western Unton Telegraph Company as the nianager of their office at Jacksonville, Oregou. REMARKS OF SENATOR KELLY, Mr. Kune, of Oregon, suid he hoped the resolution would be adopted. There was no reason why teles Kraphic communications should not be made public When justice demanaed it. It was a well known prins ciple” of law that written communications, no matter how contidential, must be produced in courts of tice when necessary to servo he ends of justice, and nothing was moro snered than fA couiidential letter vetween two ‘The wit- hess (Turner) had anquestionabl; He had disclosed something about despatches passing through his offic whole He communic: 8 wl how he should be made to tell the (Mr, Kelly) was very contident that no referring to the political events at how that anything wrong had iproper telegram had passed y) would have known some- i nothing im. 1 beet ex. tat transactions, Vituperative us ' He was ver NEW YORK HHEKALD, SATURDAY, the Governor was present and could not reply, ne (Mr. Kelly) couid not understand. The Senator ‘rom lowa was mistaken in bis tacts, mistaken in bis law, and doubly mistaken as to the auties of the Executive of a Stat Governor, so vilified yesterday, had been twice elected Governor of the Siate, and recently elected to succeed him (Mr, Kelly) in the Senate of the United States. 1n everything that became a man of honor, a man of principle, Governor Grover was the peer of the Senator from lowa, Mr. Waicut, of lowa, said it was tar from bis thoughts yesterday to abuse or vilily apy 0! - accepted the facts as he understood them, and his conclusions, If the facts stated by him we! he bad no word to take back. Mr. KeLy argued that the Governor of Oregon was Justified in his action by the decisions of the supreme Courts of Indiana and of Oregon. Mr, Wricnut said the Governor was a mere minis- terial offic nd thore was no decision which author- ized bim to decide a judicial question. Mr, KeLuy argued that the question decided by the Governor of Oregon was nota judicial one, 1s was & peubeg question, and the Governor had the right to decide it, ARGUMENT OF BENATOR BAYARD. Mr. Bayakb, of Delaware, said he was heartily in favor of all disclosures of matters pertaining to thie Oregon matter, and he was disposed to go very far in compelling she production of testimony, At the same time he believed that there was no salety for any party except under the luws of the land, He did @ in liberty divorced trom law. He believed ‘that theSenate had fu!l power to authorize the investi- gation now being made by the Committee on Privileges and Elections, but 14 must not forget that it was now making a precedent, He reviewed tne questions which the witness Turner had declined to answer, and suid most of them would be allowod ip @ court of justice, though one or two should be narrowed down and made more specific, Me then reterred to the investigation by the spectal commitice of Mississippi affairs, made a year ago, and said a wholesale production of telegraphic communi- cations was ordered by the majority of that commit. tee; but be objected to such agencral production of telegrams. In his opinion postal cards were not much more public than telegrams of to-day. Skilful tele- graph operators could be in the room where an instru- ment was located and by their car could take a mes- sage just as well as if seated at the instrument. The Senato had all the rights which a court of justice had to the production of testimony and he would aid tne committee all in his power to eniorce the aisclosure of any disbonestv in regard to the late election and any question which the law would compel a witness to answer elsewhere he would compel him to answer be- fore a commitice of the Senate. SPKECI OF MR. CONKLING. Mr, Conxuina, of New York, said it seemed to bim unfortunate that with so many empty seats the Senate should be called upon to run the boundaries of those communications which passed between citizen and cit- izen. This question in regurd to telegraphic commu- Ricalion was wuuder consideration in another form. The witness Turner, he understood, had not yet been imstructed by those for whom he acted, on account of the belief that the matter of divulging telegraphic Communications might be settled in another form He theretore thought his resolution might be d to stand until the purty called upon to testity could be advised, and in the meantime the Senators could consider the subject, There was one thing cer- tain, and that was, either tho telegraph wouid ceaso to ‘be, as it ig, @ great convenience, or thoso 2 who managed it would adopt some measure which would make it impossible, legaily and physically, for unybody to rummago tho files of cespatches. As was said of some great military commander, “Ho will burn his bridges.” The teiegraph company would burn their despatches in case Congress asserted the right to famble and handle every message Which passed between man and man. ‘Those who patronized the telegraph companies would force them to keep messages secret, He would vote with all the Senators to unmask fraud, but the Senate now was proceeding upon slippery ground, Thero were metos and bounds which should ve adhered to, ARGUMENT OF MR. MORTON. Mr. Monroy, of Indiana, suid he bolieved that this whole subject, in regard to the secrecy of telegraphic communications, was within tho power of Congress, and might be regulated by Congress. It was a subject for Congressional legis- Tation, and should be legislated upon. There was no to punish the disclosure of telegraphic commu- nications in this district ur any of the Territories of the United States, although the government daily sent messages of the most importaut character. The statutes of uregon referred to did not prevent the witness Turner from testilying. t pro- vided for the punishment of any willul disclosure of a telegraphic communication; but a telegrapher called upon to tostity in any court could not be punished under it. Thero was no doubt Congress could put a telegraphic despatch upon the same {foot- ing with a letter in the mail in regard to secrecy, and despatches should be protected to some extent, ‘A PRECEDENT, Mr. CockrEtt, (dem.) of Mo., said no Senator had been able to state that a precedent for this case had ever been before the Senate, He had, upon exami tion, found that during the impeachment of Andrew Jobngou the Senate of the United States, with the Chief Justice presiding, had summoned Charles A. Tinker and compelied him to produce certain tele- gtams which pasaed between Mr. Johnson and Mr. Parsons, of Alabama. Ho (Mr. Cockrell) was decid- edly in favor of letting the people know what tho litical parties which pretended to act for the people Baa been doing, and would therefore vote for the res- olution. The question, being on the passage of tho resolution, Tesuited:—Yeus 33, nays 3—no quorum voting. So the Senate, at fifteen minutes to three P. M., adjourned until Monday. The vote in detail was as follows :— Yeas—Mossrs, Allison, Bogy, Booth, Bontwell, Braco, Cameron of Pennsylvania, Chaffee. Clayton, Cockre: Cragin, Edmunds, Ferry, Gordon, Ingalis, Juhnston, Joue ot Florida, Kelly, Kernan, McCreery, Maxey, Mitchell, Morrill, Morton, Patterson, Price, Randolph, ‘Robert: Sherman, Spencer, Wallace, Whyte, Withers and Wright — BY. Nars—Messrs. Barnum, Burnside and Eaton—3, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Wasuincto, Jan. 5, 1877. The House proceeded to the question of the reca- gant witness, Mr. E. W. Barnes, the New Orleans man- ager of the Western Union Telegraph Company, the Sergeant-at-Arms prosenting him before the bar of the House, ADDRESS OF THE SPEAKER. The Speaker, addressing Mr. Barnes, said that it was his (the Speaker’s) duty to ask him what excuso he had to offer tor tho failure to produce betore the House committee sitting at New Orleans telegrams called for in the subpona served on him. Mr. Bares roplicd that his answer had been pro- pared in writing by bis counsel, Messrs, Lowrey and Ashton, and ho asked that it be read hy the Clerk, The Spgaker suggested that tho answer should be under oath, and Mr. Barnes replied that it was under oath, . ANSWER OF MR, BARNES, The Clerk thon proceeded to read the auswer, which isa voluminoas paper, quoting all the proccedings thus far in the matter, The witness protests that the paper designated as a subpana was not in form or sub- Stance asubpana to him or to any one clse except to Jobu ‘Thompson, the Sergeant-at-Arms, named therein; that it was in no sense an order ot the tlouse which could bea subject of obedience or disobedience to lim, and that such paper could not be righttully made the grouad of inflicting a penalty on bin. The paper then goes on to argue the inviola- bility of telegraphic despatches, citing in sup. wrt of it “Cooley's Constitutional Limitations’? i then recites the rules of the company. fordidding the communication of despatches when applied for, unless by permiasion of the executive officer of by the order of acourt, Tho witness then says that us soon as he received the paper served upon him he apprised his superintendent ol the fact and asked for instruc- tions, Another reason for his doing sv was that some time previously Lo bad received instructions from the superintendent at Mobile to send him allthe business that had fk through the New Orteans office from the 1st of November to the 6th of December, and he had done go betore he had been served with the paper of the committee. The instructions received from 118 superintendent were to decline furnishing the de- spatches called for, and that he would be reheved of all responsibility in tho mater. He declares that since the transmission of tho papers to Monile be has had no control over them, nor has he woy Knowledge whatever tbat such — mesa as were called for im the paper ever passed through the New Orleans office. He docs not believe that if any of thom remained in the office their legal possess! jn him ag a sabordinate employé, and he exp belief that if he had undertaken to rummage the offica for them und carry them away he would have been committing an actual trespass. He also pleads, he fays, that the paper served upon him is couched in such sweeping tering asto be a generel warrant com ing Within the prohibition of the constitution and at Variance with the great principles of personal iiverty Abd right established for all freemen of the Auglo- Saxon race; wso that the Legisiature of Louisina makes the disclosure of telegraphic despatches a mis- demeanor, leclares that he did not contemplate any contempt of authority or privileges of the House, and had oniy sought to do bis duty as he understood it, The messages of the office were in possession of tho company and net of himself, except as a clerk. He, therefore, asks to be discharged from oustocy and permitted to return to,his home, ‘The reading of the paper being concluded, Mr. Kyorr, of ucky, offered a resolution that the report of the committee, the answer just read and all other pupers relating to the alleged breach of contempt be relerret to the Judiciary Committee, with imstrac- tions to report as early as pructicaule what action should be taken in relation thereto, fhe resolution was adopted, aud the Sergeant-at-Arms was directed to retain Mr, Barnes in custody. The House adjourned ull to-morrow, a motion by Mr. Knott, of Keotucky, to adjourn over till Monday imving only been lost by the absence of a quorum youn g : WHAT MR, ORTON SAYS. It having been stated that Mr. William Orton, Presi- dent of the Western Union Telegraph Company, bad been declared in contempt by the House of Represent Atives for not obeying a summons from a Congress. jonal committee to appear before it at New Orleans, a representative of tho Henan called npon bim to ascertain his views on the subject. Mr. Orton ace knowlege that tho statement of being declared in contempt Was true, but as regards giving his views ou this subject be would rather say nothing, a# any statement that be might make would be deemed in bad taste, Ho says, however, that the committee suator from Lowa (Mr, Wight) Governor of Oregon, Why thas to assault the Governor of rantt ma yesterday senator by the upon thy tok occasion fn Oregon On the floor of the Senate, when he know that | had no right to summon bin to New Orleans with the despatches of the company, and if be had gone ho could say nothing on the subject ander investigation, A WASHINGTON SCANDAL. Developments Growing Out of the War on Gamblers, AN INFAMOUS CONSPIRACY EXPOSED, How the Force of the Naval Investiga- tion Was To Be Destroyed. + — NR. WHITTHORNE’S CHARACTER TO BE RUINED Why the Board of Police Commissioners Were Requested to Resign, THE STATEMENTS OF THE DETECTIVES. —_——--—__—_ [BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.1 Wasuixetox, Jan, 5, 1877, An infamous scandal will be brought Lo light shortly by Congressional investigation. The resolution Prompting this investigation wil! be offered in the House to-morrow or as soon thereafter as its mover can get the opportunity, The resolution will simply ask for a general inquiry as to whether any member of the Board of Police Commissioners of the District of Columbia has attempted to use his position to interfere with investigations authorized by Congr or for any other improper pur- pose, This will be referrea to the Commit. tec on the District of Columbia, of which Mr. Buckner, of Missouri, 1s chairman, and under the prompting of this plain and modest instrnc- tion, it is alleged that » scandalous and nefarious conspiracy will be disclosed as the result of the committee’s inquiry. In order that the facts of the matter may be more clearly understood 1t is neces- sary to go back a few weeks in the domestic mat- ters of the city of Washington to a time when the National Republican newspaper, which 1s popu- larly known throughout the country as the “Kitchen organ’ of the administretion, began a war upon the gamblers of Washington. It charged that a largo number of gambling places were open day and night nm this city in deflance of law and that there was a corrupt collusion between the proprietors of these cstablish- ments and the police authorities. The charges wero so direct and specific against Major Richards, the Supor- intendent of Police, that that official demanded an investigation at the hands of tho Board of Police, the Prosident of which, William J. Murtagh, is likewise oditor and __ proprietor of the paper in question. The invostigation which has been going on for some days past came toa sudden close on Tuesday last. A number of gamblers and others had been examined, and nothing appeared mm the evidence that was taken to implicate the Super- intendent of Police or to substantiate the charges that he had been in the receipt of money from the gam- blers as had been charged. ACTION OF THE BOARD, A private segsion of the Board of Police Commis- sioners was then held, and it was ruled by tho Board that the president of the body, Murtagh, should pre- fer charges in person against Richards. ‘The vote in tho Board on this proposition is said to havo been four to one, Murtagh voting in the nogative. REASONS FOR THR WAR ON GAMBLERS. Various theories bave been afloat hero as to the meaning or inspiration of the attack upon the.gam- blers, Richards and the detective corps, for it was through the detectives that it was charged Richards operated. One theory was that Murtagh, for personal or other roasons, wished to get rid of Richards and place a friend of bis own in his position, Anothor was that Richards had not been, during the Congres- sional investigations of last winter and since, as subservient a tool of tho administration as it was expected he should havo been, Still another theory was that Jiurtagh merely wanted to make a sensation and had seized upon the gamblers and the police as affording the best opportunity to bring bis journal into local notoriety. However all this may be, as tho result ot the proceeding there bas beon developed the con- spiracy and scandal referred to, and which drags in, in- nocently but not the loss unhappily, tho name ot the Secretary of the Navy and possibly others in official life and out of it,” THR CONSPIRACY, Until to-day this whole police quarrel promised to be nothing more than a local wrangle and might have escaped wider interest had not Colonel William A. Cook, the attorney of the Board of Police and counsel for the accused Richards, thrown down the gauntlet to Murtagh in a card published to-night, in which ho says CARD OF COUNSELLOR cock. In the further [ee opehadg of the inquiry before the Board of Police I propose to furnish evideneo of the motives which have apparently produced th on Major Richards and character; nor shall contine my exposures of your acts and perposes {8 the peuding investigation, You and your associates shall have tuli opportunity to respond to accusations before Congress aud in the athack the uspersions of my courts, The public shail be wade acquainted with the bare efforts employed by you and others, constituting a vile conspiracy to proatitute and use Major Richard: detective force to destroy or im} nd members of the ir a Congressional investigasion and to injure Hon W,. Whitt. borne. Otber matters equally —_disnonorable and nefarious shall be uncovered, The an- bouncement of my purpose 18 not imionded in tho least to protect gamblers or any violators of the law, | nor to influence you in any respect, With mo for- bearance has ceased to bo a virtue, I havo no favors to ask oF accept, Here was a threat to reveal something of greater importance than an intrigue or jealousy among police officials, and as Colonel Cook was evidently fully pos- sessed of the secret ho was waited upon by @ HxraLo Tepresentative, to whom he mado the following state- ment:— THK CARD EXPLAINED, The matter referred to in my card, a fact capable of the clearest prool, ig this:—During the pendency tast winter of tho investigation by the Naval Committee of the House, of which Mr. W. ©. Whitthorno is chairman, Mr. Murtagh called on Major Richards and others, including Messrs, McDevitt and Miller of tho detective force, and said to them, in substance, that the force of the expected ro- | port from tho Naval Committee must — be broken dawn and that he wished them to | aid in doing so and to have Mr, Whitthorno watched, 1{ not porhaps enticed into omg house of tll fame, or placed in some similar scandalous predica- ment and, while in such place or relation, $0 havo a ratd made by the police on the house and to have him arrosted and taken to a police court, the degradation of which arrest would destroy the efiect of his investigation, It was the intention not to proceed to this extrem:ty if, by holding over his head the tact of | bis arrest, he couid be kept from making areport, It is likely that means were furnished or offered to carry out this design, but Major Richards and the detectives, while for prudential reasons they appeared to enter- tain the proposition of Mr. Murtagh, determined they would not engage in any scheme with a purpose so nefarious, TIRED OF DELAY. Tired, at tength, of their aclay, he complained of their inefliciene ;, saying that there was no longer aly energy in them or value in their service, aud that it would be necessary to get some outsider to carry out the plan, This refusal on their part constituted the reason for his recent attack upon us all, for, in the capacity of attorney to the Buard, 1 was advised of the proposition made them, and I counselled them not to aceede to it, I am_ satisfied that Murtagh was not acting alone in the conspiracy. There is noevidence whatever that ho Was acting at the suggestion of the Secretary of the Navy. The presumpuon is that he was bidding for in- fiuence in high places,” Corresvoxpent—“Why did the Presideut ask the Board to resiga?”’ Colonel Coox—He looked upon their proceedings ax disreputable and improper iu allowing outside and itregular — testimony, slandoting bimseit enter into an investigation whose object was Major Richards and no one clee The President knew nothing of this Whitthorne to inasmuch as he knew nothing of the adair. | matter until the two detectives, McDovitt and Muller, went to him to-day and told him the whole story. The facts of the case are exactly as I have narrated them, and they will be proved. The penalty for conspiracy is incarceration in jail, When the House Committee bas investigated the charge its proceedings will, in due course, take their way to the Grand Jury, and that body will, if it sees ft, find an indictment and tno charge will come up for trial in the Criminal Court, STORY OF THE DETECTIVES. The story which the two detectives tell, and which was laid before the President to-day, | {sas follows:—They y that for the last five or six years, while Murtagh has been the head of the Police Board, he has always endeavored, in every way possible, to use the police | force as an engine to advance bis own interests and that of his paper, One of the mos of bis peculiar operations in this line was last spring and summer, when the nava! investigation was under way in the House of Representa- tives, Mr, Whitthorno was the chairman of the committee in question, which was endeavoring to un- earth the alleged frauds and trrogularities in the avy Department, Shortly after the investigation started Murtagh and tho detectives went to the Superintendent of Police, Major Richards, and said to him that {t was very important that Whitthorne should be broken down in some way, He suggested that detectives shouid be set to watch Mr. Whitthorne, that he should be enticed either into a gambling saloon or to an and when there that the house should be raided and Witthorne arrested, when, of course, an ex- posure would follow. Major Richards, the de- tectives say, promised Murtagh that he would aid him in the matter, He called two of his de- tectives,. McDevitt and Miller, and told them what Murtagh required them to do, One of them (Miller) declared that he would not be a party to any affiir of the kind, and declined to act. Major Richards thereupon ot to the two officers that he did not wish them todo thing of the kind, only that when they saw Murtagh and he asked them about the matter, they would tell him that they were engaged in carrying out his in- structions. Upon these conditions the two detectives agreed to do as they were requested by their superior oilicer. Murtagh camo to see either them or the Superin- tendent o: Police nearly every day to Inquire how the matter was getting along. They fooled him with one story or another, when Ginally he became impatient; said they were no use as detectives, and that be was a far better detective than any oneof them, They assert that he offered them money to obtain the services of a woman, and said they would have all the money they wanted for the purpose. Still the detectives failed to act, This is fhe story of the detectives as it was laid before the President this afternoon, ‘i MR, WHITTHORNK’S STATEMENT. Representative Whitthorne, of Tennessee, chairman of the House Committee of Naval Affairs, waa inter- viowed this evening in regard to the matter, Ho said at first that he did not know anything or havo anything to say about revelations which had been mado to him, touching a conspiracy, as he was in- formed, against his character. During the last session, whilo ho was investigating the navy yards hero and in Philadelphia, one of his colleagues, Mr. Atkins, sent for him, stating that he had something important to communicate, Responding to this he was informed that a leading republican member ot Congress had written to Mr. Atkins privately that detectives had been sot to wateh him, and that private papers belong ing to him had been examined and rummaged over upon the tablo in tis room, for tho purpose ot ob- taining a knowledgo of ‘heir purport; who wore the witnessos to be brought forward to prove certain charges, and how far thoy wero gomg to be ‘effective in criminating the Secretary of the Navy and others connected.with the Navy Department affairs. Subsequently Wr. Whit- thorno says, on examination ho found gome of tho papers that had been briefed and bandied up by him in the Washington Navy Yard investigation were missing. Ho did not at first pay attention to it covered upon closely observing the surroundings of his dwelling place that he was under the esplon- age of certain parties who wero set, as he believes from what has since occurred, to hold watch over bitn, seo who went in and out of his place, so as to agcertam, 8 ho thought, from whom he obtained information for’ tho official ine quiries he was pushing. Ho thought nothing ot this, bot resolved only the moro thoroughly and de- terminodly to press his investigations, Later on the conspiracy dawned upon him, and tho plan appears to have been this:— PLAN OF THK CONSPIRATORS, According to Mr. Whitthorne’s account Mr, Murtagh, who is known as the personal friend of Secretary Robeson, of the navy, and ts also Presidont of tho Board of Metropolitan Police, as before stated, in his acity as such was to put detectives on track of Representative Whitthorne. fo was to be inveigled into a — gambling saloon or housq of questionable reputo, after having been well @liod with liquor, and then’ at tho the proper time, upon the giving of ao signal, ir. Whitthorne was to be arrested, and tho thing was to be given publicity ‘in such a way as to cripple him in the investigations he was making, Ho was so extremely cautious in all ho did that this plan did not work, and then the Dlandishments of the fairer sex were tried, Without a shadow of foundation for tt a story was gotten up and quictly circulated that Mr, Whit- thorne had been finally captured and had tal: into the snares set for him while in Philade’ phia with his committee, pursuing thelr duties. A member of the committee discovered this, and Mr, Whitthorne was placed on his guard by a knowledge of tho fabrication which was being insinuated against him. Everything whieh trauspired in Philadelphia 18 fortunately well known by all tho members ot the committee with him, 0 that besides working daily until lato at night, and the location of all the sleeping apartments of the committee, it was impossible that he should be away at any time without their knowledge. This does not give Mr. Whitthorne any concern what- ever, but he iecls very much provoked at what he considers the dastardiy and cowardly attempt made upon his reputation to destroy his efficiency in developing the illegal if not dishonest practices which have, he says, for some time past ®btained in the conduct of affairs connected with the Navy De- partment, THE GREAT. MINK CONFLAGRATION, A SUBTERRANEAN OCEAN OF FIRE IN LYKENS VALLEY—IMMENSE DESTRUCTION OF Pror- ERTY—UNAVAILING EFFORTS TO CHECK THE PROGRESS OF THE FLAMES, (BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD. | LyKexs, Pa., Jan. 5, 1877, The Short Mountain and Lykens Valley Mines, which produco {rom 150,000 to 200,000 tons of coal a year, have beon on fire since Monday afternoon, and the Lykens Valloy Coal Company, which operates tho collieries, has already suffered a loss of several hun- dred thousand dollars, which promises to be largely augmented, Several men who have been driven from the mines by the fire aro engaged day and night in efforts to stop the work of destruction, but the diff. culty of reaching it bas rendered their labor only par- tially sneceesiul, The first tour days they made no impression on the fire, but appearances to-day indicate that their work 1s having @ beueficial effect, PEARS OF STILL GREATER LOssKs, Tho temporary chock bas not relieved the people hero of the fear that ail collieries in this county may ve visited by the fire, They are conuected by subter- Tencan passages, and should an unfavorable draft en- sue they would ail be in dangor of destruction, Tha principal efforts of the miners are directed toward placing obstructions to the sweep of the firo where the Big Lick and Williamstown coliteries are located, Three and five miles above this town about thirty miners are constantly stationed in the Lykens Valley slope to properly bandle tne hose through whien water 18 being conducted, The smoke is so dense in the locality that they are occasionally YROSTRATED HY ITS KPFECTS, and are drawn in cars to the surface, to be relieved by others, The courses of two small streams have been diverted from their original channels, er con ducted into the burning mines. Several ines of wooden troughs carry the water lo points where it 18 supposed to be most needed, AL the mouth of each mine is a large slope house, into which cars loaded with coal aro ordinarily hoisted, These structures have been dis- connected with the slopes to save them from destrac- tion, A similar precaution would have prevented the burning of a large engine house and the infliction of ureat damage to the machinery, which cost about $. 0,000, O88 OF MULYR Between eighty and ninety mules in the barning supposed to have been suffocated, ail way of ng been cut off by the tire, That no human Lives have been lost is in a great meusure attributed to the fact that the fire occurred op a holiday, when the ines were almost entirely deserted. There is a diller- ence of opinion as to how the fire originated. Ono theory 14 that a spark from winer’s p started it, while another that the heat from one of the pumping engines in the mine was responsible, The fire spread with reinarkable rapidity, ascending to the top of the Short Mountain slope, nearly 600 yards trom the supposed point of origin, in six or seven hours. In addition to the large quantity of coal and timber consumed much damage must necessarily have been dove to the ma chinery in the mines, both by fire ana wate; WORK SUSPENDZD FOR THR WINTER, Should the fire be brought ander control, which is by no means certain, it would be impossible to ropair the damage and resume mining operations durmg the winter, About #00 men were employed in the mines, ‘There ure fouraothracite mines in Dauphin county which employ between 2,500 and ! The Wiiliams- tuwn colliery, tive miles abc 00, 18 the largest in the world, and prodaced al 240,000 tons last year, and the year before 301,000, total shipments Irom the tour mises last year were 490,000 tons, a de- ompared with the previous year, when the mies were kept in stoady operation, The Dusiness of the coal regions amounts to $1,500,000 to $2,000,000 annually, In this town from $36,000 to $40, 000 are paid to miners monthiy, JANUARY 6, 1877, gnal cance; but dis- |, THE WEATHER, MIDNIGHT REPORT. Wan Duranreryt, Orvic ov THs Cuter SiGNal OFFICER, ! Wasutsotox, Jan, 6—1 A. M Indications. In the South Atlantic States falling barometer, cast to north winds, generally warmer, threatening and rainy weather will prevail. In the East Gulf States, warmer, rainy weather, | easterly winds, backing to northwesterly, and falling, | followed by rising barometer and clearing weather. In the West Gulf States, rising barometer, colder northwesterly winds and clear or clearing weather, with a ight norther in Texas ‘ In the Onto Valley and Tenpessee falling and sta- | tlonary barometer, winds mostly from northeast to | southeast, and generally warmer, cloudy weather, and, | especially in the latter, rain areas, 7 | In the Upper Mississippi and Lower Missouri valleys | rising, possibly followed by falling barometer, winds | mostly from northeast to southcust, near!y stationary | temporaturo, generally cloudy weather and occaston- ) ally light rains or snow, hi | Ip the upper lake region, rising barometer, southerly | winds, shifting to colder northerly, with generally | Cloudy weather and light snows. | In tho lower lake region, falling or stationary ba- | rometer, southerly to easterly winds, slightly warmer, | partly cloudy weather, and possibly occasional snow. | In tho Middlo States falling barometer, southeast to | northeast winds, rising temperature, Increasing cloudt- | ness, and, along the coast, rain, turning into snow to the northern portion, In New England, rising followed by falling barom- eter, wosterly winds shifting to southerly or easterly, and warmer, clear or partly cloudy weather, THE WEATHER YESTERDAY. The following record will show the changes in tife tomperature for the past twenty-four hours, in com- parison with the corresponaing date ol last year, as indicated by the thermometer at Hudnut’s pharmacy, Hxnatp Bullding:— : 1876, 1877. al 1876, 1877. Y 1 1 wh 12 9 21 15 qs 19 Average temperature yesterday 2 1735 Average temperature for corresponding date last year... 3255 THE WEATHER OF 1876, Tho following is a meteorological synopsis for New York during 1876, as compiled from the records of the local station of tho Signal Service department :— PRESSURE, Tho mean barometer during the year of 1876 is found to be 80,024. The nighest pressure occurred on February 5, when the barometer recorded 30,986. The lowest ba- rometer during the year occurred February 16, when isreud 28,855, The high and lowest barometer, it will be observed, occurrea in the same month and with ten days o! each other. A range of barometer o! 80 Jarge an extent (2.131 inches) 1s seldom recorded io this latitude, TEMPRRATURE. Tho range of temperature during the past year has been 101 degrees, the coldest day being December 10, when tie mercury read 2 degrees below zero, and tho hottest 99 degrees above, July 9 The average differ- ence between the maximum and minimum tempera ture in tho geveral months is sinall, and recorded 64 degrees in March and 35 in August. The mean tem- perature for the year, 51 degrees, is but soven-tenths of a degreo less than the mean given for New York, covering over 100 years’ observations. Compared with i875 the mean temperature of 1876 hown to have been 2.1 degrees warmor, TABLE OF MEAN TRMPERATURE—L871 TO 1 igs! S| S35 tLsT Months, January. Feoruary 41.6]42.9]46.1 58.6) 68.5158 4 70.4168.0|70.8 9/72.6/77 7 3913/40. j30.3)27. pis of st a 51. 7]51.4]50.6) MOISTURE OF THE AIR. The relative humidity of tho atmosphere during the yoar shows a mean of 65.8 per cent, zero representing dryness and 100 saturation, and is over 3 per cent less than during the year 1875. WIND. The mean direction of the wind during the year was from northwest, and the total number of miles travelled 93,235, of which 25,870 were recorded between noon and six P. M., 23,069 (rom six P, M, to midnight, from midnight to six A. M., aud 23,142 trom six A. to noon, Average velocity during tho year was 10.6 mites per hour, The average velocity during 1875 was 9.8 miles, ‘Tho bighest wind recorded during the year was 72 miles, March 29. ‘The highest number of mites travelled in any twen- ty-four hours was 773, « The lowest number recorded was 39, STORMS. During 1876 signals were displayed in New York 50 tines, of which number 29 were justified and 21 not tiled. Except in ono instance no storm occurred previous to the display. ‘These big or dangerous winds, having a velocity of over twonty-ive miles au hour, occurred 3 times in January, 2 in February, 6 in March, 4 in April, May, 11m July, 21m Septemter, 2 in October, 3th vember aud 4 in December, RAINFALL. |1S7L. |1872, [1873 [1874 )1875. | Months. 5.06) 4.69 L132 183} 1 3.05) 25, i atsol 1.44] 6.84) 3.93) B4L 286 TOL Fs 41 24y) 2.58] 10.42) 7.16) 2.51 3.13) 4A 278 Octover 7 seen se HOI Total....... 40. 16]40.65]45.09]4 E STATR OF THE WEATURR, 6 i aii 1 i } Days Upon Clear | Fair | Cloudy || Which Kain Months. | pays. | Days. | Days. || or Snow Fell, January 9 ny 1 1 0 8 ret 16 4 1s 9 M i Is 5 10 9 13 " a 5 uv x} 12 6 18 1 1s 9 6 6 6 September « 3 17 October .. iL 10 November. ’ Wo December 6 3 Total 80 153) 127 Ma “Twain or snow fell on 142 days during the year of 1 MOVEMENTS OF TROOPS. THE PEACE PRESERVERS ORDERED TO INDI- ANA—THE SOLDIERS GLAD TO GET AWAY— CHEERS FROM THE CITIZE (B¥ TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.) AtuaNta, Ga, Jan, 5, 1877, Two companies of the Second regiment of the United States troops left Atlanta this evening for Jefferson. ville, Ind , leaving only a part of one company in charge of the barracks hore. RETICKNCE OF THE OFVICERS, Nothing can be gleaned at headquarters concerning this unexpecied movement, The officers of the com- pany aro unnsually revicent, and Captain Egbert, who 18 in command, will say ing. privates talk frecly, and express themseives as heartily glad to get out of tuis sectio rom them 1 learn that two companies of the Sixteenth regiment, now in Alabama, have been ordered to Jetlersonvilic, and will meet the two companies now leaving bere at that point. The compavy under Captain Mills at Tallabas- | see, Fla., will be ordered back to this point within the next day or two. COURTRSIES FROM TH A large crowd of citizens coll the aiers off, aud they lett amid cheers Consider. able curiosity {# expressed aa to how the Hoosiers will receive their bine coated guests, The men and officers have mage many friends here, CITIZENS. ted at the depot to see THE REMOVAL OF ORDNANCE STORES FROM JEYFERSON BARRACKS EXPLAINED, Wasuixoton, Jan, 6, 1877, For several years past tho Chief of Ordnance has Tecommended that there be only three principal arseuals—nainely, one each at Rock Island, Beniciaand ono on the Atlantic const, and that some of the present arsenals bo retained for storage purposes and the others sold, Lu pursuance ot this policy removals of ordnance and ordnance stores frequently takes place, Lhe last in stance being trut Jeflorson Barracks to the Rock Isiand Arsenal, in this there is nothing whatever political, as many have supposed, the removals being Made merely as it matter of business, There are now from 600 to 600 barrels of gunpowder at the St. Louis Magazine, es AMUSEMENTS, i PHILHARMONIC REHEARSAL, The second public rehearsal of the New York Phil- harmonic Society took place atthe Academy of Musie yesterday afterneon, The programme consisted: of Mozart's G minor symphony, two selections from “Ruins of Athens,” a soprano solo, by Berlioz, sung by Mrs. Emily Sutman, and the “Country Wedding,” a symphony by Gold. mark, The last mentioned work was the most inter- esting, ag being s complete novelty. The genius of the composer of “Sakuntala’’ appears in a very genial form in this later work. Purista may fod fait with certain ansymphonic qualities tn the ‘Country Wed. ding ;"” but ail must concede to it melodies of the most altraetive kind and a masterly treatment of the ore chestra, introducing very remarkable instrumental cle fects, which, however, have no affinity with the Liszt Wagner sciiool, The programme jor the concert which takes place on this night week comprises Guidmark’s new syimphon: “Tempest”? (chorus and orchestra), Haydn, the “Ruins of Athens?’ (complete), Beeth: septuor and chorus from the opera of 41 ' Berlioz, choral fantasia (piano, soli, chor Beethoven, and a soprano solo, Oratorio Society will take part in the choruses, MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC NOTES, 's oratorio, “Paradise Lost,” has beer given a: 0 ‘The third symphony concert of Theodore Thomas takes place to-night, The last matinéo of “fhe American” will be gives to-day at the Filth Avenue Theatro, Sarasate, tho violinist, has been decorated by the Grand Duke of Mecklonbvurg-Sebwerin, Mr. and Mrs, Florence have had a brilliant saccess with the “Mighty Dollar’? in San Francisco, Aptommas, the harpist, created a marked sensation at Tremont Templo, Boston, on Wednesday last, “Miss Malton’? will be given at the Union Square Theatre this afternoon and in the evening “Led Astray.” Polo games and trotting, chariot ard mustan; hurdie races are some of the features at Gilmore's Garden this evening, Mr. Tovy Pasior’s company on New Yoar’s presented him with a handsome medai of the Order ot Elks, studded with diamonds, The latest accounts from Moscow speak of the preparations being made for the performance of Vordi's Manzoni requiem there. “Wakula, the Smith,’ Tschaikowsky’s new opera, was performed last month at St, Petorsburg for the first time, It received but partial applause, This afternoon and evening at Wallack’s Theatre “The Shaughraan” will be performed for the last times and ‘Forbidden Fruit”? will be reproduced Monday night, Miss May Nunoz has made Laura, in Mr. Daly's “Under tho Gaslight,” now betng performed at the Grand Opera House, ono of the most attractive charac- ters of the play. Mr. Edwin Booth will appoar this afternoon at th Lyceum as Benedick, in ‘Much Ado About Nothing, for the first time this season. Tho cast will include Mr, J. H. MeVicker as Dogberry. Mr. Boscovitz, the eminent pianist, played the Grigg concerto last night in Baltimore, Asger Hamo- rick leading the orchestra. The piantat received the most flattering applause, The Brooklya Philharmonic Society yesterday re- hearsed Hoffman’s new symphony, andante cantabile, opus 97 of Beothoven and tho ‘Francs Juges” over. ture, Berlioz. Miss Thursby will sing at the concert, HOTEL ARRIVALS, Congressman Scott Lord, of Utica, and Fermin Ro- sillo, of the Spanish Centennial Commission, aro at the Now York Hotel, General John N. Knapp, of Auburn, N. Y., and Congressman Benjamin A, Wills are at the Windsor Hotel, Francis B, Hayes, of Boston, is at the Westminster Hotel. Judge Harvey Jewell, of Boston, and Smith M. Weed, of Plattsburg, N. Y., are at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, J. Nabuco, of the Brazilian Le- gation at Washington, is at tho Buckingham Hotél William Smyth, saperintendent of the New York In- surance Department, is at the St. Nicholas Hotel; ex- Congressman E. C, Ingersoll, of Ilinols, is at the Astor House, THE WEEKLY HERALD, ONE DOLLAR PER YEAR, THE CHEAPEST AND BEST NEWSPAPER IN THE COUNTRY—NOW READY. The Wrexty Heravp for this week contains tele. graphic news from all parts of the world; Details of the Dreadful Calamity on tho Lake Shore Road at Ash- tabula, Obio; Wreck of the Ship Circassian; Terrible Suflerings on a Floating Wreck; the Political Situa tion in the South; Inauguration of Governor Robin. son; Woodward Discharged; the Legisiative Can- vasses; @ Talo of the Adirondacks; a Murdcrer’s Vision; Personating the Saviour; the Snow Storm, and a thrilling story, entitled “On the Verge of Death.” It also contains editorial articles on the prominent topics of the day; Amusements, Personal Intelligence, Religious, Art, Literary and Sea Notes; Roviews of tie Horse, Cattle and Dry Goods Mar. kets; Financial and Commercial Reports; Agricale tural and Sporting Matters, and items on the most important events of the week, Tenus—One dollar per year; single copies, three conta An extra copy will be sent to evory club of ten or more, hie PIPER HEIDSIBCK, For sali everywhere. 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