Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-02-07
WAsH1uaroN NEWS AND aossIp.

:
ship bill reported yesterday from the House
Committee on Post Offices and Post Roads, is
one of the most important measures 90 far ini-
slated ut the present session of Congress. In
few words, it proposes to give the notice for
the termination of the extra compensation to
the Collins line, required in the law under
which that compensation is paid to them
Secondly; to terminate the contract of the
Collins line, by taking their ships at valua-
ton, which the Government is authorized to
DO at will under clause of the contract under
which they carry the mails of the United
States. Thirdly to terminate the contracts
for the transportation of the California mails
existing with Law and Co., and Aspinwall 4
Co., by taking such of their steamships as
| as have been q accepted by the United States
under the clause of their respective contracts
providing that they may be thus abrogated at
the pleasure OF the Government of the United
States. And, fourthly, to let out these three
contracts to the parties who will do the service
at the lowest price and in the shortest time.
This bill was decided to be reported in the
Post Office Committee unanimously, nearly all
the members thereof being present We are
satisfied that it already meets the appreciation
of considerable majority of the House, who
are most anxious to bring the Ocean Mail
Steamer contracts of the Government under
the rules and regulations one and all, which
govern the domestic mail system of the United
States. This is no sudden and immature
movement The bill was prepared and re-
| ported, we have every reason to believe only
after due consultation with gentlemen in Con-
gress from all quarters of the country and of
all parties. Noses have been counted, and it
is known that the bill is favored by consid-
cradle majority of the House We have no
| space to-day in which to discuss this measure
in detail; and, therefore, merely thus emu
merate its peculiar features, and state its pros-
poets from present appearances
The Senate's Contingent Fund.-The Senate
have finally abandoned the idea of having
their use Of their contingent fund absolved
from the scrutiny of the accounting officers
of the Treasury department. who are re-
quired to audit and control all other expendi-
lures whatever, on behalf of the Government of
the United States. They have acquiesced in
the action of the House so amending their con
tingent fund bill. We are exceedingly graft
fed at being able to make this announcement;
inasmuch, as to make their bill law, without
so amending it, would have been to make il
set an example fraught with future wide spread
want of due responsibility on the part of those
charged with the duty of disbursing public
money. We congratulate the country on the
promptness with which majority of the SEN
ate have consented to its change in this par
ticular, on realizing the dangerous principle
involved in the bill as originally passed by
that body. -
Prince John and Ex-senator Jere. Clemens
Public curiosity is wide awake to read a cor
respondence opened by Prince John Van
| Buren,, with Col. Jerc. Clemens, Ex- Senator
from Alabama, in relation to the Nebraska
and Kansas bill. 1t is said to be rich speci-
men of diplomatic, political and literary skill
and taste, with due admi xture of patriotism
and Bunkum Prince J. is said to let of
against this bill, intimating that the Presi
| dent is neither wiser nor better thanhe should
be. He is also said to compliment General
Cass, and to appeal to him and Col Clemens
to throw oil on the troubled waters and calm
the terrible agitation and direful consequence:
to result from the enactment of this bill. O
course Senator Douglas gets slap. AS for the
South, we hear, the Prince says, a victory il
| lo Go, a.
as it will leave poisonous sting ranking il
the breasts of the northern Free Soil Democ
racy. He also reswears his unalterable devo
ton to the Baltimore Platform.
In Col. Clemens reply, he is said to take oc
casion to reiterate his hostility to the doctrine
Princes vanity by two or three fine compli
ments, and expresses his unison with him il
feeling against all agitation.
Prince John adorns his epistle with an elo
quent dissertation upon the distinction betwee,
a course dictated by principle, and one influ
enced by pique.
Let's have the letters, by all means
Extra Allowance to Army Officers unde
Certain Circumstances-It is held at the De
partments that officers of the Army, who ar
ordered to'take charge of men to attend ciyi
courts as witnesses, in virtue of subp9nas O.
orders from their superior officers, are entitled
to an allowance for transportation; the men i,
this case not being considered a detachment i,
the military sense of the term, for which trans
portation should be furnished by the quarter
masters department on the requisidon of tn
officer, as prescribed by the regulations of tn
Army.
The United States Courts in New Yorl
City.-We have eason to believe that negotia
tons are now in progress for renting ION tn
part of the Government the Columbia ColIeg
and Grammar School buildings in the city
which lay one square from Broadway, opposit
Park place, and between Barclay, Murray an
Church streets and College place. The Colleg
and Grammar School buildings, the latte
being ire-proof, are said to be sufficient for tn
proper accommodation of the three Unite
States Courts hold in the city, the headquarter
! of the COmmander-in-C Chief of the Unite
States, and the Quartermaster's, Paynaster'
and Navy Agents Offices also; IS we'll as t
furnish proper apartments for an United State
prison, which is very much needed there, in
deed. At present, any one held in custody Q
| the United States Marshal for the Souther