The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-06-07
WASHINGTON NEWS

THE Posi- OFFICE DEFALCATIoN-THE PACIFIC RAIL
RoAD-THE CovoDE observation-disclosures
NEoUs
The Postmaster General has answered the call
concerning Mr.. Fowler's defalcation, and makes
some extraordinary revelations. 1t appears that
his accounts were never legally settled during the
whole term of the present Administration but were
adjusted by fictitious SYSTEM in fragrant violation
of the letter and spirit of the law. The accounts
are settled quarterly, but three months elapse
usually before any quarter is closed up. Weekly
returns made to the Finance Bureau of the De-
partment, showing the actual deposits against
which drafts may be drawn. 1t has been the prac
tce of the Auditors office, in adjusting Mr. Fow
lers accounts, during the last three years, when
balance was found against him at the end of
quarter, instead of requiring it to be paid,
porting it to the Postmaster General, as the law
contemplates, to credit him from the current re-
turns of the ensuing quarter made to the Finance
Offce-thus enabling him tG use the receipts of one
to meet the deficiency of the other, and concealing
a defalcation throughout. He might have gone
indefinitely under this system until required to
close any one quarter and deliver over the receipts
of the next, which would have exposed the fraud.
This very action on the part of Mr.. Holt, after re-
turning here from the South, and investigating the
accounts his suspicion excited, led to
the recent disclosure 1t is alleged in the Auditors
Office in their defence, that Postmaster Gene
raj Brown directed this nefarious system to be prac
tised, but there is official evidence sustang that
serious charge.-The Select Pacific Railroad
Committee held a meeting on Tuesday evening.
After some discussion relative to amendments a
motion to amend the bill originally agreed upon by
the committee for central route, by inserting the
Southern Texas, Ell Paso and San Diego route,
carried by vote of six to five. The question
then required upon reporting the bill to the House
as amended. Upon that question arose as to
whether the friends of an extreme Northern road
could be allowed to move amendment in the
house. TO this question the Chairman, Mr.. Cur
us, responded that he should not allow any more
amendments, but would call the previous question,
fhne bnt off oil l..
settled the question of Southern road The vote
on reporting the bill to the House as amended
was then taken, and defeated by a vote of five
yeas to six nays.--Col. Aldrich, of Minnesota,
changing his vote for reasons given above. The
Committee then adjourned.--There is rumor that
Developments will shortly be made before the
Covode Committee, rejecting severely, if not GRIM
inaly, upon member of the Cabinet, growing out
of his connection with the California land claims.
The testimony of Attorney General Black, touch
ing the promises and offers made by the Admins
tratlon to Colonel Forney, as first revealed by Mr..
Nenster, OF Philadelphia, will probably result in
event another interesting chapter in this investi
CATION will be Observation-Disclosures still much mys-
terry about the time of adjournment, which the
Senate will fix. Those well informed now name
the 18th inst, with confdece The COMMITTEES ON
FINANCE nave adopted resolution recommending
tnat no more pennies shall be coined at the Mini
TINS currency having become yexatious annoy-
Tuesday morning. N-'N w
ARREST FOR CIRcUIAT1Ne INCENDIARY DOCUMENTS.
j. b. Brown, resident of this county, was ar
rested yesterday, at the Long Bridge, on a war
rant issued by Justice Noah Drummond on a
charge of circulating the Helper book and other
incendiary documents. He was brought to this
city by police officer, specially dispatched for the
purpose, assisted by citizen of the county, and
taken before Justice Price, who committed him to
Jail in default of s., 900 bail. Brown was dele
gate to the Wheeling and Chicago 'Republican''
Conventions, and voted for Fremont in 1856. He
has been suspected for some time of entertaining
sentiments inimica to the South and of circulating
incendiary documents, and when arrested had
about his person several copies of the Helper book
and other publications of similar character
andria Va.) Gazette, June 6.
Hon. Reverdy johnson, of this city, is expected
TO address the Douglas meeting in Boston tonight,