Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-05-28
xxxvIth coNsHEsa-rIRsY SESSION.
Proceedings Of Yesterday Afternssn.

In The SENATE, on Saturday, after we went TO
press, on motion Of Mr.. Slidell the Houmas land
grant bill was made the special order for to-mof-
row Tuesday at - O'Clock. - 4.
The Postmaster General in his communication
in regard to the New York Post Once defalca-
ton, says that the first intlmation be had of the
defalcatiOn was on the morning Of the 10th Of
May, 1900 on which day Mr.. Fowler was re-
moved by the Presi dent aud that he has no reason
to believe that any knowledge of the defaloation
existed before that day. That in the month of
April, while absent from Washington, tele-
graphic dispatch had appeared alleging that
there was deficit in the accounts of the Post
master at New York, and the First Assistant, then
acting as Postmaster General, informed him that
his apprehensions were awakened, but that Mr..
Fowler had come TO Washington and his accounts
were balanced In the Auditors office up to 3lst Of
December, 1o59, which had quieted all fears
That the defalcation since discovered could not
be detected and verified until the accounts for the
quarter ending Dist Of March, 1860, had been
credited, which was not completed until the 18th
Of May, 1860, and that the Sixth Auditor has
faithfully performed the duty under the law.
The main changes made by amendment in the
Patent bill reported by MIR. Bigler, before it
passed, were striking out the clause which pro-
vided there should be no appeal hereafter allowed
from the decision of the Commit ssioner of Patents
except in cases pending prior to the passage of
the act; giving the appointment of the three ex-
aminers-in-chief to the President, with the con-
sent of the Senate; amending the tenth section so
that countries that do not discriminate against
citizens Of the United States in the fees to be paid
are placed on the same footing as our own.
The Indian Appropriation bill was taken up
and passed.
The Senate then proceeded to the consideration
OF the Post Office appropriation bill, which had
been reported from the Committee on Finance
with sundry amendments. The most important
OF these was to strike out the clause directing the
Postmaster General to restore the steamer Isabel
mail service, at the rate q $50 900 a year, from
Charleston to Savannah, via Key West, until June
30, 1868, and insert substitute authorizing and
requiring the Postmaster General to advertise for
proposals and contract with the lowest responsible
bidder or bidders for the transportation of the
United states mail in STEAMSHIP ps from Charleston
:. G, by Savannah and Key West, to Havana, in
Cuba, and back, twice month, or oftener from
July /. 1860, to June 30, 1861 inclusive, at sum
not 70 exceed $50, 90 per snnum.
Mr.. Shdell proposed to amend the amendment
SO as to provide for mail service by steamers
between New Orleans and Havana; and pending
the consideration of this question, the Senate
adjourned.
The HOUSE was engaged principally in the
consideration Of private bills. Several were re-
ported from the standing committees, and thirty
one Were passed. The House adjourned at three
O'Clock.