The Portland daily press., 1864-02-04
FROM WASHINGTON.


TransMissioa of Mails bessceen Nesc Fork
and Washimgfea-P of the Sem
ate Union Caucus.
WASHINGTON. Feb. g.
The Post Master General has replied to a
resolution OF the Senate asking the reason of
the frequent failures Of mails between New
York and Washington. He attributes them
to the insuiiiciency Of equipment in cars aud
engines TO meet the increased demands of
travel and transportation. There being but q
single track the number of trains has been
reduced to prevent collisions, and the speed is
lessened by the Increase OF burden. Since the
adoption Of the schedule of Nov. 23d, by
which the time was reduced TO ten hours be-
tween Washington and New York, the irregu-
larity has been greater than before, partly ow-
ing to the great increase of passengers and
the consequent delay in receiving and discharg-
ing passengers at local points. The line Is
made up OF five seperate roads, and the CON-
panes seem to regard the transportation OF
mails as secondary importance, subordinate
even to ordinary freight, and changes of the
mail train are made without the knowledge of
the department aud discriminates against the
mails in case of danger of losing connection.
1t is stated that double track is in progress
on all the roads. The road through Phiiadel-
phia is actively pushed, the bridge over the
Susquehannah is under construction, and the
united efforts of the road will secure the rem
edy much sooner than it could be obtained by
a new line. A practical placing Of these lines
under one management by concert and har-
mony OF action is suggested as q complete
remedy 1t is limited that the difficulty in
supplying the demands for labor and material
in case of the organization of new company
and the consequent relaxing Of eferts BY
the present line would aggravate the difficulty.
No legislation is recommended unless it be
such as would give the department power to
control the action of companies carrying the
mails, and in the matter of changes without
reference to mail connections.
The amendments reported by Senator Trum-
bull to-day to the law forbidding members of
Congress from acting as agents for the prose-
cution OF claims, proposes to repeal the pro-
vision which precludes them from acting as
counsel or agent in any event or before any
commission. Heads Of Departments and
Chiefs OF Bureaus, Clerks and other officers
of the government are prohibited from accept
ing pay for services in connection with claims,
contracts, accusations or arrests before any
department or military or naval commission.
The fine on conviction is limited to $4,000
and two years imprisonment at the discretion
| OF the court trying the same.
The Senate to-day in executive session con-
iirmed the following appointments: w. H. II.
Waters as Receiver Of public monies at Ne
braska City; Alex. McCready, Receiver of
| public monies at Dacotah City; John w.
Boyle, do. at Vermilion; d. T. Ralph, S. Dorr,
| do. at San Francisco.
In accordance with a call for q caucus Of
Union members of the House, a meeting took
place TO night. Representative Morrill, occu-
pied the Chair. About sixty members were
| present. The object was to consult and har-
monte views on the measures pending, in
| GLIDING the enrolment bill. A disposition
was manifested TO transact public business
with all practical expedition.