The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1867-12-03
FROM WASHINGTON.

AshIcy,s Testimony-The Postmaster
Geuerap. Report-Congressionai
NEW YORK, December 22.-The Her
AIDS special gives the testimony of Hon.
Mr.. Ashley before the impeachment
committee concerning the Conover
troubles and alleged completely of the
President in the assassination. Ashley
undergoes a close examination and con-
fesses to having written most of the let
tiers imputed to him in publication OF
the Assistant Attorney General some
time ago. He states that he has not a
living witness to prove Mr.. Johnson's
complicity in the assassination of Lin
coin, but from certain theory in which
he religiously believes, he has no doubt
of it himself. That theory is nothing
more nor less than that il has been a
customary thing to assassinate Presi-
dents. Harrison and Taylor, both &C
cording to Ashley's idea having been
poisoned through the Vaccinations OF
ambitious Vice Presidents. Mr.. Buchan-
an, he thinks, was also poisoned, but got
over 10. ITO .EE E1 Et b gf,
The Worlds special says: 1t is I'M
derstood that the President is adverse,
in the main, to his own plan OF recon-
structicn, rs heretofore developed, de-
tails the progress of reservations as
developed so far in the South under the
military bills; announces that there
have been no negotiations for the set
Element Of the Alabama claims, and de-
votes considerable space to the national
finances. He favors, substantially, the
policy of the Secretary of the Treasury
regarding the volume of the currency.
The Times special says: The report
of the Postmaster General will show
some interesting facts regarding recent
reductions on the ocean mail services,
which Governor Randall has secured
by refusing to submit any longer to the
demands of the monopoly of the Eng
lish steamship lines. During the past
six years the department has paid for
the transportation of our mails from
$50 900 to 100000 year in gold over
its receipts TO the British government.
This amount we were compelled to
bay by an old postal treaty which ex-
pires in January next, and which the
Postmaster General has refused TO con-
tinue. The rate heretofore paid by the
Cunard line las been II cents in specie
for "a single letter. The Postmaster
General deeming the price exorbitant,
advertised for proposals to carry the
mails Owners of the Cunard line re-
fused to bid, but two other lines entered
into contract agreeing TO transport all
the foreign letter mails at fifteen cents
an ounce, making the cost per letter at
five cents; books, papers and other
printed matter at six cents per pound,
payable in currency, giving three mails
per week, Tuesdays, Thursdays and
Saturdays. This fact and that of the
positive refusal to continue the old
treaty under which the Government
was paying the British Government
S2O0,000 in gold caused considerable
discussion in the British Parliament,
AID much comment in English papers.
| The result was, the Cunard Line now
gives indications of coming to terms,
which viii rive us four mails per week
to Europe, instead of two, as heretofore,
| besides all enormous saving i'll reve-
nues to the Government.
Randall's report shows an uneXpend-
cd balance of 100000, available for the
current fiscal year, and estimates the
deficiency for 1869 ut S2,5OO,OOO.
The Banking and Currency commit
tee have not taken any important action
in regard to the currency, as reported.
The bill repeating tie cotton tax will
be reported by the Ways and Means
committee at an early day.