New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-01-08
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
THE STATIONERY CONTRACT OF TnE INTERIOR DLPART


Mr. Ella (Rep., n. H., on leave, offered q reso-
luton directing the Committee Printing to investigate
the stationery Of the Interior Department what
articles have been furnished stationery the manner IN
which supplies have been furnished whether any arti
Giles have procured in violation OF the law, &c, and
directing the Secretary Of the Interior TO suspend oil
payments FOR stationery until further action by
the House After remarks by Mr. Ella, showing
e e P RESTITUTION a wa ADOPTED '
The House took the bill reported Yesterday from the
Committee Naval Affairs 10 recognize and Increase
the efficiency Of the medical department. Of tho Navy.
n n. ARCHER Dem. Md, KELLEY Rep Pal. aud
sPALDING, the bill was on motion OF Mr sl'ALDlNG
rep, Ohio, laid on the table-Yeas %; Nays. 90.
The SPEAKER presented n communication from the
Secretary of tho DerOrand Attorney General IN reply 10
resolution OF the House. stating that no dimuuton
be the force Of their respective departments
an the comgenss ilon Of the employees. -
Mr.. BANKS, dsep. Mass from the Committee on For
ein Affairs. reported bill to pay the widow Of James
Wilson, late Minister 90 Venezuela one quarters salary
OF her husband After explanation by MI Banks the bill
passed
BILL ron REMOVAL or THE REm,ISs OF Mr.. coGcEs
Mr.. CUILuM rep. M from the Committee on Foreign
Affairs reported bill for the removal Of the remains ~
Mr. Coggesha. late Minister OF the United States AZ
Ecuador TO the United states, and Of his daughter, aud
that Mr. CogeesRall died at Quito on the "a OF August
1867 that his body was subsequently dsnerred and was
now in public warehouse and. that his daughter died
Guayaquil her way home on the 10th OF January,
' Mr. e siiiEIIABARGER rep ohio made statement
OF the circumstances OF the case and moved an add
ona Appropriation Of 81 600 for the relief Of the widow
III.
After Considerable discussion the amendment was
agreed toYeas, III Nays, CO. aud the bill us amended
The SPEAKER presented a message from the President
with the report OF the Secretary OF state IN reply TO the
House resolution Of July 90 1867 declaring sympathy with
the suffering people Of Crete. Referred to the Committee
Foreign Affairs.
MT WAsBuSL ep , d H hTon 's Committee on
pTatlon b which was ordered TO be printed, and pOs
poned till tomorrow
Mr WASUBIJRNE Utep, III asked leave 10 offer the
preamble and resolution In reference Ia Wells, Fargo
Co and the Overland mails contract, offered by higl
Appropriations had directed the resolution to be drawn
meantime copy OF 1t should be sent 10 the Postmaster
General which had been done and that the Postmaster
General had come 20 the rooms OF the Committee aud
that payment had been stopped lie had since been ad
vlsed that the notwithstanding all
Contract hence he desired that the resolution should he
adopted and sent TO the and then IL
tion to IT,
made according law had the force Of law aud that
the Postmaster General could not on mere resolution
contractor for imperfect performance Of tho contract,
and TO withhold such portions OF tho compensation ss he
luton Of the House TO refuse TO perform his duty. and
particularly when the resolution was only based on
Mr. IXsliBURSE read a letter just laid on his table,
from the Postmaster General stating that indefinite
Co would work to the detrmont Of the postal service
that he had determined TO revoke the order suspend
ing for mail service for the quarter lust ended
Mr. Washburne denounced the conduct OF the Postmaster
General unworthy and such AZ should subject him To
Impeachment
would result In the cessation OF tho running OF the stages
IN which the mails carried. He approved the
course the Postmaster General In reyokng his orders
What tho 3enera had done he had done in
the face Of the that investigation would probably
DO ordered by the House III the contract was fraudulent
the Postmaster-Gcneral took the risk on his own |
shoulders.
MIR WAsHBURNE stated that the resolution was not |
sed newspaper reports hut the report OF an
aOpn Of
colleague other things relating 10 the transaction which
would him hesitate In interposng his power To pre-
vent examination.
the trains Pacific Railroad did not arrive on time,
but day two behind with the mails III tIs way
mail matter weighing five six tuns would accumulae.
which could only be carried on by the Stages gradually
from day TO day.
Mr. Ella said from the printed document on the mat |
ter shown that, during the nontfoi October an
average pounds of mail matter Tor SAT- Lake AMI
beyond had been forwarded daily from me new iorh
we'd the Salt Lake CITY Post Office leaving
$50 pounds Of mail matter daily undeliyrrcd lie also
ged fraud tho making Of the contract. IL having
been given 20 Wells Fargo 4 Co. for s.7DWO, whereas
esponsible bidder had offered TO do the same Work Tor
100000
Mr. JOHNSON Dem. Cali defended Wells, Fargo ~ |
Co from the charges OF neglect IN carrying the mails
speaking from his observations III crossing ihc |
Plains la August and October last lie denied tnht Ion
gress could by law resolution. declare that the Post
General should not make aypcnt iof carrying
the mails according 10 the terms Of contract lie Mr
Johnson had no objection 10 an investigation oI the
conduct Of the General but lie dd MOI want
10 nave the people OF the Pacific slope deprived OF thelr
malls. -. ......
toned statement by one VI the fostOh'o p1'nS n"'