The New York herald., 1869-02-15

and which, in the iudQureuk n tne committee; wAs
wholly immateral to tho Issue. The other witnes:
learn that this witness knew OF any fact material
to the Investigation. The committee were requested
paper correspondent, VINO. 1t was alleged. professed
TO nave some knowledge upon the subject Az NV
hsss hs being requested 70 'a'e hs
means Hns.I o. knowledge, he said:-"My means y
s %s ss9sS snsa ssSS m GSo %ou
state that | suppose I was the first to make
any any .,a charge ar, about It through the pspers."
In the Post ONCE Department. lie stated that thero
were great many OF these persons; that could not
give their names. nor which would testify because
he had not his memoranda with him. but that he
would return the next day and furnish the COM
mittee with the names OF his Witnesses This looked
promising. But the next day the witness swore that
he knew nothing whatever about the matter, and
knew nobody from whom the committee could get
information except those already examined. He
said he had seen some OF his witnesses and tna they
told him they had no information whatever upon
ever, gave the names OF three OF his witnesses.
These men were called and examined. and
the matter affecting the Post Once Depart
ment, except what they had heard from Smith him-
they knew nobody who had aEy sucn knowledge.
They also that they had no reason TO suspect
any improper conduct on tue par, Si ~, tne
Having thus traced the charges TO THIS source, the
committee abandoned this part Of the investigation
The next branch of the resolution directs the conn.,
mitee report the probable cost to the government
Of carrying the mails over the route in question: ON
tins point The testimony discloses the fact that the
two railroads are approaching a junction much
more rapidly than was supposed possible on March
g. 1868 the date OF the general aavertsement Or on
vice began. Indeed the progress made o. any
point OF tune seems TO nave been greater
tian was supposed possible a short time since. Oa
March 8, 1865, the date OIL completion was liked AZ
June 80, 1870. ON October !, 1865, the date was
postmaster General supposed the roads would be
completed July 81, 1862. Now. according 70 ths
roaas u sv vii, Se ~ o Operation on the lst OF June
next. The contract price TO be abated pro rata i0r
every fifty miles Of shortening q Tue touts Dy tae
rapify OF progress two results follow:-First, the
contract Is less profitable to the contractors tnan
was supposed at the time OF making H. because the
same outlay had to be made for . much shorter
period OF service than was contemplated This un-
expected rapidity OF progress Is alleged as reason
why Wells, Fargo 4 Co., who were waiting March
8 1885, 10 take the contract at Sl,3l4,0o0 ayear,
refused on october per aos - he.hss ~. ,S M
the true reason or whether that company knew the
department could do no better-in mct could gee
nobody else to undertake the same at aland hence
| felt themselves position TO drive hard bargain
| il matter for conjecture. II the latter the COM
pany was fortunate and the department unfOr-
tunate in the fact that Mr. Spaids failed either to per-
form his contract to relinqush 1t In time to OBJ
tain other proposals. 1t Is lair to say here that ono
OF the witnesses gives another reason for the
| ence between tue price asked by Wells Fargo &
n March Sd and tina. N SatoSs II u t @
the stock had been suffered TO fall Oh, preparatory
| to quitting and 1t requires much less ex-
pense to continue nan contract than 70
commence one anew. The other result Is that
the cost to the government will be greatly less than
was anticipated October l. 1868. or even December
is following. on the latter date the Postmaster
General estimated the entire cost to the governments
nel,eye the cost viii be about half million. The
road Is already completed as lar as the postmaster
General, IN his estimate. supposed Il would be IN
June next. the distance between the termini being
now about 200 miles, The last branch OF the inquiry
Is in relation to the manner the contractors have
| been and now carrying out their contract. On
| this point the committee examined many wit
| nesses. but were unable to obtain much more
Of he POSTMASTER s General already referred
| TO. For some two months after OCTOBER 1858,
there were many an ana serious s ,ea coIpa,nss
ported. One witness testlnes that he and others
were Obliged to send the mail matter 10 the Pacific
coast by sea account OF losses and injuries the
route in question arising from the negligence OF the
agents OF the contractors and from the want OF suf
| icient means OF transportation. The committee
| nave not been able to ascertain that any serious
complaints have been made at the beginning OF the
| present year. These delnquences are attempted 70
he exnlaned on the part Of the contractors by the
allegation that, towards the end OF the former tern
their stock was allowed 70 go aown, nnaer tne I'M
1868 and tnat IL required time TO replenish 1T ana
further that the railroads are being made In places
| and dangerous TO transport heavy loads.
The contractors. however, have undertaken to fur
| nish suffcient stock and TO carry the mails with
ceerity certainty and security. The difficulties they
4 encountered were only those they had obligated
themselves 10 overcome. appears tnere HuS Deeu
about s47,O0o Withheld account OF these delin-
Guences. Future adjustments Will further abatc tho
| Compensation to make 1t equitable aud fair 70 all
concerned The committee have found In the tastt-
mony reason 10 fear that the Interests or the gov
ernInent ia the premises will be sacrificed 0y tho
Post once Department. Those who complain OF the
immense expense OF carrying this mail for
the term contracted for. even when that ex-
pense Is reduced to 100000 by the shortening
OF the route ana who affect TO some fault In the
Post once Department. fail TO remember that this
great expense was caused by the act OF Congress
| already referred TO, passed against the rern0n
strances OF the department. The letter mail alone
could have been carried for tue time for S125, ,000
aud would have been but for the interference OF
| Congress after the contract with Mr.. Spaids was
| made His sss5, 900 year. TO be abated pro rata.
| for the shortening OF the distance and the time.
would have amounted to about Sl25 900 for the tm0
when the railroads met. These complainants also
fail to remember that II Mr. Spaids had been allowed
| to proceed with his contract regardless OF what he
demanded pro rata compensation for the increase Of
natl matter put upon him by the act OF Congress he
would have received more than viii be paid 70 Wells.
Fargo Co.. according to the best estimates the COM
mittee have able to make from all the evidence
before them. The committee, therefore, recommend
| the passage OF the following resolution.
JOHN NJ BRO0MALL, Chairman pro tenn.
The resolution asks to have the committee Dis
charged further consideration OF the matter.