The New York herald., 1870-01-26
WASHING GT0N
-rS~~~~~>~~>~~N~~~~~~>~--~~
TIRGINIA'S TROUBLES BREWING.
A Radical C0ngreSsman's DislOyal
Record.
WASHBURN'S POSTAL TELEGRAPH BILL.
DANGEROUS Counterfeits of Frac
tional Currency.

WASHINGTON, Jan. rs. 1870.
Tho Washburn Postal Telegraph Bili-Want
Of Confidence In the House Committee
Post OHices and Post Roads.
The strong vote In the House referring the Postal
Telegraph to special committee, In face or the oppo
Btion OF General Farnswortn, chairman OF the Post
once Committee and Notwithstanding that COM
Mittee had secured the reference TO themselves OF
various similar propositions, and one OF the commit
tee Mr. Fitch, OF Nevada, had introduced motion
which was before his own committee, merging the
telegraph in the Post ONCE Department. shows how
deep seated Is the dstrust in Farnsworth and Uriah
Heep Painter, the notable clerk OF that committee.
Last year Painter, by some indirecton and without
the authority or action OF the committee themselves
~ was well understood at the time, put forth re.
port a. being from majority OF the committee ad-
verse to the establishment OF postal telegraph
The whole thing supposed to be the work Of the
Western Union Telegraph Company, for which they
paid their money and took their choice. In expla-
nation at the time that they had not retained him,
but he had 60 the matter Of the Russian Telegraph
mixed up with the Alaska purchase, the Western
Union owning the Russian extension (but
not the Alaska purchasel and the funds ne
thus received were applied rather indiscrimi.
nately, was not considered a sane expana-
ton. However Painters report went through,
only guess. When the new Post ONCE Committee
OF the present House appointed the relations OF
Painter TO General Farnsworth, and the job and
commissions connected with the New York Post
once, and the scandal OF the Postal Telegraph BILL
with other little arrangements, public and private,
produced deep-seated determination on the part OF
leading members to keep oil fair and honest schemes
possible out OF the hands Of that committee. Mr..
Washburn's Telegraph bill and Its reference to
special committee indicate that the House Is de-
termined not to play any longer into the hands of
that committee.
Hthere was any question before, the action taken
on the motion OF General Farnsworth the present
session, in hostility the New York and Boston Post
Ofnces, and his determination to take them out of
the hands OF Secretary Boutwell, and the Treasury
Department and place them under the control or
commission OF private citizens, and restore the New
York enterprise to the hands Of the old commission,
old architects and old pans which were long ago
exploded, rendered 1t certain that Painter still
ct his post, and serving himself and others by his
little games. Not that we make any question that
there are honest ana fair minded men on the commit
tee-men who mean to and viii do right II they are
not overreached by such companions. And here
lies the precise difficulty A sharp, active dishon-
est member, or even clerk, who represents half q
dozen papers in New York, Pennsylvania and ILL.,
nos, can easily take advantage Of ana mslead an
entire committee. Things are done in q hurry at
Washington especially dishonest things. ana this
committee WIN bear watching. The Speaker Will
appoint for This select committee men who arc
above suspicion, strong and reliable, and whatever
result they may arrive at will be an honest one. 1t
Is rumored that Mr. Painter has already In prospect
OF Mr.. Washburn's being chairman OF the select
committee, rendered his own or friends services
as clerK but neither man n yet accepted, although
HI ho
House, relieved Of the great burden in the other
committee. 1t is said that in working up the case
for the New York interest Painter procured and took
over to New York. without the knowledge of the
committee copies of the testimoney for private use
This, OF course he denied; but how the testimony
came written out and In use by private parties In
New York before It was seen by the committee
themselves has yet transpired. Certainly 1t was
not q case OF second sight.
The Virginia Represcntatives-Porter's Al.
legged DisloyaIty-senators to be Admitted
Without Delay.
The House Committee on Elections have decided
70 retain for examination the credentials OF Mr.
Porter on account OF his alleged dsoyal record OF
Mr. Segar by reason OF the question Of the right OF
Virginia to send representative at large, and OF
Messrs. Booker and Mckenzie because their seats
are contested. The credentials OF the rest OF the
delegation will be reported favorably once sub
lect to their taking the usual oath. 1t s expected
that no objection will be made to swearing In the
Senators without reference OF their credentials to
the Committee on Judiciary.
The dill to admit Virginia to representation In
Congress was iaid before President Grant this after
noon 1t Is expected that he Will tomorrow &C
quaint the House that it has received his sanction.
Proceedings Of Senate Committecs.
The Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs held a
1oua anA nhar
nations still before them. The name OF William
Cumback, In place Of Mr.. Shellabarger as Minister
to Portugal 1t agreed to report to the Senate for
favorable action. The nominations still before the
committee and unacted upon are Sickles for Spain,
j. Russell Jones for Belgium G. G. Andrews for Nor
way and Sweden and r. G. Kirk for Uruguay; also
several secretaries Of legation. The Senate Finance
Committee resumed their deliberations upon fnan-
clal matters, particularly the question OF funding
but came to no determination
The Darien Canal Survey.
In response to q resolution heretofore passed, the
President sent message the House to-day enclos-
ing letter from the Secretary Of the Navy In which
the latter says that no appropriations for the Navy
have been diverted to the survey OF the lsthmus OF
Darien. The act OF Congress, approved July 49,
1885, appropriated 600 for the purpose OF survey
Ing the isthmus, with view to the construction or
q ship canal
The Duty Coal.
The Committee on Ways and Means to-day had
before them proposition to admit all coal free OF
duty. 1t was agreed to by--Ycas-Messrs Hooper,
Allison, Maynard, Brooks ana Marsnall-5; nays
Nessrs. Kelley Mccarthy, Blair and Schenck-4 This
subject caused o good deal OF excitement IL is
probable that Mr.. Maynard VIII change his vote TO
the negative.
The New York Contested Election Case.
Some TINS ago the Committee on Elections de-
cided TO report Of giving the now occu.
pied by Mr.. Greene to Mr.. Van Wyck, Of New York,
the contestant; but on further consultation 1t is
said, they have drec ed both parties to re-examine
tne votes In the contested district
TIE Gold Panic Investigation.
G. X. Willard and Mr.. Martin, OF the frm OF Smith,
Gould, Martin II Co., and Mr.. Carver, OF New YORK,
were examined by the Committee on Banking and
Currency to-day. Mr.. Corbn il expected tomorrow
or the day after.
New Counterfeit Currency.