The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-01-31
portstou BY creating and protecting competing
W tue cuoerEsSrse CLAIM.

priatlons, reported Joint resolution repeating tue
JOINT resolution OF July Is. 1870 authorizing the
Postmaster General to adjust the account OF George
Chorpenning. He proceeded TO give history OF
the transaction. The resolution proposed 70 DO re-
peaed had been introduced IN the House on the last
day OF last session, and had been passed under 9
The acts aud had been sent 20 The Senate ana there
passed the same day, with an amendment IN
which the House concuroed. the claim was o.
1851. and originated in two contracts for
carrying the mail. There had been allowed to
Chorpenning under the Joint resolution OF 1857, tue
sum OF S23S.67 extra allowance over his contract
price OF s1o6ooo and under the joint resolution OF
more, making an extra allowance on his contract OF
S47o, 635. The services for which this extra allow
contract itself. Mr.. Chorpennng had taken his
contract 10 carry the mail from salt Lake City to Sac
being part as om a1s
II for two years on tna line ne applied TO inc posl
ONCE Department stating tast during ,he w' waa
next to impossible for him TO carry it on
that route and asking The privilege OF CARVING
u during the winter season, instead of on his own
line by Carson Valley, down 10 the coast OF San
Pedro and up the coast, where there was line OF
steamers to San Francisco, and up the Sacramento
river by another line OF mail steamer, Sacramento.
The department had given hun permission TO do that
at his own request. IL was hard contract, as many
other contracts at the same time were. Congress had
relieved other contractors by allowing them specified
amounts: but Mr. Cnorpenning had devised bi
his claim on the basis OF the papers on file
in the Honse Of Representatives. Mr.. Chorpen.
papers as not to allow his application for per-
mission to change the route to appear. At that
was made by Postmaster General Brown. Applioa-
lions to reopen the case were made BY Chorpenning
~ a es uhGer sne 'olno res4
allowed Chorpenntng additional compensation, up
the coast to San Francisco. from San Franciscoto
Sacramento, and from Sacramento to Carson CITY,
a: the rate Of thirty thousand dollars year. Post
master General Creswel had then. at the end OF af
teen years, reviewed the evidence on which Post
master General Brown had given extra compensa-
tion for extra weight OF mails, Notwithstanding
,nat Cnorpenning had agreed In Ibis, his contract
weight, and allowed two hundred and
thirty-fve thousand dollars additional on that.
One Item OF $50 900 had been allowed on the simple
letter OF postmaster TO Chorpenntng and why
Because the joint resolution required HIM to act
House OF Representatives, and the same papers
in the pocket Of member OF Congress were treated
Another item OF siss, 600 had been allowed on SIN
gle afldavit OF one OF Chorpennlngs employees with
out any opportunity to weigh the value OF that tes
mony, or to look farther or inQuiriag into those
proofs Under the resolution OF July l5 the sum OF
t443,ooo had Deen allowed, Of which sum
have accrued from the contract Tor two years and
twenty five days that 1t had to run. In conclusion
oiiicer nor any member OF Congress. he had
merely undertaken to show the consequences or
double purpose. not only Of resculng S443oOo from
man whom the officials OF the Post ONCE Depart
Ssc1sd e to e ks to S ns ons S cent
TO any other member OF The House the
lesson which should teach them to stop two
partment of the government the adjusting OF claims
without permitting them the opportunity OF ex-
ting through OF claims in the manner in which they
are put through, without the House Itself knowing
Mr. BECK said that while agreeing generally with
the statement OF the chairman Of the Committee on
Appropriations, he believed that the Postmaster
General, II not actually cenSurabe for what he had
DONE had acted with great negligence In the matter.
He knew the claim to DE fraud He knew the papers
the files OF the House did not tell the whole truth.
and 1t Was his duty TO report the facts back to Con-
gress, which was In session for nearly three weeks
before he made his awards. The man who was the
been the First Assistant Postmaster General and
the law partner and associate OF Mr.. Creswell, and
IL was on that account that he INF. Beck had In.
troduced bill to-day prohibiting any employe In
any OF the departments Of the government IRON
practising law III any such department within five
years after his retiring from 1t.
Mr.. HILL, (rep.l Of n. j.. stated his connection
mittee The papers had been referred to him and
he had called on the Postmaster General and ascer-
tainea ,na, tnere were some Hnse..ea ealms anu
nshed report was drawn up, but 80 late that there
was no time TO submit 1t 10 tine committee But AT
his tMr. Hill's) request an agreement was signed
that he might report the facts to the House, leay
ing the Postmaster General to investigate the mat
ter ana do justice TO all parties Shortly after that
he went home without making the report and there
dismissed the case. The joint resolution was
committee who also drew up the report. He Mr
HlI had never supposed that there was any consld-
cradle sum due, but only a small balance. He hoped
the resolution would prevail, so thai more thorough
Investigation might be made.
Tie JOINT resolution was passed
IMPROVEMENT OF THE MISSISSIPPI HIvEE.
Mr.. WILSON, (dem.) OF Mimi, moved TO suspend
the rules and pass bill 10 amend the act OF July %
the improvement OF the navigation OF the Mississippi
river. Agreed TO.
Mr. BUTLER, repl OF Mass, asked leave to Info.
uuce the following JOINT fesUiution:-
Resolved That the Congress of the United States in the
- o'ponovan Eossa Thomas Laby, John oLesrv,
Thomas S9urke Charles oSonas and their
hs them b lie :" the A ss '
Mr.. BENJAMIN rep.) of Mo-, objected.
Mr.. BUTLER moved 10 suspend the rules and saii
that the resolution was copied from the kossltl
The rules were suspended and the joint resolution
passed-yeas 172, nays II.
The following are the negative votes:-Messrs.
Amber, Bailey, Benjamin (Mo.l Blair (Mich,
Churchill Dixon N. C), Dixon Or. L. Ferris. Hale,
HawS Pste Moa ra he an VII ap
WOMAN SUFFRAGE.
Mr.. BINGHAM, (rep.) OF Ohio, from the Judiciary
Committee, made a report on the memorial OF
Victoria G. Woodruff, asking That declaratory law
be passed by Congress that under the fifteenth
constitutional amendment women are entitled to
vote. The report argues against the claim. and TO
within the jurisdiction OF the courts. and IT recon-
mends that the prayer Of the petitioners be not
granted, that the memorial be laid on the table and
The committee discharged from It's further con-
slderation.
The report was ordered to be printed and recon-
mitted.
GENERAL SHERMAN AS REGENT.
On motion OF Mr.. POLAND trep. OF VT, the Senate
JOINT resolution for the appointment OF General WI.
liam T. Sherman as regent of the Smithsonian In.
slluute was passed.
REFERENCE OF CLAIMS AGAINST GOVERNMENT.
Mr.. LOGAN, repl OF III, moved 10 suspend The
rules and pass the Senate joint resolution. authoriz
ing the claims OF persons against the government
in connection with the building OF vessels OF to
be referred to the Coart OF Claims. Agreed to by
15l yeas to So nays.
TOBACCO TAXES.
Mr.. WOOD, (dem.) OF n. Y, presented petition OF