The New York herald., 1871-12-20


the latter branch having been referred to them by
resolution OF the House. The committee without
coming to any conclusion have adjourned uuti after
the holidays.
Opinions On tho Polltical Result or the Presi-
DENTS Message Divided-The New Hamp-
shire Fifth Auditor.
The reception OF the Presidents Message trans
hitting the report OF the Civil Service Commission
and announcing that the system therein proposed
would 20 into operation on and after the LIST OF
January next develops most forciby the shuttle
COCK nature Of all the talk among different
factions Of the republican party relative to
civil service reform. The political bearings OF the
Message are regarded as very important and on all
sides and parties 1t win be used with eject against
the President. The prevailing opinion appears to
be tnaE the decided air 1t bears OF seting ques-
ton out Of which politicians generally and republi
cans especially, expected to maze considerable
capital. is an assumption that VIII not
favorably anect the Presidential expectations Of an
easy denomination. It is openly asserted that this
Message is sure TO make Grants road curing the
coming battle-summer q very hard one 10 travel.
On the otner hand his special friends out or Con-
gress claim tnst the Message is splendid nank
movement, sure TO turn the position 80 hardly won
by the recalcitrant republican senator's and leave
him master OF the situation. Whatever may be the
result the insincerlty OF most OF the cry
for reform is made very clear by these comments
on the Message The action Of the Senate TO- day,
IN confirming an ex-Congressman, Mr.. Ella, OF New
Hampshire for Fifth Auditor, as we'll as that OF the
President in nominating him, is q still strOn ger
proof OF the shuttlecOck character OF the agitation
New England republicans want to wrest New
Hampshire from the democracy, so Mr. Ella is ap-
pointed over the head OF worthy chief clerk VINO
should have had the place.
TeIcarapb Wire Reduction-"straw Bids"
In the Post ONCE Departmental Bill with
DANGEROUS Powers.
The president Of the Western Union Telegraph
Company was before the Committee on Ways and
Means this morning. and made an argument IN
behalf OF a proposed reduction on telegraph wire.
No action was taken.
The Committee on Post Ofices and Post Roads
was IN consultation with the Postmaster General,
who urged the committee to sustain House bill
eO9 introduced by Mr.. Farnswortn on the 18th inst.
which relates TO proposals and contracts for trans
portat1on OF the mails and for other purposes. Mr..
Farnsworth reported the bill by order of the com.
mittee and ls was read 1t aims prolessedly to give
the Postmaster General power to refuse
''straw bids" and generally to overthrow
an irresponsible contract system, which,
1t is claimed, has grown into a
great abuse, and providing that persons putting in
straw bids and failing to iii, or Withdrawing from
the contract wnen called to perform service may
be punished with fine and Imprisonment. No bidder
shall be released from obligation because OF lower
bid until after contract is closed with
other parties The Postmaster General ia to
have the power to reject bids which may
to him appear to be fraudulent or fcucious.
He may also contract the best terms obtain able
with other partles II regular bidder or contractor
shall fail to enter or fulfil contract. The rest OF
the bill relates to the money order business 1t s
claimed by many persons that the powers given In
the matter OF contracts and SO FORTH too great
20 be trusted to Postmaster General, and will be
used to the disadvantage Of contractors and car.
riers.
A Chapter In Medern Diplomacy-The Miss
ing Volume OF Our State ment for Geneva
Did 1t Fall into the Hands Of the EnSlish s-
Who IL 10 BIames
Mr., Eldridge, OF Wisconsin, introduced q resou-
ton into the House to-day IN regard TO the printed
copies OF the case presented by the United States
before the Geneva Conference. which promises to
yield some very rich Developments The resolution
requires Mr.. Fish to inform the House IN what Ian.
guages the statement was printed, the an
swer to which will likely provoke much
comment, the facts Of the case being that
the argument was rendered into Spanish as well as
English. French and Portuguese, but for what pur-
the Spanards nave any connection with the Con-
ference. ThfA circumstance slight I'm Itself. and
yet so unnecessary, creates much talk in wein-
formed political circles especially as the reports
concerning Spanish interference with the Confer.
ence have become SO painfully common, and are
still SO incomprehensible. But Mr.. Eldridge's
resolution aims OF more important
matter even than an explanation Of this anomaly.
A copy Of our statement was lost early In Novem-
hands OF the English government and was used BY
them to our immense disadvantage In the pIepara-
iion OF their statement by availing themselves in
advance OF full knowledge OF our case The story
countenanced by the State Department is tnat the
book lost in the streets OF Washington, and as
the particular volume which went astray was
among the first, II not the very FIRST which
came from the binder, the fears that 1t NAV have
fallen into the hands Of the English seem only too
well grounded. It is well known here that the
state Department gave out copies OF this work,
under restrictions as TO secrecy, to international
lawyers like ex- President W0olsey OF Yale Colleges
William Beach Lawrence, OF Rhode Island, and Mr..
Beamus, OF Boston, and some Of these gentlemen
have used the volumes entrusted 10 them for the
purpose Of E1akng articles for the public press. 1t
is not supposed however, that any Of the articles
which have appeared were made from the lost
volume, and IL Is UNDERSTOOD tnat Tue secretary VI
State not in ignorance OF the hands in which the
missing book was placed. Nothing is known Of the
present Whereabouts OF this missing volume, but
many hypotheses are INDUCED In one Of these
being the lmpossibllity OF losing the bulky
work In the streets. or except by de-
sign. The secretary Of State can scarcely
avoid, nnder the resolution, the necessity
OF giving the House OF Representatives the name Of
the person to whom the book was committed and
sketch OF It's history 80 TAR as 1t is knowe to the
State Department.
1t is intimated on excellent authority that the
sequel may show not only the gross careiessness
which is manifest IN the facts already revealed but
q chapter of secret history which will go far to ex
PLAIN the story OF Spanish interest and interference
at Geneva
consolidation OF Internal Revenue Districts
Refunding Taxes-The North Carolina Sem
ntOrsbip.
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