The New York herald., 1871-02-13

very important consideration. The Southern demo.
Gratis are nearly all for Hancock. OF course, the
Pennsylvania men are for him against all comers
with The exception OF a few superannuated pont-
clans like Judge woodward, who seems to have
been asleep for the last ten years.
Such are the views and speculations OF the promi-
politicians both parties here about the Pres
dental candidates for 1879, together with OF
the reasons put forth by the friends Of the various
aspiraats in favor Of their nomination.
Indemnity Negotiations With Spain.
Late On1cial intelligence shows that Minister
SicKes ia engaged with the Spanish government In
the effort to procure q convention In accordance
with instructions to some mode for the early
ana equitable indemnincation and satisfaction to
| the several parties whose rights have been vio-
| lated OF the amounts which should rlghtlully
| come TO each claimant for the illegal detention
OF his property or his person In connection with
| events in Cuba The Secretary Of State instructed
Mr. Sckles TO say that this suggestion was made in
the interest Of peace, Of justice and Of good Will lin
! order to secure measure OF damages In each case
which shall be just, as between the two govern
| meDts and that 1t is extremely desirous to have
| the examination conducted in this country.
The Stamped Envelope Contract.
For some time past the House Committee on Ap-
propriations have had under consideration the peti.
tlon OF a number Of stamped envelope manufac-
turers, who alege that the Postmaster General In
letting the contract for stamped envelopes showed
favoritism, and that stamped envelopes manufac-
tured by the government at or below cost, thereby
interfering with the business OF private manufac-
turers The Postmaster General has addressed
letter to the chairman OF the Committee on Appro-
priations ana one to the chairman OF the Senate
Committee on Post Ofices and Post Roads on
the subject, wherein he shows that the gov.
ernment is not engaged In manufacturing
n for thar
manufacture was given to the lowest bidder who
was able to do the work. With regard to the con-
tract it appears from the Investigations Of the
mtee and the letter OF the Postmaster General that
| it was given to tie firm OF Dempsey O'Toole, OF
this city, they being the lowest bidders. They were
however, unable to fulfil the terms OF the contract
| whereupon 1t was annulled and given to the next
lowest responsible bidder George Il. Reay, OF New
York. Dempsey O'Toole now appear before Con-
gress claiming $4,000 damages The Postmaster
General In his letter to Mr.. Dawes gives the history
OF the contract. 1t appears that it was, first Of
all, given to George II. Reay, Of New York; after
| wards, the Postmaster General says, combination
| Of envelope manufacturers composed almost
tely Of unsuccessful bidders for the Reay contract
| and directed and controlled by them was formed,
plan agreed upon and application made to Con-
gress, through the Committee on Appropriations Of
! the House, for the annulment OF the contract The
|
| whereupon the Postmaster General issued new pro.
| posals for stamped envelopes, and when the bids
were opened 1t was found that Dempsey & O'Tooe
were the lowest bdders and the contract was
awarded them. 1t having been stated
that Dempsey & O'Toole not respon-
slble bidders the Postmaster General caused
inquiry to be made at the several departments con-
corning their standing. Replies from the War and
Interior Departments and from the Internal Reve-
nue. Bureau and the Patent ONCE, elected the fact
that in their dealings with those departments and
bureaux Dempsey O'Toole had failed, In almost
every instance to fulfil their contracts for station
cry. In one instance 1t was stated that they had
been investigated by the House Committee on Print
ing, and the result was the passage Of resolution
directing the Secretary Of the Interior to their
contract with that department. Notwithstanding
| this the Postmaster General allowed Dempsey
OToole to 60 with the contract. In short time
they asked leave Of the department to transfer 1t to
| another firm. This the Postmaster General under
the advice OF the Attorney General refused 1t soon
became apparent that the contractors could not
come to time; they had neither the machinery nor
the capital to funl their contract and the Postmas-
| ter General issued an order cancelling 1t. II was
| subsequently awarded to George II. Reay, Of New
| York, the next lowest responsible bidder, who is
| now carrying 1t out With regard to the sale Of
| stamped envelopes below COST the Postmaster Gen.
eral shows that the statute provides that they sha
| be sold at the cost OF procuring and furnishing
the same, as near as may be, with the
| addition Of the value or denomination
Of the postage stamps printed impressed hereonD
He claims that this is what he has been DOING and
that the stamped envelopes are furnished the peo.
pie, a matter OF accommodation, at wholesale
prices, no matter whether they are purchased IN
large IN small quantities. The committee latter
Investigating the whole matter, have about come to
the conclusion that the trouble with the stamped
envelope manufacturers Is that they cannot make
percentage of the sale Of stamped envelopes so long
as the government sells them to the people at rea.
sonable rates. AS for Dempsey d O'Tooe, their
case Will be dismissed, and the action OF the Post
master General be sustained.
The Southern Pacific Railroad.
The House Committee on the Pacific Railroad Will
meet on Tuesday for the purpose OF considering the
bill TO aid In the construction Of the Sc uthern Pacific
Railroad. The Legislature OF the state OF Texas
which is to give most OF the land-he United states
not having any public land there-has passed the
following resolutions which have been presented to
the House by General W. T. Clarke and referred to
the Committee on the Pacific Railroad. They will
be considered in connection with the bill on Tues
day
Whereas. 1t is the opinion OF the Legislature
OF tne STATE oi Texas that the early con.
boundary Of Texas to the Pacific e oceans eas'epn an
or near the thirty parallel OF latitude Is OF
vital Importance to the people OF the United
states, ana especially 70 the people OF Texas; and
granted liberal aid to secure the construction Of
TWO lines OF railway to the Pacific ocean, neither OF
which Is located in the South; and whereas, the
southern states have an equal interest with the
other States IN the ownership Of the public DOMAIN
and no lands have Jet been donated by the general
government to aid in the construction OF the
southern Pacific Railroad: and whereas, the con.
structcn oil such railroad would save to the
treasury VI the United States the vast sum
o. money expended annually for the defence of
tne frontiers OF Texas from the incursons OF hostile
lnuians and would save the lives and property Of
scores OF the cilzens of Texas who perish ANNUALLY
al the hands OF these savages and woud also So
cure the speedy settlement OF large portion of |
Iexas whlch u now almost uninhabited:
Therefore be 1t resolved by the Legisatnre or tho
state OF Texas, That the Congress OF the limited
States is earnestly requested to pass b for the