The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-01-23
WASHINGTON.

THE NEW YORK POSTAL ROBBERY.
WAsGINGToN, Jan. 22.-The Post Master
General sent to the Senate to-day reply to their
resolution, the statement that Postmaster
Jones of New York, believed that several promi-
nent and responsible persons were involved in
the defalcation of Norton, and an investigation
OF the matter is proceeding.
BURCHARD's TARIFF BILL
A tariff bill will be introduced into the House
tomorrow by Mr.. Burchard, member of the
Committee of Ways and Means. 1t proposes a
reduction in the tariff to the extent eff nearly
$24,OOOOO0, including $4,0000OO of free list
The reduction on goods and cotton is SO, 500. :
OoO, and wooden goods $S,O00000
THE SYNDICATE.
The Committee of Ways and Means to-day
made report which completely exonerates
Secretary Boutwell, from all the charges made
against him in connection with the syndicate
loan.
funding bill which conflict with each other and
while 1t is doubtful whether he had authority
under one of these sections to negotiate the loan
in the manner he did, it is clear the other sec
ton gives him such power, and therefore no
blame attaches to him for his action. The
clause of the law which it is alleged the Secre-
tary has violated must be so construed as to
permit OF the carrying out of the other require
ments of the statute. They therefore recon-
mend the adoption of the following resolution:
the Secretary of the Treasury in negotiating
the loan authorized by the act of July H. 1870,
has neither increased the bonded debt nor in
CURED an expenditure contrary to law
tls understood that Representatives Beck
ana Kerr dissented from the report
THE POSTAL TELEGRAPH BILL
The following is an abstract of the bill re-
ported to the Senate to connect the telegraph
with the Postal Service.
Section l, establishes postal telegraph offices
at all the post offices where the gross receipts
for postage are $500 year if within ten miles
of telegraph lines.
Section 2, fixes the rates uniform for equal
distances at 25 cents, between offices not over
$50 miles apart; so cents between offices $50
miles apart and under 500 miles, and 25 cents
for each addition 500 miles; night rates 25 cents
for 1000 miles, the rates to be refunded for de-
lays or mistakes in transmission.
Section 3, provides for prepayment by stamps
and for the destruction of all kilograms within
one month.
Section 4, fixes the press rates for each 100
words OF special dispatches at so cents by night
and 70 cents by day. 1t also fixes the rates
for press associations and for private wires for
newspapers.
Section 6, defines the dnties of the fourth as
sistant Postmaster General over the telegraph
lines
Section Z, authorizes the Postmaster General
to contract for the transmission of kilograms at
the above rates with parties who will furnish
and operate the necessary lines of telegraph
Section 8, contains provisions against tam
pering with kilograms, and makes kilograms
privileged communications as private letters
Section 0, authorizes the Postmaster General
to reduce the rates in the manner therein des-
cribed.
Section 10 incorporates a postal telegraph
company for the performance of postal tel
egraph service on behalf of the Postmaster
General.
Section II and II, authorizes the company to
buy the existing lines, and obliges it to pur-
chase all such lines required by owners thereof
stock at an amount not exceeding the last cost
of its line.
Section Ii, authorizes the company to open
offices wherever the wants of business NAV re-
quire. N
:. Section H. authorizes Congress to purchase
lines at any time at an appraised value
Sect!on 10, reserves to Congress the right to
alter OF amend the act