New-York tribune., 1873-01-30
CURRENT TOPICS AT THE CAPITAL.
MORE POSTAL REFORM.
NY TELEGRAPH TO TIKI TRIBUNEI


WASHINGTON. Wednesday, Jan. %. 1873.
The Postmaster General has, in several Of his annual
reports to Congress- asserted that the abolition OF the
franking abuse would result In great decrease in the
expenses Of the Department The Senate took him at
his word to-day and struck out OF the Legislative, Ex
ecutive and Judicial Appropriation bill the customary
$4,000 allowance for temporary clerks in the POtOace
beside reduainS tho n"n'ber Of permanent
clerks allowed. Messrs Window and Wright were the
champions OF this reform and 1t was opposed by Messrs
Ramsey Morrill, Of Maine and Others who asserted that
the estimates on which the appropriations are
based were made on the theory that the frankiDg
privilege would be abolished that the discontinuance
OF this abuse will not reduce the expenses OF the depart
mont Mr.. Window made happy little speech IN reply
TO these objections, quoting from the PosnasterGen- zen
erals report TO show that II every man who has rght
the ranking privilege were to write three and
half letters minute during ten hours OF esch working
would only equal the number which now pass through
lS malls ee ne w & 9u 9nosas seS On '1as their tors thew
would not average three and half minute hereafter
and the cost TO the Government OF sending them
would certainly be reduced.
DECIDING TIE LOYALTY OF GOVERNMENT
CLAIMANTS.
Last year Mr. morrill, got amendment attached TO
the Legislative BILL sending claimants, whose loyalty
was not positively proved to Congress- after the Court
had decided their favoraby before they could get
the money while other claimants obtained what the
Government owed them from tho Treasury without
special act OF Congress MI Morrill, made another
in the same direction, yesterday, and passed without
serious opposition the following amendment PRO
vded that In rendering judgment In favor OF any
claimant under the act Of March a. 1889 the said Court
shall find the amount due, and shall also find and
state whether or not said claimant had proved that
Where such claimant shall have failed prove
had not rendered such aid comfort, judgment OF
sSerefor shall be made by Congress In presenting It.
he said that several large claims of notorious Confeder
a1eS ha~s from the record Of one Lamar Who he
said was a notorious blockade-runner and now claim
han mn II hAI fora
the adjournment this evening moved to reconsider IT,
and motion to lay the reconsideration on the table
defeated by majority of two. The Democrats many Of
whom not in their seats when tho amendment was
passed rallied today There Is no doubt .hat MI Nor
vet in full Senate but It's defeat in the House is looked
upon as certain
THE CHOCTAw INDIAN CLAIM FRAUD.
Senator Harlan reported, from the Indian Committee
recently favor of paying what is known as tho net
proceeds claim OF the Choctaw Indians amounting to
more than t30OOOO0 From some statements made IN
gard to this claim by Senator Edmunds when the Indian
Appropriation bill was before the Senate. on the 7th
inst and from report OF investigation made at Sec
retary Boutweps suggestion by the Solicitor of tho
Treasury there are grave doubts TO the justice Of this
claim Tho foundation of 1t is supposed award made
nv the Senate under a treaty Of 1856 Senator
Fdmunds in the debate referred to- denied that any
such award had ever been made What the Senate did
do was to make appropriation OF 100000 on this claim
without knowing all the facts in the case As far as can
be gathered from the reports leioiiou W. '"o ipn'
settled I'D all their claims with tho Government prior to
s,5 The treaty OF that date TO have been fraud
uentiy the purpose of obtaining money and IN
1851 Congress appropriated 10000, snpposing
tbat the Government owed it, Two hundred
and dny thousand dollars OF this. was
nai1 in cash, and IL Is asserted that this
whole sum was divided some notorious lobbyists
in this city few hours after II was drawn from the
treasury Tho other t150OOO to be paid IN bonds,
bn the war broke out and the Cboctaws onsd the Con
federates and got them These bonds were after
yard condscaod and the proceeds paid back into the
Treasury In lB71 Congress, still under mlSapprehen-
sn AZ the facts passed act directing tho secretary
of the Treasury pay these bonds 70 the Indians
Mr. Boutwell, made an investigation and 5Itcr many
davs, search there waa found In the files or the
treasury Department receipt IN fun ioi an
Claims against the United states by the Choctaws'
sned and ratified by the Council OF thai nation IN lsos
three years before tho treaty, Oh which this So
ooo claim is based was made Mr.. Emunds moved ai
amendment TO the appropriation bill. suspendng tle
act OF Is7l until judicial investigation could DO maze
TLis was passed. and the bill haa gone 10 Conferences
Committee Meantime MI Harlan has reported III FAVOR
of the paynent of the entire sum Tho Whole matter
should be carefully looked into before any acton
LikDa.