The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-25
WASHING TON.
Resignation Of Senator Cald-
well, Of Kansas.
important to Holders Of Treasury Drafts and
Disbursing Officers Checks.
SENATOR CIAYTON's CASE.

me Post once Departments Controversy with
the Railroads-0ur New Minister to the
South American Republics
WASHINGTON, March 20, 1873.
Caldwcll's Resignation and Powell
ClaytOn's Case.
After long and exhaustive debate Of nearly two
weeks in the Senate, after lavish expenditure OF
breath, Of legal lore and pyrotechnical rhetoric,
Caldwell has forestalled the judgment Of that
august body by resigning his seat as a Senator
rom Kansas. The announcement of his resigna-
ton by the Vice President produced no surprise in
Che Chamber, for 1t was expected. The moral
enect Of Caldwell's step il almost the same as
would be the moral effect Of expulsion, for
every one who has watched the debate in the
Senate during the last few days knows that
he resigned because he feared the worst, and in
order to anticipate the stigma OF the extreme pen
Atty. After some desultory talk, in which many
Senator's took part 1t was agreed to take up the
Clayton case. and the Clerk read the whele report
Of the special committee which was charged with
the investig ton of the case BY the time he got
to the middle OF the report the Chamber was de-
serted, and probably the only person who derived
any information from it was the reader himself.
tive session. The Senate is not disposed to spend
much time on Clayton, and doubtless will agree to
the resolution of the special committee declaring
the charges against him to be wholly groundless.
Several Senators will make on attempt to adjourn
Tomorrow, and there Is o fair prospect that the
special session will come TO an end by Wednesday
evening.
The Charges Against Clayton.
The investigation into the charges against Sena-
tor Clayton was commenced in January, 1872, by
\ select committee, composed Of Senators Wright
and Morrill,, Of Maine (republicans), and Senator
Norwood (democrat). Their final report was made
On the 26th Of February last. MI. Clayton is
charged with having, while Governor of Kansas,
used corrupt means in several ways to secure his
election to the United States Senate. The majority
reported that the charges were not sustained, and
Nr. Norwood dissented.
Imports ant 10 Holders Of Treasury Drafts
and Disturbing Officers Checks.
The Withholding in their possession for months,
Ind even years, by the public creditors OF the
Treasury drafts and United States disbursing on
eers' checks, under the impression that they may
be presented at the ONCE OF the government de-
pository on whom drawn, and payment thereon
obtained at any time, has caused the Treasury
much embarrassment and trouble, and is greatly
retarding the settlement Of disbursing eficers'
ury has issued, and directed a rigid enforcement
Of, q regulation which require the Treasurer, all
Assistant Treasurers and Repositories OF the
United states to refuse the payment OF all oficial
checks Of United States dsbursing officers II
presented more than four months after
their issue, and all Treasury drafts and
aisbursing onicers' checks presented more
than three years after their issue. All
checks, payment on which has thus been refused,
will have them forwarded to the Secretary OF the
Treasury the former TOR examination and vertical
ton, with the drawers accounts and the latter for
the statement OF new accounts. These regulations
are based upon the twenty-frst section OF the act
Of August 9, 1s46, which makes 1t the duty Of the
Secretary of the Treasury to issue and publish
regulations to enforce the speedy presentation OF
oil government drafts and checks for payment at
the place where payable, and in default Of such
presentation to direct any other mode and place
Of payment which he may deem proper, and the
act Of May O. 1866, which requires the repayment
into the Treasury to the credit Of outstanding
liabilities OF all Treasury drafts ana disbursng
oncers' checks outstanding over three years.
Henry Wilson'S Opposition to Grants
Promotion.
The President has recently learned for the first
time, that when he was nominated for appoint
ment as Brigadier General, in 1851, the nomination
was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
After o while Senator Henry Wilson, then Chair
man Of that committee, reported back the nomina-
ton without any recommendation that 1t should be
either confirmed or rejected; and, on being ques-
toned, said that the committee had been informed
that Colonel Grant was addicted to the Incorporate
use Of intoxicating liquors. One Of the Illinois
Senators denied the truth Of this assertion, and
sent TO his committee room for letter from ]. d.
webster, then on Grants stan, which testified to
temperate habits. Senator Clark of New Hamp-
SHIRE testified to Captain Webster's veracty; and,
% brigadiers were then in demand, Grant was con-
armed, but no thanks to Wilson.
The POstal Service and the Railroads.
The hostile attitude assumed by the railroad
companies towards the postal service, In threaten
ing to withdraw their railway post ONCE cars on
the LIST of April next, is viewed by the Post once
Department as directly in the face Of the most
favorable action by the Department towards the
companies. The Department. in 1867, obtained
returns upon uniform plan from all the
railroad routes in the country as the
basis for readjusting the pay according
to the comparative value and importance
OF the mail service they performed. These re-
turns were analysed in the Department with great
labor and care, and the reports for the years sue
ceeding 1867 show q net increase OF the annual pay
rs folows:-In 1868, on seventy-one routes read
justed, $15032 in 1862 on seventy-eight routes,
$eoS53; in 1870, on ninetyeght routes, $2136Ss in
ISL, on tynne routes, $685. 44s and in 1872 on 1903
routes, $354 1896. These advances were made under
the Old law OF ls4t and the result Of the most
careful and considerate attention to the subject
the part Of the Post once Department. Postmas-
ter General Creswel, in his annual reports has re-
pcatedy asked authority OF law to grant q
further increase and Congress responded at its
late session by approprating half million of dol
lars for this express purpose Nearly the whole of
this increase will inure to the benefit of a few
leading companies, and the return proposed by
these very companies for the concession made on
the part of the government Is q threat to withdraw
the railway postal cars on the LIST OF April. The
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