, 1873-03-30
The Attorney-General's Opin-
ion Demanded on the
Question at Issue.
Vice-President Wilson's Assistance to
0fflce-Seekers.
What a Democrat SAYS About
Casscr1y's Election.
Special Dispatch to The Chicago Tribune,

! AeeIoo Will llb elecl1On 10 [Qo penate, NA8 n
printed horo on the day it appeared in the ,othe
newspapers. The object OF excluding is nc
known. The dispatch, however, attractedthe at
tcntion Of prominent California Democrat, no,
here, who was membar Of the Democratic Stat
! Central Committee Of California, when Casserl
was elected. This gentleman is brother-in-laz
Of Judge Dent. he says it is easy to explain tn
failure Of the California Legislature to invesignt
the charges Of corruption made by Volney How
! ard ngainst Casserly. In the first place, he says
| the Legislature was Democratic, and they dit
not like to investigate members Of their ow1
! party. There were few members Of the Legis
ature who were not satisfied with the amour
they received, and they threatened TINT tho,
would vote for an investigation. To preyen
! this, the gentleman in question alleges tha
a5o,00o IN gold wcro raised, and distributed
tho Legislature that elected Casserly was noto.
nous for lts corruption and protigacv, fact
which, as he is a Democrat. he is sorry to admit
-; SECRETARY OF WAR pno TEN.
The Administration organs hero deny that there
le any foundation for the story that the presi-
dent cherlshcs o feeling Of hostility toward
eitheriSecretary Belknap OF Gen. Sherman. The
story originated from the appointment OF Secre-
tary 1iobeson instead OF Cen Sherman as Score
tary OF War pro tom. to ACT during the absence
OF Gen. Belknap. Upon this question the Attor-
ney-Goneral, at the request OF tho President
gave en opinion. It ia stated that the way in
which tho opinion was cliotod is as follows At
Tue pra.dabt Gabnet 1msetlng On Tuesday last tho
jeetions, Gen. Sherman wonld act as Secretary
of War during Con. Belknap's absence, upon
which tho Attorney General. who wGs member
OF the Senate in 1870, reminded tho President
any objections to Gen. Sherman's acting rs
Secretary OF War, there is q law on tho statute
book, passed in tho year named, which pro-
Mblts any military officer from holding civil
Gen. Sherman in accordance with tho request OF
Gen bo!knap, but not Jet being willing to rio-
late the laws, thereupon in writing, as is custom
ary In such cases, requested formal opinion
from the Attorney General, which was duly rend-
cred.
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.
a: the extra session OF tho Senate, the Com
Inltteo Privileges and Elections obtained leave
to slt during recess, for tho purpose Of nQuiriuS
as to tho best manner OF elec:ing the President
formal meeting OF the Committee was held after
the adjournment Of the Senate, at which it was
agreed TINT regular meeting should be held,
not later than October, in Boston or Now York,
tho Chairman. In th'ac.nc.ntiu,o, Mr. Morton
will correspond with leading publicists in differ
ent parts Of the United States for tho purpose OF
obtaining variety Of views on the subject
liz hLsGL1 of a PARDON.
4 few days ago, Gen. Butler, who Was chiefly
instrumental in obtaining from the President
the communication Of the sentence Of O'Brieu.
the murderer, wrote and published IN elaborate
defense OF tho client. One Of tho immediate
fruits Of Buffers argument and tho commuta-
tion Of O'Brien's sentence, is horrible murder,
committed here last night. Heretofore hanging
has been the rule hero, aud murders have been
less frequent.
AID TO oFF1cE-sEEKERs.
Vice. PrCaiIenf Wilson IL appnrro dooa reA
propose 70 follow in the footsteps OF his prodo-
cessor, ColfaI, in the matter Of turning his back
upon his friends. Soon after ColfA1 was elected
he gave out that he intended to make it IN i1,-
flexible rule never to recommend any one to the
President or the members OF the Cabinet for III
appointment. Wilson takes q different Wow of
the question, and listens patiently to every
appeal: In all cases, where ho thinks the party
deserving he does not hesitate to use his infln-
ence to help him to position.
THE MARYLAND sESAToRsH1p.
1t ts generally conceded that Gov. William
Pinckney Whyto, the present Governor OF Mary
land, will succeed Hamilton, the new Senator
from that State. The election takes place next
winter.
ITO the Associated Press.] i
THE PosrAL-cAn TROUBLE.
WASHINGTON, March 30.-Tlere hiss vet been |
nothing definitely determined by tho Postmaster
General relative to the arrangements OF the |
Government about the postal-car SERVICE The !
matter will probably be officially determined !
upon the return OF superintendent Bangs. Tho |
result will be announced on Monday.
MONTANA INDIAN FRAUDS.
William Il. Claggett, late Delegate from a1on- |
tana. has boen appointed special counsel Of tho |
Gene1al Government to investigate the alleged |
frauds against the Indians in Montana.
CUSTOMS LOCKS. 4
Tho Treasury Department has postponed the |
examination of locks for transportation cars,
&c. until May !.
TUE POSTAL cAR-DIspCTE.
+r nctn
companies to the effect that none Of tl1ose who I
provided and ran railway and Eost-of1ice cars
heretofore received dollar more compensation
on that account, the Postmaster-General shows,
in letter addressed to tho Attornoy-G General.
that in the cases III which tho utmost limit OF
fixed by law had not been reached,
the Department paid additional rates, ranging
from SO to s25 mile per annum for cara Of
this description, running once day in each di-
rection that these additional rates lave goner-
ally been readily, and sometimes eagerly, accept
ed by the companies.
The Post-Otiico Appropriation act OF tho last
session allows compensation at rates ranging
from s25 to $50 milo per annum, tho postal
awey with the restriction whereby under pre-
yious laws, roads receiving tho highest ratio Of
pay wore prevented from receiving any addi-
tional compensation on account Of running
postal~cars. The Postmaster-G General in his
letter, propounds several very important inter-
who threaten, ho says of tic
roads they control, centcring at New York
1.-The execution OF their threat would
antail consequences so serious that I feel con-
strained to inquire whethcr.tho Government, in
ts management OF the immense postal interests
II the citizens, in whose behalf it acts, can be
:hus at the mercy Of corporations or parties Like
hese, by whom this menace is offered, or
slether under the laws declaring all railroads
and making it the duty Of the Post
to provide for tho carriage OF
nails on all post-roads, or under any other
aw or laws, the Government Possesses
sufficient power, or can have recourse to
5uisable means to protect the important |
interests entrusted to its custody thus i'm
,eri]cd. Will you, therefore, be pleased at tho
arlicst moment practicable, to communicate to
ne your opinion upon these points, to-wit:
First-1f the railroad companies refuse to I
airy agents in charge thereof for the compen-
alton prescribed by law, has tho Government, ,
5 represented by the Post-Ofico Department,
he right and is it its duty, to convey the mails
nd agents in cars Of its own over tho said !
Dads
Second-H the railroad companies offer to car
II. s1- F-.t t1.I