The Portland daily press., 1873-03-31
WASHINGTON.
The Postal Service and the Rail.
roads.
important Questions Asked by the
Postmaster General.
Peaceful Indians.

WASHINGTON, March 2e.-The following il
received here:
Red Cloud Agency, Wyominq Territory, Mar "a.
~ 10 the Commissioner OF Indian AHaiTs
Washington, d. c Sir: would respectfully
inform the Department that Lone Antelope
one of the hostile chiefs of the Munecony0ns
band of Sioux, with IS lodges, is reported tt
have just gone in camp on the White rlvel
with the Sioux of this agency also tn aofs sit
the Unepapa band of hostile Sioux are in camp
at Bear Butt, four days march from here, on
their way to this place. Sitting Bull and his
party remained there to hear from these In
dams. / have sent them tobacco and clothes,
asking them to come in and assuring them of
the good will of the government 1t seems adj
visable that steps should be taken to secure the
friendship of these people, considering their
importance in connection with the Northern
Pacific Railroad. Very respectfully;
j. w. DANIELS, q. S. Indian Agent.
In opposition to the statement m de in com
munications published in the Philadelphia pa
pers in behalf of railroad companies participate
ing in the present war upon the postal service,
to the effect that none of the companies VINO
have provided and run postal cars have hereto
fore received dollar more of compensation on
that account, the Postmaster General SHOWS III
letter this day addressed to the Attorney Gen.
eral, that in cases in which the utmost llmlt OF
compensation fixed by law had not been reach-
ed, the Department has paid additional rates
ranging from $1,000 to $500 per mile per an
mum for cars of this description, running one a
day in each direction, and that these additional
rates have generally been readily ana SOME
times eagerly accepted by the railroad compa-
MES; that some have voluntarily offered 10 pro
vide and run such cars in advance OF any ap-
plication or suggestion on the part OF the De-
partment and with a full knowledge OF rates
paid for similar services whenever performed
at the Departments request. The post once
appropriation act, passed at the late session Oh
nv,d~ faCr
Congress, allows compensation ana rates rang-
ing from $25 to $50 per mile per annum for
postal cars running once a day each way ana
does away with the restriction whereby, under
previous laws, roads receiving the highest rates
of pay were prevented from receiving any ad-
ditional compensation on account OF running
postal cars.
The Postmaster General in his letter, pro-
pounds several very important interrogatlons
referring to companies who threaten 70 WIFI
draw the postal cars on the first OF april ne
saws: The roads they contro' are centering at
New York, the great commercial emporium OF
The country: the point to and from which the
larges nroportion of mail communication OF the
country radiates and cOnverges. Ihe execution
of their threat would entail consequences so Sc
rious that feel constrained to inquire whether
the government in its management OF the I'M
mense postal interests of the citizens in whose
behalf it acts can be thus at the mercy of the
corporations or parties like these by whom this
menace is offered, or whether, under the laws
declaring all railroads, post roads, and making
it the duty of the Postmaster General to pro-
vide for the carrying of the mail on all post
roads or under any other law or laws, the gov
ernmet possesses sufficient power or can have
recourse to suitable means to protect the inn
portant interests entrusted to its custody, and
thus imperilled Will you, therefore, be pleas
ed at the earliest moment practicable, commun-
icate to me your opinion on the points herein
after named, to wit:
First. If railroad companies refuse to carry
over their roads the mails OF the United States
and agents in charge thereof Tor the compensa-
ton prescribed by law, has the government, as
represented by the Post Office Department. the
right and is its duty to convey mails and agents
in care of it's own over said roads?
Second If railroad companies offer to carry
as mere freight or baggage, and refuses to pro-
vide suitable post cars and to trasport such
agents or clerks as may be necessary to take
charge of and distribute said mails, thereby en-
dangering safety and retardng the distribution
and delivery thereof, is it the right and duty
of the government to provide and run upon
such roads suitable cars for the due distribu-
ton and delivery o. said mails?
Third. Is it not within the exclusive power
of the Department to interpret and enforce the
law so far as to determine what is right and
proper in the way of accommodations and safe
guards for the despatch, transportation and dis
tribution of mails, and to require compliance
herewith on the part of railroad companies?
greater compensation to railroad companies
than that prescribed in the act of Congress,
March 8, 1873?
Fifth. In case the railroad comDanies or any
of them shall refuse to provide and run postal
cars on their roads as heretofore for the COM
pensation prescribed by law, advise this De-
partment as to the extent and nature of its
powers under existing legislation to provide
against delays, losses and inconvenience re-
sulting therefrom.
Sixth. Has Congress the power, under the
Constitution, to confer upon this Department
greater authority and control over the railroads
of the country in connection with the postal
service than that now possessed, and it so,
state the extent and scope of the legislative
power in that direction.
British and American Claims.
The Mixed Commission on British and Amer
lean claims disposed of fifteen cases last week,
awarding about $50 000 The CommisSi On has
thus far settled 259 cases. leaving 21S on the
,cket, the larger part of which are ready for
hearing.
Bonds and Gold.
The Assistant Treasurer at New York has
been directed to purchase $5O0000 in bonds on
Wednesday, April 9th and 23d, each, and to
sell 81, 100000 gold each Thursday during the
month of April, thus purchasing Sl,000,0 900
bonds and selling $6,O00,00O of gold
Treasury Balances.
The balances in the Treasury to-day were as
follows: Currency, $2,S1S, 237; special deposits
of legal tenders for the redemption of certif-
Gates of deposit $27 1856 900; coin, $685. 317 279;
including com certificates, $23, 748,5 800; out
standing legal tenders 1858, $50, 946.