The New York herald., 1873-12-21
w a s Fl 7 n c. r. . II .
WASHINGTON, Dec. 20, 1873.
The Contest for the Ocean Mail Con-
tracts.

Vhe contest Tor the Ocenn Hl&fl OOn.
tracts.
The hearing for the contracts for the European
mail service for the ensuing term OF IS months
came of before the Postmaster General to-day.
Most OF the European companies were repre-
sented. the Hamburg and the Eagle lines claiming
respectively the Thursday mails the Cunard the
Wednesday mails, and the German the Inman and
the Oceanic or White Star line the Saturday mails.
The chief contest was between the Inman and
the White Star lines. The Inman line formerly
carried the mail and did so up to September 1872,
when the contract taken from them on ac-
count OF the superior speed OF the White Star line.
The lnman line now claim that the contract should
be restored 10 them by reason of the addition OF
their three new vessels.
Mr.. j. W. Gerard, Jr., appeared as counsel for the
Inman line. and Mr.. Edwards Pierrepont for the
White Star line.
How little reliance is to be placed on recon-
mendations was shown by the fact which came out
in the argument OF the counsel that prominent
bankers and business men OF New York had signed
the request OF both lines, urging that the contract
be given respectively to them Mr. Pierrepont
claimed that the White Star line was % hours
faster than the lnman ne and, therefore, entitled
on the score OF speed, as well as certainty and Sc
curity, to the contract. The plan which was deter
mined upon by the Postmaster General OF
giving the mails to the fastest steamer on
the several days of sailing, no matter
what line she might belong to, while IL
met with favor from some of the steamer agents,
by others was looked upon as a scheme that will
not practically work well. None OF the lines
being considered as United States mail lines but
only occasional carriers, 1t is thought will produce
an indifference to the performance Of the service
by its becoming thus matter of little or no profit
position steamers sailing on the same day. viii, of
course, have competitors and will have the
contract as heretofore. The rivalshlp will be
mainly among the saturday lines, AMI the carrying
WILL doubtless, alternate very frequently between
the Inman and the White Star steamers. 1t viii
make the Atlantic, for these lines, weekly race
course.
The Postmaster General. after the hearing an
nOunced that he would not make any contracts at
present but would hereafter arrange system by
which the European mails shall be despatched
from New York four times week, on the steamers
sailing on any given Tuesday, Wednesday, Thurs
day Saturday, which, according to its past
record, best fufls the three conditions OF speed.
security and certainty.
Louisiana Complies a ations-What Is Ex-
pected from the DurcH Investigation.
new complication has transpired in the Pinch
Dure leaves here Monday night ior New Orleans,
to take testimony during the holiday vacation; !;
and as Judge Jeremiah NJ Wilson, OF Indiana,
who overhauled Judge Delehay's reputation, is at
the head OF the committee, there Is but slender
ground on which to base expectation Of white
wash. 1t Is certain that the Durell matter Will be
sifted to the bottom, and, as its outcome can
hardly fail to be the impeachment of the corrupt
Judge, the result will have serious bearing upon
the legality Of the Kellogg government, and
thereby upon the question OF Pinchback's admis-
sion TO the Senate.
Besides this there is new scandal anoat. which
is to the effect that Pinchback not only bribed
Blanchard to make afdavit to his own criminality,
but that he bought the votes in the Kellogg Legis
lature which elected him. and, to cap the climax,
that he obtained the money wherewith to buy them
by fraudulent devices and under false pretences.
1t is charged by Pinchback's opponents that among
the candidates for Senator before the Kellogg
Legislature was one Norton, g carpet-bagger who
was man OF wealth; that Norton, finding Ii nee
essary to buy votes, but disliking to go into the
market himself intrusted OF money TO
Pnchback to be used in buving up the negro legis.
lators to vote Tor him. Norton. Pinchback, 1t Is
alleged. took the money aud bought the mig
gers according to contract, except in that
he being ambitious, aud sharp fellow wthal
D0ugnL them lOr HlluscI lnSJcau OF lOr NORTON.
When the Legislature came 10 ballot Norton was
horrl1ed to find Pinchback elected and himself left
out in the cod and, IT is said, when he applied or
the restitution o. his money he was politely invited
to go to warmer climate than even New Orleans
These are few lriies which threaten to en-
barrass Pinchback In the attainment OF his Sena-
toria ambition Added to these is also the presence
in this city of Judge Bell, of New Orleans, who Is
expected to testify that former occasion he
was called upon to perform the melancholy duty
OF sentencing Pnchback to the Penientiary for two
years. And yet Senator Morton insists that he has
q prinld Jacie case.
Morton's point in sustaining Pinchback, however,
is not tnat he wants to get the latter into the
Senate particularly but that he desires to make
his admission a test OF the legality OF the Kellogg
government. Morton holds that until after Pinch
back has become member thereof the Senate
cannot take any cognizance OF the charge that may
stand against him, but as soon as he is admitted
on his credentials-which will settle the status or
the Kellogg government, from which he is ac-
credited-then Morton thinks he can be investI-
gated on the charges which affect his fitness for a
seat in the Senate.
Senator Ames Will Take His choice.
General Adelbert Ames will resign his seat in the
Senate early in January and go to Jackson, with
ernor OF Mississippi in the place of Governor
Powers He will then decide whether he will re-
main Governor OF Mississippi for four years or be
reelected to the Senate for the term commencing
in 1875 and ending March 3, 1881, as he can take
his choice.
Reconstruction OF the Bankrupt Law.
The Senate Judiciary Committee will sit during
the recess and endeavor to perfect Bankrupt act
that Will be free from the objections urged against
the law which the House so unceremoniously
Knocked in the head The work OF reconstruction
will be done by Messrs Edmunds, OF Vermont;
Thurman, OF Ohio. and Frelinghuysen, OF New Jer-
sey-al '.earned in the law" and representing the
interests Of different sections.
Senator Sprague has been among the most in
terested observers OF the action OF Congress upon
the repeal OF the Bankrupt iaw for, as matters
now stand, any dissatisfied creditor OF his house
. n