New-York tribune., 1873-02-06
WASHINGTON.
CURRENT TOPICS AT THE CAPITAL.
DEFEAT OF THE RESUMPTION BILL.
WASHINGTON. Wednesday, Feb. s, lsI

The slaughter OF the Specie Payments bill. III tho oo
to-day, quite unexpected by its friends tnous
those who opposed IL determined to get IL out oi
the way. Mr. Fenton written speech OF about 10
minutes in length and Mr.. Thurman seemed 70 have goo
the matter clearly in his mind than yesterday ana
Mr.. Salisbury had his on IL. Mr sherman nauo y
rallyng speech in forlorn attempt to save his p ou'
was In vaIn and 1t the table by vote Oh ~ 10
o. This doubtless settles the question OF spece pay
ments and free banking for this session. Conversation
with Senators shows that the majority OF the "oS'o
Senators do not want specie payments resumed anu
they were joned bva few Eastern who feareu 'n"
the Sherman hill was too favorable to the hatloni
banks or were dissatisfied with the form OF the Dill aS
reported by the Finance Committee.
ARKANSAS POLITICAL TROUBLES.
Mr. Rice introduced a resolution in the Senate today'
directing the Committee Privileges and Eec'ohS W
inquire whether there is legal State Government III
Arkansas and il so, by whom IL is constituted MI
Ferry of Connecticut objected to consideration, say
ing that the result OF the investigation into the Loush"
troubles had made him doubt the power OF the senate
TO make such inquiries The whole Arkansas qucs'io"
has been referred to Mr. Moron's Committee already
and some OF the witnesses whohave been summoned arc
now I'm town. Senator Rice and ms friends premise 10
show that If the vote is fairly counted they have ecou
their Governor and majority OF both branches OF the
Ieoislature Tie CLAYTON men, on the other hand
saw that there is nothing for the Committee 10
investigate. The Ex-Governor, TO whom by law Is III
trusted the counting the votes, - here win MS re-
turns, and be examined III few hours IHc9 'iu
that there IS no pTetense that there are any olhe e
returns except those which their claims are oaou'
and that every body I'm Arkansas, with very lew 'N
mons acquicsces IN the legality Of the present Sllte
Government II anybody is dissatisfied they adu' tut
laws Of the state provide remedy In contest @ uu,
notice that they intend -, 10 , IhhT aug ~
contested seats in the Legislature was no greater t
usual, and nearly every ease has been decideu vo W Va
the Democrats who elected or who claimed 10 pe
could be induced TO 20 into movement 10 SCI w !"
second State Government, but presented tlI cliiuS
the Legislature il organized and abded lls 49,,
sion These statements on both sides must be tahen WIN
that amount Of allowance that 10 is necessary 10 give "
the stories OF Arkansas politicians.
FREE DELIVERY OF MAILS.
The Post Office Appropriation bill taken mp IN the
House Committee OF the Whole to-day After consider
able debate the macarriers item. an amendment 10
raise the pay of the carriers lost and an amendment
extending the free delivery to cities Of over 2OOOl popu
la;ion was adopted. somewhat acrimonious discds-
sion arose item Of $4,000 for envelopes Tor the
official correspondence Of pOstmas,ers. Messrs. But
Ter and Dunucn insisted that this should BE-
stricken ont because the franking privilege had
been repealed Messrs. Garfield and Fmnsworth
explained that the envelopes had no connection with
frankug but were needed for mOncyOrdcr correspond
ence reports. etc. Mr. Butler persisted IN attacking the
paragraph and Mr.. Garfield ntimaied that he was acu
ated by petty spite accOunt OF the abolition oil The
frankng abuse Mr.. Butler REPLIED that all the talk and
,.
aud went to denounce the movement for repeal ln
severe terms Mr. Garfield said that there va no ] oce
sion for Mr. Buffers being 50 personal. MT. butier
retorted that he wanted quarrel with the gentlemen
aud added with obvious IrieF'ner - 20 me gt' M 5
been disposed to hght with Mr. julcrs weapons ne
iatters Sc 600 counsel fee from the Union aclc road
aud the COwlam correspondence but Ee sdl nothing
The affair created considerable sensation In the House.
ana was regarded the first OF series o. attacks
which Butler supposed 10 mediate on all oi OAes
Ames's victims.
q
The advocates of the canal schemes feel conf
dent of success They claim that they secure the
solid Southern vote and large share OF the Western
members together with scattering vote from New
York brought in by the Niagara ship Canal project,
which will be included in the bill with the Coosa aud
James River and kanawha schemes Good judges OF the
temper of the House doubt however. that it will be
sibIe by the most s.ul combination OF local Interests
to get a majority vote for a that will commit
the Government to the ultimate expenditure Of about
s5OO5OOO0. 10 l. bad time TO induce Congress to
subsidze new lines OF transportation and open the way
for new Credit Mober organizations and members who
would he glad for the magnificent jobs now be
ing cooked up in the Commerce Committee will, it is,
predicted, be restrained from doing by wholesome
dread Of their constituents The Committee have not
yet agreed upon their report They have Thursday OF
next week specially assigned 10 thcin Tor te caa ps
aud VIII doubtless perfect an omnibus measure IN day
or two embracing the three Improvements mentioned
above.
Representative Merriam has prepared bill TO compel
railroads to carry the mails under heavy penalties in
case OF refusal which he would have offered to-day II
an opportunity had arisen. There Is nothing to prevent
any railroad from absolutely refusing transport the
mails after the expiration Of s existing contract and
the general movement among railroad companies 10 de-
mand higher rates Of compensation from the Postonce
Department leads to some apprehension that they
may combine and force the Postmaster-General to
pay them unrcasOnably high prices for the
services they render. H. Is stated that there Is rail-
road Long Island that Will not carry the mails at ALL
and forces the Government TO transport them by stage
along the line Of its road The power of the Government
to compel railroad company 10 render service that
is unwilling to perform s disputed by most strict con
structonists of the Constitution but IN case the rail
road companies should menace the public with such
tremendous calamity as total cessation OF mail faclh
ties Congress would not be likely TO refrain from bring
ing the power OF the Government 20 bear 20 provide
remedy by Of any doubt OF Its constitutional
power in the premises.
A PLEA FOR THE UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD.
Horace f. Clark, President Of the Union Pacific Rail
road Co., made an argument before the House Appro
priatioDs Committee to-day, the Senate amendment
to the Legislative Appropriation bill, directing the Sec
retary Of Treasury retain all the money earned by
the road for Government transportation, and in add
on collect five per cent OF the earnings from other
sources He spoke for an hour and made a clear and
forcbe Of the views Of the present manage
men the road He said that the act OF had been
passed 10 quiet the question OF the obligations Of the
road toward the Government. The Senate ana House
recently both agreed upon reopenng the question
under the impulse Of the prevailing excitement about the
Credit Mobiler and he willing 10 have IL submitted
TO judicial decision for final settlement. He protested
however against the requirement the Senate amend
ment relative TO the payment Of five per the
annual earnings OF the road violation OF the faith
the Government 10 the Company pledged in rs act
OF incorporation. BY that act the Company not
bound 10 pay the five per cent until the road com
pleted, and IL given until 1876 TO finish the work
While In the road completed, he
claimed that in proper sense 1t was not The Govern,
Directors in their last report had declined finally
accept completed, until certain restles should be
built and other work DONE and the Interior Department
acting Gn this report, declined 10 give the Company
paten for all lands entitled TO- The Government,
therefore held the road TO be and had
night 10 insist on the five per cent payment Mr.. Clark
ganst Congress holding the Railroad Company
responsible for the sins Of the Credit Mobier He said