The New York herald., 1874-07-09
WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON, July, s, 1874.
Payment OF the Interest OM the Distrsrt
Debt.

Payment OF the Interest the Distract (
Debt.
The First end Second comptroilers OF the
Treasury, constituting the Board OF Audit under
the recent act of Congress- to-day gave notice OF
readiness to receive claims against the district OF
Columbia. The interest on the District bonds,
payable in gold, it has been decided must be paid
by the government In gold. The Appropriation
was in round numbers tl,3000o0, which was sup
posed 10 mean that amount in legal tenders or
other lawful money. and as the interest was in
cluded In the Indebtedness to be paid 1t was held
that the interest must be paid stipulated on the
bond The coupons will be paid on presentation
at the Treasury in Washington.
The New Assistant Attorney General.
The Hon. A. G. Riddle returned here last even
ing and tbis morning formally accepted the APP
point OF Assistant Attorney General to prose-
cute the sale burglary cases growing out OF the
Blowing up OF the safe in the District Attorneys
onice during the recent Congressional investiga
tion OF District OF Columbia affairs. Mr.. Riddle
took the oath OF once to-day and VIII commence
work the cases Immediately.
The Cash Account OF the District Of
Columbia.
The District OF Columbia II easury credit balance
from the receipts IRON taxes Is slOs, ,O0O and taxes
are coming IN at the rate OF $4,000 to $40 600 per
day.
1he rTccuucns baHks
The gentlemen appointed to wind up the affairs
OF the Freedmen's Savings Bank, Messrs. Creswel,
Leopold ana Purvis have accepted the commits
eions and will quahfy tomorrow.
National Post ROads-POwer or Con gress
to Enforce Carriage OF the Mails.
The report OF senator Mitchell, of the suh-cOm-
mittee OF the Senate Committee on Transportation,
in relation 10 the railway postal service OF the
country, presented by him on the last day of the
session OF Congress, has JUST been printed. The
Senator has gone into a thorough discussion as TO
the power OF Congress, under section s. article l,
OF the constitution, which declares that Congress
shall have the power TO establish post ofices and
post roads. He holds that Congress under this
delegation OF power may provide for the transpor
taton of its mails railroads owned by private
corporations without the consent OF such corpor-
ations, or Of the state In which such roads
are located by paying just compensation. That this
may he done by an exercise. on the part OF Con-
gress, OF the right of eminent domain. He holds
generally, that the power to take private property
for the purpose OF the transportation OF the public
mails does not depend upon any express prOvi-
sons of the constitution, but that 1t is an inherent
attribute Of sovereignty existing every indepen-
dent State. In support OF this opinion he
draws q comparison between the powers Of
Congress under our present constitution and those
WHICH eXlsteu unuer Tue arJlcles OF cOnIedera-
ton. His views are also sustained by numerous
citations from State and federal courts of high
authority. While declaring the existence in the
general government Of the power mentioned, Sen
atOr Mitchell does not recommend resort to It's ex-
ercise at this time and only in OF absolute
necessity ii such should arise. He cOntemplates
such changes in our postal laws as will enable the
department. to make just compensation for the car
riage Of mails on railroads, and also tend
to the extension OF the mall service as the
growth OF the country may demand. The
present law he regards as essentially defective,
and he therefore proposes to devote large part
OF his time during the recess OF Congress toward
perrecting bill the provision Of which, he hopes,
viii he acceptable to the railroad companies and
at the same time be Just TO the government