The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-27

United States. The section referred TO Is as iol-
lows:-"That the Secretary Of the Treasury Is d.
rected to Withhold all payments to any railroad
company and its assgnees on account OF freight or
TRANSPORTATION over their respective roads OF any
kind to the amount OF payments made by the
United States for interest upon the bonds OF
the United States issued to any such
company and which shall not have been
reimbursed. together with the five per cent of
net earnings due and unappiied, as provided by
law. &c, &c. The Attorney General thinks Con-
gress intended to make a railroad company which
has received bonds from the United States, aud
which has neglected or refused to reimburse the
government for interest paid upon these bonds,
together with 1--WE per cent upon its net earnings
due and unpaid, debtor 10 the United States for
that amount. Maniiestly the object was to enable
the Secretary Of the Treasury to onset this indebt
edness against any claim by such railroad COM
pany for transportation services rendered by 1t TO
the United States ON any railroad which 1t
owned controlled, without reference to the fact
al to whether or not the government had
aided In the construction OF such roads. He
thinks that o road leased by a company indebted
Aforesaid Is to be regarded for the purposes of
this act as its road and he, therefore, holds the
opinion that the Secretary OF the Treasury has the
right under said act to withhold payments for
transpOr tatiOn services rendered by said company
to the United States upon the Fremont, Elknorn
and Missouri Railroad.
simmons Probably Defeated as n Candi-
date for the Boston Coiicctorship-A
Stormy Executive Scssion-BOutyveH
Plays the Judas and Bctrays Butler.
Quite lively time was had in the Senate during
executive session to-day, on the question OF con-
firming w. A. Simmons for the envied position OF
Collector Of the Port OF Boston, The blue blood OF
Mace 70 had m do dano Straf an
hightoned dispatches which the silk-stocking rep
resentatives received here from the indignant
"Hub." Everything pertaining to these elements
was fully aroused to fever heat, and when the de-
bate commenced 1t was supposed and even counted
on that Senator Boutwell,, who was set down as
very friendly TO Simmons, would stand firm for
his confirmation; but alas It has turned out that.
under the threatening OF the Cochin China repre-
sentatives, he has shown the white feather. At
this Senator Conkling was thunderstruck and pale
with suppressed rage. He volunteered in a manly
way to take up the cudge!s for the deserted Sim
mons, stricken IN the house Of his friends and he
labored hard. Senator Sumner, owing to medical
advice, could not take part in the stormy and
Earring debate, and hence he preserved his COM
placency In the broil but, though two hours had
been spent IN determined struggle to sustain the
youthful candidate OF the Essex statesmen, Gen.
eral Ben Butler, with all his efforts, suffered a
Waterloo, or rather, Fort Fisher defeat in
the rejection Of simmons, for to that COM
plexion, at last, has this thing come. When
Senator Conkling found that Mr.. Simmons
had been rejected-the vote standing 20 against
Is in his avor-the point was made that thirty-fve
Senators only having recorded their vote, the
record did not show q quOrum-thirty-seve votes
being necessary-the vacancy in the Louisiana
delegation left the names Of but seventy-three
of of
Senators absented themselves while the vote
was being taken, and so the permanent defeat OF
Mr.. simmons confirmation is deferred until to-
morrow.
The One Hundred and Firy-five De-
fauiting Paymastcrs OF the Army.
In the list of 1855 paymasters OF the army re-
ported by the Secretary of the Treasury to Con-
gress as having unsettled balances remaining
against them only ten belonged to the regular
army as follows :-Colonel Daniel Mcclure, Lieu
tenant Colonel g. H. Ringgold died April 4, 1854
Major F. A. Cunningham, ont; Major Henry Prince,
Major Samuel Woods Major T. NJ. Winslow, out
Major A. H. Seward Major r. A. Kinzie, died 1873
I Major j. b. M. Potter OF this number the follow
ing were graduates of the Military Academy, and
the sums set opposite their names are the amounts
! charged against them on the books OF the Depart
! ment:-
Colonel Daniel Mcclure. ...............s 33, S43 O4
Lieutenant ColonerG II. Ringgold.. $50 81
Major Henry Prince. Observation-Disclosures. ia OF
Major Samuel Woods. Observation-Disclosures. 43 81
Major A. Fl. Seward...... 26 So
The amounts due from the three last named
officers are small ana no doubt would have been
readily settled If the officers were appraised OF the
intended publication. In the case Of Colonel Nc.
Clure he had applied for relief to Congress re.
questing that the question Of his Indebtedness tine
six years. limitation having expiredl be referred
to the Court Of Claims bill for that purpose has
passed Congress and been approved by the Pres
dent 1t Is but just in reference to many OF the
paymasters to say that they could not be called
defaulting paymasters, but have disputed the
amount remaining unsettled. Majors F. A. Hixon,
S. NJ Reynolds, G. s. Underwood and others allege
that the money was stolen from them, and will 90
to Congress or to the Court of Claims for relief.
The officers named on the list OF the Secretary OF
the Treasury other than those mentioned above
were additional paymasters during the war; The
unpaid balances stated are therefore charged TO
their bonds as additional paymasters.
Provisions of the Completed Indian
Appropriation Bill.
| The House Committee on Appropriations to-day
! finished the Indian Appropriation bill, which ap
propriates about $4.S00,000 about S. 000 900 less
than the estimates OF the Interior Depart
ment. Ten thousand dollars was appropri
I AIeu IOI Vic euplOIt VI VIC MOuoCSs Inc
Board OF Indian Commissioners is continued
with all the powers and duties conferred
and imposed by the existing laws These
powers and duties shall not be construed as au
thorzing the Board, or any member Or committee
thereof to examine and pass upon the accounts
and vouchers OF the Indian Bureau at any other
place than the city OF Washington, nor as compel
! ling such examination if the Board shall not deem
1t necessary nor desire to make the same, and al
such examinations and duties shall hereafter be
performed in Washington, and nothing herein pro
vided shall be construed to supersede or interfere
with the duty heretofore imposed upon said Board
OF Commissioners OF exercising, under the dscre
ton OF the President Joint control with the Secre
tary of the Interior over the disbursement OF the
appropriations for the Indian service.
The Charges of Maifcasauce Against
Judge story, OF Arkansas, and Their
Treatment ny the House.
Charges of malfeasance against William Story