The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-22
WASHINGTON.
The Sunday Morning Pro-
ceedings of the Senate.
Committees of Congress at Work
1
Yesterday.

Abuses I'm the Post Once Department.
Acqsittai Of the Omrers Implicated.
The House Committee on Post Offices and Post
Roads late last night submitted report on the
charges made by Representative Stone tnat
abuses and Irregularities exist in the Post once
Department In relation to certain mail contracts,
the payment to contractors and contracts for
temporary service The committee, after an eabor-
ate examination of the subject, say that the facts
and proceedings relating to the lettings OF the
routes specified in the preamble to MIR. Stones
resolution, and the employment OF the temporary
service rendered necessary by the failure of bid
ders to enter into contracts and perform the SER
vice, furnished fair Illustration of some at least
OF the annoyances and difficulties TO which the
Post ONCE Department was constantly exposed
under the system Of ''straw' bidding to which it
was subjected. The present Postmaster General
has, since he assumed the administration OF the
affairs OF che Post ONCE Department frequently
called the attention of Congress to these Irregu-
larities and abuses recommending from time to
time such legislation as was suggested
by the experience OF the department
for the purpose OF preventing, If possible.
their continuance ana repetition, and so far as the
committee have been able to discover. after very
full and careful investigation, they believe he has,
with an energy and industry worthy OF special
government from any serious losses which would
otherwise have been sustained in consequences
OF these unlawful combinations and illegal
practices under the advertisement OF 2,414 routes,
at least 10000 bids were received and examined !;
and as soon as 1T became manifest that the lowest
bidders upon number or them, including all of
those embraced by Representative Stone in his
charges, would TAIL to enter into the contract
which was directed to be executed prior
to the first day Of July, 1871, the Post
master General at once proceeded to Law
all the facts before the Attorney General for the
purpose of obtaining his opinion as to the true in
terpretation OF the laws bearing upon the subject
and OF beng 0ffcially advised as to the proper
course for the Department to pursue, under the
circumstances, Tor the protection OF the
interests OF the United States and the
rights OF honest, bona tide bidders Under
the Interpretation Of the law as 1t then
stood but little, II anything, was left to the discre
ton Of the Postmaster General. He had no au.
thority to disregard the rule defined by the Attor.
ney General nor accept any other bid upon the list
IN place of the falling bidder, and his plain duty
was to execute the law as he found 1t. That he
and his assistants IN the Department. made every
effort within the scope OF their authority to detect
and prevent fraudulent bidding, and that they
honestly endeavored 10 perform their whole duty
faithfully and in the best interests OF the govern
ment the evidence taken in the investiga-
JtOn leaves no room to doubt; and, while
the prices paid for temporary services in some
of the cases in which it became necessary to en-
plOy them were higher than portion Of
the lowest and probably irresponsible bids for the
regular service of four years upon the same route
yet the testimony proved very conclusively that
the temporary contract, the only one the Post
master General was then authorized to make,
was uniformly given to the lowest bidder Tor
that kind OF service, and that in no case was
1t awarded at price in excess of what was
believed to be q fair and reasonable compensation
for such service. The committee say II the bill
which recently passed the House should become a
law it will have the desired effect of preventing
straw bidding, and further, that the uncontra-
dlcted evidence fully established the fact that no
payments Of money were made in any instances in
advance OF the service, nor until after the expira-
ton OF the quarter in which the work
was done. Believing that while the CON-
binations for straw bidding have frequently
been entered into by outside parties the alleged
abuses and Irregularities have not existed
and do not exist In the Post once Department, as
charged In the preamble and resolution referred to
by the committee; and being OF opinion, after a
very thorough examination Of the whole question,
that the charges against the officers of that de-
partment have not been sustained, the committee
ask that the preamble and resolution be laid on
the table, and that they be discharged from further
consideration of the subject This was agreed to.
A Sunday OF Legislative Labor In Conn
mittee Rooms-The Unfinished Work.
The House Committee on Appropriations were in
session to-day considering the Senate's amend
ments to the bills making appropriations for sun.
dry civil expenses and for rivers and harbors, so
as to present their report tomorrow morning
for the action OF the House. The only
other general appr opriation bill pending be-
tween the two houses is that making
appropriations for the Post ONCE Department..
The Senate has appointed committee TO confer
with that to be appointed by the House on dis
agreeing amendments. The prospect is that the
above mentioned bills will be dennitivey acted
upon by both branches tomorrow. The clerks
were engaged to-day engrossing numerous billa
and otherwise transacting business pertaining to
Congress. During yesterday about nifty bills,
most OF them OF private character, were pre-
sented TO the President for his approval. The
committee of conference on the Geneva Award
Distribution bill have not yet been able to agree,
and the probability Is that it will go over until the
next session. with many Others OF public charac-
ter.
The Closing Scenes OF the Session.
1t is remarked by persons who have long been
observers Of closing scenes OF Congress that the
recent night sessions, though somewhat noisy,
were less disordery than heretofore towards the
end of session. Copious supplies of lemonade and
iced tea were furnished In the ante rooms With
the closing hours OF Congress the determination
ana energy of the lobby grew stronger. Old and
familiar faces seen at the doors in earnest re-
newal OF appeals to congressman to make final ef-
forts in behalf Of their claims for tho last time.
The lady lobbyists are not in great numbers, but
are the most importunate.
The Currency Bill Before the President.
The Currency bill has reached the President.
The general opinion is that he Will signit
Probable Passage OF the Utah Bill.
Immediately on the meeting OF the Senate to.
morrow Mr.. FreiinGhuysen will call up the House
bill for toe execution Of the federal laws in Utah,
in eject abolishing such features OF the Territorial
judiciary as interfere with their enforcement 1t