The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-06-19
FROM WASHINGTON.
Confirmation of the New Secretary O.
the Ireasury-Cheap TranspOrtR-
tim,

At an executive session of the senate
On the I'd, a unanimous report was
made from the committee on finances,
recommending the confirmation of Gen.
BristOw to be secretary of the treasury
in place of Richardson, resigned. The
senate, without hesitation, unanimously
confirmed the nomination. Not so, how
ever, with regard to the nomination of.
Richardson to be jadge of the court of
claims, which was not reported back
unanimously from the committee on
Judiciary. During forty minutes ses-
sion views were interchanged by sena-
tors rather in a conversational way than
by debate, the democrats openly ba-
sing their opposition to the nomination
on the report of the committee on ways
and means, and the accompanying testi-
mOny in the Sanborn case in reference
to him. With this exception the ques-
ton arose as to his fitness for the Judge
ship. Little was said on the republi-
can side, certainly no formal defense of
his conc net of the SanbOrn contracts.
Finally, when the question was taken
on advising and consenting to the NOM
ination, number of republican sena-
tors in their seats declined to vote. A
sufficient number of them, however,
did so to carry the nomination by a
small majority. If those who opposed
the nomination by failing to respond to
their names had voted in the negative.
tie nomination would have been re-
iected. The senate had been canvassed
by senatorial friend of Richardson a
week before the nomination was trans
mltted to the senate, when it appeared
the nomination could b. secured,
though by a small majority. Massa-
chusetts has two judges on the bench of
the cOart of claims, Lorng and Rich
ardsop.
By invitation of the postmaster gen
eral a number of the representatives of
western states and territories assembled
at the department on the ID, to aid him
in determining the insufficiency of
bonds forwarded by successful bidders
for mail service under the last letting.
Generally the sureties were considered
by the representatives present to be
adequate, but in some cases bondsmen
were unknown to The representatives,
and therefore no assurance concerning
them could be given. A very small
portion of the accepted bidders failed
to furnish bonds for the execution of
their contracts. The result is attributed
to the working of the per cent. de-
post system. 1t is considered that
many bonds now furnished will prove
worthless, and the department favors
still further amendments, so as to exact
heavy penalties against the postmasters
who certify that straw bonds are good
and which prove insufficient.
The substitute reported by Senator
Window, from the transportation COM
mittee, for the house bill to regulate
commerce among the several states.
provides that every line of railroad ex-
tending into or through two or more
states, and employed in carrying freight
between points in different states, or
from any foreign country, whether
owned and operated by one or several
corporations or persons, shall keep
posted in each of its stations and de-
pots, full classification of freights aud
charges per mile for every distance for
which it receives freight for transporta-
tiOn, and the rates so established it
shall charge in every case, exert for
government transportation and for char
liable purposes, so long as said schedules
remain unchanged, and thirty days no.
tice must be given of any intended
chan of schedule rates. The bill
prohibits any determinations in charges
of like services performed for different
shippers, or any determinations in de-
livery of freight, except according to
priority of shipment /; also, provided
that the railroad company receiving
freight for transportation over other
road, in addition to its own line, shall
be responsible to the shipper for the
safe delivery of freight at it's destina
ton. Each violation of the foregoing
provisions is to be punished by fine of
not less than $500 nor more than S., 900.
Announcement is maze from Wash
ingtOn that subscriptions to the new 5
per cent. loan continue to be received
at the treasury, and a call for S5,OOO,-
600 five-twenty bonds may be shortly
expected.
The bill passed by the senate to
amend the charter of the Freedmen's
Savings and Trust Company provides
that within ten days after it's enactment
the comptroller of the currency shall
appoint three commissioners, who, IN
der the jurisdiction and control of the
secretary of the treasury, shall take
possession of the books and all assets
of the bank and is branches, with pow
er to wind up all business of said bank
and its branches, and pay into the Uni
ted States treasury all money realized
theTefTom. The comptroller of the cur
rency is to declare and pay dividends as
the results may Justify. The commits
slOners are to receive a salary of 50, 900
per annum, and give bonds of S25, 900
each. 1t is provided, however, that if
in the progress of winding up, the COM
missiOners and comptroller of currency
shall at any time be of opinion that the
bank can resume under its old charter,
they may, with the consent of the sec
rotary of the treasury, turn it over to
the board of trustees, who shall then
resume their present powers.
Last week Mr.. Hurlbut, from the
committee on railways and canals,
called up the bill for the Improvement
of the mouth of the Mississippi river,
and proceeded to explain and advocate
it. The bill authorizes James B. Fades
and associates to proceed in the work of
deepening the channel of one of the
outlets or passes of the Mississippi river
into the Gulf of Mexico, to be selected
by himself, by permanent jetties, ETC.
the privileges of the bill to be revoked
unless within 80 months three feet is
secured, and they may subsequently be
revoked unless two additional feet of
water Is secured each year until 26 feet
are secured, and two additional feet
within two years thereafter, when a
channel of % feet in depth can be main
tanned with clear surface-the width to
be not less than 600 feet, so that
ships drawing % feet can be safely nav
igated, and two ships can pass each
other in safety. The government is to
pay to Fades or his legal representa-
tives 3, 900, 900, and for each additional
depth of two feet an additional million
dollars. The whole sum is not to ex-
coed So, 900, 900. Commissioners are %
be appointed by the president to exam
inc the work, and the payments are to
be made on their report, and when they
report that a channel of % feet has
been permanently established, an ad-
ditonal six millions of dollars is to be
paid at yearly intervals.
Secretary Richardson has given no.
tice that principal and incrued interest
Of the bonds below designated, known
as 5 20 bonds, will be paid at the treas