Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-01-09
WASHINGTON.
Heavy Loss by the Burning Of a Postal
Car.
Currency to the Amount Of 500, 900
Destroyed.
The Cabinet COncOcting a Report on
Louisiana.
Schumaker Refuses to Lift the Veil.

/ W AsHlNGION, Jan. o.-By the DuTuule
/ of the postal car in the collision on the
Baltimore and Pacific Railroad. last night,
| the entire Northern mail from Washington,
including the accumulated days mail from
the South, excepting one pouch and can
vass bag for Baltimore, was destroyed. The
body Of the postal clerk, Thomas Fayman,
has arrived here. II Is burned TO a crisp.
The only thing saved from the burned ears
is the express box, but the money it con-
tanned was destroyed.
In tho fire which followed the collision
on the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad
last night, important packages and letters
from the Executive departments, and more
than thousand official circulars, calling
for reports from national banks, were burn
ed; also 100000 in new national bank
notes. But large portion of this amount
may be identified at the department here.
It appears the amount Of legal tenders and
fractional currency burned will approxi-
mate $500, 1000, even if it does not exceed
that amount.
The Forthcoming Report on Louisiana
At the Cabinet meeting to-day several
dispatches containing instructions to Gen.
Sheridan for his guidance in New Orleans,
and in addition thereto the press report to-
day were the subject of attention. Off
cial dispatches from Gen. Sheridan were
also received. The Administration is now
awaiting official information prior to the
time at which Gen. Sheridan took command
Of the department, before diciding definite
ly upon report to Congress.
Pacific Mail Secrets.
Richard c. Parsons, member Of Congress
from Cleveland, Ohio, testified before the
Pacific Mail Investigating Committee to-
day, that about three years ago he was en-
plOyed by StoekWell as his lawyer to aid
him in presenting to Congress an applica-
tiOn for increasing subsidy. For the ser
vice performed he was paid $4,000 and
his expenses. He had no knowledge what
ever Of any member Of Congress receiving
money or being approached cOrruptly, or
that Irwin was expending any money in
that or any other way, except for household
expenses
Another COntumaeiOus Witness.
John G.. Schumacher, Representative In
Congress from Brooklyn, n. Y, testified
that during 1871, u and '73, he was at
torney for the Pacific Mail Steamship Com
pany, and also for Stockwell and Irwin in
dividually. Had check for $4,000 given
me by my client in a confidential relation,
and am under the impression the check
wasBdrawn by Richard B. Irwin.
After repeated protests against invading
the privileges Of confidential cOmmunica-
tions, witness finally stated that three
checks for $4,000 each, drawn from pro-
ceeds Of the S275, 900 check, were sent to
the Pacific Nail Company in New York.
Witness further stated that the remaining
S125,000 was by mistake of the Brooklyn
Trust Company, placed to his individual
credit, and he therefore drew out
all this sum, except $4,000,
By his individual checks, and sent them
all at one time and in one direction, by
order Of his client, to parties whom his
client designated. The names Of persons
among whom the S115, ,0lO were distributed
witness declined to give without the con-
sent Of his client. His refusal viii be
brought 70 the attention Of the House.
A Caucus on Southern Affairs.
Special to the Cincinnati Gazette.
Thirty members of the House have sign
ed a call for a caucus on Southern affairs.
Is will be held on Saturday evening, al
half past seven. Some Of the most promi-
nent members are moving in the matter,
and the intention is to have a full debate
on the whole Southern question, and if
possible agree upon policy that shall COM
mend itself to the whole country.
Grant and the Finance Bill.
The President has expressed his warm
approval of the bill as passed. He thinks
it mainly important from the TACT that it
fixes a certain definite date at which the re-
sumption Of specie payments will take
place, and, hence it will enable the busi-
ness interests Of the country to accOmmO-
date themselves to the new basis Of finan-
cial operations.
Congress Must Decide LOuisIanR's
Fate.
The President says his sole purpose is to
preserve peace till Congress shall declare a
policy in regard to the chief questions in
dispute. He has no intention Of acting as
requested by Gen. Sheridan. No additional
troops are to be ordered South. The Ques-
tion Of approving or Disappearing the action
of Col. Beforehand, in ejecting cOntes-
tants from the Legislature, has been sub
mitted to the Cabinet.
The transportation Schemes.
The Committee Of the Senate caucus on
TranspOrtation.are awaiting reports of the
Chief Engineers on the routes ordered 10
be surveyed last year. These will be
ready within a fortnight.
Some of the more sanguine Western
Senators and Representatives are quite
hopeful that Congress will, at least, make
small appropriation to begin the work of
opening new routes from the Mississippi
Valley to the sea, but it is the general Opin- |
ion that the heavy falling of of receipts |
from IcustOms duties, and the increase of |
the public debt reported in the first Of the |
present month, will prevent any appropri- |
alton at this session.