The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-03-28
WASHINGTON.
The Postal InYesfigaliOu.

The Postal Investigation.
WASHINGTON, March 27.-The House Com
mittee on Post Offices to-day heard the state
ment OF Gov Thompson of Idaho. He said the
recent testimony of Barlow was calculated to
lnJure him unless his transactions with Barlow
be explained. He testified that in March, 1874,
the bid for carrying the mail to Kelton, Utah,
and the Dalles in Oregon was at the rate OF
$l23, 400 per annum, but Delacey was awarded
the contract at $67 900 and commenced service
the first of July, and in September Thompson
was informed by the Department that he could
take up his checks which covered the usual
deposit of per cent required of bidders at the
time of putting in bids. A few days after
wards Barlow came to his room and asked him
if he thought it possible for Delacey to carry
the mails at so low figure as $67 900, and in
the event of Delacey's failure what he iThomp-
SOM proposed to do? Thompson said he pro-
posed to hold our claim. Barlow remarked
that he would sell his stock to Thompson, and
the latter replied, II will buy it at fair price
or give you my chances on the bid" This was
seven or eight months after the contract was
let to Delacey, and some three months before
he failed Thompson sold him his chances for
$4,000, and Barlow obtained the route at 1884,
ZOO Thompson considered that while he had
a claim on the Post-office Department as one of
the lowest bidders the Department had no
claim on him. SIX months after Delacey COM
menced the service Thompson received circu.
lar from the Post-ofice Department asking
bid should the contract be awarded to him, to
which he made no reply, having sold whatever
interest he had in it to Barlow as above stated.
Thompson said he had never any combination
with other parties, all his bids being legitimate,
but legitimate bidders never had a fair chance
MIR. Dana's Case Discussed in the Senate.
In the executive session of the Senate this
afternoon Senator Cameron called up the re-
port of the Committee on Foreign Relations
adverse to the confirmation of r. III. Dana,
Jr. Minister to England. Mr.. Cameron in ad-
vocating the report referred to the charge
made by Gen. Butler that Dana had committed
perjury in his answer to Lawrence's suit alleg-
ing literary piracy, etc.
Senator Frelinghuysen followed with
statement of the case as presented to the COM
mittee by Messrs. Butler and Lawrence and
concluded with an ntimation that he would
vote in favor of confirming the nomination.
A number of questions were asked relative to
Dana's letter criticsing the action of the COM
mittee, and Senator Boutwell, then took the
floor, strongly favoring the confirmation. He
said MIR. Dana had not been guilty of perjury,
though portion of his reply to Lawrence, if
taken by itself, might be perverted to support
such charge. What Mr.. Dana denied was
simply to the effect that he had not used Law
rence's work in the preparation of his own
notes, but in another portion of bis answer
Dana had admitted making use of Lawrence's
otherwise, and expressly stated that be inter-
leaved them with his own and sent them to the
printer.
During the discussion the objection was
made to Dana that man who could not con
troll his temper as evinced IN his letter to Sena-
tor Boutwell, would not make safe diplomat
list, aud Senator Morton made point that the
above mentioned letter was sufficient argu-
ment for voting against Dana's confirmation as
Minister to England.
The Senate adjourned without acting on the
report of the committee, which it is thought
however, will be agreed to.
Pacific Railroads.
The Senate Committee on Pacific Railroads
odry discussed the Texas Pacific Railroad
bill and other propositions in regard to the con-
struction of a railroad in or near the 32d paral
lei, but arrived at no conclusion and postponed
the further consideration of the whole subject
two weeks from date.
The Postal RiIl.
The postage bill was reported favorably from
the Senate postal committee to-day. 1t is Mr..
HamlinS measure amended SO as to provide
that the rate for third class mail matter shall
be one cent per ounce for any distance not eX-
ceediDg 1000 miles and two cents per ounce for
distances over 1000 miles. The amended bill
also provides that transient newspaper and
magazines shall pay postage for any distances
at the rate OF one cent for every three ounces
aud one cent for each two ounces or fractional
part OF two ounces additional.
The President and the Resumption Act.
NEW YORK, March 27.-The Posts Wash
ingtop special says persons who have talked
with President Grant lately say he is very de.
cided in his opinion thaG the resumption act
should not be repealed, and does not hesitate to
say that if Congress should repeal the act be
would interpose his veto.
Various Matters.
A despatch to New York paper says AS
slstant Treasurer Wyman or Cashier Gilillan
will succeed Treasurer New.
A special says Philip A. M. Holt, nominated
last week as pension agent at st. Joseph, Mo,
was recently indicted for defrauding the gov
eminent in that city. Copies of the indct-
ment have been furnished to members of Con-
gress.
Mr.. Lippincott, late chief clerk of the land
Office, was concerned in the issuing of fraudu-
lent Chippewa scrip to the amount of 1920
some time ago, and when Secretary Chandler
learned the truth Of the matter he promptly
removed him.
The committee on eX penditures in the war
department held no meeting to-day. Gen. Gus
tar is among ether witnesses summoned to ap-
pear before that committee.
The grand jury has found an Indictment
against Hallett Kilbourne.
House Committee on Appropriation will re-
port bill to appropriate $40 900 to defray the
the expenses of reception and apDrafsement of
foreign goods shipped to the Centennial exhi-
bition.
The Com missory General of Subsistence asks
Congress for an early appropriation of 100000
to purchase supplies for remote posts in April
and May, that they may reach their destina-
ton early in the summer.
Col. New has withheld for the present his
resignation Of the Office of U. S. Treasurer.
This he does at the request of the President