The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-04-07
IErom. Our Regular Correspondent

| A FLUTTER AMONG THE PosTAL-CARD BIDDERS.
WASHINGTON, April G.-Secretary Key
made flutter among the eighty bidders for
wolves million and half OF dollars, by
rejecting all bids and ordering areadver-
tisemeHt for proposals. The Post Office De-
partnent had decided to have style Of cards
that could only be manufactured by one
| firm in the whole country, because no other
firm possessed the peculiar machinery ne
cessary. These new cards, as proposed,
were to be made OF pulp Of two 'colors, SO
combined that the card should be homoge-
neous throughout, yet show green surface
upon one side and a buff upon the other;
aud this result must be reached without
coloring the cards after manufacture.
When the day came for the bids to be
opened, some of the bidders explained to
the Secretary the advantage, amounting
almost TO an exclusion OF competition, that
was given to q firm in New England, and
Mr.. Key rejected all bids without even
opening any except those that arrived by
mail.
This looks like an approach TO
THE END OF THE DAYS OF JoBBERY,
but old politicians say it is very much as 1t
always is when anew Administration comes
in. For time there's show and blow
about reform Of abuses, and stealing and
iobbery are checked for awhile, but
GRADUALLY EVERYTHING FALLS BACK INTO
THE OLD RrTS;
faYorites are rewarded, fat contracts are.
given to friends, incompetent men and
women are given profitable and snug
places to crafty this or that politician and
SO it goes. Besides, this Standardization has
peculiar reasons for making good start in
the line OF reforms Of abuses which nearly
drove the Republican party from power.
When once it has established itself firmly,
and the eXctcments attending the doubtful
issue of the presidential election have
fully subsidized, public attention will
be directed to other topics, and practical re-
forms in the Administration will be for
gotten.
William E. Chandler, who had hand in
the Florida job put up OH the Democratic
party, by which the vote OF that State was
given to Hayes, has so far failed to receive
appropriate recognition at the hands OF the
Administration; and the
INJUSTICE TO HIM IS MADE MORE APPARENT
by the appointment of his partner, McLin,
to good fat iudgeship. OF course he is
disguised. He remarked last night that he
approved theoretically Of Hayes's pacifica-
ton policy, but Mr.. Hayes ought to have
promulgated it simply rs Il theory. and
then he would not have run the risk Of
breaking up the Republican party" 3:
| ATToRNEY-GENERAL DANIEL AND JUDGE GUILD
-. BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT.
Acknowledgement Daniel and Judge Ould
argued before the Supreme Court to-day in
the case Of McCready against the Common
wealth Of Virginia. The question at issue
is whether non-residents have the same
rights as to fishing and Clustering in. the
waters of Virginia as are enjoyed by'resi-
dents. Ill IN ..t.. ..:.E ~:...-. r.
The case OF the Chesapeake and Ohio
railroad against the Commonwealth OF Viz
ginia, involving the right Of the State to
tax all the property of the railroad compa-
nv, is set for hearing on the 18th instant !;
Judge Robertson, Eyarts, and SterTs for
the appellants, and Daniel for the State. :.
Associated Press Reports By telegraph to the
Dispatch.I g.
SENATOR GORDON
called to-day upon General Humphreys, the
Chief Of Engineers, and upon the Secre-
tary OF War, to urge immediate use Of APP
| Dropriations, which had been suspended by
order of President Grant, for the rivers in
Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee. He was
! asked by the Secretary OF War to reduce
his suggestions to writing. and submit them
to the Department This General Gordon
did. His demands embrace the Coosa, Flint,
Chattahoochie, Ochmulgee, and Tennessee
rivers The prospect is that General Cor
don will succeed in having the work be-
gun at once on these rivers. ], a. - ! =
THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY AND THE
VI ..~"1' WHISKY FRAUDS. =. h.. -. ,r
| a The Secretary OF the Treasury has writ
| fen a letter in which he declines to relieve
sureties on the bond OF the internal revenue
gauger who was convicted in St. LOUIS OF
Completely in the whiskey ring and sem
| fenced. to fifteen months imprisonment.
Subsequently judgment for $4,000 was rem
dered against his. suretles, : but the
principal was recently pardoned by
President Grant. The stlreties offered to
pay 81, 900, and claimed that they should
be relieved, as the principal was one OF
many .conspirators, several officers Of the
fGoyerninent being; among them; that he
has since been pardoDed OF the criminal
offence, and, further, that their property
has deprecated in value, and they are not
able to pay the Judgment. The Secretary,
in reply, speaks Of the whiskey rings, and
says !" This crime was wholesale. fraud
and conspiracy, involving the loss Of many
millions Of public revenue and wide be-
trayal Of public trust that threatened The
utter subYersion of the revenue laws. II a
case ever occurred Of open daring and pal
pable violation Of public duty it was this
| conspiracy known as the st. Louis whiskey
| ring. The sureties are admitted on all
Hands to be free from the fraud and crime
] Of their principal, but they did assume q
1 pecuniary liability for him, and in law are
Holden to the full extent o. their. bond" =
VARIOUS ITEMS FROM WASHINGTON. 1
The President is reportedas saying in the
Cabinet yesterday that he would prefer to
POSTPONE action on as many appointments
4 as possible until it is definitely known
whether his southern policy will be sue
cessful. s-,-r ~ .a;e.,;....4
A. E. Lee has been appointed consul to
Frankfort-on-the,Mai He was private
| secretary to Hayes while Governor OF ONO.