The New York herald., 1878-02-06
GENERAL WASHINGTON DISPATCHES.

WARRINGTON, Feb s, 1878.
TEE oHA1oxs AGAINST MINIsrxR SEWARD AND
CONSUL GENERAL BRADFonD-ACrIo OF THE
HOUSE COMMITTEE.
The House Committee On Expenditures, at their
meeting to-day In the State Department, received tho
specific charges Of Mr. Myers late Consul General at
Shanghai, with q request for full investigation OF
the Official conduoto Minister seward while formerly
occupying she position Of Consul General and that Of
Nj. Bradford, whom the President appointed as
Mr. Myers' successor In that Office, after
suspen ding the last named gentleman. The commit.
too also received from the House the letter OF Mr.
Phrnx Marsha. OF tho Consular Court at Shanghai,
on she same direction. The committee instructed
tho chairman (Nr. Sprngsr) 10 transmit the papers
above mentioned - the President informing him
that 10 she duty OF the committee under the reso-
luton OF the House, to inquire the truth Of the
charges. aad that they will give the accused an
opportunity 70 appear before thsm either in
person or by counsel Tho Prssdent will, IN pursu-
ancs Of custom IN such cases. transmit the papers to
tho Secretary OF State. The committee also instructed
thcr chairman 70 call on the State Department for oil
papers containing charges against Messr Seward and
Bradford including Keims Official report the Treas
ury Department respecting alleged abuses A. Shanghai
LONG BONDS FOR THE INVESTMENT OF SAVINGS.
Mr.. wallacs's Long Bond bill, amended and re-
ported from the Senate Finance Committee to-day,
directs the Secretary Of the Treasury to issue
$780, Of coupon bonds OF the OF
$25, $50 and $780, and Of equal sums OF zach OF said
dsnomnations, redeemaole In coin after nfty years
from the date Of their ISSUE and bearing interest pay
able semannually, In coin, at the rate Of 65-l 100
per cent per annum These bonds are to be In lieu Of
tho same amount OF Tour per osnt bonds authorized
BY the act OF July II. 1870. and, like tne are to be
offered for sale At the different sub.rreasuries and
United States depoutoriss at par and accrued interest
for or for Unlsd States legal tender at tho
current market valuation, and the proceeds be
applied 10 the redemption Of any outstanding United
States bonds bearing higher ratio OF interest
THE 0aEAT QUADRxNNIAL NAIL LETTING.
The commission engaged In opening the bids for the
great Quadrsrnial mail lstsng west OF the Mississippi
River gave attention. to $500 bids yesterday, at
which rate II will take ten Gays to open all the bids
Tho bids are simply opened and stamped by tho Com
missioner, aftor which they will bs referred to the
Second Assistant Postmaster General Tor comparison
and award. It Is understood tnat the bids
this year are greatly under those made
under any previous advertisement, whereby tho
department expects TO reduce tho Of mail trans
poraon In the next four years these great routes
by quite . large figure Many OF tho contractors
next express the opinion that the bids this year arc
so low that IL will bs impossible Tor the successful
bidders 10 execute their contracts without loss par
ticuariy on the Southwestern border, where the
transportation Of mails s subjected to obstruction By
hostile Indiana
INVESTIGATION OF EXPENDITURES.
The House Committee on Expenditures to-day ap.
pointed three sub-committees the first consisting Of
Messrs Springer Walker ana Dunnell 10 ipouire into
the contingent expenses OF tho State Department At
Washington; tho second consisting Of Messrs. Tur.
and Bundy to investigate the subject OF expenses
of the Oriental consuates and tho third consisting
OF Mossrs Mayhsm and Bayns to inquire into the
contingent expenses OF the European and othor con.
sulatcs The ub.commttses will Immediately begin
their invcsti gations.
THE NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILRoAD-BILL TO
EXTEND THE TIME FOR COMPLETION.
The bill reported to-day by Representative Rice OF
Massachusetts, from the Committee on Pacific Rail-
roads, extends Tor years tho time for sho compile.
tion Of tho Northern Pacific Railroad. II provides
for tho construction OF not less than one hundred
miles year. and that the main limo between Portland
and point far cast Uma.illa Oregon, shall bs
located and constructed tho south sidc
Of the Columbia River. Actual settlers on
railroad grant arc secured in their rights
by paying 81 so per acre. Prcomp;ors Of homcs,eads
also protected. Tho company Is authorized TO
issue bonds and tho same by mortgage on tho
whole any part OF its road and property. Tho bill
docs not extend tho time TO build tho branch road
through Washington Territory from tho mouth of
Snake River Puget SOUND but only gives tho com.
pany the land earned By II on the thirty-one miles
already built.