The New York herald., 1878-12-15
WASHIN GT0N.
Provision Made to Continue the
Postal Car Service.
SENATOR CONOVER'S CASE.
Statement from the Treasury Con-
cerning Specie Payments.
THAT GENEVA AWARD.
Congress Agrees to Duplicate the Manhat-
tan Savings Bank Bonds
CONSIDERING APPROPRIATION BILLS.
THAT GENEVA AWARD.
APPROPRIATION BILLS.
GENERAL WASHINGTON DISPATCHES.

GENERAL WASHINGTON DISPATCHES.
WASHINGTON, Dec. IA, 1873.
INVESTIGATING THE CHARGES MADE AGAINST
SENATOR coNoyEE CONCERNING THE HOT
SPRINGS CLAUSE.
The Senate committee investigating the omission
of the Hot Springs clause from last sessions Sundry
Civil Appropriation bill heard Mr.. Kenneth Raynor,
Solicitor of the Treasury. this morning. He testified
that Benson to him and stated that he had suf
hcicnt evidence to convict Senator Conovcr Of
completely with the transaction, and desired his
Naynor's law clerk to go with him before the
Grand Jury to have him Conovcr indicted. Witness
told Benson he should wait until his chief (AIr
Brooks) returned from California. and that the
reputation Of men high in position was involved he
should be very careful to be sure of his ground
Stson Hutchins. publisher of the Washington Post
testified that member of the Capitol police to
his Office and related conversation he had overheard
between of the clerks at the Capitol and another
party and said that if the clerk could be locked up
information about the missing clause could probably
be obtained. Search made for the clerk
named, but not finding him, the statement of the
officer was printed The next day Benson came to
the Office, wanted to know where the information
came from, asked that more publication be made
as it might defeat the end of justice and prevent the
discovery of the person who abstracted the clause
Benson said if further publication was suppressed
he would in two days give them full statement Of
the exclusively. He at the end
Of two days and said he had traced up
the matter and could convict Senator Conover
his clerk, Rice and John Y. Foster. The statement
made by by Benson Mr.. Hutchins wrote out himself
supposing Benson desired it kept from the employees
Of the Iost. II set in type and submitted to
begged that it might be printed it would ruin
him at the tservice Division for having divuged
the OF the bureau. Benson said il its publ
cation held up he would give additional facts at
the proper time. which should be for the Ibst ex-
clusivcly The matter kept in type
month, during which Benson frequently reiterated
his stltcment to it's truth and said he would have
Senator Conover in the Penitentiary in a month.
witness kept the article in type until from in
quries elsewhere he ascertained that Benson had de-
ceivcd him and likely to get him into scrape il
Il was published. and thcn had it distributed.
These witnesses were called by senator Conover to
show malignfy toward him the part Of Benson.
Two or three witnesses who had been summoned
failing to appear the committee adjourned to meet
again at the call Of the chairman.
SECRETARY SHERMAN AGAIN CALLS ATTENTION
TO THE SUBJECT OF SPECIE RESUMPTION.
The Secretary Of the Treasury this afternoon is
sued the following circular of instructions
ing the resumption Of specie payments:--
tfs 's' TREASURY DEPARTMENT
WAsHiNGToS, Dec. IA, 1873
The following provision Of law and instructions
Hereunder arr published for the information and
guidance Of all conccrncd:-- seMt.
An torroyde Tor the resumption of specie payments
nary domin 1873 the Secr-tary of the Treasury shall
red in coin the United States legal tender
n fpft
"fce "i The Assistant Trc,surer "f the Tn,sd states. IN
Approved January IA, 1870
As the effect of the above section will be to remove
any practical difference in the value of coin and
circulating medium after the lst Of January next
no distinction between them will be made in keeping
rendering settling the accounts OF public officers
involving transactions which occur subsequently, to
that date
NIaturcd coupons of the United States and checks
issued by the Treasurer Of the United States for in
tcrst principal OF the public debt by law payable
in coin will be paid by the Assistant of the
United States at New York. upon presentation. in
coin. or, IL the claimant prefers such coupons
checks will be paid by the said Assistant Treasurer
by any other independent Treasury officer in United
such registered interest payable by law in coin as
IL paid schedules ut any other cities than New
YORK will also be paid the claimant in coin by check
on the Assistant Treasurer Of the United states at
New York. which check may be cashcd in United
states notes IL the holder prefer IL the claimant
United States notes by the odcer charged with the
payment of the schedule.
Any check or draft hereafter drawn in payment Of
= public obligation by law payable in coin. will have
JOHN SHERMAN. sccret,ry
APPROPRIATION FOR POSTAL CAR SERVICE
The House Committee on, Appropriations this
morning agreed to recommend the passage by the
House Of a special deficiency bi appropriating the
amount Of s45o,oeo required for the continuance Of
the present railway postal service throughout the
current fiscal year.
MONEY TO PROVIDE FOR THE REDS.
The committee also completed the Indian Appro-
priation bill Az agreed to in committee the bill ap-
propriates in the aggregate l7ioooo. which is but
So less than the appropriation for the year.
DIPLOMATIC AND NAVAL APPROPRIATIONS.
The Committee on Appropriations this afternoon
heard Secretaries Thompson and Evarts. with refer
encc TO the Naval and Consular and Diplomatic Ap-
preparation bills. and subsequently prepared both OF
these bills for report to the Senate next Monday The
committee amended the Consular and Diplomatic
bill 80 a. to make IL conform precisely to tho present
law, thus disrcsardng tho changes proposed by tho
House of Representatives. Tho Naval Appropriation
bill will be reported to the Senate without material
amendment; the only change being to grant small
additional amount for the purchase OF provisions.
MERCHANTS OF NEW YORK LOOKING AFTER
THEIR RIGHTS.
mcrce. consisting Of Mcssrs. Guion, Haish and Gre
noll. with their counsel. Mr.. DcKay. heard to
day before the Committee Of Ways aud Means in adj.
vocnry OF bill. originally introduced by Mr. Fer
nando Wood at the last session Of the House. giving
to merchants the same rights which are claimed
by the government regards the subsequent
adjustment aud correction of in tho
imposition and collection OF customs duties
The bill. which has been referred to the
Committee of Ways and Means provides that duties
wrongfully or enormously imposed or collected shall
be recoverable by the importer at any time within
ten years from the date OF payment. upon prcscnta
ton Of satisfactory proof Of the Justice OF the claim
for reimbursement Assistant Secretary French and
Mr. James, the chief Of the Customs division of the
Treasury Department. were heard in opposition to
tho bill, and there ensucd long and animated dis
cusson OF the whole question. II finally decided
IL 4nt,siIara4icr x,f