The New York herald., 1878-02-28
FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT.

WASHINGTON, Feb z7, 1878.
THE PnEsIDENr1AL TrrLE-No KNOWLEDGE OF
Axx MOVEMENT ON THE SUBJECT AMONG
DEMOCRATS.
Tho reported secret movement to contest tho title
Of Mr. Hayes 10 the Presidency is unknown TO the
leading democratic statesmen in Washington. In
curry among members Of Congress does not
discover tho slightest knowledge Of any such
attempt to- reopen the legality of President
Hayes claim to The of1ce he holds. With few
cepsions the democrats uno0nditIonally opposed
10 tho agitation Of the subject. Among those most
nkoy to be informed OF such movement Is Dir. X. r.
Merrick, the head Of the Washington Bar, and
was one OF the counsel Tor Mr. Tilden before the
Electoral Commission. In reply to, tho question
whether he knew OF any attempt being made to tost
the question OF M Hayes title, no said he had in
formation whatever In reisrsnce any such proposed
movement lie dtd mot believe that such proceedings
were contemplated designed by any member Of the
democratic party. II likely that Lhe rumors in
reference to this movement could nnd their origin
In ihe uneasy conscleuces OF the radicals, who
ally feel that they are In possession Of that which
belongs TO another and which they had stoch. AZ 10
the course OF the democratic party he believed
and hoped IL was their purpose never 10
submit tue question to o court, but 10
taks ~. 10 directly to the people at
tbe next Presidential election. and ask from shcm
dstcrpination TO how lar they were willing 70
ssc0gnizs . political organization which had do.
Iibcrateiy perpetrated such outrage popular
rights and made record which dishonored the hts
tory Of Abe country.
THE VACANT FIRST coMprRoLLERsHIP- I'M
poRrAxcE OF THE POSITION.
The oficc OF First Comptroller. made vacant by tho
,deash OF Mr. Taylor Is OF the most important in
tho government and that II will be very difcult
for the President hlL The law makes this Official
check upon every department OF the government,
and not even the Presidents order the peremp-
tory ORDER OF the Secretary OF the Treasury
Is oil any avail long as tho First
Comptroller wihholds his approval to an account.
During the administration Of President Grant the
thority Of the First Comptroller several
times by high ofcias, and by tho President In
every the Comptroller his position.
He went far TO inform President Grant that bis
resignation could DO had at any moment, but never
his signature to papers which his judgment could not
approve. Tho ability required for tho ohce greater
than any position Washington, and upon the
lection OF a competent depends the correct ad-
minstraton Of the expenditures OF the entire govern
ment.
INDIANS TO BE MADE PEcUNIARILY RESPONSIBLE
ron DEPBxDATIoNs BIZ MEMBERS OF THEIR
Tribes
A subcommittee Of tho House Committee on Indian
Affairs to-day agreed TO favoraby report tho iull
committee the bill TO- pay cortan parties 500 900,
beng the amount claimed for cattle stolen by tho
Apache Indians tho amount TO be paid out OF
thc Indian annuity fund. THIS particular
claim IL . test upon about two hundred
SIMILAR claims sgcregating between four aod nve mil
hons OF dollars. The sub.com mittes Is agreed that
lhe misconduct the Inaians ought to be punished
and that the different tribes call II bad faith
ON part Of tho government II 1t exacs good be-
havtoP or responsibility from Its wards. te
THE CHARGES AGAINST THOMAS p. CHENEY
HOW PERFORMANCE OF GOVERNMENT SERVICE
Is sUBLEr.
Tho House Committee Post Of1ces and Post
Rosds to-day heard the testimony OF George Blount
superintendent OF tho letter carriers or the Boston
Post ofnce. In regard to charges nlcd BY james $.
Temple sgainss Thomas p. Cheney, railway postal
agent for tns Eastern States. Mr.. Blouns's test-
mony was TO the effect that empioy6
had been allowed 70 away from his post nearly
ave months, drawing iull pay, hts work being per-
formed by substitute at low salary. The members
Of the committee were somewhat SURPRISED to hear
that ths vas nos unusual proceeding tho conduct
OF public o1oors, responsible parties pleading that II
tho government gets tho expected service IL 10 not
wronged In fact the argument based upon tho
general TACT shat mall letting and mail carrying Is done
almost invariably by sub-agents