The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-05-10

moving the Judiciary Committee 10 report the bill
ought 10 be given In private their public announce
ment would tend 10 defeat tho ends Of Justice. His
motion was carried ana accordingly tho galleries
cloak were cleared tho doors closed. Tho
senate remained In debate over an hour, whom the
doors Feopsned- Great curiosity Is manifested
TO know what took place in sessou bus the
Junction OF secrecy has not been removed.
The principal fact Of tho charges Of fraud IN tho
two claims specified arc already generally known to
the public, but Is said tonight among the mat.
which tho Senate anxious to keep secret was
letter reported to have been written 20 Sir Edward
Thornton, tho umpire OF the commission, informing
him that the parties upon whom he had rclied 40
counsel In conducting tho duties OF his position
Of umpire bad boon br.bcd by she agents Of
tho claimants In question. The writer OF the
lcter Is said to DO Mr. Tripier the Official interpreter
at tho session OF tho commission. II rs understood
that NJ. Wsdsworth, the American commissioner,
gave . copy Of the letter 10 Sir Edward Thornton,
who, In turn supplied to Secretary Evarts. Tho
BILL ~ passed. allows tho President SIX months
within which TO reopen tho casc and take testimony
as to the disputed claims.
TIE ELECTION OF PRESIDENT AID VICE PRES
IDENT-ACrloN OF THE COMMITTEES OF
THE TWO HOUSES ON The REVISION or TIE
LAWS.
Of the laws tor tho election OF President and Woo
Presidcat held joint meeting to-day, aud alter
siderable discussion. the constitutional amendment
proposed by tho Houso committee rejected. This
amendment proposed to elect by popular voto and
allow each candidate q frnc,on OF tho State
vote In proportion 10 hts popular vote. Tho
House committee adopted substitute for the Senate
b tho principal feature OF which ia that 10 contro-
versics arising the selection OF electors tho de-
tion Of both houses OF Congress- Tho original bill
made tho decision Of the State absolute anu final
THIS change acceptable 10 several senators on tho
committee at least. and tho Indications arc that the
substitute Will DO adopted at the next meeting
THE READJUsTMENr or PosTMAsTERs SALARIES
AS Pnov1r ED By LAw-AN APPEAL TO THE
COURTS. ~ -
novel suit was begun in the local courts hero TO-
day, the decision Of which, when rendered, will be Of
interest 70 some twenty Thousand pos.mastcrs
throughout tho country as well 40 70 other govern
ment officials. Elliot Schurz postmaster at Marshall
town. Iowa, by his attorneys made application to
Judge Macarthur, holding the Equity Court
for q mandamus compelling the Postmaster
General TO rcadjuss his tSchurz) salary as
postmaster which, according to Law, should be
certain periods but which In his mad been
done. Judge Macarthur declined to issue tho writ
Application was thcn made TO Judge Wyife. who was
holding tho Crimin1 Court and he issued II returna-
BILE May q, at which timo the viii be heard.
THIS Is said DO tho nrst on record where
postmaster has endoavored 10 havo hts salary read
justed aud Increased through the medium Of tho
courts, all applications heretofore having been mado
and decided upon by tho Postmaster General Tho
present method taken alter consultation with
competent legal advisers, who desire to mako u q
test case.
CONFEDERATE GOLD PAID OUT AT THE CLOSE
OF THE Wharf.-The GOVERNMENT CANNOT
RECOVER.
Mr.. Kenneth Raypor. Solicitor OF the Treasury, has
given written opinion to the eflccs that the suits
brought by the United States governments to
gold paid Of the treasury the close
the war civil officers Of tho rebel governments
not DO maintained. These suits involved o largo
amount Of money ana were instituted against many
cn,zcns, among the number Extra Billy Smith