The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-03-19
GENERAL WASHINGTON DISPATCHES.

OF hemp, juts FAX, gunny bags. gunny cloth other
yarus, twenty-five per centum ad valorem.
On all SILK spun for filing IN sksins or caps, thirty
per cent UNI ad vai0rem On silk In the gum not more
advanced than singies, tram. thrown or organzine,
thirty per centum I'D valorem. Floss silks, sewing
silk III tho gum purined, thirty five per cenlum ad
valorom. SIX TWIST composed Of six or monair and
silk, thirty-hve per centum nd vaIorem. On al
sss sa tn ;, ana " y.lves the piece or
ever description Or Tor whatever purpose not otner
WISE provided Tor, fory-hve per centum al vaorem.
On all manufactures except lace, composed OF SILK or
OF which silk shall form component part Of chief
value not otherwise provided for. iorty-hve per
Arrow roo thirty per oentum ad valorem.
Emery grains, two cents per pound Emery orc. 50
verizcd. one cent perp0und.
Grease, ten per centum ad vaorem.
Honey, twenty cents per gallon.
ad valorOm.
Pens, metallic other than gold and silver, twenty
Pins. solid noaa other, thrty-ave FER centum ad
valorem.
THE HIGH RATE OF FREIaHTs ON CATTLE AND
MEAT FROM THE wEsT-RAILRoAD coMDI-
NATIONS AGAINST THE PRODUCER AND CON-
suMER-A HEARING BEFORE THE COMMIT
TEE ON AGRICULTURE.
The Committee on Agriculture to-day heard reports
from Messrs Depsw, Of ths New York Central Rail-
road; Blanchard Of the Ere Railway, and butcher
and Eastman, OF the New York Central stock yards,
In answer to the statements made by Mr. ). y. Rus
ling, OF Pennsylvania last Monday tho subject OF
eveners In connection with the stock yards on the
above named roads and the Determinations freights
j. r. Rushing, In reply. proceeded 10 show that an
arrangement exists between the Pennsylvania Central
and the New York Central and Eric railroadsthat is
all Of the great roads, excepting the Baltimore and
ONO that can carry a ireighted car from the Mis-.
sssippi River 10 the scaboard-by which tho cost
~ thn ~ ohtn
or CHICAGO to Now York 10 made nearly double the
cost OF shipping any other produce For the single
item OF transportation the cost 10 the railroads OF
carrying car loaded with wheat, or other inert
matter Is precisely the same as tho cost to tho
road for carrying q car loaded with cattle; but,
Notwithstanding, the roads mako q difference between
these two kinds OF freight OF nearly one hundred por
The link that binds these great roads together
and makes It possible fer them to control tho cattle
trade despite all that the producers small dealers
can do Is the ASSOCIATION of owners, to whom
the roads pay SIS per car on all cattle
shipped from any point west Of Now
York. Without the eveners the roads could not pos
sby keep up the high rates for transportation
for II they out Of the way the influence Of the
producers and the numberlsss small dealers and the
competition between the roads would In short tmo
bring this transportation down that
rule on all other products
There was another tom in this account Of the pro-
ducers Of the West and tho consumers OF the East
with those great railroad monopolies that IL worthy
OF consideration and that 10 tho charge made for
rage from the West TO N<w York Of refrigerator car
loaded with fresh meat Improbable IL may appear
is nevertheiess that the roads not only charge
higher rate for transporting refrigerator cars loaded
with fresh moat than they do for transporting cars
loaded with grain other inert matter, but
thou cha rnOPa fOP tram ding fbap
they do for transporting cars loaded with cattle.
Freiphts are charged for by oil carriers tho
world by weght-that Is. much per ton per
mile. This being tho fact Mr. Rushing asked why 1t
was that these roads charge now moro than twice
much treigbage on ton OF fresh beet as they do
ton of whcat, iron, coal The true for
this dscrm nation Is OF course the pecuniary welfare
Of the railroads and the owners. He did not ask the
committee to favor the producer OF the West and the
peor consumer OF the East He asked only that they
do them simple justice by standing between them and
this threehcaded giant that bestrdes all the land
aud with all tho power that 5000 00o 900 give, fxos
tho price tho farmer may receive Tor his produce and
the price the mechanic must pay for his food. II tho
committee would deal out even-handed justice be-
tween the two the poor would ask no moro and
certainly the committee could grant him less
THE MAIL CONTRACT FRAUDs-wHAr THE
Little Information is obtainabe at tho Post ONCE
Department with reference TO reports Of fraudulent
transactions In connection with the recent extcn-
sve biddngs for mail contracts IL is true that COM
plants have been made to the department OF viola
Of law and other serious Irregularities In the
bidding for contracts in the Southwest by Mr. John
II. Peck, VINO, It is alleged was not In this city when
his bid was swornito, as tho Law requires These
allegations arc now the subject OF investigation
by special agent OF the department. Is also In
structed ascertain and report II tho postmaster
at Ltlc Rock certified to certain proposals In blank
II some one has personated Peck and sworn to his
bids tho ononcs Is very grave one, and no
less SERIOUS would DO the signing of pro-
posals In blank whIcn, II Is reported the Postmaster
Little Rock was induced to do. The latter offence
Is punishable under the law BY Anc and I'm
prisonment aad disqualification hereafter to hold
the Office Of Postmaster in the United States. Al
the recent opening OF bids extra precautions wcrc
taken BY the officials entrusted with that duty to pre-
vent any reception OF proposals not In every
conformabo to law and the regulations OF the depart.
ment, and II there has been doubted that
o discovery will DO made OF all misconduct In the
premises.
Tho friends OF Senator Dorsey say that his name is
mentioned very improperly in ILLUSIONS TO the
ported fraudulent transactions and that has no IN
teress whatever In the contracts under discussion.
DEFICIENCY APPROPRIATION BILL-AMENp-
MESTs BY THE SENATE COMMITTEE.
Tho House bill providing for deficiencies In last
yoar's appropriations for clerical service in the
Treasury and Interior Departments has been
amended by the Senate Committee on APP
preparations In several interesting particulars.
The section making a deficiency appropriation
Tor the detection Of rcspass tho public lands is
rtad hack In tha vii
Offered In committee by Senator Baine) providing that
where wood and timber lands In the Territories Of
the Unitod States arc not surveyed and offered
for sale IN proper Subdivisions cobyenions Of nc.
cess, no money herein appropriated shall be used
to collect any charge for wood or timber cut on the
public lands In said Territories Tor the use Of actual
settlers thereof and not for export The commtsee
also recommend the insertion OF items of $4,000
TO cover deAencee In tho for salaries