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

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8, 1878.
TIE oHAxoIs AoArNsr MINISTER SEWARD AND
CONSUL 'oxxERAL BRApFonp-AcrIoN or THE
HOUSE coMNITrEE.
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 . request for iuI investigation OF
the Official conduesoi Minister seward while formerly
occupying the position Of Consul General and that OF
Mr. Bradford, whom the President appointed as
Mr.. Myers successor In that Office, after
suspen ding the last named gentleman. Tho commit
too also received from the House the letter OF Mr.
PhUnix Marshal Of tho Consular Court at shanghai
on she Same direction. The committee instructed
tho chairman mr. springsr) 10 transmit the papers
above mentioned 70 the President, informing him
that 10 the duty Of the committee under the reso-
luton OF the House, to inquire the truth OF the
charges, aad that they will Rive the accused an
opportunity 10 appear before them either in
person or By counsel Tho President will, IN pursu-
ancs or custom IN such cases, transmit papers to
tho Secretary State. The committee also instructed
their chairman to call the State Department tor all
papers containing charges against Messr seward and
Bradford including Ksims official report to the Treas
ury Department respecting alleged abuses Shanghai
LONG BONDS FOR THE INVESTMENT OF SAVINGS.
Mr.. wallacs's Long Bond bill, rs amended and re-
ported from the Senate Finance Committee to- day,
directs the Secretary Of the Treasury to issue
$loo Of coupon bonds Of the denominations Of
$25 $50 and $780, and Of equal sums Of each OF said
denominations, redeemaDe In coin after nfty years
from the Of their ISSUE and bearing interes. pay
able ssmiaunually, In coin. At the rate Of e5-loo
per cent per anpum These bonds are to be In lieu Of
the same amount Of TOUR per cent bonds authorized
by the act OF July IA. 1870. aud, like tnem are TO be
exempt from taxation. Tho new bonds arc TO be
offered for sale At the different sub.Treasuries and
United States depostoriss par and accrued interest
for for United States legal tender notes at the
current market valuation and the proceeds are TO be
applied 70 the redemption OF any outstanding United
States bonds bearing higher ratio Of interest.
THE Great oUADRxNNIAL NAIL LETTING.
The commission engaged in opening the bids for the
great Quadssrnial mail Letting OF the Mississippi
River gave attention, to $500 bids yesterday, at
which rate It will take ten days to open all the bids
Tho bids are simply opened and stamped by tho Com
missioner, after which they viii bs referred to the
Second Assistant Postmaster Gsnerai Tor comparison
and award. It is understood snat the. bids
this year are greatly under those made
under any previoua advertisement, whereby tho
department expects reduce tho cost ot mail trans
portaon In the next four these great routes
by quite q large figure. Many Of the CONTRACTORS
whose contracts will terminate the 30th or June
next express the opinion that the bids this year arc
low that Il will be impossible for the successful
bidders 10 execute their contracts without loss par
tioularly on the Southwestern border, whore tho
transportation Of mails is subjected to obstruction By
hostile Indiana
INVESTIGATION OF EXPENDITURES.
The House Committee on Expenditures to-day ap.
pointed three subcommttees, tho first consisting of
Messrs Springer Walker ana Dunncll, TO inquire 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 consulates and tho third consisting
OF Mcssrs. Mayham and Bayne. to inquire into the
contingent expenses OF the European and othcr con-
sulutcs. The sub committees will Immediately begin
their Investigations.
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 for years tho time for :ho compls
tion OF tho Northern Pacific Railroad. II provides
for tho construction OF not less than ono hundred
mlesa ycar. and that the main limo between Portland
and point IS far east as Umata, Oregon, shall bs
located and constructed tho south sidc
OF tho Columbia River. Actual settlers on
surveyed land within the limits OF tho
railroad grant arc secured In their rights
by paying 81 so per acre. Pre-ompors Of homcsteads
are also protected. Tho company is authorized TO
Issue bcpds and secure tho same by mortgage on tho
whole or any part OF its road and property. The bill
docs not extend tho time TO build tho branch road
through Washington Territory from the mouth of
Snake River 70 Puget Sound, but only gives tho com.
pany the land earned by II ON the thirty-one miles
already built.