The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-07-13
WASHINGTON.
FROM OUR REGULAR. CORRESPOND EMIT.

< WASHINGTON, July IL, 1878
PAYMENT OF GOVERNMENT oLAIMs-DEcIsIoN
THAT WARRANTS MUST BE MADE OUT IN
NAME OF ORIGINAL CLAIMANT.
There is likely TO be considerable delay In pay
mcnt Of government claims by tho Treasury Depart
meut IN consequences OF rule adopted which is con-
uary 10 the practice Of the past seventeen years
Tho obstacle Is this qusitions been made in
the ordinary manner. On the Treasury heads OF do
partments made out In the name Of the assignee as
attorney for the claimx The head of the warrant d.
vision holds these acquisitions back In consequence
OF q decision made last winter by tho supreme
Court, that warrants ON tho Treasury LOT
the payment Of governments claims> must DO
made cut ia tho name OF the original claimant. Tho
case will DO brought before tho Second Comptroller,
Judge Upton in few days In reference to the pay
OF claims growing out OF the Oregon AMI Wash
ington Territory Indian War claims It Is commended
that these claims are against the Territories and not
against the United States. although tho government
assumed tho payment OF them. Whatever the deci-
sion In regard 10 this class of claims may be It is
believed that all other classes Of claims will be held
back IN tho warrant DIVISION till such time rs the
original claimant puts in his claim. No warrants has
been issued the decision above referred to was
rendered, hence this new departure now causing
much DISAPPOINTMENT to attorneys and assgnecs.
THE STRAW BID sYsrIM-FIRsr CASE UNDER
TIE RECENT LAW OF CONGRESS = DISCHARGE
OF THE ACCUSED.
The first case under the law passed during the last
session Of Con break up the bid system
of obtaining mail contracts was tried In the Police
Court hero to-day and dismissed. Some days since
Malcolm 4. McNeir wrote 10 the Post ONCE
Department stating that he ives unable TO
carry the mails on 1859 routes which had boon
awarded TO him at the last letting; that
no had already $780, ooO and that II no was forced
to perform the service the various routes obtained
by him he would iosc about $780, 600 moro He asked
that the be given TO the next lowest bidder.
The now laws provide that It shall be penal offence,
punishable by imprisonment, for any contractor to
surrender any mail route awarded him, and that
his bondsmcn shall also be sued for the amounts OF
the bids for zach route. For . number OF years
mail contractors have .becn obtaining routes over
which, in case thcy sub-contract to others, they
perform the service; otherwise, when finding there
Is no money in them, they surrender them
McNsr was arrested and hts trial took place to day
before Judge Snel who, alter hearing the evidence,
dismissed the case The only evidence presented by
tho governmens MoNeir's letter asking TO sur
render the contractA The bondsmsn will be sued by
tho Post Ofies Department, as tho government do
clipss 70 release them. In the meantime tho mails
will be carried by other contractors McNsr fails TO
do so.
WHAT POSTMASTER MAY DO IN POLITICAL
MATTERS.
Tho Post Ooe Department has ruled. at the request
of number OF postmasters who asked for instruc-
TONS that there is objection to postmaster be
coming member of a political association, but he
must not DO an officer thereof take any prominent
part In its management. o
A. Ad2A--S-