The Portland daily press., 1878-03-23
WASHINGTON.
The Arkansas Mail Contracts.

WASHINGTON, March 22-In the investiga-
ton which the House Postoffice Committee are
making into the SYSTEM of mail contracts, testi
mony was taken today of w. w. Wiltshire, a
practising lawyer of Lutte Rock and Represen-
tative 10 the last Congress from Arkansas. The
substance of it was that last January the Post
master of Little Rock Hadley) had asked him
to sign as surety a batch OF bids for carrying
mails on routes in Arkansas and in Indian Ter
ritory Eadlsy informed him that the bids had
been sent to him from Washington by Senator
Dorsey with request that they should be per-
tected aud forwarded to Washington. After
delay Of ten days or two weeks Wiltshire went
to Hadley's office and signed his name as surety
to batch of 30 or more bids. These bids were
ia blank, with the exception of the number AMI
terminal points of routes and the amount OF
penalty. The names of the bidders or the
amount of bids were not on any of them.
Thtr re- was no other name to them as surety
when be signed them, but he understood thew
were afterwards signed by the other surety,
G. W. McDiarmId of Little Rock. He had
siuce called at the Postofice Department to as
certain the names of the bidders and to notify
the department of the informalty (if it were
sucb). He had only been able to find one of
the bids signed by him and that bid was in the
name of John M. Peck and purported to have
been signed by Peck and attested before q no.
tary public in Washington. Wiltshire could not
testify whether Peck's signature was genuine
or not. He knew Peck had been since last
summer resident of New Mexico, and had not
heard Of his being in this section of the country
since.
Nominations Confirmed.
The Senate today confirmed Ivory Lord, col
lector of customs at Saco
Legislative, Judicial and Executive Ap-
preparation Bill.
The legislative, executive and judicial appro-
priation bill as prepared by the subcommittee
OF the House Appropriation Committee, con-
ssting OF Atkins, Durham and Foster, was to-
day reported 10 the full committee. The bill
covers an expenditure of $16,000,00O and re-
duced the expenditures of last year some $780,
600. The reduction is effected maiuly BY re-
arranging the clerical force of the various
branches of the government so as to provide fol
a smaller number OF high-salaried clerks and
the greater number OF those receiving low sala
RES, whose salaries are fixed by law, are not
affootod nv the raductiop. Ii is understood
that the bill proposes to abolish Dne Ufliooe u
the Fourth and Fifth Auditor of the Treasury
their duties to be performed by the other audi.
tors
Pension Bill.
House committee on invalid pensions TODAY
agreed to report bill allowing pensions of S72
per month to soldiers having lost either both
eyes, both hands or both feet, and $24 pei
month to those having lost one eye, one hand
or one foot.
Utah's Governor Defending Himself.
ington last hight, had long conversation today
with the President and Attorney General II
is stated that several of his acts have beer
viewed with disfavor by tbs administration
especially his signing bill By which Gent les
in Utah were practically disfranchised. His
visit to Washington is with a view to an ex
PLANTATION of his official conduct.
Good Effect of Sherm ans Statement.
NEW YORK, March pa Washington des-
patch says that Secretary Sherman's CONVEX
sation with the Senate finance committee ba,
produced strong impression of confidence il
the future, and its influence upon the moderate
silver men is very good. There is a genera
and growing disposition to let the Seeretarg
have his way and carry out his policy as he ha:
SO frankly and courageously declared it, anG
some of the Senators, who have hitherto
desired the repeal of the res umption act, say
they are willing at least to wait, and thai
nothing ought now to be done to interfere wi Il
the Secretary's plans.
There is no doubt that Mr. Shermau's re-
marks have done very much to restore conf
dence and create belief that the country can
resume specie payments and get its finances in
good order. There are of course few extreme
men VINO are very angry. But they clnnot
carry any of their initiation plans this
session.
The Whis.key Tax.
Senate finance to-day heard Commissions
Raum in favor of the House ioiot
Iesoiutou 10 extend the time Tor payment
of taxes on distilled spirits in bond, and alst
heard j. N. Oliver and G. A Karwiess repre.
senting foIty-three Louisville rectifers and
wholesale dealers against the resolution. Com
mlttee intend to take action Tuesday.
Hamburg Butier's Seat.
Senate committee on elections TODAY "a
ceved report from Wadleigb, a subcommittee
OF one, on whether the claim of Corbin for The
seat in the Senate could properly be considered
by the committee or whether a vote of ths
Senate admitting Butler precluded further
action. Mr.. Wadleigh reported the case still
before the committee for action upon its
merits. The majority of the committe
adopted the report and the election committee
Of the Senate will consider the report at thu
next meeting.
Subscription 10 the Four Per Gents.
Subscriptions to the four PER cents bond.
to-day was $160,000.
Various Matters.
House Naval Com mittee today agreed to ap
point committee to select site aud ascertain
the expense for the erection a new naval OBJ
servatJry 10 this city,
The subcommittee of the Pacific railroad
committee have decided against the appoint.
ment of a commissioner to manoge the Pa cifit
railroads.