New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-03-09
TIE DEMOCRATS SURPRISED.
MR. wIIIIrTs READS TO THIN FROM THE CoSIED-
rRATE ARCHIVES SOMETHING WHICH DisCoN-
rFpTS THEM.

Mr. WIIIITTS READS TO THEM FROM IHfs 0o'N'D
rRATE ARCHIVES SOMETHING WHICH DiscoN-
CERTs THEM.
LEI TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuNEl
W,suINGToN, March S.-Tbe debate in the House
of Representatives this afternoon. on the bill to pay
the claims Of ante-bellum mail contractors
in the Southern States, was very profitable one
Al the last session of Congress- paragraph In the
Sundry Civil Appropriations Bill set aside 31o,Ooo
for the purpose of paving these men. The ohcers OF
the Government whose duty il was to disburse that
sum declined 20 do so, on the groundth the appro-
priation was not sufficient TO cover all the
claims of tie class provided for ana no
provisions had been made in the law for any appor-
tionment of the money. This made further leglSla-
ton necessary and this is the third day which the
House has spent in the discussion of the bill re-
ported from the Committee on Post Offices and Post
Roads
Mr. Frye first called attention to the fact that the
bill authorized the payment of all claims that oc-
Cured before May 81, 1861 the date when the con-
tracts in the insurrectonary States were annulled
while the fact was that more than half the States OF
the Coufcderacy seeded several months before that
date He thought that the United States Govern
uen ought not TO pay for mail service in any State
after the ordinance of secession was passed.
Mr. Waddel the chairman of the committee SAID
that such an amendment would be acceptable to
him.
Then there was a sharp controversy between
MI Conger and Mr.. Reagan over the question OF The
disposition of United States Government property
eft in the hands of poStmastcrs and contractors at
the breaking out of the war; Mr.. Reagan,
who was the Postmast cr-Gcneral of the Con-
foderacy, speaking from memory week or
two ago lad said that order had been issued
directing that this property be accounted for to the
United States. Mr.. Conger showed from the Con-
federae archives that no such order had been gwen
but that the Confederate authorities had taken pos
session of the property themselves. This placed Mr.
Reagan i'm rather an awkward position; but no one
supposed that he intended to misrepresent the facts
of the case. $500
The sensation of the day occurred when Mr.: Will
litts, Of Michigan, produced from the Confederate
archives three four reports made III s62 and
1868 by Confederate POstmastcT-Gcneral Reagan
in which he charged himself with an appropriation
of $500 900 made nv the Confederate Congress TO
pay contractors with the Government of the United
States for carrying mails prior TO May 81, 1851,
and credited himself with more than 100000 paid
out for that purpose.
The production of this evidence was such com
plete surprise that the Democrats were not anXous
to 90 on with the consideration of the bill
tins afternoon; and on motion ef Mr.
Tucker tie Committee of the Whole was
dissolved. Mr.. Tucker then tried to have the bill
sent back to the Committee on Post Offices and Post
Roads but the Republicans were provoked because
10 some things that were said. insisted on the rcgu-
lar order which left the bill where was and where
1t will stand the way of other private bills again
next Friday