The New York herald., 1878-03-31
GENE PAL WASHINGTON DISPATCHES.
WASHINGTON, March 80, 1873,

WASHINGTON, March 30, 1878.
HOW POSTAL CONTRACTS ARE OBTAINED
The House Committee ON Post Onices and Post
Roads met at the Post ONCE Building to-day. Notary
Pubic Boone recalled Hs testified that
hc had bid Ia the recent letting for over
four hundred routes, aggrogating nearly 100000;
his only wealth was his ability and his
credit; no assisted Pock ana Miner In getting
up bids and in gathering information on which to
base the amount Of bids and, In return, they pro-
vidcd bondsmeu for him. The committee were at
times rather severe Mr.. Boone II appears
That Mr. Boone signed bonds while the names OF the
Witnesses to his signature wcrc not added until after
ward, and represented men with whom no unac-
guainted Proposals made and certified, and tho
dates added attcrward and other conditions
changed. Parties to such aidavls could not be held
for perjury. Representative Cannon was especially
caustic In regard 10 the business habits
OF Mr. Boone He asked tho witness H.
with such practices In view, he regarded
himself equally honest now when undcr gov
ernment employ. and Mr. Boone replied that he did
Other members Of the committee betrayed consider.
able curiosity regard 70 Mr. Boones lite and doings
In Tennessee from which state he testified no was
driven away carpet bagger, having sunk or
abandoned $250.oo0. Ho also testified that when
be came IRON that State to Ohio, few
years before, hc was worth only about
$35,oO0 Irregularities In tho proposals clearly
developed, which, in the opinion OF somo OF tho
members of tho committee, would make the bids In
valid and should be comm unicaed TO the Post master
General. Mr. Boone contended that they were tho
ordinary prectices among contractors, &C. that the
condemnation oil these proposals would do away with
inrgc proportion OF those accepted in the recent
letting and that tho strctness should not be re.
qured 10 respect this preliminary bond, providing
Il was in tho legal form IN ordinary afada-
Wits, since another bond must bs prepared and ac-
copied by the department. which would make all 60
euro. .r ase.t-.W
A UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD COMMISSION
Tho House Pacific Railroads Committee today took
definite action the pro rata question. A majority
OF against decided 10 report a bill naming three
commissioners 10 adopt rulos and regulations to Sc
cure tho operation Of the Union Pacific and tho
Kansas Pacific and other branches In accordance with
the acts OF Congress as continuous limo, without
discrimination. Tho committee agreed to insert the
names Of Charles Francis Adams. OF Massachusetts,; /;
and Albert Finck, Of Tennessee, as two OF tho Com
missoners. Ex-Governor H. II. Haight OF California,
vas prominently mentioned for selection as the third
Commissioned, but the committee adjourned until
Monday without final action on this point
NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD
The Senate Committee Railroads to-day agreed
substitute for the company's bill extending tho
timo for the construction and completion OF tho
Northorn Pacific Railroad eight years, and by a
vote OF 10 Mr. Mitchell was authorized TO re
port tho bill TO tho Senate, with tho favorable
rccomme endation OF tho committee. Tho amend
monts OF the full committee provide that tho
Northern Pacific Company shall. within nine months
alter the approval Of the act, commence tho eonstruc
sion OF It's Umata, and shall, within year
thereafter construct eastward twenty nvc miles, and
zach succeeding year forty miles, and the company
ire required TO commence ono year aftcr the passage
" the act tho road At the portage Of
lhe Lowor Cascades around tho Columbia River; tho
vano TO DO completed one year thereafter, and the
wnole road from end to end, to be completed within
eight years Id tho event OF failure to comm
prosecution OF tho work at the Cascades specified
all tho grants and franchises, so far as relate TO tho
railroad between Portland and Umailla, Oregon shall
vest iu tho Portland, Salt Lake and South Pass Rail
road Company, who shall be required, within tbrcc
months alter such failure, TO commence at Portland
aud construct on the south side OF the Columbia
River the rst year thirty three miles, and each
ceeding year twenty-five miles until The road 10 CON-
plsssd from ReE!lssats U@asl& ..EAi .bl provides