Morning journal and courier., 1881-04-23
News by Telegraph
 FROM ALL QUARTERS. MINORITY TACTICS, Legislation Obstructed by
 the Democrats. THE MAJORITY POWERLESS TO ACT. Senator Sherman's Expose of Democratic Methods. THE STAR ROUTE DISCLOSURES. POstOffice ElnplOyes on the
 Anxious Seat.
THE STAR ROUTE DISCLOSURES.
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.

Nf1 S64A 4A14As
 Democratic Obstruction of Public Busi-
 ness-Their Party Forcibiy Arraigned
 by Sherman-The Star Route Discover
 ies.
 WASHINGTON, April 22.-In the Senate to-day, after several intellectual dilatory mo- tions, MT. Merrill read speech in denial of the charge that corrupt bargain had been entered into in the Senate. As far as he was personally concerned, he would greatly regret if any Democrat had so poor an opinion of him as to think he would be 8 party to such 8 bargain. The fact was he had understood in advance of the session that the vote of Ma hone would be cast with the Republicans. The Republican majority in the Senate could not be denied and it was the duty of the mi nority.to cheerfully acquiesce to the will Of the majority. MT. Beck followed and de- tended the action of the minority. MT. Sherman interrupted him to ask whether he did not think the continued obstruction of public business was revolutionary. MT. Beck replied that he considered nothing revolu- tionary that was done under the rules of the Senate. Mir Sherman said the Democrats idea was all wrong and the stand they had taken utterly indefensible. If such a course was to be established a complete change in the rules of tLe Senate would be necessitated. MT. Harris asked Sherman if he intended to vote for Riddleberger. MT. Sherman replied in the affirmative. Mr. Harris then asked if he preferred Riddle, berger to all the Union soldiers who desired the place. MT. Sherman replied that if he had power to choose the officers of the Senate he would neither have chosen the present or proposed officers. 'sThen," said Mr. Harris, '.the Senator does not always act according to his convictions. 'Let me ask D said Sherman, Eff the Senator voted for Horace Greeley?" 'Yes," said Harris ''of the two evils I choose the least" Mir. Sherman continued that he had yet to hear reason why he should not vote for Riddle berger. Until he should hear such reason he should vote with his party, and more readily in this case where he understood the candi- date was 8 brave and honorable gentleman and in every way fit for the position. It was enough for him to know that Riddleberger stood with Malone in opposition to those who had worked so much harm to Virginia and the South. MT. Sherman in the course of his remarks laid great stress on the ability and evident determination of the Democrats to defeat the will of the majority while the interests of the country might suffer. He in- timated that the Republicans believed the country recognized their true position and would hold the Democrats responsible for whatever the majority might be forced to do. Mr. Jonas, of Louisiana, read full dispatches in refutation of the alleged political outrage against Charles Heath. Massachusetts man, in Caldwell parish, Louisiana. These dis patches were from prominent officials of that community, Democrats and Republicans and stated that Heath's buildings were generally believed to have been burned for the insur- sIo of &1,o victim stated that the buildings were fired by accident. MT. Dawes, in reply to MT. Jonas, said he had not seen Heath in person, but had heard the story through good hands and giv- en it for what 1t was worth, together with Heath's published statement To Heath he now desired to transfer the controversy with the Senator from Louisiana. At 5 o'clock the Senate, on motion of Mir. Dawes, ad- iourned till 12 m. on Tuesday.
 The Democrats are congratulating them selves tonight that they have discovered signs of weakening on the Republican side of the deadlock. The ground for this idea seems to have been found in the speech of Sherman today. His laying such heavy stress on the power of the minority to keep the majority crippled is interpreted to be an effort to show the country that much further effort by the majority would be useless, and his allusion to the Democrats being responsi- ble for whatever the majority might be forced to do is thought to have been paving the way for step backward.
 A sufficient number of Republicans today signed call for caucus. All this does not indicate by any means that the fight over the officers of the Senate is to be abandoned, but it may mean that in response to the expressed wishes of the President few important nom nations are to be taken into consideration. A caucus will not be held before Tuesday or Wednesday of next week, as it is understood that no suggestions will be made beyond holding one or two executive sessions, after which the fight will be renewed.
 The irregular and fraudulent transactions which have been uncovered ill the contract office of the Postoffice department by the in- vestigation of Postmaster General James are the principal topics of conversation through out the city to-day, especially in the execu- tive department, where eager inquiries are made of those who are supposed to be &C., quainted with the facts as to the number of persons and who they are that will be affect. ed in their official capacities A member of ex-President Hayes Cabinet in conversation on the subject expressed great surprise when he was told that the corruption extended over the entire period of the previous ad- ministration. When this gentleman ex- pressed his faith in the honesty and integ- rity of the immediate predecessors of Postmaster General James, he said that if the current statements were true they clearly indicated that those officials had been sadly ignorant of the duties and operations of the various bureaus under their care. The case against those alleged to be implicated in these irregularities was to-day, so far as it has been made presented to the President at the Cabinet meeting and it's discussion occu- pied nearly the whole session. It was de- cided when the evidence is complete to present it to the'Attorney General for such action as he may deem necessary for the best interests of the government. In the mean time very little information of an official character can be obtained but 1t is intimated that installments will be furnished for publi- cation as rapidly as seems judicious to those having the investigation in hand. There is a good deal of uneasiness in and about the con- tract office of the Postofice department. As yet no removals have been made, but it is stated that several clerks will be dismissed within few days. It is among the rumors too that Auditor McGrew of the Treasury, who has charge of the aud- iting of the postoffce accounts, as well as his deputy are to be suspended. Charges of irregularities in the office of the sixth audi tor that were made two or three years ago, but which for some reason or other were hushed up, are now brought forward for the consideration of the Postmaster General. It is known that the developments when made public will declare the existence of 8 power full combination the members of which were benefciaries in the appropriations for star route service, and in it are included Congress men, ex-Congressmen, newspaper proprie- tars, newspaper correspondents and promi nent lobbyists It is asserted that letters are in possession of special agents of the Post office department fully duplicating these par ties. The friends of General Brady allege that the stories now afioat are merely re- hash of what was developed before the sub- committee on appropriations two winters ago. On the other hand, the officials of the Postoffice department say that new facts have been developed showing conclusively the existence of 8 star route ring.
 The President to-day respectfully declined an invitation to attend the grand Masonic celebration to be held at Louisville, Ky, by the Kentucky Masons June 24th, 18Sl.z He had intended to accept, but in view of the Ganofa IaoII1al- ;4 i,a.& @o 5aoI;ra