Morning journal and courier., 1882-01-07

l Ith Ot this month, and am advised that the Postmaster General would have nc authority to reject such bids if regular ir form, while it is impossible to properly inves- | tigate the responsibility of sureties before the time when the contracts must be awarded. As in order to make the remedy effective at the next bidding, immediate action upon the part of Congress will be required, call your attention to the matter instead of leaving it to my successor" Mir. Bliss letter refers to the report of the inspector, declares the bonds furnished by Boone and others, in the broadest sense of that expressive term, ''bo- gus," and concludes as follows: ''Now there is absolutely conclusive evidence that Boone intends to food the department with bids The indications are that he is pur- suing the same system of bogus bonds. Under these circumstances you ask me if you have the right to reject all of Boone's bids As the law stands I don't think you have the right. It seems to me clear that there ought to be some change in the law in this respect If the facts stated in the report of Messrs. Ilbball and Shallcross were brought to the attention of the law making power I do not believe there would be any hesitation in mak- ing the change. I propose within day or two to make such use of some of the facts stated in the report as will relieve you of any necessity to keep it from the public. If therefore, you concur with me I suggest that before you go out of office you transmit copy of the report to Congress with request for legislation" The document was referred to the Postofice committee.
 Edward J. Sweet, Samuel Hoyt, W. l.. Boninger, John N. Minnix and J. w. Dona- hue were arrested here tonight by detectives on warrants sworn out by Inspector Tidball of the Postoffice department charging con- spiracy. Warrants are out for five others, who may be arrested during the night. All these parties belong to what is termed the Boone ring of contractors. The charge al- legged is that they have defrauded the govern ment in obtaining contracts and furnishing straw bail for the same and then either for feiting their contracts or not performing them There is much excitement over the arrests. All the men remained at police headquarters during the night, not being able to furnish bail. Boone escaped arrest by barricading his door, but the house is guard ed and he will be arrested in the morning.
 The expected nomination of ex-Senator Sargent to be Secretary of the Interior will probably not be sent to the Senate for two or three weeks, probably not before February l. The coming Senatorial election in Iowa has been virtually settled in favor of Hon. James F. Wilson, and to avoid any disturbance of that arrangement Kirkwood will be permitted to retain his present position until the elec- tion is over. It is represented that this plan is agreeable to him and to Wilson and his friends. Kirkwood, it is understood knows that his services as Secretary will be termi- mated before long, but has no desire what ever to enter the Senatorial race. On the contrary he is anxious to keep out of it, but should he leave the Interior department now he apprehends that his friends would insist upon an attempt to elect him to the Senate. He does not care to be put in a position to resist their appeals to run, and this can be only avoided by his remaining where he is oIo1n of Wilson very willingly assented to this ar engagement as they do not want possible competitor in Kirkwood
 Superintendent Thompson of the railway mail service has issued the following order: q desire to call your attention to order No. 57 of the Postmaster General on page 23, of December, 1884, to guide you in regard to the action which should be taken by this de- partment to prevent the spread of smallpox or any other contagious diseases. In view of the prevalence of smallpox throughout the country at the present time you are in- structed in every case where report IS made to you in regard to the matter with a request that mail communication be suspended be- tween tEe infected locality and others to take necessary action at once without waiting to consult this office, but to report at once the action taken by you to this office. This is necessary in order that the department shall
 
 any contagious disease"
 Senator Logan to-day introduced an amendment 10 the pension law which repeals the act limiting the allowance to attorneys to $1O and restores the section fixing the limit at 1925, but provides that when no argument is made it shall be ten dollars. It also di- rects certificates sent for delivery to be sent to the pension agent where the pension is made payable with copy of the attorneys agreement if there is any Section 4,714 of the revised statutes is amended so as to per init declarations in pension cases to be made before any person authorized by law to ad- minister oaths for general purposes. Section f, 699 1-2 is amended to allow in- crease of pension from the date of filling the claim. The bill also allows to widows and minor children whose claims have been filed since July 1st 189O or on the date Of the death of the person on whose account the pension is claimed, payment from that date, provided the claim is filed within five years after the claim accrues It further provides that after July 1st, 1882, no person shall be permitted to practice as a pension agent until he shall have satisfied the Secre- tary of the Interior of his character and ability to discharge the duties of claim agent.
 General Burbridge is busy in the prepara- tion of statement in defense against charges made by Congressman Blackburn of Ken lucky against his war record. It will make about five thousand words and is promised to the press for publication next Monday. It is understood the General will introduce therein number of letters and War depart ment records obtained through the courtesy of General Sherman which have never be- fose seen the light, all, however, in defense of the charges made pertaining to twenty years ago and that there is nothing in them that is at all likely to lead to a duel or anything more serious tEan a long drawn out corre- spondence The necessity of this dispute of words at this time is recognized by some in the fact that Burbridge is opposed to Black burn in his aspirations for place. Blackburn still refuses to make public his last letter to Burbridge, preferring that it form part of the expected statement. Blackburn's state ment is simply @ reiteration of the old charges and contains nothing of sanguinary y nature.
 The Postmaster General in decision made several weeks ago, but only just given pub licity, decides that the several departments have right to supply official stamp and de- partment envelopes to members of Congress and others for official use upon business of the department furnishing them.
 To days investigation of the Treasury con tingent fund was directed mainly to alleged abuses in the cabinet shop of the depart ment. Quite number of minor officials and workmen were examined. The testimony was conflicting in many particulars.
 The smallpox reports to the national board of health show fifteen cases at Buffalo, NY; one case at Milan, Tenn; one death at Lake, Ill., one at Kansas City, Mo. and twenty-five deaths at Chicago for the week ending De- cen1ber 31.
 At the meeting of the Committee of Ways and Means held this morning the chairman was authorized to report to the House res olution referring the message of the Presi- dent and accompanying documents to several standing select committees The bill relat- ing to duties on hoop iron was referred to Messrs. Mckinley, Hubbell and Morrison. FORT CONGRESS.
 WASHINGTON, Jan. G.
 SENATE-The business Of the morning hour was light and unimportant and the Senate went to bus- the calendar. MT. Hale's resolution for a lect committee the mode for voting for President and Vice President referred to the Committee on Privileges and Elections.
 Several resolutions passed and Mr. Davs' (of West Virginia) resolution calling upon the Secretary of the Interior for information in relation to pension frauds came up. Mir. Edmunds took occa-