Daily globe., 1883-06-06
WASHINGTON.

al opinion IN the matter or the right OF
the Utah Northern Railway company to
pay men for services rendered in carrying
mails for the United States. he holds as
follows: First, that the act of March 8,
1873, gives no right to any officer of the
government to withhold from a railway
company which did not receive aid in SUBJ
sidy bonds of the United States payment
for compensation earned by it in carrying
mails, even though such company is con-
trolled by bond subsidized railway COM
pany; second, that neither the so-called
thurman act of May 6, 1878, nor the act of
March 3, 1879, gives any authority to with
hold such compensation from railway
company which received no aid in subsidy
OF the United States. Third-That stat
utes relating to bond subsidized Pacific
railway company do not repeal or in any
manner interfere with statutes giving
jurisdiction to the accounting officers of
the treasury departments. Fourth-That
the Utah " Northern Railway company is
entitled to payment from the United
States in pursuance of the regulations of
the postottice department. This decision
finally determines in favor of the Pacific
Railway company the long pending con-
troversy as to their right to receive pay
ment IN cash for mail transportation SER
vices to the government on leased or non
subsidized portions of their lines.
The comptroller says the question as a
whole applies not only to compensation
for mail service but to all other servics for
the United States on unsubsldized roads
and involves several million dollars.
THE HILL INVESTIGATION COMMITTEE
resumed its session. Thomas, counsel for
Hill, objected to the charges filed by
Murch, upon the ground that they are not
specific and definite, whereupon Coleman,
counsel for Murch, submitted a specific
charge, that in 1877 Hill entered into GER
tain contracts which were grossly unfair to
the government, and that he agreed to pay
certain contractors far in excess of the
real value of the materials furnished and
the work to be performed. In support of
this charge VIM. G. Stinemetz, of New
York, an expert, was called to testify to
the relative construction of the public
building at Philadelphia. He explained
to the committee the difference between
quarry dimensions and net dimensions,
the former being cubic dimensions
stone as taken from the quarry
and the latter cubic dimensions
based upon the space which the stone will
occupy in the building. Stinemetz stated
that IN making contracts it was the custom
to stipulate the dimensions. In the case
of the Philadelphia building, Hill had con
tracted for quarry dimensions, and in this
way compelled the government to paygreat-
ly in excess of the market value of the
stone actually used. He further testified
he had made computations from the plans
Sl1r1 ,s,ho L l.
the Philadelphia building, the actual cost
of several stones and the market value of
the same, based upon their true or net d.
mensions.
Stinemetz stated if time was allowed
him he could, by computing each stone,
show the aggregate amount paid by the
government for stone used in this build
ing in excess of its market value Cole
man stated to the committee it was the
purpose of the prosecution of the case of
this Philadelphia building to show the
amount of money which the government
through Hills contracts had been compeIl-
ed to pay in excess of the market value of
the materials used; that the computations
were necessarily slow, and further time
would be required before going on with
this branch Of the investigation After
mittee and counsel it was agreed
that Stinemetz should submit his calcula-
tions for the stones in each course, and
they should be taken as an average for the
entire building. Thomas, for the defense,
gave notice they would ask the committee
to summon every witness mentioned in
the papers of the prosecution, and they
would insist upon the right to cross-exam-
inc them. Adjourned until Monday next.
THE STAR ROUTES.
In the star route trial Merrick entered
into long explanation of the laws bear
ing on conspiracies and quoted legal de-
cisions in support of his declaration that
the charge in the present case had been
fully established.
Merrick compared the evidence given
by Dorsey and Rerdell, and read copious
extracts from the reports of Dorsey's ex-
animation, calling particular attention to
the number of 81 don't remember" answers
returned by witness. Adjourned.
AN OFFICER INSANE.
Capt. John P. Walker, Third cavalry, re-
Gently court martialed and censured, has
left for Apache without leave, and is wan
derins about New Mexico. He will be ar
rested and examined by medical board
as to his sanity.
A LAND GRANT DISPUTE.
Representatives Cobb, of Indiana, Dunn
and Rosecrans have through an attorney,
sent a communication to Secretary Teller,
asking him not to allow the filing on rec
ord of the interior department any mort
gage made by the New Orleans Pacific
Railroad company upon land originally
granted the New Orleans, Baton Rouge &
Yicksburg Railroad company and by the
latter transferred to the corporation first
named. The memorialists assert such
mortgage has been executed, and is to be
used as basis for land grant bonds; that
the contemplated transaction is in viola
tion of law, and there are grave doubts as
to the right of the New Orleans Pacific
company to avail itself of this land grant !
in any way whatever. Cobb, Dunn and
Rosecrans also filed with Secretary Teller
a protest against any action on
his part which would result in
the issuance of certificates to the Southern
Pacific Railroad company for lands
originally granted the Texas Pacific COM
pany. They assert these lands were de-
clared forfeited by the judiciary committee