Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, December 12, 1872, Page 1

VOLUME 26. CHICAGO, THURSDAY, BECEMBER 12, 1872. 0.0 5 gy Ay, "NUMBER Li5. HATS AND PURS. | HATS FURS! HATS! THE BEST STOCK IN THE CITY. ' STRYKER & CO, 231 West Madison-st., e 114 South Clark-st. ASSURANCE. - London Assurancs Cororation TONDOIN. -t Irocald Coxxrnittee. J. P. GIRATD FOSTE! GORDON N EiFRaTRISI0 of Srorin, DOSBLE Co, OHARLES M. FRY, . O A No. 8 Wall-st. e B No. i Brown Bros. & Co. GOOLD H. REDMOND, Of Deanistoun & Co. Total Funds, Gold, - $13,234,425 Fire Assets, Gold, - - $5,064,000 - BEO. G CLARKE, Agent, S and 4 Bryan Bloclk. Ingurance effected on Business Buildings, Merchandise Provisions, Dwellings and their contents, TO RENT. OFFICES IN THE Tribume Building Are nearly finished. Several are yet untaken. Fire-proof, with vaults. English tile floorsthrough-~ out. No offices in the city equal these in every first-class respect. Plans of the Tribune Building can be seen at the ofiice of " W. C. bOW, Room No. i, Nevada Block, Y FTOR SALE, Malaga Grapes, Louisiana Oranges, Messina Lemons, Cranberries, ith a Targs suprly of Nute, Figs, Raisi C: bR wttt Vs By gt 1 e 51 West Lake-st. HOTEL FOR SALE. A hotel woll lozated, and doing & good trznsient busl- oss, woll furnished, chesp rent, &c., and conteins about 40 zooys, complete aad haxdy ia ail respeets. The prescnt oceupazt has good reasons for selling. AddressS 36, Teibane oSice. Malaga Grapes. Tino eisine, Fie3 s 15 £ruits generdly, foe fhe HAlk 5 1. G E05 8 tnd 61 Mackotest. FOR SATE. Chojcalot of Buffalo Hams and saddlc: 1L W, ROGERS, J. rante, canned goods, and fancy & BRO. 29and 211 Michighas'., cornor Cass. FOR SALE. PEW NO. 12 IN GRACE EPISCOPAL CHURCH. Inguire of . H. DIX, . 53 30d 6 South War REMOVALS, FASHIONABLE FURNITURE! V. V. STRONG FURNTIURE C0, ~266 & 268 Wabash-av. REMOVAL, J. S. GOULD has remored his Roal Estat offica from 851 Wabasb-av. to 119 Dearborn-st., whoro he would bo ploased to seo all Lis old and as many now customcrs as gap make It for their interest 10 placo their real ostato in ‘Bs hands tor wle. REMOVAL. Ihe otfice. of BOWEN BROTHERS, for- merly at 123 Mlichigan-av., is removed to Room 18 Metropolitan Block, northwest cor- per of Bendolph and LaSalle-sts. T MISCELLANEOUS. T REGOMMENDATION, . bogn_sufferers from RHEUMATISM, S Bt b had "Msed ovory bozelblo romeds, an S8 iited tlio most respacted medical advisers witbout SO, W waro At Jast fold that Mra; A. BECKE 3 553 Mohawk-st.., would relicvo 3. Card it 220 B ttention of all simila With ros H. H 7 A €8 Fryst., GHESROF 2ABELS, 665 North Halsted.st, in tuo name of many others. Holiday Evergreen Decorations KING & EAMES, 1% LASALLE-ST. Wishiog churcacs, Bals, ete., decorated with B o Howess, cic., oin be accomiiodsied roasons averge rgreens, desizns, or superintendence. Ap- Bl o address WING & EAMES 16 L2800 ot -:!y:l:hucmfltlmd. Blank Books and Printing for the Now Year should be ordered without delay of Culver, Page, Hoyze & Co,, 138 and 120 Monroe-st., Chicago. HOLIDAY GIFTS. APPROPRIATE ALY PRESENT. FIELD, LEITER & CO. For the next 15 days, will offer The Most Complete Stock of Silks, Selected with special reference to the Holiday Season. Specialties from the most CELE- BRATED LOOMS of LYONS. Rich COLORED GROS GRAIN SILKS, new SHADES for STREET and DINNER WEAR. BRONZE---All _casts, from the most delicate GOLD DUST hue to dark VENETIAN BRONZE. SAGE---In all its most exq ] tints, PLUM, PRUNE and L- BER’RYindesimble colorings, AR~ GENT, FRENCH, SCOTCH, and TUNION GRAY, Flame, Ruby, and Garnet. TLate novelties in PEACOCK and HUMMING BIRD tints, from dark- est shades for the promenade to most delicate hues for Ball and Opera. Costume Shades, specially for evening and full reception. Novelties entirely new this season —--BROCADES, for EVENING, RE- CEPTION, HOUSE, and CAR- RIAGE wear. PEKIN SILKS in TUNIC PAT- TERNS,EMBOSSSED,BROCADED, VARIEGATED---a novelty import- ed for their own retail trade. STRIPED and FANCY SILKS--- Ver{;atest designs. . A late mark down inprices wlll in- sure to our customers great bar- gains, . With the CLOSING OF THE YEAR, we will make LOW PRICES throughout our ENTIRE RETAIL DEPARTMENTS. State and Twentieth-sts,, Madison and Market-sts, HOLIDA GOODS. For the better accommodation of otir friends and customers our store will be kept open every evening until Christmas. ‘We have a full stock in every department. N, MATSON & 00, STATE AND MONROESTS NEW PUBLICATIONS. Christopher Crooked : A, CEHRISTMAS STORTY. BY W. E. HATHAWAY. A BOOK FOR EVERYBODY. rom the Now Yotk Independent], s Story, *Christopher Crooked,* is gno aving a moral aro yot readablo. Wa ‘with tho writer as rospects the physiological basts of tho aje, bat b Dasmade 4n unusualy interosciag story upon it, and ono which we can heartily rocommend. ‘Tho author of the ** Hoosicr Schoolmaster,” and *“Tho End of the World," in private letter to Mr. Hathawa, eays: “*Qn tho ground of high axt, T should have to complain that th theiaa Is one on whieH ta1ts con Baraly bo wHiCteR as works of art; and yet your style is flucnt, almost metri- cal, your story uniquo, curious, sud interosting. 1t is nll 738 claim for it when you soy, Tt is a thing of fisolt.) his is & frank oplnion from your sincore friend—Edward Egglostons” ““Tt i3 both touching and terrible."—Hearthand Homo. ““The stors fs tragic, * * * butendswell, Thestsle of the writer 1s poetic, his plctures aro well drawn, sad Srathtal to nstire and fact.”—Ladies' Roposiiory. Ninety-six pages. 16mo. Very heavy tintod paper. Price, in cloth, elegantly bound, 1. In paper, Bo. Sent by mail, postage paid, on recclptof the price.” Lib- ‘eral discount 1o the trade. S oo b BB AR A SNSRI T, or_salo cago, ., ROBT. CLARKE & CO., Cincinaati, O £ FINANCIAL. REAT, ESTATE LOANS Negotiated at current rates. Sevoral I f from 85,000 1o 55,000 ascli will bo e p."r“érgn:?"’};;:flded tio'so- carity is very chefce. ? Kendail's Building. Loans Negotiated On veal estate, In the clty or suburbs, at current rates. G. §. HUBBARD, Jr., 163 Bast Washincton-st. Steam Warming, farnished for heating Stores, Factories, &, Job- Buds i bing prompuy attendod to N & MORRIL 5 WATSON & MORRILL, A. O. Slaughter, BANKER, THE LAST HORROR. Burning of a Portion of the Fifth Avenue Ho- tel, New York. Eleven Servant Girls, Unable to Escape, Burned fto Death. Two Persons Seriously Injured by Jumping toa Neighb_or- ing Roof, The Remains of the Victims Taken to the Morgue for Identifi- cation. Heartrending Sights at the Recog- nition of Some of the Bodies. The Stampede Among the Guests ===How the Fire Orig- inated. The Hotel Pamaged $150,000. Special Despatch to The Chicago Tribune. New Yorr, Dec. 11.—The extent of the calam- ity at the Fifth Avenue Hotel fire last night was mot ascertained until this morning, and many exaggerations have been afloat all dsy. The facts, however, are horriblo enough. Eloven of the scrubbing women employed in the hotel wore burned to death, and ono scrub-woman and one fireman were severely injured by falls. ‘This completes the casualty list. None of the guests were injured, and none are missing, though scattered sround in adjacent hotols. The origin of the fire bes not been satisfacto- rily necortained. It commenced in s part of the Trenty-third strect wing, occupied by the 500 servants employed in tho hotel, through which a wooden spiral stairway runs from top to bottom, and also the laundry elevator. The smoke was first dotected by a gentleman boarder about retiring to bed, who informed the clerk. The alarm was given, and when the employes of the house reached the upper stories, occupied by the servants, the flames had gained furious headway on the top floor where the spirial stair- case was ablaze. The servants in the fifth and sixth storics wore roused with difficulty, and oscaped Lurriedly in their night dresses. By this time consternation had spread among the guests, nearly all of whom vacated the prem- iscs more or less panic-stricken. The sorub-women, occupying two rooms in-the soventh story, were completely cut off from es- cape by tho stairway. A window opened on the Toof, a few fect below, but it was barrod up by & strong iron grating, intended to-prevent any ingress from the quarters of tho late servants. Ttis said this grating conld have been readily wrenched loose, but the women who perished had doubtless lost all presence of mind, for their roasted bodies wers found huddled together in in the centre of the room. There was an explosion of a steam pipe in one the servant’s rooms, but this was tho result of the fire, and not the cause. The fire originated probably through the carclesaness of some of tho female servants, and crept rapidly upward between the lath partition to the wooden cock- loft, covered with tarred roof, where the unfor- tunate women perished. It must have boen The servants were paid off yesterday, and, pos- #ibly, drunkenness wes af the boitom of the calamity. It was with the Erentesh difficulty that the domestics wero awekened. As their rooms were directly under the burning roof, many were al- most s tifled with the smoke before they were aware of the conflagration, and had to be_drag- ged out. Their lamentations were pitisblo in the extrome, ns they bewailed their loss of everyth ing worldly. ; The coclc-loft in which the girls were burned to death is considerably burned out, and the whole of the Twenty-third street end of the building is deluged with water. The furniture, bedding, carpets, etc., are all ruined by water. Viewed from the outeide, to-day, the hotel looks_ the enme as usual, = the walls not being injured. About 100 rooms for guests, which 13 about one-fifth of the whole number in the hotel, are dsmaged by water. The ceilings in three upper stories must el come down, also that of the dining room. Repairs vrsinzl began to-day, and will be rapidly prose- cutex k! The bodies of the victims were recevered about 8 o'clock this morning, and taken in am- bulances to the Morgue. The &cene at the Morgue, to-dny, was truly heart- rending. From 8 o'clock until 5 o constant stream of mon and _women viewed the bodies of the unfortunate women who wore burned or scalded to death in the fire- trap attic. It is estimated that over twenty-five thoneand persons viewed the charred remains, most of whom were attracted by morbid curios- ity, though many were searching for relatives and friends who had been emploed in tho hotel. The police had great dificulty in restraining women, thousands of whom clamored for admis- sion. When many of them confronted the ter- rible sight, they began a terrible weoping, pray- ing, and deported themsclycs extravagantly. Several were led off in & fainting condition, and one young woman, who was sccompanied by her mother, foll 1n & fit and was removed by force. _The bodies wero ranged side by side in rough pine coffins in the yard at the western end of the Morgue. Soveral among the deceased had gm;nbbunli;éd %mont ttod cix(iem, while others ad been litorally rossted. In fome inat the flesh was scalded from the bones, S The first body identified was that of Mary Ann Fagan, Irish, aged 25, unmarried, s scrab. woman, who was first taken to Bellevue Hos- ital, last night, suffering from scalds and urns. Tho next identified was Mary McCabe, Trish, sged 25, married. Sho had been employed &b the_ Fifth Avenue two months, and previously at the Hoffman House for three years. Hor i by s st identited i iy was identified a5 that of Mary Webb, laundress, but Mary was found to be alive, and the body afterwards proved to bo that of ‘Mary Dewey, scrub woman, aged 25, a native of this State. She was scalded to death. Lizzie Moran, scrub womsn. aged 20, single Trish, five yesrs in this country, was identified by a fellow-gervant by her peculiarly formed faet. The bones of this victim were in some cagos denuded of flesh, nd the body had evident- 1y been roasted after death. Kato McDonsld, aged 26, English, four yeara in this_country, was identified by Ker brother, whose lamentations were bitter. The last one identified was Honora Ward, aged 22, single, only three weoks in America. Bhe was horribly charred. Her limbs were all gone, and she was only recognizable by her large size, Five bodies, greatly disf Corner Clark snd Madison-sts. Buysand sells Stocks, 1d. Receives money on doposit and trans- R e o} Bankiag and Brokerago Basinoss. igured’ by fire, steam. and emoke, have Dob been Hdontifed. thus far, but their names are supposed to0 be Delia Cum- burning some time beforo the slarm was given.. ‘mings, Mary Cordery, Margaret 0'Connor, Mary Us-\npbelluznd Kate Cushing. They will proba- bly have fo bo buried as uni@own women, a3 not a familiar expression or vestige of clothing re- mains, From this eickening s-ge::hc]e at the Morgne, our reporter went to the female ward No. 28 ellovue Hospital, where Mary Jane Hovey lies suffering from severe _contusions on the back. The history of her escape, told by horsolf, was 88 follows : 3 I was undressed and the light and jump into girls, who slept with me in to get her a drink of water. As I opened tho door, I heard on alarmof fire. I ran back into tho room and told Maggie Kelly, Katy Burns, and Mary Hand that the building was on fire. At thef momont a man rushed into our ust going to put out when one_ of the 529, asked me room, tore the iron _screen from the window, and jumped out - on the roof. ~ The thres girls followed him, but I was afraid and ran to the elevator leading to the laundry. It was on fire. The flames were bursting up all round me, and the blaze was jumping scross the corridor licking up Nos. 511 and 515, both occupied by scrap women who gotobed early and have togetup at 8o’clock in the morning to ecrub out the office, bar- room, and other places. When I found I could Dot get down that way, I went to the window and jumped ont. In my fright I did not see wherd I was going down, and fell. I hurt my- self severely.” Concerning her room mates she said: T know Maggio Kelly a ssto, but sm uncortain 58 to the others. A lot of men were on our floor, calling the women and telling them that the Touse Was on firo, but they must have forgotten to awake the scrub women.” The Coroner will begin an investigation to- morrow. Among the Western guests at the Fifth Ave- nue yesterday, were the following : Chicnfilo— . Riddell, C. Gossage, W. A. Boyn- ton, J. Hippler, C. B. Brown, G. M. Pullman, H. P, Brown. 8t. Louis—J. A. Emery, J. C. Hamilton. Touwisville—Mrs., Hunf, Miss Ward, J. W. Hunt. 1T the Associated Press.) New York, Dec. 11.—A fire broke out at tho Fifth Avenue Hotel last night, shortly after 11 o'clock, on the second floor of the hotel. The staircase upon which the fire started waa one at the back of the house, leading from the laundcy in the basement to the eervants’ rooms on the attic floor, The flames ran rapidly up the stair- way, which operated as a chimney, there being no opening from it excopt at the top and bot- tom. It ate up the staircaseand charred its sur- roundings, reaching the open space into which therooms of the servants opened, where it burst into its fullest strength. Tho flames in their passage did little or no damage until they roached the corridor at the top, tho draught through the narrow passage- way carrying the flames quickly and making them more destructive. As they went on they sprend over the entire extent of the west wing. Lhe woodwork of the rooms whore the servant slopt immediately caught fire, and soon'tho en- tire wing was & mass of lurid flame. The flames spread 8o rapidly that the servants asleep in the rooms at the top of the staircase were overtalken beforo assistance could reach them, and they were completely shut off from the main_build- ing. The firemen, who had in the menntime ar- rived, were too late for their assistance, as by this time the apartments of the poor creatures were enveloped in flames. Shortly after 1 o'clock, when it was found that & number of persons wero missing, & police offi- cer and a Chief of the Fire Depggtment effected an entrance, by means of an iron ladder, to the room wheroe the servants were Eugpolad to be. They there found the charred and burned bodies of thirteen persons. Bedding and furniture ‘were strewn about the rooms, confused with hu- man remains, The bodies lay at the different ‘places from which the poor people had triedto find meana of egress. Some had endeavored to es- caps through windows; others, in the endeavor to find air, had fallen at the hoad of the staircase. The bodies of two women Were half concealed under s bed in an outer room, where they evidently tried to shelter themselves from the blinding, suffocating smoke, and the scathing flames. When tho firemen and police got into the wing, the floors of this room were sound, but the roof timbers were burned and had fallen upon the floors in s confused mass upon the bodies, The water thrown from tho bose was several inches deop upon the floor, and was filtering through to the ground. The’ heavy beams of the roof had fallen upon the burned bodies, saverin? their limbs and mutilating tho remaing horribly. The bodies were speedily removed to the Bollevue Hospital, whence, to-day, they. will be sont to the Morgue. Owing to the confusion and excitement, the names of the victims could not be ascertained. Up to twenty minutes past 3 o'clock, 22 dead bodies had been recovered, 16 in onoroomand 6 in acother, which are probably all. _The alarm was first given by one of the female servants, who shricked “fire” throngh the ball-ways, swakening the guests, of whom thers were about 500 in the hotel. Many of the guests went to the office and 1nquired as to the excite- ment, but were informed by the clerks that ““it was only a little fire in the laundry.” This attempt to keep the fire quiet, 8o 8s to avoid & panic, helped to bring about the ter- rible results mentioned. ‘hen the guests becamo cognizant of their danger, scenes of confusion ensued, the people moving sbout in apparent distraction. Beggago filled. the hall- waye, the smoke was_suffocating, and. water drenched the floors. It was nearly 12 o’clock beforo any one gave snalarm, and s passing policomsn, then learning of the fire inside, coused the firc-engines to come to the spot. The_fire, by this time, had made considerable headway. e 1ndios were in a wild state of ex- citement. The carpets were still covered with water. A poor servant girl was found on the third fioor, writhing in the sgonies of pain, her body being frightfully burned. The shrieks of the servants in the upper storics were heart- rending, as the firemen Were making their way to rescue thom. Large crowds had in the meantime gathered in the streets. The excitement outside was kept up till about 2 o'clock, when the fire was about extinguished. The Herald, editorially, says it is stated that gross carelessness was apparent in the condition of the warming apparatus, snd that there was too much nxiety to keep the fire & secret, and too little effort made to save the unfortunate girls. The whole subject will no doubt be thoroughly investigated. The losses are estimated at from $130,000 to $160,000. There are various statements as to the origin of the fire. One says that it was caused by the bursting of & steam-pipe in the laundry. Some 70 or 80 servants, altogether, were swakened on the top floor and were hurried down stairs. ‘Their clothing was utterly rnined. A fireman, named Deavy, wag eerionsly in- juretd by falling through a crevice to the pave- ment. The hotel furniture was worth about $400,000, and fully one-fourth of this was utterly rained. Tho houso is owned by A. R. Eno, but is loased to Darling, Griswold & Co. Just boforo th ularm » guest wes assigned & room which, on reaching, he discovered to be on fire. Returning to tho clerk, he was informed that thero was no other room vacant. The fire was not known at this time in the office. Among the most prominent guests were Gen- eral Burnside, General Horace Porter, and G. M. Pullmen, of Chicago. Several of the Iady ‘guesta were accommodated in neighboring hotels and gxouaos. Miss Neilson, the actress, was a eat. O s bulding was w0’ alightly constreted Hhiat the water went through the floors like a sieve. Taten,—Large crowds of rich and poor gath- erod ot the Morgue th morning to ascertain the names of the persons taken there from the Fifth Avenue Hotel fire. Eleven bodies are alreadyat the Morgue. _Only two, 8o far, are recognizablo, the others being burned almost to acrisp. These two are Mary McCabe and Mary Fagan, both servants. -Mary Heaney, one of the servants, is at the Bellevue Hospital. She states that when the alarm of fire was given sho knocked at nearly all she doors of the other servauts. She then tried to _get down stairs, but the smoke and ~flames drove her back, when, with Mary Turney sud Bridget Curtis, she broke open a light and got on the roof, remaining thero till the firemon rescued them, She will recover. The bodies at the Morgue have the appearance of having suffered great agonies. . Bt LateR.—Therq is great confusion .at the Fifth Avenue Hotel to-dsy. One of the proprietors denies that there Was any delay. in giving: the alarm. The walls of tho laundry ‘Wero completely burned ; icicles hang from the ceiling. The damages cannot be estimated yet. The accounts of the number burned are conflict- ing. Itislearned at the hotel thet only Blefien persons were burned. all female servants. WASHINGTON. A Field Day in the House Qver the Soldiers’ Bounty Land Bill. The Grand Army of the Republic Denounc- ed as a Po- litical Ma- chine. Probable Resignation of Vice Pres- ident Colfax at the -New Year, Opposition to the Proposed Ab- olition of Internal Reve- nue Assessors. Proposed Compromise in the Alabama Imbroglio. About $10,000,000 Increase Ex= pected From Internal Revenue. Proceedings in Congress Yesterday. Special Despatch to The Chicago Tribune. A LIVELY SENE IN THE HOUSE. ‘WasamigroN, Dec. 11.—There was a brisk ekirmish on the floor of the House, to-dsy, on matters arising out of the war, in which the same scene has been 8o many times before enacted. It was only alittle earnestness of lan- gusgo on the part of members, o sort of impul- siveness that creeps out every few days during & segsion. It is only in angor that members tell the truth about each other, and such scenes as that of to-day are regarded as something piquant and nutritions. The same old Soldiers’ Homestesd bill was up for consideration. Gov- ernor Hawley, of Connecticut, has made his first speech in the House against the bill, and has pounded it £0 effectnally 28 to leave in it little of life. Mr. Townsend, of Pennsylvanis, had a protest read against the bill signed by General Hart- ranft and others, in behalf of the Grand Army of the Republic. Mr. .Speer, s Democrat, of Pennsylvania, de- nounced the Grand Army 8s a political organiza- tion. Mr. Townsend said it was becauso the soldicrs wore Republicans, while the Demosrats wero rebels. This shell made a fearful explosion. Mr. Manson, of Indiana, & Brigadier General in the war, rushed to the front, an shaking his ' fist st Townsond, denounco the statement as & ““ lie.” Several other Demo- crats, who had been officers in the war, took Enxt in the melee, and employed not less strong guags. Mr. Speer then sald that ¢ the state- ‘ment i§ false, and unworthy of my colleague.” Others shouted * Yes it is worthy of him,” and " worthy of them,” was repeated from every point of the Demoeratio side, 23 the members rushed to the front and rallied around Messrs. Bpeer and Manson. On the Republican side nearly all the members wore upon their feet, and the scene.was &.very exciting one. Samuel Randall, glowering at Mr. Townsénd, nske?d’ excitedly, = * Where were you in tho war 2" ‘¢ At home,” replied Mr. Townsend. “Yes, Fon were at home making money-out of the soldiers,” gaid Randall. “ ésnd where, pray, were you,” retorted Town- send. 1 was a private,” answered Randall. _ “‘In the Home Guard,” broke in some Repub-~ lican. And this sort of thing continued until the Speaker succeeded with his mallet in quelling th® disturbance. The bill goes over till to-mor- oW, and is sure of defeat. > THE INDIAN APPROPRIATION DILL was then taken up and passed, evincing unusual ood luck at this early dato in the session. The emocrats, under the leadership of Mr. Beck, Qecided to go on the record as against the appro priations to Indians, and 8o demanded 2 roll call. RESIGNED. Judge Kelley to-day_resigned his Chairman- ship of the House Civil Service Committes, and also that of Coinago, Weights, and Measures, which he has held 8o long. This action was to enable him to devote his entire time to the Centennial Committee, of which he is Chairman. Mr. Hooper, of Massachusetts, is sccond on both the Committees from which Mr. Eelley _retired, and succeeds to the Chairmanship of both. He is also at the head of the Banki 5&“}& Currency Committee, and thus: becomes Chairman of three Commit- tees, whilo & grent many old membors have no Chafrmanship at all. . RECOMMENDED HIGHLY. The Ohio delegation in Congress, Democrats included, have united in a letter tothe Presi- dent, asking tho appointment of Colonel James Harlan (coloréd), of Cincinnati, to some office suitable to his high character and qualifications, The Colonel is well known to the President, he having epent some time with him at Long Branch, two years 8go, an account of which visit was published at tho time in Cincinnati. It'is understood the sppointment desired is the mis- sion to Hayti. TIE VIENNA EXPOSITION. General Thomas B. Van Buren, the United States Commissioner to the Vienna Exposition, was before the Foreign Affairs Committee to- day, urginEmnpsmprinfion of $300,000 to be expended by the Becretary of State to aid Amer- ican exhibifors in fitting up proper accommoda- tions, conveying articles to and from the two counfries, and defraying the expenses of the United States on that occasion. The Committeo is favorably disposed, inasmuch as $250,000 was approprinted for the Paris Exposition. = . V. COLFAX- There is roason to believe, from the state- ments made by the most intimate and trusted of Mr. Colfax's friends, that he will resign the Vico Presidency of the United Btates on the st of Jam next to become the editor of the New York gflmne, a position which was tendered to ‘him about a week sgo. The statement is that he was first offered the position at a salary of §12,000, being $3,000 more than was paid Mr. Greeloy, but that he declined till he Was finally offered $20,000 o year snd a certain interest in the paper, The question then arose as to his position: whether he was to fill the office of Editor-in-Chief in place of Mr. Gree- ley, or whether he was to act under certain ro- strictions, the general management of thelfn er to_remain 2s at present? It is understood that this point hos not yet been decided. ~Mr. Coifax goes to New York on Friday, when it is expected some decision will be reached. THE ALABAMA TROUBLES. : The Attorney General to-daysubmitted a com- promise to the President, looking to the solution of the political difficulties in Alsbama. " The Spencer factions, who have been' made scquainted with ' the mature of tho: docu- ment, appesr to be in high futter, althongh Spencer himself is far from being sat- jisfied. Several Republican Senators have al- Teady oxpressed themsclves a8 unwilling to ads mit a Senator whose only credentials for admis- sion came from a faction. _The Attorney Gene- al's opinion will be made public to-morrow. The President, in converaation to-day, said that he did not consider that the Spencer faction stood on tenable gronnds, althoueh, in whatever action he mighttake, Le should be guided by the desires of what appeared to be tho majority of people in Alabama. THE NAVY DEPARTMENT. The Senzte Naval Committee gave & long hear- ing to-day to Secretary Robeson, who 13 very much dissatisfied with the way in which the House passed his bill providing for additional sloops-of-war. He wants the onginal number of ten restored, and also desires that the building of the'vessels be left entirely to his discretion. He seys that where he is obliged to lot out the contracts to private yards thera be some bidders who cannot do the work either quickly or woll, and who, if they are called npon for extra work, will be bringing in claims to Congress for relief. The Committee will hold another scssion bofore they can be ready to report the bill. PROPOSED ABOLITION. The Senate Finance Committee to-day devoted o long session to the consideration of Commis- sioner Douglasg’s bill abolishing the office of As-. sessor of Internal Revenume. Senators Lave been 80 besieged by the officials who stand in fenr of decapitation that some of them show a disposition to interpose obstacles in_the way of this reform. ‘The Commissioner made the prin- cipal argument in behalf of the bill, showing that, it not only decrensed largely the number of officials, but that it also would facilitate as well as cheapen the collection cf revenue The Amendment was to the bill increasing the number of special agents from twenty-ive to fifty. The Commissioner asked that the section mal all special taxes provided D law paysble by stamps be amende to tako ofect May lst, mext, i ear. - The Com- the bE%nning of the new tax ‘mittes having reported the bill, will take it up to-morrow and_pess it immediately. The Com- missioner of Internal Revenue is mow of the opinion that the collections of Intesnal Rev- enue for the cumrent year will go $8,000,000 or 910,000,000 beyond his original estimate. This announcement imparts consid- etable strength to the proposition in Congress to remove internal taxes except those on liquors and tobacco. BAILROAD FREIGHTS. ‘The House Committee on Commerce is general- 1y disposed to enact some legislation this winter Which will regulate tolls for freights and passen- gers on railroads running through several States. Last session, this Committee, after an investi- gation of the subject, came to the conclusion that railroad companies take through passengers and freights at losing prices, and made the losses good by having overcharge in local pas- senger and _freight rates, The bill offered by Mr. BShellabarger, yesterday, relating to this subject, will be taken up by thif Committee at its meeting on Thursday, and will undoubtedly be agreed to. THE CREDIT MOBILIER INNESTIGATING COMMITTEE meets to-morrow. The witnesses summoned are Colonel H. 8. 3'Comb, John B. Alley, and J. 8. T. Williams, the last two Directors of the TUnion Pacific Railroad. Bpeaker Blaine volun- teers to go before the Committee and state what he knows sbout the issme of stock to members of Congress. He was not sum- moned by the Committee. In view of the fact that Mr. Blaine was charged with having received somes of the stock, they will allow him to make & statement. The proceed- ings are to be kept sccrot. SENATOR PATTERSON. Mr. J. J. Patterson, the Senator-clect from South Carolina, who has, since his election, been arested’ on & charge of brib- ery, bails from Pennsylvanis. _ Ho was originally editor of the Harrisburg Telegraph, General Cameron’s home organ. _In 1864 he ran for Congress in the Nineteenth Dis- trict of Pennsylvania and was defeated. During the war he was interested with Cameron in the mail and horse contracts, the exposure of which resulted in Cameron’s expul- sion from Lincoln’s Cobinet. About five years go he went to South Carolina, and joined Governor Scott and the ring that plundered that Btate and rnined its credit. Like Scott, he man- aged to make a large sum of money, and en became ambitious of political honors. Two or threo weeks before the Senstorial election in South Carolina, Patterson visited Harrisburg, and was in consulfation with Gen- eral Cameron, his son, Dan Cameron, and_sev- eral other members of the Pennsylvania Ring. It is stated by prominent Pennsylvanians here, who are gaid to be famillar with the = facts and circumstances, that Cameron raised & large sum of money for his friend and protege, some say as much as 30,000, for the purpose of securing his election to tho Sonafe. At all events, Patterson went to the State capitsl of South Carolina with some 50,000, and gave out that Do intended fo spend that amount on his elec- tion, of conrso among his {rieuds. Patterson's plethoric purse frightened Elliot and Sawyer, the other prominent candidates, to such & degree that they did not make _sny fght. It oppears, however, that Elliott, who is ambitions to be Senstor, put up a job on Patterson, to nseacommon phrase, in conjunction with some of his negro_brethren in the Legizlature, with s view to disqualify him for the position. Elliot, so_ the story goes, advised his colored frionds in the Legi Pattorson’s_money _and then turn State’s evidenco sgainst him. Pai- terson, it is alleged, paid st the Tate of five hun- dred t6 o thousand dollars each for votes, and, altogother, lis election cost him $30,000. Aazoon g3 tha elsction was over, the Hegrocs Proceeded to carry out_the programmo &S pro- suxefl by Elliot, and a dozen of them made s lavit to the efféct that they had been bribed Patterson’s arrest followed. A curious circum- stance of the election was, that James L. Orr was o warm friend of Patterson. It is stated that Senator Cameron tirged upon the President the nomination of Orr for the Russian mission, and that the consideration, so far as Orr was concerned, was that Le should belp Patterson, The supposition hero is that the negro Eliiott will, after all, be elected Senator. RELIEF BILL. The Senate to-dny passed the bill for the re- lief of Edmund Jussen, of Chicago, arising from the loss of cortain warehouse bonds from the distillery of Haas & Powell before the same was destroyed by fire. The bill transfers his indebt- edness to the account of his successor in office. 7o the Associated Press.] ‘WasHINGTON, Dec. 11.—The Supreme Court rendered a decision in the case of the United States u%lmst Cooke, from the Circuit Court of the Southern District of Ohio. Cooke was in- dicted for embezzlement of the public funds, while Paymaster in the army. The Court decides that he is. liable to be prosecuted. convicted, and punished, and that the thirty-second section of the. Crimes act contains only a limitation ap- plicable to the charge, but it cannot be made available by a demurrer to the indictment. THE NAVY. The Senate Naval Committee briefly discussed the bill providing for the construction of the new sloops of war, but took no action thereon. 1t is considored certain, howaver, that the Committee will recommend the provision for ten vessels instead of six provided in the bill passod by the House. ARMY MATTERS. The Superintendent of Mounted Recruiting Servico has beon directed to prepare and forward all disposable white récruits to Omaha, Neb., for assignment to the Second Cavalryin the De: partment of the Platte. By direction of tho President, the headquar- ters of the Military Division of the Atlanticis transferred from Philadelphia to New York City. SECRETARY DELANO. - Secretary Delano said to-day he was going Southunder tho advice of his physician for rest, and no other resson, and probably he may visit Havana before bis return, . : CONFIRMATIONS:: The Senate, in Executive session, to-day, con- firmed the following nominations : Ward Hunt, Associate Justice of the Supremo Court of the United States, vice Samuel Nelson, resigned; ' Sasmuel F. Phillips, Solicitor General of_the United States, vice B. H. Bristow, resigned. Supervisors_ of Internal Revenuo, = W. P W. -Perry, Wilism H. Simmons, Simon T. Powell, Lonis M. Foulke, Daniel W. Mann, John M. Hedrick, Joha McDonald, Hedry A. Newlan, Collector of ~Inter- nal Revenuo, Nebrasks; Frederick C. Lord, Assegsor of Internal Rovenue, Nevada; N, B, Judd, Collector of Customs, Chicago ;. Robert Henschel, Melter and Refiner in tho Asssy Of- fice, Boisb City, Idaho. Consuls, Lucius Fairchild, Liverpool ; 8. W. Dobmey, Fayal; Lorenzo Brentano, Dresden. Richard Beardsley to bo Agent end Consal Gen- eral d“d Alexandria, vice George H. Butler, sus- pended. Postmastors—rs, Phoobe A. Collins, Con- nelsville, Pa.; F. C. Albright, Mason, Mich.; W. H. Aplin, Witions, Mich.; B. F. Bradley, Midlend, E. P, . Rogce, Escanaba, Mich, ; . C. Morton, Benton Harbor, Mich.; L. 3. Jami- gon, Reno, Nev. ; J. M. Hammer, ureka, Nov. ; Thomag ~Blanchard, -Flors, Il; P. Groenville, ~ Il.: ~F. MM, Wonser, et | ma G Jowa; W. G. Agnew, Osceols, Ig%a; G. F. Witten, Grand Rapids, ia; F, A, Haywood, Omro, Wia; G. B, Whit- ing, Granville, O.; J. F. Scoficld, Painesville, O.; Mré, Elizabeih Porter, Russeliville, Ky.; M. Buclkworth, Edenburg, Tad.; 0. H. Woodworth, Columbis, Tnd.; J. B. Nolan, Marion, Ind. ; F. Al Busby, Lebsuon, Ind; Mrs, E. J. Rsland, Rachester, Ind.; Wm. C. E. Thomas, Green Bay, Wis. THE CENTENNIAL COMMITTEE. = Tho _Congressional Centennial Celebration Cotamittes held its first meeting to-day. Judge Kelley, Chairman, was instructed o sppear be- fore the Committee on Appropriations, and ask an appropriation for printing stock certificates. A number of the Contennial Commission ar- rived here to-day from Philadelphia, and had in- terviews with Congressmen on the subject of the necessary assistance required from Congress to insure the success of the proposed Interna~ tional Exhibition. CONGRESSIONAL. SENATE. THE SATLORS' MONUAMENT. Y WasmINaToN, Dec. 11.—A bill passed to admit free of duty the statue to commemorato tha sailors who fell in the late war. THE RECESS. T The concurrent resolation in re; to a holi~ day recess was presented. Mr. COLE objected to its considoration. It went over. REMOVAL OF INDIANS. Mr. HITCHCOCK introduced o bill for the re-- moval to the Indian Territory of certain Indians in Nebrasks. HILLS PASSED. Bills passed as follows : Placing colored persons who enlisled in the army on the same footing a8 other soldiers as 1o ‘bounty lands. 5 Autfiarizing the settlement of the claim of tha estate of the late Admiral Dahlgren. ¥ Establishing an Assay Ofiice at Helens, 3oz~ ana. CIVIL RIGHTS. ¥ When Ir. SUMNER'S Supplementary Cis Rights bill was reached on the calendar, CARPENTER (Wisconsin) in the chair lookin: at Mr. Bayard, asked * Does the Senator from Delawsro object 3 e, BAYARD* I will if the_ Senate desires it, but I did not say so.” [Laughter.] 'Mr. CARPE ’R—¢ The Chair understood the Senator to object.” Mr. BAYARD—““ T did not.” i M.r.' SUMNER—*I think there is no objez- on.” Mr. MORRILL (Me.) objected, and tke bill was laid over. NEW BILLS. Bills were introduced providing for the re- computation of the accounts between the United States and States, growing ont of moneys ex~ pended by the States in the War of 1813. INTERNAL REVENUE BILL. Afr. SHERMAN, from the Finance Committec, reported the House bill for the redaction of ofa- cers and expenses of the Intornal Revenue Bu- reau, with amendmonts, providing that the of- fices of Assessor and Assistant Assessor shall cease to exist at such times in the districts re- epectively, 18 the Commissioner of Internal Tevenuo may find practicable, prior to July 1, 1878; and _ autborizing ~ the sppoint- ment of 25 additional agents until July 1st, 1874, in addition to those provided for Dy existing laws, and amending the present law 2o a8 to provide that all of the additional commis- sion of 3¢ per cent shall be paid to Collectors re- ceiving the tax on all spirits produced after the office of Asgessor ahall cease, according to this bill. " g THE CASE OF LAMAR. Mr. VICKERS, from the Committee on Politi« cal Disabilities, reported the Houso bill remove ing those of L. Q. C. Lamar, which passed. THE POBTER STATUE. 3 r. MERRILL (Vt.) gave notice of & motion to reconsider the vote authorizing the free - miseion of the Porter statue, which will be ro- garded o8 a precedent for the free importation of other articles of a like characler. THE RECESS. After the executive session, the House resolu- tion for the holiday recess cameup. Mr. WINDSOR made an effort to shorten it, by amendments, but it passed in the original shape. Adjourned. HOUSE. THE WHISEY TAX. Mr. BECK, from the Ways and Means Come:" mitteo, roported adversely to the bill for the ; abatement of taxes on spirits destroyed while in~ bond. Tabled. i OPPRESSIVE RAILWAY CHARGES. On motion of Mr. SHELLABARGER, the Ju~ diciary was_instructed to_report what powers. Congress possesses to regulate commerce among - the States as regards oppresaive charges by rail- roeds. THE CENTENNIAL COMMISSION. Mr. HAWLEY presented s memorial of the Centennial Commission, asking the aid of Con= gress in the matter. Referred to the Centennial Committee. “EXCUBED. Mr. EELLEY (Ps.) asged to be, snd was, ex- cused from farther Aervice ss Chairman of tho Committees on Civil Service Reform snd on Coinage, Weights, and Messures, stating hiz duties 5 member 'of the Committea on Ways and Mesns and Chaimmsn of the Centennial Committee engrossed his time. VACANCIES ON COMMITTEES. - The SPEAKER snnounced the following ap- pointmenta to A1l vacancies on committees : ‘Committes on Elections—Foster, of Ohio, On Claims—Bawley, of Conpecticut. On Judiciary—Shoemaker,of Pennsylvania, Civil Service Reform—Crooker, of Massachusetts, and Dodds, of Ohio. On Patents—Esty, of Massachusetts, On Coinage, Weights and Measures—Conner, of exas, On Private Land Claims—Geddings, of Texas, On Agriculture—Hundon, of Texas, BOUNTY LAND BILL. Tho House resumed the consideration of the- Soldiers’ Bounty Land bill taken up yesterday.| Mr. DUNNELL (Minnesota) opposed the bill,} belng unable, ke said, o conceiva of & bill more ‘mischiovous in it tendencies and effeots, Did,; ongress propose to satisfy the o aoldxs:xs for m%qnnlizution of bounties by giving them bounty land warrants, whick would not sgell in the market for twénty dollars? Thebilk would benefit only those who never smelt gun~ povider in defence of the country. o Mr. TOWNSEND .(Pa.) opposed the bill, and said : “The soldiers of Pennsylvania were op- posed to it, and the Grand Army of the Republic, at its session in Easton, in February, 1874, had, expressed in resolutions its disapprobation of the provisions snd principles pess Lot g ill. Mr. HAWLEY opposed the bill, snd showed" ‘how unfairly and injurious,the New York bounty land system had worked, a8 applied to the sol« diers of the Mexican war. Mr. Hawley calon- Iated that those soldiers got thirty-six milliong {rom the sale of their land warrants, and that ac- tual settlers had paid one hundred and fiity millions for it, the difference going into the pockets of land specalators. ~ The pending measure would work infinitely more unfairly than that one, because now any one_could sef~ tle on lands under “the Homestead and Pre-emp- tion Iaws. Under this bill two million per- sons would be entitled to land serip. If only onetenth of them applied in @ year, that would throw on the market thirty-fivo millions of acres,and the scrip wonld only hold good for one year. The(effect would be that tho eoldier who spent at least ten_dollars fiottmg ‘his warrant, could not sell if in the mar- et for five dollars. The measure would, there- fore, prove to be practically a fraud on the sol- dier, “He beld most rigidly to the policy of pre- serving the public lands for actual settlers. The bill was defended by Mesars. DONNAN snd SPEER, when Pennsylvania politics were bronght info discussion, Mr. Speer asserting, relative to the resolutions of the Grand Army of the Republic, presented by Mr. Townsend and signed by Goyernor-elect Hartranft, that the or- ganization did not represent the honestsoldiers of the country,but the political soldiersand ofiicers, who were controlled by railroad companies and monopolies. Ho (Speer) had been repeatedly called 2 liar by the Republican press for stating that Hartranft signed these resolutions swhich do not represent_the soldiers of Pennsylvania. He asked his_colleague to furnish the resolu- tions of a Soldiers’ Convention, or the letter of a single soldier of Pennsylvanis, who carried the musket, in opposition to this bill.*They are the political soldiers put forward by the politi- cians to win campaigns for them. Z Mr. TOWNSEND Teplied that the Convention was compoged of delegates chosen by ‘the gol- diers, and somo of whom wero privata soldiers who carried the musket and kmapsack during the war. Mr. SPEER sgnin assorted that the Grand Army of the Republic wss a semi-political or- (Continued on the Eighth Page.)