The New York Herald Newspaper, February 22, 1867, Page 4

4 NEW YORK HERALD. JAMES GORDON BENNETT. EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR OFFICE N. W. CORNER OF FULTON AND NASSAU STS JOB PRINTING of every description, fing and Engraving, neatly and promptly exoruted at the owest rates. also Stereatyp: AMUSEMENTs THio AFTERNOON AND EV K, Broadway, near Broome NDERTUL SCAMP--OINDERELLA, BROADWAY street, —Aappry, THEATER mux ¥ NEW YORK THEATRE, Broadway, opposite New York Hotel. —"xacr Gare s—Keninwoutat MPIC THEATRE, Broadway.—Strxurs or New DODWORTH'S TALL, 808 Broadway.—Proresson Hartz win nm His Mimaotxs—Tur Heap in cae Atk Tux Inpiax Basket Tuick—Pro oTRUS. BAN FRANCISCO MINSIRS be Metrovolitan Hotel—Lx raxn wrvrs, SrNGiNG, Dancing and BuRLxseues. Cox. % Brovlwar, opnosite THIOPIAN ENTPRTALY® ~Tae BLacK KELLY & LEON'S MINSTR Site the New York Hotel ‘Twenty-fourth street. Ermiorian MINSTRELSY, Ocwax Vacut Race, TONY PASTOR'S OPERA TOUS: Vocata, Necro Mursreetcr, c.—Tux New Youk Vournn.r Bauians, saves, &c. Taw 21 Bowery. — Se LWEMETISEM ANT, Matinee at 234 0'Clock, INATION TROUPE, at . 472 Browlway—(x a Varmry or Lienr ENTeRTAINMrYcs, CORPS be BALLET, &e. Matinee a! 2; o'Cloek. HOOLEY'S BMKSY, HALLavs aNd Br PERA HOUSE, CLINTON HALL Liar Lecrones on THE NYAN 1 t of Twenty-third street and way.—Movi © su Pi » Pnoguxss. YY MAGNIFICY NEW YC 2 Rr Heap An’ Twins—Wonpkns 1x N s Lycrv'zes Day, Open from New York, Frid: ebraary 22, ISO?. THE Wows. EUROPZ. By the Atlantic eable, ander date of yesterday, we Yearn that the Habeas Corpw aay act ia to be continued in Ireland. James Stephens, it is said, was notin the island during the oathreak ; but a London tele @ram says he was lately in Paris, England will treat aliens caught “in rebellion’ rates, The Sultan has decided t¢ hristian consrazs on the Eastera question. Count Bismarck is dangerously ML Tho restoration of tl ‘tution of I848 to Hungary has produced, Austrian repor! ‘The ox-rebo! American steamor Ri sold by the United =tates authoritl Consols closed in London yesterday at 91 for money. United States five-twenties closed at Tl United States securities were quoted on the Frankfort Bourse at 7749 and in Paris at 82%. The Liverpool cotton mark closed dull, middling uplands being at 144d, The steamship Allemannia, at thie port yesterday, furnished our files and special correspondence with details of. our calle despatches to the 6th of February. The English reports of the scone at the opening of the British Parllament, already described ut considerable dongth in a Herat special cable telegram, gives minute details of the royat pageant, Lord Derby, Earl Russell and Mr. Gladstone, speaking in the Houses of Lords and Commons on the address in reply to the speech from the throne, mado very important remarks on the subjects of the American war claims, Canadian confederation, Ireland and reform, CONGRESS. In the Senate yesterday a resolution donating the buildings, sheds, &c., at Camp Chase, Ohio, to the use of ‘an asylum for disabied soldicrs was passed, aud a joint resolution to authorize a trial of the comparative power of resistauce of iron-clad ships and stone foristications to the fire of heavy artillery was referred. Bills to re- store Iands confiscated by the rebel authorities, author. izing the Lighthouse Board to make changes in the loca- tion of lights upon the Southern coast, and establishing mail communication between San Francisco and the Hawaiian tslands, were reported from committees. The bill declaring the bridge across the Missis*ippi at Clinton, Towa, a post route was passed. The Indian Bureau bill was taken up, the question being on the House amend- mont trapsforring the Indian Bureau to the War Depart- ment. Debate upon it was continued through the even- ing session, and pending its consideration the Senate adjourned In the House Mr. Hooper, from the Committee on Ways and Means, reported a bill to provids for the pay- ment of the compound interest notes and for the con- traction of the cursency, which he said was im conform- ity with insiractions given some time ago in a resolu- tion offered by Mr. Grinnell, The bill of Mr. Hooper was amen ded by Mr. Stevens, who offered a substitute for it, and the vote being taken upon it it was lost. The vote being reconsidered and the bill further amended, it was ‘nally ayroed to by 95 yeas to 65 na) The bili as passed consists of but ‘one section, which directs the Secretary of the Treasury to redeem compound interest notes with the accrued interest, and to issue therefor legal tender notes, without interest, not excerding $100,000,000, In the evening session several executive documents were presented. A joint Fesolution directing a survey for a bridgo over the Poto- ‘moc, at Washington, was passed. Disenssion enened on the proposition to remove the Naval Academy from Annapolis, aud while it was going on the morning hoar expired. ‘The Tax btlt war then considered in Commitice of the Whole, A long lst of articles was exempred from tax, and at clover o'clock the Honse adjourned. THE CITY. When the Board of Aldermen met yeeleriay it was discovered that some vile miscreant had secretly muti lated the portraits of John Jay and Aloxander Hamilton, by cutting (hem with @ kuife, since the last meeting of the Board. 4 resolution calling upoa the Mayor to offer & reward of $500 for the apprehension of the guilty party was promptly offered by Alderinan McGinnis, but for some reason it was laid over. The Board of Councilmen met yesterday, and referred to a special committee resolutions proposing to rescind the previous action of the Common Council in granting the lower ond of the Park for the erection of a new Post Office, and a portion of the Battery for the proposed new Large o An important meeting of the Board of Excise took place yesterday, at which several trials of alleged viola- tion of the Excise law took place and several licenses Wore revoked. The whole number of charges brought Up was sixty. The Board of Health met yesterday and received the Feport of the Superintend: A memorial declaring that full and unrestricted anthority should be vested in the Commissioners of Quarantine to allow them to obtain ‘8 site for quarantine purposes, by the power of eminent domain if it cannot de secured by purchase, was adopted and will be forwarded to the Logisiature. if The National Convention of Fire insurance Undor- writers, after a session of two days, adjourned sine die yesterday. A number of radical changes in the present aystom of fire insurance was resolved ov. The greater part of the session wae ocenpied in disenssing the question of taking risks only to the amount of turee-fourths the value of the property insured, Ofiicors for the ensuing yeat wore elected, Mr. Jamos Mclean, of the Ottigens’ Fire Insurance Company, of this city, beisig feelected to the presidency. ‘The Legislative Committee on Insurance mei at the Me. tropoliian Hotel yesterday to continue their investiga tions into the cause of fires in this city. The testimony ‘of sevorat gentlemen connected with insurauce com. panios and the Fire Department was taken, and the commitieo adjourned wotil this morning. The one handred and thirty-fifth anniversary of Wash - fneton’s birthday Wilt Be celebrated with the firing of eolures at noon, the ringing of mational airs on the Trin- ity chimes, and fn the evening the nenal pyrotechnic displays at the varlous parks, The government offices ve closed, and, notwithstanding the disagreeable say, satis’aetory results. K has been in Liverpool. pahenuoc will weather soder Coot, (woor three regiments will parade. The obs ous exercised and pépular amasemonts will be gon se pupils of Cooper Institute held their aa » fou of bie Marge hallo that baftaing last » Né&W YORK HERALD, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY. 22, 1867. ‘The Raid Upon City Property—A Hitch in tbe | throagh. Should the high tariff men be able The toatimony in the caso of De Puy against Hurford, which bas occupied the attention of the Supreme Court, Circuit, for the past three days, and in which plaintit® sues for libel, claiming damages in the sum of $10,000, Was conctuded yesterday. A seaigd verdict is to be re- turned (his morning. A suit was brought yesterday in the Superior Court by Magdalena Pregg against John Rascher to recover $5,000 damages for an allezed breach of promise to marry, with a claim of an aggravation of damages for seduction. Verdict of $1,000 for plaintitt, A case of considerable interest to wool importers was decided in the United States Circuit Court yesterday, be- fore Judge Smalley. The suit was brought to recover $10,000 excess of duty on an importation of wool from Buenos Ayres. The purchase price was leas than twelve cents, which made it liable to three conts a pound duty. ‘The appraisers, by some computation of the exchange value of money ip the two countries, added to the in- voice price, making it over twelve cents, and imposing accordingly a tax of six cents onthe pound. It was to recover the excess the’action was brought, Verdict for the plaintiff. Judge Russel disposed of a large number of eases yesterday in the General Sessions. William Carroll, convicted of burglary, was sent to the State Prison for twelve years, Herman Wagnor, Louis Rosenbaum and August Klein, guilty of extensive larcenios, were each Sentenced to the State Prison for five years. The Eighth precinct police yesterday made two de- ‘srents—one upon the alleged keno bank at Lafayette Hall, No. 579 Broadwuy; the other upon the faro bank at No, 16 West Houston street, A number of artests were made, Tho steamship South America, Captain Tinktepaugh, of the United states anu Braxit Mail Steamehip Com- pany’s line, will said from pier No. 43 North river at three o'clock P. M. to-day for Rio Janeiro, touching at St. Thomas, vara, Perusmbuco aud Bahia, The mails will close at the Post Office at haif-past one o'clock P.M. The stock market was firm yestertay. Gold was strong and closed at 138%. MISCELLANEOSS. A distarbancs bad occurred s emigrants, a party of Northorners a belong to nd Ladians are reported abtorupting ( dura a saw mill the Sontheraars, ‘Three thous to have risen and destroyed s ttlements ants The revolt woral Asbuth, uited | Min'ste red brs mediation Arg wens Ayres the vaiue of a pa at one-twenty tiftn of i dolar, and the Provia tas been dire ted to exchange at thai rate, Dr. K surgeon of the Uurted States feet at iio Janeiro, felt dowd 1a the streeis of Montevideo on the 7th Taere was nothing of Importance from she seat of war in Paraguay. Pre parations were beiny made in (ho attiod bom near } Johngon sees this, and sees, too, that the best thing for the administration and the South is to accept this bill, and under its provisions get the excluded States back into Congress as soon as possible. It would be a master stroke of patriotism and policy on the part of President Johnson to take the bint from Senator Joho- son and fall in with the resistless current of “mauifest destiny” upon this Southern ques- tion; for he may thus place himself right before Congress and the country and still make his administration a great success upon the all- important money question. Louis Napoleon’s abandonment of his grand Mexican idea points out the way of wisdom to President Johnson. The imperial Mexican programme was a far more dazzling game in the outset than Mr. Johnson’s Southern policy in its best days; and in finally giving up his projected American balance of naval and commercial power Napoleon has made a much greater sacrifice of pride and ambition to the law of necessity than is required of Mr. John- son. It is only the going of Mabomet to the mountain on finding that the mountain will not come to Mahomet, We wonld also impress these facts upon the ruling minds of the Southern States—that they no longer live in | the age before the flood, when men existed over aine hundred years, but that. there haa been « deluge and a great revolution from the old order of things, that the heresy of Stato sovereignty is defunct, and that with slavery all civil and political disabilities on account of race or color, “excepting Indians not taxed,” have been or must be wiped out. We would also advise the responsible leading men of the dominant white race of the South that while, as they stand, they are poworless to help Ip -trom abroad, the will usher (hem into of prosperity, wealih and power. It is curious (o note how the accidents of the war and the biunders of opposing politicians have assisted in the work of this great political revolution, A decisive defeat of the rebols at the first Bull ran might haye saved Sonthern slavery in tho collapse of the Jeff Davis con- federa Had McClellan auceeeded at Rich- themselves or obtain t door opened by Congr weer, bard the Paraguayan fortifications. Oa the Lopez was concentrating troops at Humaita, in 46 tion of the assault, and on the 2d aU around his Hoe, keepiue it up of Devon e sumo month, when a gat trice wa? aunounced, probably covertag a nenicalion from Mr. Washbuene, the American Minister. Ov u 19th of January Curupaity was bombarded and consits able damage was committed. Several disustrons expio- sions had oecurrod im the Paraguayan camy, one of | thom, it is said, killing a hundred mea. The rumor of a revolt aunong Lopez's soldiers provos to be unfounded. | Brazit continues to forward recruits, Two thonsaud noedie guns had beon issued to part of the Bravitian army, ‘Tae allied army numbored thirty-five thousand men. Our Mexican totiers are dated at Mexico city, February 6, and Vera Craz, February 12. On the evactiation of the capital by the French Marquez dectared martial taw. The United States Consul tagrired of him if some of the provisions of his proclamation, which were more than usually strict, applied wo American citizens, but received no answer. No liberais were yet in sixht, The first of the French transports had arrived fvom Brest, Bayatne bad issued a proclamation taking a very aftectionate leave of the Mexicans in Mexico city. Corona, com- manding in the State of Jalisco, had givon notice to alt who took part with the imperialists to leave in Ove days. ‘The Mexican Minister at Washington has received officiat confirmation of the defeat of Miramon. Tue roport of the capture of Juarez is sald to be only a wild rumor. ‘Our Giles from Japan are dated at Yokohatwa on the 15th of December. The papers contain interesting Teports of the situatiou—political, commercia! and finan- cial, Trade was recovering from the effects of the groat fire. A large number of troops having been freed from war service in the south the rice trade was considerably disturbed by their return tw their homes and ordinary occupations. The vatue of the Mexican silver dollar uas been adjusted on a fixed basis, The Kingston, Jamaica, Journal of the 9th of Feb- ruary says:--Among the passeogers by the steamship ‘San Francisco we notice the name of Captain Bedford Pim, R. N., the projector of the International Atlantic and Pacific Junction Railway across Nicaragua; Jobn Collinson, Esq., C. E., accompanies Captain Pim for the rpose of surveying the and and marking the line of the intended railway. So soon as this is completed operations will commence. Our files from the Weat (undies contain interesting and rather important inteiligence from the Rnglish, French and Dutch possessions, dated in the diTorent islands down to the 8th of February, which wo publish to-day. The Rev. Olympia Brown and Bessie Bisbee delivered lectures at Poughkeepsie last night on the mght of women to suffrage. A Woman's Rights Convention aa- sembied in the court room at Newburg in the afternoon, at which Mrs, Susan B. Anthony, Miss Louisa Jacobs and Parker Pillybary presided. The Ultimatum of Congress--Progress of tho Great Revolution. Senator Reverdy Johnsou’s support at the eleventh hour of the Reconstruction bill of Congress isa remarkable incident and a very encouraging fact. Every principle of this bill, from first to last, Senator Johnsoa_ has actively resisted. He bas been a leading advocate of the President’s views and measures of Southern restoration, and from his great reputation asa constitutional lawyer and asa Southern con- servative this Maryland Senator standa de- servedly high in the President's confidence. When, therefore, on the decisive test in the Senate upon this radical Southern Reconstruc- tion bill we find this prominent leader of the opposition coming over to the republican side, we may say not only that it is a very remark- able, but a very significant incident. His rea- sons for this step are certainly very suggestive. fle said that if “he could have bis wish he would immediately receive the Southern re- presentatives (elected under the President’s policy) into this chamber ;” but that as mat- ters now stand he felt bound to “acquiesce with the majority in anything that beld out a hope, however faint, of accomplishing that object;” that “he would vote for the bill be- cause he saw in it a mode of rescuing the coun- try from the perils that now threaten it, and not because he approved it in any particular.” This good example of Senator Johnson, let us hope, foreshadows the course ot President Johnson. The Senator sees that further reaist- ance is nselesa, that the contest ts decided, that Congress has the case absolutely in its hands and fs prepared to remove even the President, should he persist in blocking its path. He also sees that Southern intractables have put a check upon Northern concessions, and that since the defiant and contemptaous rejection by all the excluded States of the pending con- stitutional amendment harsher terms may be exacted by Congress with the full approval of the North. It ia the ancient Roman tradition of the Sibylline leaves over again. The old woman came first with her nine books of the Roman destinies to Tarquin the Second and offered them for three hundréd pieces of gold. He denied her, wherenpon she burat three of the books and still aaked her full price for the remaining six, and next for the remaining throe, when her full orice was paid, Sonar mond there would most Ukely have beea no emancipation proclamation from President Line: Had Andrew Johnson, when called to La is place, conver the legislative work of Southern reconstruction insiead of undertaking it himselt, the St rned would doubtless have been resiored typon a halfway compromise on negro sullvage, 1 tes followed the example of 1 would be now in Congroas on the tfad the democrats in the House voted tor this last bill aa it came from the Senate they would have secured to the leading rebels the privilege aow denied thom, of as- sisting fn rebuilding their roapective States. As our failures in the war in defence of slavery brought about the extirpation of slavery, so all our faiiures in” half-way plans of. restoration have worked out a fall and docisive settle- ment on the hasis of civil and political equality. All these Greta shoutd inctin President Johnson ww follow the example of Senator Johnaon, capecially as any further resistance to Congress will be atterly futile and exceed- ingly dangerous to the Exectitive. The sooner he recognizes the necessities of the case the Detter it wil! be tor bimsclf, bis administration, the South, the North, the Treasury and the general interests of the Union. Ramored Cabinet Changes. ‘Treading upon the heels of the atory that the Cabinet appointment of Postmaster Geueral had been tendered to Horace Greeley comes the rumor that the venerable Blair—the futher of all the other Blairs—has started on a pilgrim- age to Boston to offer the partfolio of Secretary of State to Governor Andrew, of Massachusetts, Whether these reports are baseless or well founded they certainly foreshadow @ very plausible policy. President Johnson haa tried the Seward conservative nostrum and has found it wholly inefficactous in his case. Its only effect has been to fasten upon him in every State a set of officeholders without character or influence, He has been pertinaciously urged by the hungry copperheads to change his tac- tics and bestow the spoils upon them; but their exhibition of weakness in the late elections saved him from so fatal a blunder. The current rumors would imply that he has resolved to cast both these deadweights from tis shoul- ders and to reconsiruct his cabmet and his policy upon the basis of universal suffrage and general amnesty, of which docirines Horace Greeley and Governor Andrew are the loading representatives. It is easy’to understand how effectuaily such « masterly stroke of policy would embarrass the Bea Butler and Thad Stevens radicals in the next Congresa and bow materiaily it would aid the President in ward- ing off the threatened blow of impeachmemt. ke d Congress tes ness, the) seins corms, Tho Quarentine Question. There appeara to be cunsi¢ e anxiety among the rosiden's of that part of Long Island embraced within the limits of Fort Hamilton, Bath and Coney Isiand—alt favorite summer residences and watering places—lest @ quarantine station should be established on Coney Island. A bill to this effect ia now before the Legislature, and the Brooklyn Board of Aldermen have passed a resolution urging the members from Kings county to oppose its passage. [t must be evident to every one that any place on Long Island, which is, in fact, a part of the city of New York, would be a most undesirable locality for a quarantine ground. The difficulties which the State of New Jersey has placed in the way of establishing a quaran- tine station at Sandy Hook and the objection of the residents of Staten Island to havo hospitals for patients suffering from infectious disoases located in their midst, have produced serious embarrassment on this question of quarantine. But the matter must be settled speedily in “some way. In a few months tho time will arrive when our quarantine system must be in operation, and we cannot afford to wait for the decision of mere abstract questions. If we cannot obtain a quarantine station on Long Island or Staten Island or Sandy Hook, then let us see what we can do in constructing it on some isolated point, such as the West Bank Shoals. If the Legislature wore to decide upon this plan it is not improbable that Con- gress would lend a helping band to further the measure. Taking time by the forelock, though an old adage, bas seldom failed. It will not do to wait until contagious diseases are brought into onr midst to put our quaran- tine machinery io order, Now Is the timé to look after f New Pest Office Job. There appears to be some bitch in the new Post Office job which Mayor Hoffman has had under his especial charge since the last State election, The proposition to sell a portion of the City Hall Park for one-sixth of ite value, and to choke up with buildings one of the few breathing places of the city, has met with a popular opposition not anticipated by the originators of the scheme. In the Board of Councilmen yesterday Mr. Gilmore presented a resolution to rescind the resolution adopted by that body in December last, ceding to the United States the lower end of the Park as a Post Office site for the sum of five hundred thousand dollars, for the reason, as set forth in the preamble, that this amount is not equal to one-fifth of the value of the property, and that the proposed location, from the noise, bus- tle and confusion, and from the danger of the crossings, would be inconvenient and unsafe for the public. Certain of the Councilmea offered a strong but futile opposition to the resolution, motion after mo- tion to get rid of it being hurriedly made and lost, and it was referred to a special committec, consisiing of Councilmen Gilmore, Lamb and Hart. Ti ts to be hoped that the Board of Council- men will adopt the resolution, when it is re- ported back favorably by the commitice, with- out any unnecessary delay. The job should be nipped in the bud, and it can be done in this manner without the trouble and expense of legal proceedings. Tae proposed site is found tobe undesirable in every respect, inde- pendent of (he unauthorized and outrageous aitempt to dispose of property set apart for the bealth,@ ation of the public and pledged tor hes. sidy debit, at one-sixth of its aciual value, The architects find that no fitting building can be erected there without setting it back further than the site extends. Every person of common sense perceives that with the crowd of stages, cars, coaches, trucks and other vehicles constantly passing the lower end of the Park on both aides, a Port Office built nearly even with the street would be inconvenient, and at the busiest times of the day almost inaccessible. The Board of Councilmen cannot do ® more popu- inv or a more proper act than to rescind the resolution agreeing to the sale of the site. The Post Office Department should set about finding some otber location for the new Post Office at once. Whatever expense they may incur for pian. for the Park site will be thrown away. The Astor House or St. Paul's chapel would be convenient of approach, afford ample rvom fora Gre bu lling, fh an inner sourt- yard for the wail caris, i wrth general approval, Stewart's bath on the corner of Chambers sireet bas also been spoken of, and either of these would mate a more desirable location than We Parks even if all the difficut- ties in ‘the way of the sale of the propecty conld be removed. ‘The Steamboat Explodon on the Minaisstppt. We published yesterday’ the painrul news of the explosion of the steamboat David White on ‘the Mississippi civer, by which thirty per- sons were kaown to be killed and sixty-five in all were missing. Sieamboat explosions on the Mississippi or on our other great rivers have been too frequent at all times. There bas always been (oo little attention paid to the con- dition cf the boilers and machinery and too muck recklessness of human life, especially on the Wesiera waters, Life baa been held very cheap ihere. But there must be greater dan- ger now of such fearfal accidents. A great many of the steamboats, particularly on the Mississippi, must have got greatly out of re- pair during the war. A good many of these probably have been put into use again or kept in use when totally unsafe, We want a etrin- gent inspection law, with heavy peoalties for violating it. It should-be known that every steamboat is perfectly safe, in boilers, ma- cuinery and bull, before it is permitted to leave port. Unicss something be done to prevent such catasirophes as that of the David White we shall hear of many more among the old wornout sicamboats plying on the Western civers. We call upon Congress to look into the matier and give us a proper inspection law. * Turkey and Grecce—Threnteaed Collision. Our cable despatches of yesterday warrant the inference tbat hostilities by this time may actually have broken out between Turkey and Greece. The Panhellenion, a Greck ship, has, for some time past, in a variety of ways, been rendering very effective assistance to the rebel Candiotes. The Turkish government has hitherto been pleased to wink at the matter, It appears, however, that the doings of tbe Panheilenion are no ionger to be tolerated. A Turkish man-of-war has been sent out in pur- suit of her. The capture of the Panhellenion does not necessarily imply that war shall be the resalt. It is extremely dificult, however, to conceive of a collision of the two ships apart from (he actual commencement of war between the two Powers. If Turkey and Greece do go to war we may safely say that wo have witnessed the beginning of what may prove to be the end of the Eastern question. We aball see. A Goon Financrat Movemayt.—In the House of Representatives yesterday Mr. Hooper, from the Committee of Ways and Means, reported the pet measure of the national banks—to fund the compound interest notes into three and two-thirds interest bearing certificates, and allowing the latter evidences of indebtedness to be used by the banks as their legal reserve, ‘The bill was defeated by a vote of cighty-four against to seventy-five in favor. An amend- ment, which was substantially a new bill, offered by Mr. Randall, to redeem the com- pound interest notes by an issue of one hun- dred millions of legal tenders or greenbacks, was subsequently carried by ninety-five yeas to sixty-five nays. The vote recorded above affords conclusive evidence that the national banks do not wield the power over Congress that many supposed they possessed, and it is to be hoped that the Senate will display the game independent spirit that the House has manifested by endorsing a measure which is 80 closely allied to the prosperity of the country. Prosrect or Tae Taner Brit. Bema Da- -weaTsp.—We learn trom Washington that the friends of the Tariff bill despair of it becom- ing o law this Congress. We are so neat the end of the session, and there are so many con- Mloting and rival interosts at work upon the tarif, Chat it la hardly popstble ty agt the bill to pass it, however, it is to be hoped the Presi- dent will veto it It is reality a “bill of abominations,” as it has been properly charac- terized. He could do no more popular or better thing. But it is not probable he will have the opportunity of using the veto; for the bill is not likely to pass, We congratulate oar heavily taxed people on the prospect of this monstrous measure being defeated, Fires and Fire Insurance Companies. The statements of the fire insurance com- panies in relation to the ruinous losses sustained during the last two years are enough to startle the community. While the reckless and im- provident manner in which the business bas been conducted may account for the unsound condition of some companies, and while in our own.city the incompetency and inefficiency of the Fire Department have a great deal to do with the increased destruction of property, there are also faults on the part of the owners of buildings which should receive the serious attention of the public. The fact is, we are in the habit, as a people, of putting up stores and dwellings in a hurry and in an ansubstantial manner, and of using materials in their con- struction which should, in this advanced age, be entirely discarded, especially in a crowded city. Many of our targe siores and warehouses are of such 4 description that, omee on fire, there is no hope of saving them. We might as well allow the erection of wooden buildings in the city as of such as are all the while going up on many of our principai streets. If our property owners would use stone and iron in their work they would find the increased cost+ amply made up by additional security and diminished rates of insurance. ff all the large buildings in the city were constructed after the mode! of the new Hirra.p building we might bid defiance to the flames, head off any increase of rates by the tottering insurance companies, and endure the present holiday fre department without grumbling. Sicadlibaae orate . THE STORM. The present seems peculiarly a season of surprises in tho weather way, every imaginable degree of tempera. ture being successively tried on the goo¢ humor of cur citizens by the jocular clerk of the weathor, who ia, it seems, amusing himself most completely with the suffer- ings and worriment inflicted on the wretched mortals subjected to his pranks. All corte of promixos of early spring have beon held out to our deluded senses Wo havo been fanned by gentle southorn breezes, half suffocated by sultry woather and Inkewarm fogs, and finally, when lulled into the confident belief that the backbono of Old Wintor bas been eifeewualiy broken, awake one fine morning to find tts Keen winds of mia- winter and the most furious anow storin of the year pre- vailing This over, howover, the inilications of a thaw were iminediate and many, and our citizens begaa to propare tor a rain storm aud the us.al accompanituents of slush ard wud, wien, to their -horror, there broke on theie heads yestertay morniug @ anow surm Ole grealer depth and longer centinuance than any we have yot been aMicted with during (us winter: The storm did not uttain ite fall viglones uote shortly after noun, and therofore tho trips the- cars, with their loads of merchants. clerks and mechanics ou their way to their business places, wero uot delayed. During the aficravon, however, the snow foil im great quality, and the storm so. persistentiy maintained its violence, ax to seriously obstruct alt the lines of travel, and on soveral routes passage to aad fro ‘was rendered impossible. Tho east side liacs kept their trarks as clear as farge gangs of mea, aided by saow ploughs, could, but the trips were made irregularly and with difMfioul ity. f The storm maintained its fury far into the night, and rendered oven the of pedestrians on their bome- ward way a matter of difficulty oniy equailed by tho laborious trips of the street cars and other vehicles, which roiled along with the uimost difficulty, notwiti- siamting the doubling of teax:s and the frequent calls on tho-passenzers to assist in pulling them out of some slouch oF up a/heav aad’ ‘The indications of tast avoning wero that rain aud.a thaw would speedily follow the snow; bat tne weather bas been 60 varinble and uncertain of ate ‘hat nothing can de predioted with any degree of oortainty, howavor plain may be the facta tending to suc concinsioas, The Storm ia Brookiyn. ‘The continuance of the storm yesterday completely blocked travel on the country roads leading to the Kast- ern District, and in the absence of “pure country milk," bousowives had to resort to the “awill" article so bounti- fully supptied by the monster ostablishments in the Fourteenth ward. Persons residing in the Queens county towns and doing business in New York generaliy ro- mained at home. Cearins to trust thomaclves to the wa- certainties of a trip on the Fong Island railroad, romem- bering ther bittler experience in the last great storm, On the different city lines of railroad very few trips wore ‘made, aut these with great difficulty. On the Greenpoint and Myrtle avenus route double teains were put on, and frequent trips were made daring the day. On some of the amalier roads no car: were run, and the greatest hardabip was experienced by the tinveiling public. Even the ferry boats experienced considerable ‘diMfcully in making their way through thé blinding, drifting snow. ‘The Storm in Westchomer. The cilvcts of the storm were severely folt throughont Wesichester county yesterday. The snow fell to the depth of twenty-four inches in several localities, Towards evening the roads were in such a condition as to materially iaterrapt ordinary trafic. On the Fordbam horse car railroad commupicat.on was almost anspended during the afternoon and evening. When trips were attomptod it was fond next to impossible to keep the cars on the track, Although a strong northeast wind, accompaniod by a blinding fal! of snew, prevaied from a0 early bour ia ine forenoon sieighniding was neverthe- teas largely inditiged sa. The Weather Ktsewhere. Port: asp, Feb. 21,—Wind vorth to northeast; ley and very calm and pleasant; thermometer 10 doe. Bosrox, Feb. 21.—Wind north to northeast; cloudy; only sane aches of snow (elt here yesterday , ther- ter 21 deg. caren, Feb, 21.—Wind northeast, snowing; onty yi thermometer 28 deg. Srrincrrety, Feb, 21.—Wind east; snowing bard; about two inches of snow oa the ground; ier 25 des Harrronn, Keb. 2t.—Wind north; fhowing; cold; Fob, 21.—Wind north; snowing; ther. thermometor 26 PorLavnnen er sl deg. Barvimone, Fob. 21.~A rain and snow storm has pre- vailed aiternately for the last thirty-six hours, snow falling rapidly this noon. Wasuisarox, Feb, 21.—Wind northeast; warm rain, BREECH-LOADING SMALL ARMS. The board appointed by the Stato.to test and examine brecch-loading small arms with « view of selecting one that in strength, durability and rapidity and accuracy of is of tho State troops, ‘Thomas K. Chandior, United States Navy. ‘The &t. Thomas papers announce the death on the 6th {nstant of Thomas K. Chandicr, Acting Passed Assistant % emt CIry my" SLLIGENCE. ey Charrnoiuzr’s Orrice —Com, "roller one has re. taiged the following named go, Semen im bis office: — Charles W. Lawrence, Comptrolier's “ler; Wm. L. Loew, Collector of City Revenue; William Sy od Sajouiio to the Cig Departments Mae" senger in the City Revenue Department, nigh Sr. Parrice’s Catmeprat.—Yesterday tie’ Temaining contracts for the altar, galleries and organ of St. Patrick's Cathedral were let to Mr. J. O'Connor. The oot te now on aud the slating will be commenced f« \ Tux Posuc Lystrrvtios.—The number of inmates: the public institutions of the city at present is 7,301. pumber admitted dt the month of January was 7,195," while the number transferred to other insti- tutions or who died was 7,| ‘Union ov THe PaEserreniax Cooncaxs.—The committee probable that with each other. It is expected that a decision will be reached by the end of the week. ‘TwxstieTa Warp Grammar Scuoot.—The annual en- tortainment of the ‘Boys’ Grammar School” in Twenty- eighth street, commemorative of the birthday of Wash- ington, took place yesterday, the exercises commencing atten A. M., and consisting of recitations, singing, ad- dreeues, &c. Inspector W. ©. Livingston, M. D., pre- sided at the opening of the ontertainment, but was com- ited to leave before its close by reason of Baties A letter was read from Mayor Hoffinan ting his inabitity to be present. Addresses were ered by the Rev, Dr. Osgood, bir, Williams and General Andorson, who was most enthusiastically . recetvod. ‘Among (he exercises of the credit to their instructors, the consisting of the usual muscular traning, performed ia concert and by musical time, received the marked ap- probation of all, a3 conducive to Apel ga ona) development and the acquirement of grace ease of carriage A large number of the friends of the pupila twatified by their presence their interest in the opera- tions of the scheol. Mecting ov THE CutLDREN’s Arp Socisry.— At the an- nual meeting of the “Children’s Aid Society,” held yoa- terday afternoon at the Metropolitan Bank, Sve trustesa ware olected to fill vacancies in the Board, which subse- quently elected as its President aud Treasuror for the ensuing year Messrs, W. A. Booth and J. KE. Williams. From the Treasurer's report it appears that during the past year the receipts of the society—including last year’s balance ($2,206)—have been $92,403. Its ex- penditures have amounted to $92,403. It’ has sustained seventeen different institutions, and sent to situations im tho West and elsewhere 1,664 persons. Under ils pa- tronage are thirteen industrial schools, where 4,000 children have been cared for; a newsboy lodging ouse, giving shelter to 135 nightly; a rt ’ lodging which has provided — 15,843 toagings, meals, and secured situations for gitis; a boys’ lodging house, in which 52% different boys have been (yrnished with 6,036 lodgings and 7,472 meals; a refuge for the homeless, whore 84¥ little wanderers roceived lodging 15,389 times, and 43,511 meals have been provided. An important potat in'the managemont of this charity {3 that it encourages {ts beneficiaries to help themselves, requiring a small feo for lodgings and meala when it can possibly bo paid. In some of the ivstitutions under its care » large proportion: of those admitted meet in this way the expenses of thoir food or lodging. The work of the association is grat but the field is immense and admits of a largely extoud: scale of operations. Sr. Frances Xavisr’s Con.ace —Last evening tha semi-annual literary exorcjsos of the St. Francis Xavier dobating society were held in the hall of St. Francis Xavier's Colloge, before a very large audience, priac- paily composod of the friends of the studonts and the pacons of the college. On the platform wore the Moat Kev. Dr. MoCloskey and many of the clergy of the arch- diocese of New York. Tho opening address—which was & ey, effective niece of sreponen ee deli 3 W. Shannon, and ‘oii the marked applause the andi . The € iit: Seid pt ote By hy house Whon the exercises had concluded, the MoCioskoy addressed tho students in a high!y complimenting them upon the: Graces of the “Archbishop. had closed @ pumber of guests wero invited to partake of the hospitality of the Joauis fatburs iv the refectory. Tas Trvorasr# Doon, —Last evening, at the Maison Porée, the members of the Typothete Society of this city aasembted to enjoy their fourth annual diaper aed mingte in the usual social cheer which characterises these anniversary occasions. C. A. Alvord presided. At eight o'clock the members and others repaired to the dining hall, where, preparatory to more enlivoning eajoy- ments, a prayer was offered by Rev. Dr. Clark. Among tho invited guests present were cight dolegates of the New Franklin Club of Boston. The ordeal safely overpast, Long greater triamphs in a peaceful future." i toast Joun F. Trow responded in a ‘The toast ‘The y' tment, “Culling flowers of art from the gardens of de- sign, he weaves them into forms of migra ge " This was to by A. ‘anious other toaste were and responded to by I. J.. Oliver, Dr. Godwin, Mudge, of Boston; Welsh, of Cambridge; Rev. Dr. Clark and M. B. Ww og Ve rious songs interspersed the ceremonica, Fontivition not ending until a very late hour. ° Bact ov Comraxy K, Skventy-emst Requraat.—The annual reception of Company K, Soventy-Grat regimont, at leving Hall, fast night, was, as on previous occasions, a most recherché affair, Notwithstanding the severity of the weather the attendance was considerable, the danger of catching cold, with its attendant misery, weighing tart ti in the estimation of the far patroneases of aod anticipated attention of the gallant members of Com- pane E in the projected joint devotion to the, ‘erpsichore. ‘The ball was tastefully decorated lags and other mititary embloms, a large illumination of the letter “i” ‘one end of room. held bigh revel tilt jots of the ladies—which but ret By cavaliers, ‘Sure Ownses’ Asyociation.—Ap adjourned meeting of this association was held yesterday afternoon in the rooms of the society, No. 82 Pino street. Captain Am- brose Snow occupied the chair and Mr. Thomas 8. Sandford acted as secretary. The principal business hefore the meeting related to the passage of an act at presont before the State Logisiature having for its object the extension and tof an existing act ras le if B : i af S85 t ; ie Hi hee ‘iil iF Dearn rrom ScaLps.—Coroner Wildey was yesterday catlod to No. 137 West Thirteenth stroet to hold an ta- quest over the remains of Lottie Oliver, a littie girt only soven years of age, whose death was the result of scalda received on Wedneaday afternoon by failing into a tub of boiling water, A vordict of “Death from scalds acci- dentally received” was tendered by the jury. MURDER AND SUICIDE IN SAVANNAH. Philip Jndge, a young man ninetoon years of age, and & native of New York, was murdered in a saloou known as “Our House,’ in Savannah, Ga, on Sunday, the 17th inst, He entered the kitchen of tho saloon about ten o'clock im the morning, and exchanged a few angry words with Alfred Monillot, the head cook, by whom he the right sido with carving k: f was, setzed ‘with, fasta, rears, ‘and has relatives lying in this and sai- was e -five years of about little is kaowa,