The New York Herald Newspaper, January 28, 1870, Page 3

WASHINGTON Discussion on the Currency Bill in the Senate, AN EXCITING DAY IN THE HOUSE. The Virginia Representatives Sworn In. DEMOCRATS OBJECTING TO PORTER. Bill to Abolish the Franking Privilege Passed by the House. Mr. Dawes’ Speech in Reply’ to General Butler. WASHINGTON, Jan. 27, 1870, Kwproving the Capital—President Grant Fa- voriug Congressional Appropriations. ‘The Mayor of Washington and the Register of Deeds have had an interview with the President in regard to District matters, in the course of which the President is represented as saying, referring to the former visit of the citizens, he did not know how they came to suppose he would recommend to Cohgress that appropriations ought tobe made for this oity. Sach tad not been nor was it his in- tention now, <A recommendation of this char- acter at present would be desregarded. The West- era members were specially tenacious in regard to this subject. Time and more information would soften the asperities of the moment. It had been his desire for years, and was his wish now to sce before the close of bis term of oMice the capital to take rank with the frst in the world—to beautify, adorn and improve {t so as to be a source of pride to the na- tion and worthy of our great achievements aud the admiration of foreigners visiting us. The year clos- ing March 3 would show a great reduction of the public debt and less taxatton, and by that tme Congress might see the necessity of improving Our avenues, public buildings and other important public works, and he had no doubt the time would come when Cabinet ministers would be furmshea with houses free of rent by the government. To suppose that men representing the nation could on @ pittance of $8,000 give grand dinners and recep- tons was simply ridiculous. ‘The President was asked by the Register whether Mt was mot best, under the circumstances, for the Mayor to draw up in brief @ statement as to the wants of the District and what would give almost entire satasfaction to all classes, and that the President endorse the same or accompany tt by a letter of his own to Congress, and thus do something practical for the relief of our citizens, The Mayor desired to know whether the Plan suggested and the brief mentioned by the Register were satisfactory to the President. He doubted very much if any other would give satis- faction. Foar-fliths of the republicans of the District Were opposed to the curtailment of the franchise. ‘This pian might harmonize conflicting opinions and result in unity. He would in this letter explain what was essentiaily necessary; how the ayenucs and streets ought to be improved, and why the gov- ernment should feel an interest in our local exist- ence, The President replied that he would take @reat pleasure in being the medium of trans- Titling such a letter to Congress, with such endorsement as he might ceem proper and ex- Pedient; that he could not see why the gov- ernment, which owned half the taxable property of the city, shoula be exempt from its due share of Mabiuty to adorn and embellish the capital, &c. General Logan’s Army Bill. Some time ago General. Lagan mtroduced a bill to reduce the number of officers in the army and to fix their pay. The House Miltary Committee has had {tt under discussion for some time, and at its meet- ing to-day, after amending it in some particulars, the bill was agreed to and the chairman ordered to teport it to the Mouse, Itis a radical measure, so far as the officers of the army and their pay are con- cerned, and if adopted it wiil leave many @ warrior with his occupation gone. It authorizes the Presi- fent to appoint a board of five onicers, whose duty i shall be to revise the entire army list and to examine all officers as to their fitness for tne ser- vice, All officers who fail to pass the examimation are to be mustered out at once, and ali vacancies’ occurring Within six monibs are to be filled from the list of oMceys recommended by the Board for retention in the service. At the end of that time all supernumerary officers are to be mustered out and given one year’s pay and allowances. The General- ship and the Lieutenant Generaiship of the army are to be avolished upon the death ‘or resignation of the present incumbents, with all the laws re- lating wereto. The number of major generals to be reduced wom five to three, and of brigadiers from eight to six. The President is euthorized to select, without regard to seniority, such generals as are tw be retained. The heads of departments and chiels of staff are to have the work and pay of a colonel instead of a brigadier general, und all brevet ranks are to be abolished. The re- tured liss 18 to number 250 officers and no more. All officers of the army, whether on the retired list or in active service, are prohibited from accepting or holding positions in the civil service, The pay sys- tem is thoroughly revolutionized by the bill, In- stead of a certain amount with commutation and allowances, the pay is to be so much per annum and no: perquisites. In all cases the pay of Officers is reduced from vbe present rates, The General of the Army is to receive $12,000 per annum instead of $19,000, his present salary; the Lieutenant Generat $10,000 Instead of $14,000. All the ocher officers are reduced in proportion. Officers serving in the flela are to have an extra aliowance of pay. A. R. Corbin Before the Investigation Come mittee. A. R. Corbin, of New York, was before the Com- mittee on Banking and Currency to-day, and was examined at gome jength in reference to the recent gold panic in New York. His examination wu) be concladed to-morrow; put he positively declines to divulge any of his testimony, om the ground that it would be showing disrespect to the committee: Nominations Sent to the Senate, The vresideut to-day sent the following nomina- ttons to the Senate:— James Jennings, Receiver of Public Moneys at Cena, Mich.; John Eaton, Jr., of Tennessee, Cominis- sioner of Bfication, tn place of Barnard, to be re- moved; Humpton Aulick, Assistant Surgeon in the Navy; Lieutenant Samuel $, Wilson, Lieutenant Commander tn the Navy; First Lieutenant H. B, Lowry, Captain in the Marine Corps; Secon naut kt. K. Neill, First Liewvenant in Marine Corps; Asrael 5. Adams, Collector of Custos at Great keg Harbor, N, J.; Jarvis H. Bartlett, Collector of Custom. at Little bag Harbor, N. J.; William G. Wilhains, Postmasier at Watertown, N Y.; Biuce Johnson, Postmuster at Shelbyville, Jud. Enforcement of the Laws Against Polygamy in Uteb, The House Committee on Territories, at their meeting to-day, finished the bill which they have nad before them for some time, to avolish polygamy im Utah, and to provide for the enforcement of the sawa of the United States in that Territory, Js provides that hereafter tne practice of polyga- my shall ve protibited in the Territories by the Wuited States. For the enforcement of this and ower Jaws of the United States in the Territory of Utan the President is autherized and directed to employ @ suMicient force of United States troops and to Faise 26,000 militia among the citizens of Utan Terri- tory. The bili will ve reported to the House as soon asthe committee is called upon for the report, and ie chairman of the committee, Mr. Cullom, 1s con- Adent thas it will go through the Hou Disposal of the Public Domain—Railread Land Grants te be Probibited, ‘The Commitice Public Lands of the House, at abe meeting to-day, dissussed the propriety of NEW YORK HERALD, FRIDAY, JANUARY 28, 1870.—TRIPLE SHEET, imtroducing Dill prohibiting the granting of the public lands to railroad companies and other corporations, and providing that the public Jands shall only be sold to actual settlers under the homestead laws. Notwithstanding the millions of acres of the public domain which have already been given away to railroad companies and the repeated action cf Congress protesting against these land grants, there are a Jarge number of bills already in- troduced this session donating the public lands, The committee see no way to atop the evil except by making a general law which will be applicable to all the States and Territorics, Educating the Kansas Indians, Enoch Hoag, Superintendent of the Kansas Indian Superinienaency, and a committee of the Society of Friends, mcluding George Wistar, of Philadelphia, appeared before the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs this morning, to submit their views as to the proper treatment of the Indians in that State, and to urge the expediency of making appropriations to carry out uelr plan for educating and civilizing the various tribes under their charge. The Committee promised to give their reprefentations careful con- sideration, Weekly Customs Receipts, ‘The customs receipts for the week ending Janu- ary 22 were as follows:—At Boston, $312,489; at New York, $2,660,515; at Philadelphia, $133,730; at Baltl- More, $152,000; at New Orleans (for the week end- ing January 15), $112,692, ‘Total, $3,371,426, The Indian Policy of Canada. The Department of State, at the request of Hon. Sidney Clarke, Chatrman of the House Committee on Jndian Affairs, directed Freeman N. Blake, United States Consul at Hamilton, Canada, to report upon the condition and treatment of the Canadian In- dians. The report is now made and suggests an opportunity in the present crisis of Indian aifairs in our dwn country, showing that the settlement of the aborigines upon large reservations is essential to rescuing them irom their dangers and making them amenable to law and oruer. He says:— ‘The experience of Canada, and our own, leads towards tie same conclusious. Since Great Britain acquired Canada tthe Indians have ever been her fatiniul lies in war and maintained peace amon; themselves. They ure advancing in civilization an increasing in lumber. The government has treaced them as Wards, or pupils, considering their wishes but retaming the power 1n its own hands with re- cipcrocal beneflt, its agents hold cheir oitlces for lite, or during good behavior. A strict regard to in- tegrity in every deiall is aeemed an essential part of the policy, The legisiation of Canada as to the indians, during the last two years, has been exceed- ingly thoughtrul and comprehensive, ita object nay- ing been to qualuy and encourage them to self- government, Prot ow of American Shipping—Mr. Wash- burn’s Bill to Establish Lines of Ocean Steamers. Mr. Washburn, of Wisconsin, to-day presented his bill in the House for the establishment of lines of ocean steamers, which was referred to the Special Committee on American commerce. The bill pro- poses to establish four ines of steamers, as fol- lows:—The Atlantic Iron Steamship Company, to ply between Boston and Portland, in the United States, and Glasgow, in Scotland, and Liverpool, England, sailing from each of said ports on alternate weeks; the American Iron Steamship Company, to ply between New York and Liverpool, touching at Queenstown and making weekly trips; the Trans- atlanuc Steamship Company, to ply between Phila- delphia and Baluumore and Southampton and Bre- men, touching at each port on alternate weeks, and the North and South American and European Iron Steamship Company, to ply between New Orleans and Hamburg, toucning at Antwerp, and between New Orleans and Rio Janctro, touching at Havana, Mayaguez, Porto Rico, St Thomas ana Trinidad, im the West indies, and Para, Pernambuco and Bahia, in Brazil, making semi-monthiy trips. ‘The bil names Jor each company corporators, who are constituted a board of commis- sloners, to open the books for subscription to the stock of the several companies. ‘Ine capital svock of each company is fixed at 40,000 shares, of $100 each. No person 1s allowed to subscribe for mere than 100 snares until the books have been opened at ieast four weeks. As soon as 5,000 shares have been taken and ten per centum thereon paid into the treasury the board of commissioners are to convene & meeting of the stockholders for the election of directors, who are autho: to elect a president, vice president, secretary and treasurer. ¢ Posmaster General is authorized to contract with these lines for the transmission of Ube United States mails for ten years, and to guaran- tee the payment to each company of $500,000 per annum, payable montaiy; ana in the case of the North and South Amerivan ana European- Company this amountis to be equally divided between the twolines. The contract 1s to be made on the ex- Press qnudition that each com) shall proceed im- mediately to construct American ship- yarcs not less tian five first class iron ships of the most approved model for speed, with the best accommodauons for cabin and steerage passengers, of not less than tree thousand tons burden and a speed equal to the average spced of the lines Known as the Cuuard, Inman and French lines. The sutps are required to be built in the best manner and so constracted as to be easily converted into war vessels, and the United States 18 to have the right to take the same for its own use in tine of war or threatened dauger, and when so taken the goverament shall be liavie to pay @ sum equivalent to a fair interest on the investment and for reasonabie wear and tear and the damage sald ships may sustain while in possession of the United States; but no dai snali be allowed for aby interruption of the business of the companies. Should the government desire tne purchase of such ships it shall have the right to do so upon the payment of their appraised value. The bill provides the ships shall be oificered and commanded by citizens of the United epee that upon the application of the company the be dent may, with the consent of the oilicer interested, authorize any navai ofiicer to command or in the navigation of any of the vessels without preju- dice to his rank in-the navy, and that witlle so em- ployed he shall only receive half pay from the gov- ernment and such pay as he may receive from the company. For the purpose of encouraging said lines the companies are tw be entitled to @ drawback equal to ‘the duty paid on all materials imported that are proven to havo en- tered into the construction of said ships; or snould such ghips be built exclusively of American mate- rials the Postmaster General is authorized to pay to the company $100,000 additional subsidy. The bil farther requires that al) the ships shall be but and ready to take their place on the line within one year from the date of the organization of the company. ‘The following is a list of the names of the curpora- tors of the several companies, who are made by the bill the Board oi Commissioners: — For the Atiantic, Boston and Portland Compa- nies—Messrs. John B. Brown, Harriwon J. Sibley, Samuel KE. Spring, Kufus E. Ward, Woodbury 8. Dawes, Theophilus C. Husscy, Jonas H. Perley, George W. Woodman, J. K. Jewett, A, D. Lockwood, John M. Forbes, J. 8. Tobey, William F. Mam Claflin, George C. Kichardson, George B. Upton, Alpheus Hardy, Witham B. Spooner and Caares F. Hovey. For the American (New York) Company—Measrs. 4A. A. Low, Moses Taylor, W. H. Aspinwall, Howard Potter, Charies Luding, George W. Quintard, N. L. McCready, Herman Livingston, E. V. Leon and Charies Morgan, For the Transatlantic (Piiladelphia and Baltimore) Company—Messrs. Jonn Edgar ‘Thompson, James 4. Orne, Alfred Ce John Tucker, William McMichael, Henry Minor, 8. Fell, John 0. James, Joun G, Breemen and Daniel M. Fox, of Philadephia, and Jos. Corner, Fitzgerald Booth, D. M. Hodges, Wed. Hooker, A. Schumacher, Tuomas Whiteredge, T. W. Brune, John Garrett, James Chester and tiamilton Easter, of Baltimore. FORTY-FIRST CONGRESS. Second Session. SENATE. WASHINGTON, Jan. 27, 1870, ABOLISHMENT OF THE FRANKING PRIVILEGE. Petitions were presented by Messrs. Rumacy, Drake, Pratt, Patterson, Conkling and Fenton for the abolition of the iranking privilege. One of the petitions presented by Mr, Fenton contained the sig- natures of 4,581 citizens of New York city. SICK AND DISABLED &BAMEN, Another petition was presented by Mr. Fenton, from the Trustees of the Seamen’s Fund and ke- treat of New York, asking for Congressional action to secure adequate provisions by the United States or State government for the support of sick and disabled seamen arriving at the port of New York. Also # resolution from the Board of Trade of Buffulo ior the repeal of the income tax. A VIRGINIA BENATOR SWORN IN, The VICE FRKBIDENT communicated to the Senate ae fact that the President had sigued the Virginia Mr. BOREMAN, (rep.) of W. Va., said one of tne Senators elect from Virginia, Joun F. Lewis, was present, and moved that ne be qualified, ‘The credentials of Joun F. Lewis and John W. Johnson, Senators elect from Virginia, were then read. Mr. Lewis then appeared beture the Speaker's desk, When the usual oath Of otice Was adminisvered by the Chair, THE CURRENCY BILI was then taken up, apd Mr. Hows, (rep.) of Wis., reviewed the varioustproportious suggested by the Senators who had spoken im the discussion, The Senator trom Oluo (Mr, Sterman) believed forty-five millions of an increase to be suilicient; tue’ Senator trom indiana (Mr. Morton) thought sixty-five mil- ons Would be enough, and the Senator from Masua- chusetts (Mr. Suunner) believed two hundred mill.ons would be aboot rigat, He might pertinently ask each of the HyugWip WHY they stopped as thes amounts, How aid they know these would be ‘Uuat were necessary? Why not take off all restri Men aud let the iagté all the money they Wanted to inveat in ¢ Our currency would not be dangel ue care’ =6was Laken that one bar ret japer should be re wired as fast as came into use, ‘The objection to was based upon this the supposition that the people would prefer na- Uodnal hotes to bank Notes, but the auswer Lo that Was that the good sease of tue people would give preference to the best circulation; and that woulu be he one niowt readily convertible into com. If this Ovject Could not at once be accomplished Congress should at least start out on the road that would reaca to It As @ Western man he asked that the West should have the banking facitties waich they becaed, of which they were deprived vy the present grossly unequai distribution, Mr. SAWYER, (rep.) Of 5. C., favored the proposi- uon suggested by Mr. Morton, as calculated to meet the pressing requiremenis without creating any disturbance of the business interesis of Lae country. ‘rue vill as Vhus amenied Would be more likely to meet with lavor in tue House, wails tae ameudinent proposed by Mr, Summer, he believed, could not pass that body, Mr. MORRILL, (rep.) of V @meniber of the Seuate who either oficiaily or 1a Dis private Capacity did not suppose biniseil to be & good financier, and, therelore, seats were generally Vacated Whenever @ ttaancial bill was taken up. It Was very duticult to induce one-half the senate to surrender thelr pet theories to the other half; buc compromise Was necessary If any pracucal measure wus to be adopted. ererring co tue assertion that tie Northeastern banks had derived an undue advantage in the disposition of the present banking capital of tue country, he said tie circumstances under which the present system was adopted should. not ve forgotten, it Was aoopied as a War meas- ure, as the oniy means to sustain the creait of the nawon. ‘The law authorizing it Went 80 jar a8 to tmpose upon the New England and New York banks 4 tax almosy amounuug to coulscalions unless they came ufto the new system, ‘Ihe West deciined to avail itself of the 8) Stem, and the South, owing to the war, Was not In @ condition to avall itself of the bauking privilege, it should not now be made a reproach upon the Joyal States that the law making the present distri- bution was then accepted. He would support the proposition presented by che committee tor torty~ tive millon dosiars, on account of 13 luirness and hevessity, and asserted lis opposiwon to aby present Aucrease Of that yinvunt, Mr. Mowros, PSD.) of Ind., raid the proposition to limit the imerease to forty-five muulitoa douars, ou the groand that 11s amount would satisty tae South ano West lor a year or two Was Confessediy & Bait Way measure, He would rather tave Conxress grant too much tuan too litte, and therefore pro- posed tue tncrease of sixty-five muon doliars. It Uns Were noc wil taken nO harm would reaut. The diates of New York, Penosylvania, Deiawui and = Maryiand, with @ little over on fourth of the population, had two hundrea and forty-two millon dollars out of the entire amount of $300,000,000 of circulating notes, ‘fue ovuer states, having nearly three-foucths of the Populauion, Lad less thud $63,000,000, ‘The aduition Of ¥65,000,00, as proposed by tue amend®ent, would ake au aggregate of less than $120,000,000 tor neariy-Liree-lourtys of the entire popuiation, white Leurly $20,000,000 would ve preserved to the States with one-fourth of the popwation. He would ask why it was the South and West were so grudgingly ailowed the poor pittance of $65,000,000, Lt Was to the interest of the New England States to be liberal, His amendment would only take $13,000,000 from. ihe States naving the largest excess, in case ibe $52,000,000 for which he provided was exhausted, Ctnclunati, With & popuiation of 250,009 and an tin- Mense Commerce and Manulactares, had $4,353,000 of nauonal bank currenoy; Chicago, with 200,000 population and a commerce only second to New ‘urs, had $6,400,000; ludianapolis, with u population Of 56,000, ad $1,620,000; Detroit, With a population of 30,000, had $9,575,000; Milwaukee and St. Louls had like proporaons; New York, with about 900,000 Populaiion, has about $66,000,000; Boston, with 250,000 population, has $41,000,000; Providence, witn 36,000 population, had ueariy $16,040,000; Hartford, Wich 35,000 population, had $7,062,000, ‘The Western. cittes he had named, with @ population of 1,020,000, bad the eutire sui of $18,822,000, wmile the Bastern cities, with @ uutted population of 1,225,000, had $140,940,000, showing that the great cities of the West in potit ot populatiog were entitied to more than double the currency they now have, Under the provision of the bill for tue issue of coin nutes the banks, Which might be establisied east of the Kocky Aountains, would, he believed, be ased for guid guunbling purposes. Keiercing to the Pacitio States, for whose penelit the bill was chiefly designed, he said that finaucialiy they had been unfriendly to the Credit of toe Umived States, having unwormly re- jected our Carrency, preierring to adnere vo goid wud Sliver. Mr. CASSERLY, (rep.) Of Cal., said that Caltfornia had never rejected the currency of te governinent; but, While usiag tawiul gold and sliver, they nad always been ready to receive paper at tis fair value. ‘there could be, he thougnt, no valid argument against their right to do taut. Ar. VORBETT, (rep.) of Oregon, explained that ta the Pacilic Sta%es, atter the premium on goid had advanced, 1t was very dificuit to establish a bank- ing system under the National Currency act. ‘fnere Was but one bank in the State of Oregon—tnat at Pordand—which issued a national bank note. ‘Thin condiuon of Lnings was attrioutabile to a coin circu- lation, and not to any uniriendly feeling ward the government currency. Mr. Morron said tie banks there were constantly resisting the introduction of currency trou this gue or the Continent, While this was to their mterest, he charged 1 was against the interests of the peopie there und a serious misfortune to them, dir. CASSERLY, by way of correction of what he Supposed to be Mr. Morton’s mistake, said tue most sirenuous opposition to the introdaction of paper currency aud the exclusion of their own came from the body of the peopie themselves, Values in Cait- fornia were gold values, aud business was conducted basis, ‘Mr. MOKION contended that the people of Callfor- nia had treated our currency exactly as did the peo- pie of Cauada. When he went to Canada he had to exchanges is money and buy gold. and when he Went to California he bad to do the same thing. flere gold is at @ premium and paper at par, witie in Califorata gold 1s at par and paper at a discount. ‘That was the difference. He argued that tne eifect of the amendment of Mr. suimner would be to increase the interest bearing debs two hundred mil- ‘ons of doilars, and com an additional payment by tae governineut of eight miliions of doilars aa- nuaily in interest. He referred to tne law which Pleugéd the goverament to redeem all the United ‘Siates notes In cola, Which was part of the act piedg- ing the 1aith of the government to pay the bonds in ast He advocated thé adoption of practical sea- ures With @ view to the accomplisument of this purpose. His umendmeut would obviate the coo- traction of nearly seven millions of doiars, which the bill as it stauds would create. « Mr. PATTERSON, (rep.) of N. H., said New England had been made Scapegoat in the present discus- sion without saMcient provocation. Sne had been Made accountable lor the stringency of the money marcet atthe West and South, ‘The facts were that 1n the first banking act it was provided that ove hun- dred and fifty millions were to be distributed accord- ing to capital and business of the various States, In the next ace that provision was left out, but in the act of 1865 1t was renewed, because the government: found itaelfin want of money. Congress did not think it best to issue more greenbacks or legal yeud- ers, bevause by 80 doing they were interrupting the business of the country, and it was necessary Dusi- hess should continue in order that the war might be carried on. But the government needed more money, and the money was in New Engiand, and some provision was necessary by which New Eng- jand money could be secured to the government to carry on the war, and go the State banks were taxed ten per cenit to make the capital im those State banks unproductive. Mr. MORTON remarked that 1t was necessary to drive the State banks out of circulation in order to give room to the circulation of the national banks, Mr. ParTeasOn Continued, remarking that it was necessary by crowding the State vanks out of exi ence to force the capitalists o1 New Eny this national bank stock And thus ald the gover ment. New Engiand was thus forced to take this national bank stock, and gentlemen should not now come here [rom tne South and West and complain that ane had the lion’s share of circulation; she had simply done her duty under compuision. Itwas not her fault that the South and West had not taken their acta. 5 Mr. SAWYER said he did not complain of the un- fair distribution by which New England enjoyed more than her share of banking Capital uncer the Jaw, buc desired to protest against the claim which ad been set up here tial she was entitied to this un- ane preponderance of account of ner patriotism. He claimed the facts showed that at tne close of the war not one-third of the bauk circulation had been disiribuved, and as the Jaw required the distribution of one hundred and filty million dollars, according to population, the South was then entitied to receive her saare, and would have received it if the law nad been adhered to. He tnen alluded vo the auticuity towh:ch the cotton planters of the South were subjected iy raising money to carry on their opera- ons. Mr. PATTERSON, in the course of @ reply, said that New England having been origmally forced to accept tils bank stock, South Curclina LOW proposed to say it should be wrested from her simply because she 18 making @prodi from it, He iufimated tuatin any contingency, it the proposed banks Were authorized, the Souta woulu have to come to his own section for capitalists and bonds upon which to start te banks. At twelve minutes past four P. M., on motion of Mr. Cameron, the Senate adjourned. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. WASHINGTON, Jan. 27, 1870, BILLS INTRODUCED AND REFERRED, By unanimous consent bills were introduced and referred as follows:— By Mr. SCOFIELD, (rep,) of Pa.—Authorizing the in- demnity fund paid by China and Japan to be paid into the Treasury. = By Mr. WASHBURN, (rep.) of Wis—To establish steamvont lines, By Mr. GILFILLAN, (rep.) of Pa.—Reauiring na- tional banks going into liquidation to deposit lawful mouey wm pidce of their circuiating notes and to take up weir bonds. BILLS REPORTED AND RECOMMITTED. By Mr. JULIAN, (rep.) of Ind., from the Committee on Public Lands—'To prevent tne further sale of pov- Jie landa, except a8 provided for in tue pre-emption and homestead laws and the jaws for disposing of town sites and mineral lands, By Mis INGERSOLL, (rep. of 11)., from the Coffimit- tee on Halixyads aud Valala—TO authorize the cou sald there was scarcely * strnction of @ raitroad and telegraph line from Washington city to Gieveland, Ohio, or Erie, Pa., by the nearest direct route, Mr. DAVIS, (rep.) of N, H.. called up the bill intro- duced by him yesterday to amend the Virginia bill by construing tue word oath to include aMrmations, RESOLUTIONS OF INQUIRY ADOPTED, By Mr. Moons, (rep.) of N. J.—~AS to why harbor master’s fees, healtu fees and State hospital fees are Allowed to be collected at the New York Custom House, notwithstanding the decision of the Supreme Court that such fees were unlawful. By Mr. Witson, (rep.) of Minn.—Relative to the improvement of navigation of the Mississippt river Qt Or near the Falls of St, Anthony; also as to the Teduction of postage rate 8 between Sweden and the United States, COMMITTRE ON THE POSTAL TELEGRAPH BILL. The SPeAKER announced the folowing as the Select committee on the Postal Telegraph bill:— Messrs. Washburn (Wis), Lawrence, Dawes, Davis, Palmer, Woodward and Beck. ‘THE OATH ADMINISTERRD TO THY VIRGINIA MEMBERS, Mr. PAINE, (rep.) of Wis,, moved that such of the Virginia members as to whose mgat to seals there Was no objection, should now be sworn in, Messra, Platt, Riageway and Milnes tiereupon Came lorwara and took the oath of oflce, Mr. Woop, (dein.) of N. Y., objected to the oath bemy administered to Mr, Porter, and read, as the te of his ovjecuon, the charges and specifica- ns Upon Whica he (Mr, Porter) bad been convicted, and sentenced to six montis’ (morisonment, wach sentence liad been approved by Major General B. BF. Batler; that Mr. Porter was convicted of deciaring pablicly in @ tavern that “the government was & God d—ad humbug from beginning to end; thas Apraham Lincoln was doing everytuing in ne could for his own eicction, and tuat this Was a rotten, us, Corrupt goverument from begmuiny to end.’? Mr, PALNE, iM alswer to Mr, Wood, seat to the Cierk’s desk and bad read a telegram from Mr. But- Jer, dated May 5, Loss, stating that Caaries H. Por- ter in a heated discussion nad used words which, being reported to fun, ke Was obliged to notice. He had, however, omitved all the onerous part of the Judgment of che coraintssion, because Wis case, and His previous acts, suowed tuat Porter nad not becn In fact disloyal. Mr. Koons, (rep.) of Ark., remarked that the gei Uemen on other side of the house were Lr quently maxing such imputauoas, aud chat if men were vo be ruled out Jor suci expressions Lie mem- bers trom the other side would rule themselves out, Mr. BLpaipde, dem.) of Wis., asked Mr. Vame whether Mr, Porter ud ever taken back the ex- pression charged ayainst him, Mr. #AINE said he did pot know; be had never conferred with him on the sudject. Mr. SARGENT, (rep.) of Cal, asked Mr, Wood Whether he was prepared Lo say Ullal any person should be exe: Jrom membership in we House tor having used such language. Mr. Woop said he bad no difficulty jn answering that question. He cid not velleve Laat anybody Was Ob to sit in the House who considered the govern- ment of tke Untied States a humpug, or who de- nounced the President tn such scurrious terms. MY. SARGENT rewurked that Le bad siinply wanted to get the profession of faith. Mr. Wairremore, (rep.) of S.C, asked Mr, Wood (sarcastically) whether he dla not think it better to Wweat that cass of people with conciliaiioa and Kundness ? Mr. Woop—Yes; but not to give them front seats. Mr. ELpurGe—Not to puc them alongside tne gencieinan from South Caroline, (Lauginer.) IL wish tue gentieman trom California to tell us what he thinks Of such sentiments? Mr. SARGENT, 1a reply to Mr, Eldridge, said that he would hazard the opinion that uf gentieuca were to be exciuded from the House who Couid be proved Wo have ased such iumgaage tne seats on nis Lett (the democratic side) would ve pretty generally vacant. (Laughter.) Mr. Woopwarp, (dem.) of Pa., declared, with some excitement, iat Lhe assertions uf the geutie- mun from California were slanderous, Air. PAINE Tepumed the floor aud insisted on the previous question. Tue previous question having been seconded and she maim quesuon ordered, Mr. HOLMAN, (dem.) of Iod., moved to recousider the vote ordering the Gian question, which motion gave him the rignt to tne floor for an hour, He divided lus tine am Members on doth sid An excited dt + sucd, Wulen Was paris Smith (of Ureyou), Beck, Vooruees, Sargent, Cox, Mayuam, Wovuward, butier (uf Mass.), Wood, Mor- gan and Bidruige. Mr. loLMAN reminded the Honse of the excluston Of diessrs. Young aud Brown, mempers elect (rom dentucky, on the pretence of their having used ex- pressious that were regarded as disloyal, Mr. Vookmees, (dem.) of Iud., remarked that the only good effect of tue objection to Porter was Laat it would involve the meuibers on the opposite side in contradiviions, aud necessitate a chanye of front. wor bis OWn purt, the case presented nv dtaicuity io him, ‘Chere Was no reason against Porter peng sworn tn, as he held that tae House had no power to wake the inquiry into uis record tf tus Constituents sent him here. Mr. SARGENT recalled the fact that during the last Cougress Mr, Wood had been censured by tne House for deciaring in @ speech twat Le would vote against “this ost tufamods oll Of & most infamous Con- gress,” and asserted that the democrauc party had 1roin the begtouing of tue rebellion throwa its inilu- Ce In the scale painst the government, Mr. Cox, (dem.) of N. ¥., deciared tnat the state- ment was not true. He Was in Congress at tue break- ug out of the revellion, and was amouy the first, if OL the first, to wenvuuce secession. ‘The great body Of the democrats nad stood dy Dougias aod whe Umon, When a memver from Kansas (ir. Conway) offered @ series of resoluons lor dismemberment Wuo on the otner side moved to expel nim? But when a member from Cincinnati (Mr. Long) made a Speech Jor secession und disumion a majority of the ober side voted to expel lum. But’ the one was a Tepablican aud the otner ademocrat. If ail tnose wo maueé expressions against the Unton before the war Were excluded trom this House half the seaw on the other side would be cypty. Me agreed with bis friend, Mr, Voorhees, as 0% the right os represen- tation, No wrongs on the other side coud make # rig, aad tuey snouid set no rules Jor tiem. Mr. SARGEN? repeated that the democratic party of the North had not been during the war in sym- pathy with the government. A democraiic Presi- dent, a Northern man, hud sent & message to Con- gross stating taat he had ao power to coerce a state, and in that ne bad been forufied by Atwrney Gen- eral Black, @ Nortuera democrat, Mr. Mayiam, (dem.) of N. Y., Made a remark as to tae editor of a New York repubuicun paper udvo- cating the right of secession. At this wine the coniusion and excitement bad in- ereased to such 0 eXteut thal the Speaker had to rexort to a sireauous use of bis gavel aud Lo request members to resume Unter seats, Order having beea restored, Mr. Woopwaxkp said he rose to repiy to the sianderous caarge nude against the democratic party by tue gentieman trom Caluornia, Ke tad dang iced it as Manderous at the moment it was utter’ ua he repeated 16 now again, if the dewucratic party of the North had not recruited the army of the Union the Southera Con- federacy would be now an accompustea tact. The geutiewan from Caillornia ougut to know that fact, and if he did Know 16 fie suouid not fave brought auch @ Slanderuusy Cuarge agulost @ great party. Vuree meuvers of us own tamily ana many other relauves had marched to the war. He had always observed that Chose persons Who brought tls charge against democrats Were generally the people who did the least to supress the revellion, Mr. BUTLER, (rep.) of Mass, made some excusa- tory remarks in luvor of Mr, Porter, saying tuat the words uliered by Lim were an ebullicion of 1) nature iM ao excited political diScussion, aud reminding the other side of the House of the amount of Joy in leaven over one sinner that repenteth. Aa to the rank and fie of the army having been chiefly demo- cratic, he agreed with the gentieman irom Penusyi- vania (Mr, Woodward), but the soldiers changed very soon, He had bimseli a body guard of one nunared and one irom Pennsylvania, und without a word from him they all voved tor Mr, Lincoin except the trumpeter, and he had been court martiailed that morning for being la.e in sounding the reveilie, He voted for aicCleilan, (Laughter.) Mr. Woop consicered tis a good opportunity to test the consistency of the otier side and to present the poisoned chalice to their own lips, Me did not, however, agree with the memvers on lis own side tuat the House Would not be justified in inquiring Inco the record of @ member elect. He would not sit here with an eacmy tw his country. Me. KLORIDGE, relerring to Mr. Butler's quotation as to joy in heaven over repentant sinners, said be could not help but think that there was no yentie- man on the Hoor of tne House who could create such aw Uirull of joy in Deaven as the geatleman irom Mas- sachusetts Dy repenting. (Laugater.) The motion to reconsider was finally Jaid on the table by yeas 153 nays 5, and Mr. #orter was sworn in as @ memuer from Virginia, ABOLISHMENT OF THK FRANKING PRIVILEGE. Mr, FARNSWORTH, Irom the Posi Oftice Committee, reported @ biii Lo aboiisu the tranking privilege and asked to Dave It made @ spectai order. The bill was read. It repeais all laws giving to any officer or department of the government, or ovlier persons, whe ‘right either to send or receive through tae mail free of postage any letuer, docu- Mmeut or other inailable matter. Section two pro- vides that Ungact anal take elect on and alter we 1st of July, 1 Mr. SPEVENSON, (rep.) of Ohio, suggested an amendinent to strike out the second secviton. Mr. FARNSWORTH sald he desired to have the bill Toade @ special order tor Tuesday te Mr, CULLOM, (rep.) of Jil, said there was no objec- uon to patting it oa its passage now. Mr. FARNSWorTH—Very Weil; Ue bill is before the House, 1 move the previous question on its pas- sage. ‘rhe previous question was seconded, and Mr. Farnswortn, having au hour to advocate the bil, parcelled out tae wme, which was occupied in a Giscussion upon the question, parucipated in by Messrs. Farnsworth, Logan, Getz, Butier, of Mass., Beuton, Beck, Waro, Laiin, Judd, Eldridge, Ferriss, Hil, Cox, Wood, fotter, Whittemore, Ingersoll, Conger and Ela, Mr. LOGAN, (rep.) of Ill, sald that he would vote iu favor of the bil; but he would be more in favor of it if the contracts for carryiag the mail were re- duced according tw the diminution to be ed. Mr. BUTLER, of Mass., inquired wheter te bill would cut off free newspapers. Mr. Faanswortu—it does; It cuts off everything. In reply to Mr. Logan’s suggestion, Mr. Farnkworth said that the Postinaster General has authority to Increase or reduce the mail contracts, or Lo discon- tinue them. fle wished to say, once for all, that he concurred with his committee Jn reporting this bi, but not for the reason given by the Posimaster Gen- eral, He did not pelieve that tne Post Uilice Depart- Ment Was going to make a ¥aving OF $5,000,000 by the abolition of the irankmg privilege, or anything like it, He aid not think that the mails would be carried for much less than they were carried now. There Would ucapecly be any appreciable awerence, There a Would be some addition to the revenue of the de- pereeneaty how much he could not say, but not 000,000, ‘The maim reason why he was m favor of abohshing the franning privi- fege was thas he thought we effect would be to abolish the stapendous amount of pub- lic prinung done by order of Congress. No more heavy books and documents will be sent free through the mails, and, therefore, they would not be printed. At was generally supposed that members ot Congress made & good deal of popularity and respect for themselves by sending ks and documents to their constituents, ‘That was a mistake, Take, for instance, the Agricultural Report, the most pupae document priutea by Congress. Each member had 800 copies for distyibudon among his constituents, He had, himseli, about 25,000 votes, and he did not understand why 24,20) of them shoulu be taxed to supply 800 of them with that book. So 1 was with every other book printed. Mr. BECK, (dem.) of Ky., asked whether the Com- mittee on Appropriations cul down the Post OMice estimates $5,000,009, the Post Oilee Commitee Would sustain it in doing so. Mr. FARNSWORTH repliedsthat the Committee on Appropriations would be sate in cutting down very much the appropriations for public priating, which were the bungiele where the great leak in the ‘Treasury was Mr, LAFLIN, (rep.) of N. Y,, chatrmaan ot the Com- mittee on Printing, remarked that the gentleman from Hlinois (Mr. Farnsworth) Lad made the strong: est point he could make in favor of the bill, Which he said it would le sen the public printiug, but he could not sanction the statement that it would effect @ saving of $1,000,000, or near such 4 sum of money in that Way. He wished to say and to proclaim to the country in behalt of a much abused Congress what the fact was. Year in and year out in respectable wud influential papers he saw che statement civcuiated that the Congressional print- ing amoucted to # millon of dollars, ana it haa veen stated perhaps iu the most nflueatial journal of tae United States, published in New York, and Recognized a8 good repupiiean authority, at least, that where the governinent print- lng, afew years ago, cost only two hunured thou- #and dollars, 10 now cost over two miilion dollars, The statement was not sustained by the facts. If there had been apy tendeucy wo extravagance in pubile printing it certainty did. not apply to tie last three Congresses. He desired to say in benalf of Congress taat Congress was being beid respousibie alt over the country for expenditures taat are made beyond and outside of the vote authoriz:ng the pub- lic printing. ‘he last reporc of the Congres- slorial Printer showed that tie amount of prinung, and engray- binding, —ithograpping ing ordered by the House of Representatives tue lust year was four hundrei and forty uhou- sand four handred and uwenty-iwo doilara, And of that amount over three hundred and fitty thousand doliars were expended on taree books:— Tue Agricuiturai Report, costing a liutie over oue hundred thousand dollars; the stechanicai Report, a litte over two hundred chousand aouars, and the Glove the balance, Could the farmers of the country Say that Congress was extravagant m paying tity. two cents a volume for the Agricultura; Report? So much tor the printing for the House, The printing for the Senate cost one hundred and pinelecn thous- and doliars, aud when these two amounts, four hundred and jorty thousand four hundred and twenty-two dollars aud one hundred and nineteen thousand doilars, were added together, tuey showea the cost of the ‘public printing for the two houses He was asked by the chairmain of the Committee on Appropriations if he could teli how much the print- ing of the departments had cost. He had pot the figures at hand, but he would venture to jake che Stacement in round numbers that the printing for the departments for the Kame time was becween eight and nine nundred thousand dollars. ir. JUDD—What Is the total cost of printing? Mr, LAPLIN—So newhere near $1,700,000), Mr. INGERSOLL inquired whether the bill cut off Tree exchanges of newspapers. Mr. FaRNswoard replied that tt did. It did not payment of postage on newspapers, but it did require the payment of the postage ou all newspapers aud ail letters. Fiually the discussion was closed and the bill Dassed—yeas 174, nays 14, as follows:— Yeas—Mesars. dams, Allison, Ambler, Ames, Archer, Armstrong, Arnell, Asper, Axtell, Bailey, ‘Banks,’ Baroum, Beaman, peatty, Beck, Benjamin, Lenton, Bingham, Bird. Blair, Bowen, Boyd, Brooke of M N.Y, . Brooke of N. ¥ Buckley, Butlaton, Burchard, Burdett, Burr, Cake, Cessna, Churctull, Clarke, Cleveland, Cobb of Wis, Cobb of N.C. Coburn, Cook, Conger, Cowles! Cox, liom, Davis, Dawes, Dickinson, Dixon, Don’ Dox, buval, ‘Dyer, ‘Ela, Farnsworth, Felry, Finkelnburg, Fisher, Fitch, Garuold, Giltilian, Golladay, Greene, Haley Hamil, Hamitt: kins, Hawley, Hay, Heaton, Heil 1, Jenckes, Jones of Ky. Judd, Kerr, Ketcham, Knott, Lailin, Las ‘bridge, Lynch, Marshall, Mayham Cormick, MeCraty, McGraw, MeNelly, Merc; J,, Morgan, Morrell of Pa.,’ Morrill of Me., Mj Nibiack, O'Neill, Orch, Packard, Puckar, -V mer, Pheips, Piatt, "Poland, Pomeroy,’ Porter, ter,’ Promer, Randall, Reading, Rice, bandford, Sar- emt, Sawyer, Schenck, Schumaker, Seotield, Shanks, Shel- ion of La., Bhiel.iou of X. ¥., Siocuin, Smith of Ohio, Smith of Oregon, Smith of Tenn,, Sinith of Vt, Smyth, Starkweather, Stevens, Stevenson, Stiles, Stokes, Stoiighton, Strader, Strick: land, Strong, Swann, Taffé, ‘Tanner, ‘lllmon, ‘Townsend, Trinible, ‘Ywitenell, tyner Upson, Van Auken, Van Horn, Van Tromp, Ward, Washburn of Wis, Washburn of Maas. Walker, Welle, Wheoler, Whittemore) Wilkinson, Willan (0, el Williams, Wilson of Minn., Wilson of Ohio, Winans, Winches: ter and Witcher—174, Nays—Messrs. Biggs, Boles, Butler of Tehu., Griswold, Haldeman, Johnson, ‘Reeves, Ridgway, Rogers, Roots, Sherrod, Stone, Wood and Woodward—4. THE PENNSYLVANIA CONTESTED ELECTION CASE. Mr. CauncuILt, (rep.) of N. Y., from the Commit tee of Elections, reported @ resolution that H. D. Foster was not entilied to @ seat from the Twenty- first Congressional district of Pennsylvania, and t John Covode was, and gave notico that he would call up the resolution fog action next ‘Tues- lay. : THE LEGISLATIVE, EXECUTIVE AND JUDICIAL APPRO- PRIATION BILL. The House, at half-past three o'clock, went into Committee of the Whole, Mr. Cessna in the chair, on the Legislative, Executive and Judicial Appropria- tion o1lt. . Mr. MYERS called the attention of the chairman of the Committee on 2 hag (Mr. Dawes) to the fact that the appropriations for construction ai steam engineering were exhausted. In consequendée an order had been sent out a few daya ago to the several navy yards to suspend all work in those bu- us after February 1. He said five thousand men Would thus be turown out of employment, and asked how soon an appropriation would be made. Mr. DAWES. (rep.) Of Mass., rephed he was not informed of the fact oMcially. When h» should be the committee would no doubt take action, MR. DAWES’ DEFENCR OF HUIS SPEECH ON GOVERN- MENT EXPENSES, Mr. Dawes then addressed the committee in reply to Mr. Butler’s speeeh of yesterday, undertaking to prove that nis own speech, which bad been arraigned yesterday, was made on a fitting occasion; that the Speech was true, and that it was proper that he should make tt. He had been charged with having, his eyes open, prostituted hs oficial position to tue benefit of the democratic party and to th@xacrifice of his own credit; but it would bave been more to his tasie could he have left the speech to 1ts place before the bar of free and candid criticism, to Which every- thing that was said on this Moor must ultimately come. So long as the criticism of his spvech had been contined to what was contained in the speech itself it bad not been his inten- tion eves to trouble the House or those who read its proceedings with anything in regard to it; but when the motives that actuated iim in 108 delivery were deliverately impugned on the floor of tue House there was no alternative left him but to ask its indulgence to the extent which he had indts cated; and, therefore, he would proceed direcuy and without farther preface to inquire what occasion he to make that speech. ‘That speech was de- livered upon o bill involving @ great public work, involving immediately, as he thonght, and ulu- mately, certainly, the expenditure of @ large sum of puplic money. He nad been charged with the duty, in company with eight other members of the House, of bia care Of the public expenditures, and {t had been the opinion of that com- mittee that that was a proper occasion, through one of its members, to express to the House the reasons of ita objection to the bill and It had latlen toails lot to give utterance to those reasons, He had been made the spokesman of the Committee on hel ate ddrasrtiend and, ag such, bad made the speech that was the occasion for the speech of his colleague, and he submitted to the judgment of the House whether it was a proper occasion Jor it. It hud seemed so plain a path of duty t nim tat it had never occurred to him that anybody would ever intiinate that he hadweized an improper occasion for submitting the remarks which he did. But far more important that was the other 1oquiry, whether wnat Wut he said upon that occasion was true and 1 ty to-day, after more tuan # week since its delivery, to subinit to the judgment of his peers, that not oniy ‘Was it a fit season for delivering the speech, but that What he uttered was, in all essential and inportant particulars,-the trash. Mr. Dawes then proceeded, with the book of estimates in his hands, to refer to item alter item of the estiunates of the various departments, and to show that his original statement tn regard to the excess of estimates over the appropriations of last year were m every respect correct. Passing on trom the Sgures he said: should rejoice as much as Quy man at any development going to show how much the people of this country have been re- hheved from the uen Of taxation by a reduction of expeuditure since Audrew Johason left the Presi- deuttal chair. but ine question that I Was inves- tigating and ine inquiry that [ was puting to voce country was wieter, a4 between Unis year and the ext year, tue wndency of expenditures was upward or downward; und 1 felt it @ duty for me to con- tribute what was in my power, if [ thought | saw that tendency was upward, to induce tnose wao are Tesponsiivie tu these halls In the administration of the government Lo so manage public affairs that the vendency should be downward, not upward. Now, sir, figures may be piled upon figures—“Ossa upon Pelion’—imouutain igh, vw show the dif feren between Andrew Johnson's adminisira- tion im that regard and the first year of our adminiscravion; but they do not rest upon my shoutuers, Broadsides may be fired from that point of view, but tae missiles will fal) harmless at my feet, for there 1s nothing in ali that I sata that had any relerence whatever to the estimates of Andrew Jobnsou’s admimistratton or the appropria- tons and expenditures In his administration. We have been tid thut the estimates for last year were made by Mr. Johnson's administration in @ spirit of Hostuity to the incoming administration; not for what Mr. Johnson woula Carry on the adininistra- tion for, but what General Grant shouid carry it on for; and that in such a tit of economy the estimates Were cutdown #0 a8 tO embarrass the incoming adimministrauon. And that was said by one wio was biaseif a party iu the Committee on Appropriations further to embarrass this administration by © uti down these esumaies twenty millions, (Lauguter.) The trath avout that statement is that nobody ever heard of it until yesterday. If anytaing a test 648 6tO)=Cwhetner =the tendency Wexpenditure w upward or downward im tue ay paruinents it wili be found in the two items for salar ries contingent ex} committee to listen ao and contingent expenses, for Of estimates, are upward or downward With the capensed ion Saat peaaenh 70Rr.. a stunates over the on e present {oer forpelaries ant contingent & ‘penses are as fol- iE xecuuve State Department, $34,520; $259,090; Department of the Interior, 56, 0; Agrionts es nln 630; 870; ‘ural i Oftice Deparunent, 10,600 Lahaee The tout! excess of estimates for salaries and oar tingent expenses ior those departments over appropriattous of unis year are five hundred aad twenty eight tuousand four hundred and sixty-eight dollars, ‘Take another tiustration, ‘Take the Navy Y iArG of Wantiogios. c ‘magine how many officers of 'y¥, independent of civil wo taka eae ot 1 . Officers, it requirea ere Mr, Dawes read the lst of officers employ in the Washington Navy Yard, staung ‘thie in pumber was twenty, and that the amount of their salaries Was forty-two thousand six hundred and elghty-nine dollars. Besides these the salaries of the ctvli oMcers, wuo helped them to take care of the Navy Yard, amounted vo forty-eight thousand nine tuudred aud forty-six doliars, making a grand total of salaries for tne Navy Yard of Washington minety-one thousand six hundred and tairty-five dollars. He suggested whether eight or ven and doliars, properly distribu ino privavwe yard, would not be more effective for the Purposes of the wavy. Speaking Se yp ay lo he asserted that they Cos’ each of them $2,500 a day, If this $2,500 a day was taken and used for subsidizing the mercantile marine of the country it Would tend to encourage trade and enterprise and commerce, instead of being & mere waste and Use Jess flummery, Referring to the suggestion made yesterday by Mr, Butler that he (Dawes) should have gone to tne de- partinents to luguire inv any 8! ne was compelled wo just what bad transpired, and the country would judd; rom it whether he bad been unfair or unjust. When the estimates were put im the hands of the Committee on App! Ons the departments were allotted among the nine mem- bers of the committee: and he would say here that the democratic members of the cominiitee were as faithiul as any of them in the discharge of that daty, With these balances staring them in the face the Members of the committee were charged with the duty of visiting all the departmenis and seeing where the estimates could be cut down. ‘The Inve. rior Department aud the Treasury Department had failen to bis lot. Tne other departments were dis. tributed among the other members of the committee, Bight of the nine members of the commitiwe had spent che tiree weeks of holiday in that work aad had been constant visitors at the depariments, He himself had visited, according to the charge imposed upon bim, the Interior Departnent and the Treasury Department, and when one of the committee had to. * go home he had taken off his hands the War Depart- ment. The other members or the committee had visited every other department and portrayed their balances to them, and they had each reported to the commuttee that they were sorry for the balances, but Uhat for that department the estimates could not be cut down. It was due to the Secretary of the fnte- Tior to say tat while he said it was impossible to cut down the force tn his department he could cur- tall expenditures outside, in tae hospital for the tne sane, in cue deaf and dumb asylum and m the women’s lying-m hospital, (Laughter.) At that same time, When the Secretary of tue Lnterior could not cut down the estimates for his departinent, there Was a siugie Bureau there that bad avcum«mulated $486,000 surplus, because it had bad appropriations from year Lo year more than it could use, and, with- out saying a word about that surpius, 10 wus asking $248,000 more, and saying positively to the commut- tee thas it could not curtail one penny. ‘Mr. Dawes went on to relate like experiences in tie Treasury Department, and said:—‘1 went pte d from the Treasury Department discouraged. f the counsel of influential genuemen im the party, ‘With this Look of estimates under my arm, which has been my constant companion for six weeks, and 1 was advised to go to the President myself; and I Jail these estimates and these balances pelore nim. But—(aiter a short pause, and in » tone of sad- nesa)—I do not Know that I accomplished ido mot know but that he has more confidence in my colleague Butler than in myself, It may be tbat he will take my colieague into his bosom and warm him into new life. (Laugh. ter.) I Know not «row that may be, nor can I calculate what will be the consequence of that re- susciiation, (Laaghter.) But I fain wouida beneve that the Presid believes me to be his friend; aad Were i to state Lie simple truth of what passed be- tween myseli and him, so like Dim, so true to him. sell, It would be & better vindécation of Lim and of Ine than anything that can be said. He talked of economy. He sald that his influence should be ex- erted 10 bring dowa these estimates. He said that he had made @ personal examination of the esu- mates for the War Departineat. He knew the neces- sities of Ltuat ceparcment better than others, and ke thought that the estimates for that depariment were cut down as low as they could be, After that stavement from @ man whose polar star in the administration Of aifairs 1s economy, I did not Unk it Worth while to appeal from him to the Secrevary, who had not been @ month in his seat and whose second odicial act, read from the clerk's desk here yesterday, is letter to my colleague in aid of his ‘assault on th Committee on Appropriations in its efforts to reduce the expenditures, [ therejore, sir, examined’ into 11 the departments commitved to my charge ana I say Unat every other one of them was examined by the otner members or the comuipitiee in the same way, and now, was it worth while for us, with that kunowege, to try and induce the represen- tives of the people to cut down expenditures? ‘The work belongs here. Many of them were the re- sults of laws enacted here, and here was the place to undo them, Many of them were addressed to our discretion, and licre Was the piace to consider and to act on that discretion. Many of them result from-avuses ol long standing. ‘There are to-day five hundred offcers of the army Of duty more than are necessary supernumeraries. Can any one tell me what the annual draft on the Treasury for their salaries is? Take tae pay of & major, as mid- in rank, a8 an average, and multiply by five hundred, and you will na that there 1s paid anpuaily to these supernumerary officers one’ million two hundred aad titty thou- sand doliarsas salary. Nopody at the other end of the avenue 1s responsible for that; we are respon- for it, and I submit whether we ought not to hold up these expenditures before our eyes so Uhat we muy see where we can cut them down, ‘These are but instances couimg to us through the administrauon of the past; but we are respoasibie unless we apply the pruaing knife aud cut off these expenditures. Isubmit, Mr. Chairman, that here where I stood was the place and that it was emi- nendy proper that the Committee on Appropria- Uons shoud do what lt could to arouse a sentiment in the House of Representatives in tavor of uniting in every efiort of any of the departments or any of the executive oflves to cut down these expendi- tures, Isay tnat I have maintained the three propost- tions with which I set out along time ago in tuese remarks, phat 1 would show that it was a Mitung oc- casion for me to make that speech; that the speech was true as I made it, and that ft was proper that I snould make Ww; and, sir, in general terms, I desive to state that in this work the committce felt, and feels to-day, that had no hostility to any branch of the government and did not, in any regard, desire to or suppose that it was making war on any brauch of the government; but, with an earnest desire and with a full deilef that it would have all suitabie aid from others, the com- mittee propose vo go on and, If It could be sustained in this House, wo make, instead of an upward tendency in tue public expenditures, 8 downward tendency and ao further reduction from what was appropriated jast year; 80 hat Une country may understand that, inasmuch as in this Congress lies the power to relieve tuem from the heavy burdens of taxation, it shall Le done; so that the country may understand that whatever pledges of economy have been made slall be redeemed, and so that every indusiry that can be lightened of ite burden shall have the benefit of our efforts in that line, During mpst of the Ume that Mr.-Dawes was Making his speech the ailsies iv bis vicinity were crowded with members, 80 that lt was not an easy matter for an accurate report to be made of his re- marks. He spoke for nearly two hours, aad whea he concluded tne comiittee rose. BILL FOK THE REDUCTION OF THE AkMy, Mr. Loa, crep.) of LL, from the Committee om Military Affairs, reported a biil to reduce the number of officers in the army, Which Was made the special order tor Wednesday next, TUE EIGHT HOUR LAW, Mr. BAN: (rep.) of Mass., introduced @ bill to amend the law constituting eight bours a day’s work for government mechanics, &c., which was referred. Mr. STEVENSON introduced @ Dill vo abolish mile- age. lelerred. THE YERGER MURDER CasK, Mr. SCHENCK, (rep.) of Obto, asked leave to offer a resolution calling on the President for iniormation as to the trial oy military commussion of E. M. Yerger, of Mississippi, for the murder of Brevet brigadier General Joseph G. Craue, of the United States Army, and as to what has taken place in regard to it since the finding of the military com. mission, and what 19s been the occasiun of" délay in the promulgation aud execution of any senténce rendered, aud What agreeteni, if any, las beom made by the Attorney Generai of toe United States to suspend achondn the case, by what auchority aud with what object. Mr. MEKCUR, (rep.) of Pa., oblecte And then, at half-past five o’ciock, the Howse ad- Journed, TELEGRAPHIC NEWS ITEMS. The Philadciptita gas companies have reduced the price of gas'to $2930 per thousand feet, ‘The attempt to form @ vigilaace committes Chicago last night resulted in miserable fullure. At the Ca)ifornia Woman's Suffrage Convention, now in session in Cailfornia, Biue associations are represented by 170 delegat The Eclectic State Medical Society, which bas been in session several days in AiDany, has ad- Journed unui next Jane. Dr. A. Wilder waa elected president; i. J. Burvom, vice president; P. A. Mor- row, secretary, At the Maine State Temperance Convention, im session at Lewiston, apescies were made yesterd! disapproving of Governor Caamoerlaua’s course aa advocating the holding of the repuditcau varty to ie Pledge for provibition aad its eniorcemeat. The Hoard of Brokers of San Francisco have @D-v pointed a committee to consult mewvers of the Cahfornia Legisiacure on ths propriety of passing @ law compeliiug ail ming companies to make, Sworn statements quarterly ad Ww the agtyal con Ginen of taeur mipes, ‘yy