The New York Herald Newspaper, March 9, 1871, Page 3

i WASHINGTON. A Mew Deal Among the Senate Committees, Mr. Sumner to be Removed from (che Chairmanship of the For- eign Relations Committee, A Disruption of the Republican Party Imminent. Report of the Committee on Southern Outrages. ‘WASHINGTON, March 8, 1871. { “Hee Menatorial Caucuy—The War Begun Upon Mr. Sumner—Great Excitement in the Ke- publican Ranks. ‘The: republican Senate caucus to arrange the com- ‘mittees of the Senate jor the new Congress had an- ‘Dther long sessien to-day, and it is given out that ‘they have finished their labors and are ready to report, although they refuse to make any publicity of the results reachea, To-morrow they will submit their report to the repubii- ‘can Senatorial caucus for approval. It is stated to-night that the committee will recommend Sen- ator Morton or Senator Cameron for chaifman of the Committee on Foreign Relations in’ place of Senator Sumner. The announcement of tms has created a good deal of excitement in political ‘earcies, and especially among the friends an’ ad- mirers of the Senator from Massachusetts, The members of the caucus co.nmittee are not person- ally hostile to Mr. Sumner; on the contrary, a ma- jority of them are his iriends. It 1s stated that their action was brought avout by an outside pres- sure from other Senstors of the republican party and from the Executive Department of the government. Since his famous speech on the st. Domingo question Mr. Sumner has man- aged to get into personal quarrels, uot only with the President, but with the Secretary of State and Sena- tors Conkling, Hdmunds and others. It is stated ‘that the last time he met Mr. Fish at dinner Sumner did not speak to him. It is also said that he has Fefused to be reconciled to some of his col- Yeagues in the Senate wh6 professed to be willing to forget the past and who were anxiovs to be on good terms with him. It has been represented to the caucus com- mittee that in addition to his unpleasant relations with the President his difficulty with Secretary Fish haa made it impossible for that gentleman to con- sult the chairman of the Foreign Relations Com- Mittee as freely as he would like about certain matters connected with the Joint High Commission. Mr. Sumner’s friends say he has veen outraged in every sense by the President and other members of the administration, simply because he saw proper to differ witn them upon the St. Domingo question. Sumner holds that he is stili as good @ republican as,any member of the Senate or of the administration, and that he has done nothing to warrant the persecution now waged against him. 1tis said that a distinguished Senator, who is &@ warm supporter of the administration, went to see the President to-day and pomted out to him the impropriety of having Sumner removed from the chairmanship of the Committee on Foreign Rela- tons, a position which he nas held ten years. It ‘was said that the sentiment of the country would be opposed to the contemplated change, and that ‘the effect would be injurious to the repubiican party. It would be regarded as a persohal matter rather than asa measure looking to the interests of the country, and would tend to make the administration More unpopular. {8 was proposed that Sumner might be left undisturbed as chairman, and that the remainder of the committee might be so constituted ‘as to overbalance Sumuer’s influence. The Presi- dent, however, was Jnexorabie on that point, and re- Tused to sanction anything less than a change in the chairmanship of the committee. _Itis said that the British members of the Joint High Commission are delighted at the idea of Sumner’s removal, regarding itfrom their stand- point as a censure of the position he assumed on tie Alabama question in his speech agains¢ the Johnsoa- Clarendon treaty. In tnis sense many distinguished public men here look upon the intended charge as an unfortunate matier for the country. In the Senate caucus to-morrow, when the matter comes up, it will, of course, give rise to a very exciting discussion. There are men in the Senate determined to stand by Sumner at all hazards, They regard his removal from the chairmanship of the Foreign Relations Committee as the anti-Leco:mption democrats did the removal of Stephen A. Douglas {rom the chairman- ship of the Committee on Territories py the partisans of Buchanan. They predict that it will lead to mischief, and probably the disruption of the republican party. Senator Wilson says he will stand by Sumner on personal as well as_political grounds, He has been too long a republican to be sacrificed, simply because he differs with the President on a single question of policy. The impression to-night is that a majerity of the caucus will not consen. to remove Sumner trom the position he now holds as chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee. Cabinet Reversiruction—Republican Leaders Clamoroas tor a Chance. ‘The reconstruction of the Cabinet, which was pre- dicted by the HERALD some time ago and whitn was expected totake place soon after the adjournment of Congress, has been postponed, owing to the meet- ng of the Joint High Commission. The clamor for a mew Cabinet on the part of the leading men of the republican party 13, if possible, greater than it was a month ago. {n private conversation the prominent republican politicians make no secret of the fact that they have no confidence in Grant’s Cabinet, and that he must reconstruct 1t at an early day. But for the meeting of the Joint High Commission there ts no question but thata new Cabinet would have been announced before this. The appointment of Mr. Fish as one of the members of the Joint High Commission postponed a change, because tne understanding was that when Mr. Fish re- signed nearly all the Cabinet should follow suit. Of course Mr. Fish cannot resign until the Jabors of the Joint High Commission are compieted. Afver that a reconstruction of the Cabimet may be expected, The Adjournment of Congress—Indeci-ion of the President—Southern Outrages and the St. Domingo Question. The President received few visitors to-day outside of Senators and members. A strong pressure was brought to bear upon him for and against adjourn- ment, Speaker Blaine, who is among the most ardent advocates of an immediate adjournment, called and assured the President that it was useless for him to prepare any message on the condition of the South. No bill, in the opinion of Speaker Blaine, could be passed at this time to remedy the matter. The democratic minority ‘was too Jarge and too persistent and the Congress might remain here all summer and do nothing but ‘witness, the democrats filibustering to kill time and defeat the Kn Klux. bill. A prominent member of the flouse,-who heard of Blaine's interview with the President, sais the trouble Wii, Blaine was he haa | made his arrangements to go to Europe this sum- mer, and he wanted to get away as early as possible, He added that Blaine was among the most strenuous advocates of the organization ef the new Congress on the 4th of March. The republicans call attention tethe fact that as soon as Blaine was elected Speaker he wanted to go hume. Mr. Dawes and several other membero also called upon the Presi- lent and urge an immediate adjournment. It is fated that Grant partially agreed not to send in any Message. Subsequently, however, Senator Merton <aléd upon him, and leerning of the arguments advanced by Biaine and Dawes, set avout to con- vinee him that he conid not afford to allow Congresa to adjourn without laying belore them the condition of affairs at the South, He should not, Morton argued, be deterred from his duty by the prospect of the indisposition of Congress to pass a bill carry- ing out his recommendations, After ne had in- iormed Congress of the condition of the coun- ary the responsibility no ionver rested uvon hia WW YORK H.fRALD, THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 1871—TRIPLE SHEKT. shoniders, but upon Congress, This view of the case seemed to upset the reasoning of Blaine and Dawes in the President’s mind, and the impression left upon Morton was that the President would send in the proposed message. Itis stated, however, to- night, that he has again changed his mind and that he will not communicate the message. He will, however, send ® message asking for an appropriation of a million and @ nalf dollars to be used in following out the 1ecommendations of the St. Domingo Commission. According to Blaine’s argument about the strength of the democratic majority, the President stands less chance of getting this through the Honse tnan he does of securing the passage of a Ku Klux bill. Should he refuse to send in a message on the con- dition of the South, of course there will be an imme Mate adjournment. If such a message is communi- cated, however, Congress will remain long enough at least to give it a thorough discussion, The Report on Southern Qutrages—State Authorities Powerless to Protect the People. ‘The select committee of the Senate to investigate the alleged outrages committed at the South by | members of the Ku Klux Kian held a meeung to- | day for the purpose of finishing and revising their report, The majority report is a document of some fifty-six pages of legal cap, ana abounds in start- ling facts relative to the condition of affairs at tae | south, As the testimony taken by the committee r fers mainly to North and South Carolina, the facts set forth in the report are drawn chiefly from those two | States. The report is introduced, however, with a } general reference to the uperations of the Ku Kiux | im other parts of the South. It shows that the Ku Klux have succeeded in inaugurating sucn a reign of terror nm many portions of the South that the civil authorities confess their inability to enforce the Jaws by the usual process. Calling upon the State authorities for aid does not appear to mend the mat- ver, for the Governors are in many instances as pow- erless as the judges. ‘he committee recommend that prompt action be taken by Congress to pun- ish and sappreas the Ku Klux. It was the in- tention of the committee to have presented their report to-morrow. The democratic members, how- ever—Messrs, Bayard and Blair—after hearing the Teport of the majority to-day, asked time to prepare @minority report. It was accordingly agreed that the report stould not be presented until Friday, and that then bown reports should be put im toge- bi Notes for che New Gold Banks. The first lot of gold notes for the new gold banks ‘will be ready for delivery to-morrow. They consist of $24,000 in twenties and $4,000 in tens, and will be sent to the First National Gold Bank of San Fran- cisco. The notes are printed in New York by the American, National and Continental Bank Note Printing Companies, and finished at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing at tne Treasury building. The circulation of this bank is limited to $400,000, and the bills will be of the denomination of five, ten, twenty, fifty, one hundred and five hundred dollars. The Kidder National Gold Bank of Boston will have a circulation of $120,000, their vills being of the denomination of fifty, ome hun- dred, five hundred and one thousand dollars, and will be ready for delivery next week, The gold notes are printea on yellow paper, a large stock of which was originally prepared tor the first issue of fractional currency. The back of the note 1s en- graved from a photograpnic representation of gold coins, and the face is similar to the present issue of the national currency. Internal iievenue Agsessments—Income Tax ezulations. Under the act of March 2, 1867, all annual taxes @re to be assessed in the month of March each year, and assistant assessors are required to complete their assessments and place the same in the hands of assessors on or before the last day of that month _ The assessor is then allowed time to hear appeals or* complaints, but the complete list must be placed in the hands of the collector for collection on or vefore the 30th day of april. During the month of May the taxes, including those on incomes, must be paid. The Commissioner of In- ternal Revenue has recently sent out seventeen tons of blanks. itis made the duty of every person of lawtul age Whose gross inc-me during the year pre- ceding 1870 exceeded $2,000 to make and render a return on or before the day designated by law to the Assistant Assessor of the district in which he resides of tbe gross amount of his income, gains and profits and of every guardian and trustee, executor or administrator, and any persen acting tm any other judiciary capacity or as resident agent for or copartner of any non-resident alien deriving an income, gains and profits from any pust- ness, trade or profession carmed on in the United States, or from rents of real estate situated therein, to make and render a return t) the Assistant Asses- sor of the district in which he resides of the amount of income, gains and profits of apy minor or person for whom he acts, AMUSEMENTS. WALLACK’S THEATRE.—Notwithstanding the ais- agreeable variation trom the morning’s specimen of March weather yesterday evening brought to Wal- lack's a full house ready to join heartily in the merri- ment provoked by the third representation of Mr. John Brougham's comeuy of “Romance and Reality.” The cast was as follows:—Oliver Manly, Mr. J. M. Lanagan; Jasper Manly, Mr. John Gilbert; Frank Meredith, Mr. Owen Marlowe; Lavender Kydd, Mr. B. T. Ringgold; Jack Swift, Mr. John Brougham; Tom Kader, Mr. J. ©. Williamson; Williams, Mr. J. Peck; Rosabel, Mrs. Thomas Barry; Barbara Mat Miss Emily Mestayer; Blossom, Miss Ethe Germon; Betty, Miss McCormack. The piece 18 full of impossible situations, and yet it is equaily full of provocations te perpetual merri- ment. The buoyant spirit and unfailing wit of Jack Swiit, as inunitably personated by Mr. John Brougham, wouid aione sufice to account for the popularity of the play. Mr. Gilbert makes the part of Jasper Manly 48 amusing as such a part can be made—that 13 to say, he made the most of it that he ‘could, Mr. Owen Marlowe played Frank Meredith in @ way that would not have been discreditable to Mr. Lester Wailack himseli, who has cenferred so much celebrity on this 7 Mr. J. C. Williamson dustifed nis well-earned reputanon as “one of we ; best eccentric actors in the country” by his imper- sonailon of Tom Badger. Mrs. Barry was a roman- tic Rosabel and Miss Eftite Germon came out bloom: ingly as Blossom. In fine, everybody contributed a due’ share to the successtul performance of Ro- mance and Reality.” MARIE SEEBACH’ AS ISABELLA ORSINI.—With the exceptions of Fanny Janauschek and Bogumil Dawi- gon (ior we must leave Haase out of the guestion) German drama never found, until this season, a rep- resentative in this country possessed of sufficient ability to raise it above a purely German interest and to enlist the sympathy dnd attention of the general public. Even Dawison’s magnificent acting failed to bring German drama into popularity, on account of the wretched and incompetent manage- ment to which he. was subjected, It re- mained for @ true genius like Seebach ana an able manager like Grau to introduce to the American public the gems of German dramatic literature and to break down the barriers of preju- dice which so long existed against this tongue on the stage. Despite the fact that German arms had placed the Fatherland foremost of nations and that there Was a strong German feeling and sympathy among us, yet we @oubt if anything shore OF real genius such as Scebach has shown would have drawn to her crowded houses, representin, | every nauonality. Genius 18 cesmopolitan, an eebach 18 a striking proof of it, Mr.’ Grau engaged her last year to give one hunured per- formances in America = and there were many doubters wko shook their heads and: made dis- couraging prognostications on the resuit. Last night the 186th performance was given, and pro- bavly twenty more representations remain to be given. Without meeting with the feverish enthu- slasin Which gave such ¢clatto the engagement of Kustorl, Madame Seevach has gained a prouder and more enviable triumph by enlisung on | every occasion the warmest commendations ef the intellectual few. Mr. Grau, to whose skill and energy much of the success of the season is due and Who has presented to the Ameri- can public the unprecedented fact of a wiumphant German season vf six months, has reason to con- gratuiate himseif on the result. ‘Isabella Orsini,” a itve act drama by Mosenthal, the well known auther of ‘Leah,’ combining the strongest elements of italan tragedy of the “Lucretia Borgia” and “Thisve, the Actress,’ order, was presented at the Staut on Monday pighe That dramatic mon- strum horrendtn, an italian husband of rank, is portrayed in vivid colers. Mme. Seebach’s great lalenis were shown to advantage in the title role, aud Mile, Veneta also Won the audience by her artistic interpretation of the trying role of Bianca Capeiio. Mr. Harry as the tyrant Grand Duke of Tuscany, Francesco di Medic, fairly sur- passed himself, und Mr. Paetsch, atways a yellable actor, did ful Justice to the part of Orsini, Duke of Bracciano, A(t. Kraus was as ardent and impetu- gus a young Italian lover a8 could be wished for, and piayed irailo Vener to the life. Mme. Seebach was repeatediy called before the curtain. Last evening she apppared for the last time as Lorie, in “Dorf und Stadt,” aud to-night, for the first ume, THE COAL CONSPIRACY. ‘Important Action of the Penn- sylvania Legislature. Still Another Increase of Rail- road Tolls. Resumption of Work in Some of the Coal Distr'cts. THE MOUNT CARMZL MURDER. The “Moy Maguires?” on the War Path. oF Tis “DEVILS” MINES, MouNT CARMEL, Pa., March 8, 1871, ‘This little town has been shaken to its very centre by the recent tragedy that resulted in the death of a miner and he an innocent man, The Miners’ Jour- nal, very anxious to improve every opportunity to throw a stigma on the Workingmen’s Benevolent AssoclutiOn, gladly embraces this chance togive that organization another stab; nor do their conclusions seem at all incorrect to the distan: reader. A HERALD reporter arrived here late last evening and immediately instituted an investigation of the causes and full particulars of the murder of Mr, Hotfman on Friday night last. THE CORRECT ACCOUNT of the affair, as I got it trom both miners and opera- tors, is as follows:— Jt seems that there 18 @ secret or; the miners, known as the ‘*Molly Maguires,”” These men are pot members of the Workingmen’s Bene- velent Association, neither do they belong to any religious body, having, it is said, been read out of the Church and out ol the Miners’ Union, They are the worst men, undoubtedly, m the coal region, afd irom the fact of their the Ku Klux are not more to be feared. On Friday afternoon last a boy of seventeen was return. img home irom his work in @ mine hard by, when he was stopped by one of the **Moliles,”” who said to him, “D—n your sowl, I have you now; I've been laying for you.” The boy, like all other miners who dare to work, now carried a pistol, and when the desperado atiacked him fired. The ball took erect, but did not seviously injure the man, wro left muttering imprecacions on the “‘blacklegs,” @ term applied t» those,who work before the Gen- eral Council gives them leave. A CROWD OF THESE RUFFIANS were got together ror the purpoze of wreaking ven- geance on the boy that night, and ata stated nour they started for the house where he was known to live. Mr. Hofman was in bed, and hearing a noise stepped to the window and was shot dead before he could speak. The real object of their vengeance— the boy—heuring the firing and correctly sucmusing that he was “wanted,” quietly dressed himself and slipped out the back door, ‘The villas supposing they had killed the boy, put @ keg of powder under the house and blew it from its foundation. It now pre- sents @ fearful sight; charred and blackened um- bers, shivered window sash, and an appearance of having been torn from its roots, as it were, are terrible commentaries bn the wild, revengefal spirit that possesses these demons in human shape, It must not be supposed that the Workingmen’s Benevolent Association 1s responsible for this last deed of violence. ‘they have ever counselled mode- ration and lawful conduct to the last extremity. The whole thing was concocted and accomplished by mers, it is true, but miners outside the Work- ingmen’s Benevolent Association. Operators and residents of the country bear cheerful testimony to the fact that to the check inpaes by this organiza- tion alone 1s due the good order that prevails among the miners, who, if left to their own sweet will, would in Many instances prove themselves the per- petrators of the most fearful outrages, THE “BUCKSHOTS,” another organization, similar in character and de- sign to the “Molly Muguires,” although not quite as lawless perhaps, exercise an influence over the minds of the more lawfully we ope miners, ‘their proceedings are alike secret and, being secret, ter- rible in their effects. Fer instance:—A miner who belongs to the Workingmen’s Benevolent Assocta- tion, for the sake of his starving family, seeks work in che mines. He has not been there long ere a mes- sage reaches him, he knews not from what quarter, couched possibly in the foliowing terms:— Drop them tools. The Bnoxshots are on your trail. You will work to-day, but not to-morrow. Beware! This Injunction .3 never unheeded; he knows full well what the penalty will be, He returns to his home, to his starving babes, and awaits with an aching heart the order from the General Council to resume work. The ‘Buckshots” and ‘Moily Ma- guires” are the self-constituted detectives and judges for the Workingmen’s Benevolent Asso- ciation, although not members of the order. ‘Tne sufferings of miners and their families are daily becoming more severe. Hunger, sickness and deatu; are the necessary attendants of the present crisis ‘but those men exiibit @ moral eourage in their fight for their rights, as they understand them, that has seldom been surpassed. The street cor- ners in all the wining settlements are crowded daliy by these people, caumly discussiog the question of the hour. Each new comer frem a@ distant settle- ment is surrounded and pies with eager questions, which, being answered, the crowa settles down to its former apathy. I think if well worthy of re- mark that, during my peregrinations throughout this region for the past two weeks, extending, as it has, over the principal counties comprising it, I have not seen a drunken miner in any place. Pos- sibly it is because they have no money to buy whis- key, a8 an operator remarked to me the other day. But who ever knew a man to suffer for a “dhrop of the craythur” for lack of money to purchase ity I think it is due mainly to the influence of the Work- ingmen’s Benevolent Association and its lead- ers. While operators and miners still ad- here to their origimal claims, and contend that neither will give up, it yet appears to me that they cannot hold eut much longer. Capital ig the most sensitive thing in the world. No opera- tor can stand a loss of $iv,000 per month (which it costs many ef them to he idle) for any great length of time. On the ether hand, the miners must live, and the time will come when the influence of te Workingmen’s Benevolent Association will be power- less to prevent the miners helping themselves. The operators would hall an outbreak with pleasure; it would, as they claim, have a tendency to break up the combinatien of miners. When thatis done the battle is won. zation among The Legislature Looki After the Railroad Monopoliste—Public Feeling in Favor of the Miners. HARRISBURG, March 8, 1871, The first test vote in the Legislature on the con- test between the miners and the railroad corpora- tions was taken this afternoon in the Senate, The immediate question was whether the gen- eral laws governing mines and protecting the lives of miners in the anthracite region should be extended to the western bituminous coal fields. The bill was passed to a thir.! reading just as the miners wanted it, all the amendments being defeated. The result 1s heralded as a great victory over the transporting companies. The House will in all probability concur. This evening the leading managers of the coal railroads appeared before the Judiciary Committee of the Senate. Judge Packer and Franklin B. Gowen testified concerning strikes. They are to be followed by President Siney, of the Workingmen’s Benevolent Association, and other representatives of laboring men. it 1s evident that the tide has set strongly against the railroads. Whispers are afloat that bigh authorities have determined to break up the exorbitant rates of freight, even if 1t becomes neces tary to seize and operate the roads. This was done in 1855, in the case of the Lake Shore road, for vioia- ting its charter. William Kenarick, President of the Anthracite Board of Trade, and a large delegation of miners are here. Reports just received show that the troubies are Increasing. The large iron furnaces at Danville and neighvorhood are en the point of stopping, and within forty-eight hours five thousand men will be out of employment. In an interview to-day with the Governor he took decided grounds in favor of tne miners. He will em- ploy the entire power of the State to compel the corporations to reduce the rates. Well informed persons assert that he will if necessary resort to more vigorous means than slow judicial process, Various rumors are afloat among others tnat six thousand werk men inten: visiting the State capital. Another Rise in the Rates of Trausporta- tion—The Reading Kailroad Determined to Clone all the CollicriesGovernor Randolph's Interference Not Wanted by the Operators. PoTrsvILLE, March 8, 1871. It is currently reported to-night that if the few collieries now in operation in Schuyl- Kill county do not suspend work this week the Reading Railroad Company will on Mon- “pie Nievelungen’ will be produced, alter jong and | 4ay next increase the tolls $2 25 per ton, in addition careful preparauone tothe heavy tolls gow im force. which increase. it ta generally believed, will entirely prevent the work- ing of any collieries, by making the rates 60 high as to be in effeet prohibitory, It is well understood that the working of a few collieries here and there only protracts the suspension, while, if all were com- pelled to suspend work, the contest will the sooner end. A report that Governor Randolph has been asked by the railroad companies to act as arbitrator in the coal treubles is freely dis+ cussed among coal operators, but finds no sup- porters, the coal men averring that the basis determined upon at the Philadelphia meeting 18 as fair as could be expected, and expressing themselves determined not to yield, and preferring to leave their mines idle all spring, knowing well that the men must accept the proffered terms sooner or later. ‘The reward of $500 offered for the murderers of Mr. Hofman, it 1s generally believed, is to be Increased. Meeting of the Exccutve Board of the Miner Association at WilkesbarreWork to be Resumes ‘this Week. WILKESBARRE, March 8, 1871, The Executive Board of the Workingmen’s Be- nevolent Association, at a second mecting held here to-day on the question of arbitration, adopted a resolution that each delegate shall explain to his constituents the resolution of the General Council relating to arbitration, pameiy, whether they will have arbitration as desired by Some of the operators fer our future government. A great deal of business of purely local character Was discussed, but no definite action was taken re- garding any of the vital points at issue except the rejection’ of a request made by the miners at Mineral Spring and at Bpstou to Work on the terms proposed by the operators, ‘The meeting adjourne and immediately after Met as an assemblage to consider the working- men’s pelitical question. in all probability a resumption of work will take place here this week. Resumption of Work at Mount Pleasant—The Strike Ended at Jacksonville. MavucH CuUNK, March 8, 1871, ‘Taggart, Butler & Co.’s works at Mount Pleasant resumed work yesterday. It is probable that the Spring Mountain Coal Company, at Jamesville, will resume to-morrow. The Mount Carmel Outrages Denounced by the Miners’ Association. Tamaqua, March 8, 1871. the Mount Carmel District Miners and Laborers? Beneficial Association has offered $500 reward for the arrest and conviction of the parties who ex- Peded the powder keg in Williams’ house, killing ree Hoitinan, It is claimed that the Working- men’s Benevolent Association is making eiforts to discover the guilty parties. FREE TRADE AND THE COAL CON. P:RACY, Lecture by James W. Gerard, Jr.» Before the William M. Tweed Association of the Eighteenth Warc. A lecture was delivered last evening at the rooms of the above association, by James W, Gerard, Jr., on the subject of ‘Free Trade.” Mr, W. H. Mulhall, the chairman of the associa tion, introduced the lecturer in a very neat speech, stating that the meeting was called for the purpose of @ free interchange of opinions with reference to the present wants and future condition and privi- leges of the laboring class. Mr. GERARD, on coming forward, said:—Mr. Chairman and Fellow Citizens—It gives me great pleasure to see you meet here this evening and to discuss wits me the much-abused privileges of the mechanical and industrial classes of this nation, We are met here to canvass as citizens, as thinkers @nd as voters, and to meet the great questions that will be presented to us in the next five years, They are questions which are vital to every poor man in this country. Youare here as pelitical reformers, You are the ones to meet these grave questions, THE GREAT QUESTION which we wil! discuss ts evening is the exorbitant. price of coal, which has been raised to such a high price by scheming monopolies ind gigantic corpera- ons that the poor laboring class of the country cannot aiford to purchase it, thereby causing misery and sickness, and perlaps death. This extraordl- nary tax is for the sole benefit of these monopolies and is iwjurious to not only the poor man, but to the cemmunity at large and to the laborer at the mines. If you reduce this tax on foreign coal the monopolies and brokers will cry it down and raise the tax agai. American ingustry must be protected; if not the labor interest will suffer. But I claira that whatever little protection a poor man has at present from the tricks of these base conspirators does not protect nim enough. We want more protecfon. All great changes are brought about by the popuiar will ef the people, and all great reforms have had their origin in the will of the masses. They are not brought about by states- men hor by monopolies, but by those who feel the ENORMOUS TAXATION. Look at the great Retorm Dill, and the Roman Catholic and the Jewish enfrauchisements in Eng- land! There was @ great pressure of outside opin- lon brought to bear against the passage of the above acts, but even the House of Lords had to bend to the voice of the masses. It has been estimated on good authority that this tarif’ monopoly have made some $30,000,000 by the en- hancea price of coal in the last few months. This money does not go mio the pockets of the public or the poor man, but it is put into the aands of a few wealthy corporations, who are thereby enabled to bribe Congressmen and parties high In office to keep this exorbitant tax on joreign coul standing, ‘They are also enabled by the same means to co-operate with those in the pig iron interest ana the salt interest, thereby enabling one interest to sustain the other, aad to establish an extra band of conspirators, by which these prices are kept up. It has been said that Horace Greeley is the active man in OPPOSITION TO FREE TRADE. Why don’t these free traders set up their tariff 80 that we can attack it, or, as Paday says, “Wnen you see a head nit it.” 1 nave advocated. the privi- leges of iree trade at large. You have now, my friends, the strict and stern logic of facts; it has come in piain, in umistakable signs, to your fire- sides, © your homes. You find that since the pro- vision has been introduced shutting out foreign coal there have been three large strikes, and by these strikes, which have been brought about by, these monopolies; the commu- aly has fered, the laborer 1s oppressed and his wages reduced, There is in this country ‘What is calied @ Miners’ Protective Union, the presi- dent of which, aided by some of the otner ofticers, conspired with the menopolies for the purpose o1 getting up THESE LATE STRIKES. You can now see the great danger which we are in from these great corporations. They conspire to raise @ strike and they then get the price raised on coal which has been already mined, and they dely the miner and the public, “And this 18 protection. This has been felt by a class who have tue power to stop it ‘the remedy is to re- peal the duty on coal, and then we would lave @ new era, the laboring class would thereby be greatly benetitea. Auvther remedy is that there should be some law passed either by Pennsylvania or Congress to prohibit this combina- ton in mining and carrying, and it should be fixed 80 as W prevent an unlawful conspiracy. This would have to be brouglit about by public senti- ment, The masses must show them by your action in the matter that you can prevent it, and you can de it i you unite, These questions are vital; and consider them well. 1t was in compilance with your worthy president that I came here tnis evening, and my object was to raise the political standard of the people. At the conclusion of the lecture Mr. Spell- man Offered the following resoluuon, which was adopted:— Resolved, That we approve the action of those members of Congress who voted to reduce the tariff on foreign coal, and that we invite all citizens to unite wilh us in expressing an opinion favorable to the reduction of the same. COWARDLY CONDUCT. Brutally Beaten in tho City of Churches, Juage Delmar listened attentively yesterday to a story of shocking brutality alleged to have been perpetrated on Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Scheeler, at ber house, No. 77 Hamilton avenue, on Sunday, by one Fergus Farrell, a boiler maker. The unfortunate woman was cut and bruised about the face i @ shocking manner. One of her eyes had been nearly gouged out, while the other A Wo Was almost sightiess| from numerous bruises \hat had been received. Then the bridge of her nose was out and there were ugly marks upon her cheeks, and all this sue nad recelved while endeavoring to preventa monster in the form of a human beng from commiting an outrage on her in her own house, She told the Judge that the deiendant Fer- gus Farreil, with whom she had no acquaintance, came to her house aud tola her that he was ac- quaintea with her husband; that before she could prevent him he seized her and threw her upon a bed, She struggied and screamed for heip, when ne threw some clothes over her head and tried to stop her noise, and as she continued to cry ior help he beat ner about the head and face. Ske hatlooed murder and some of the neighbors came in. when the defendant hastily left the house. Mrs, Scheeler was very well dressed and 1s @ respectable woman. The prisoner denied the charge, saying that he was not the party who com- mitted the outrage, but as the proof appeared to be positive the Judge heid him to await the action of the Grand Jurye THE STATE CAPITAL. A Rumpus Over the Holi- day Bill. St. Patrick’s Day a Bono of Contention. EXCITING DEBATE IN THE ASSEMBLY. The Prop:sed Exemption of Bonds and Mort- gages from Taxation. ALBANY, March 8, 1871, Probably the lveliest time we have had so far this session was had in the Assembly to-day, when THE “HOLIDAY BILL” came up for its final passage. I predicted in a pre- vious letter that there would be “fun” when it should come up, and that that same fan would be | stirred up by members of Irish birth, who would oppose any legislative attempt at the appa- rently high compliment to the Irish intended in the bill, The prediction was mere than fulfilled, | It will be remembered that the bill, as originally | drawn up, included but three holidays, but that tne Judiciary Committee added Decoration Day (the 50th of May) and St. Patrick's Day (the 17th of March). Mr. Fields was the father of tis last feature, and in claiming paternity for the thing he provoked a storm, the eifectof which he certainly might have made provision to counteract beforehand had he not been too desirous of MAKING POLITICAL CAPITAL by the stand he saw fit to take. It was generaily supposed, them, this morning that he would make —— New York, was the next speaker, He demonstrated the difficulties persons needing only tue ready means (o enable thein to make vast Improvements, which would yield large revenues to the city and State, labored under while tis taxation continued, and showed that immense sums of money were int vested in and used to build up rival cities and States, Remove this tax and there would be plenty of money to loan at six per cent, Mr. IstaBL NASBAUM Spoke in behalf of the Ger- mans, who, he sald, could see a disadvautage to their industry in this tax, Messrs, Decker and BUCK also Speke In favor of the bill, the latter giving his experience as a butider, and stating that no amouns of money could be raised on @ vond and mortgage without @ large bonus being paid. The committee then announced the hearings closed, and adjourned. THE ERIE CLASSIFICATION ACT. Dixcussion Before the Assembly Rallrond Committee on tho Proposed Repral of the Act—Alleged Frauds Among the List of Pe- titloners, ‘ ALBANY, Maren 8, 1871, The friends of the bill to repeal the Erle Classifica- Uo” act do not seein to take the postponement of the hearing for a week before the Assembly committee a8 an argument tu their favor, and speculation has been rife to-day as to what fate the bill will really meet inthe iongrun. Some belleve that the com- mittee will not be able to report on the subject before the end of the session, and that the immense business botn houses have now on hand and which they will have to get through with before the final adjournment pre= cludes all idea of final action being taken on the matter in time to make the bill effective. All this, however, is mere talk among the friends and oppo- nents of the measure, and if Mr. Tweed can have his way things will be so arranged aa to nave the mooted question decided, even if other important questions have to be given the go-by in order todo se. The Erie tolks contend that, as the fate of the present management of the road ts now in the hands ef the United States teurts. no harm would come it the committee should sce fit to postpone Its action, but a good many people think otherwise. The Assembly Railroad Commgtiee met to-day to hear advocates for and against the bill to repeal the Erie Classification act. Judge Tremaine, of tue firm of Tremaine & Peckham, appeared in behalf of the @ last effort to get out of the rather peculiar situa- tion by moving to strike out the 17th of March clause, so that the bill milght not be killed outright, But he did not, and by not doing so he left himself open to the charge of desiring to defeat tho Decoration Day feature in an underhand way. Mr. Euward Connolly, of New York, was the mem- ber who took up the cudgel for the Irish when his turn came to vote on the question, and, to say that he took the House completely by surprise by the way he did it, would be giving but a very faint idea of the excitement his speech gave rise to. I say excite- Ment; for Connolly so far has been setdown by everybody as one of THE “DUMB OYSTERS!” of the House, he not having before, during the ses- sion, risen from his seat even once to say a word on any subject. His speech was, beyond all doubt, the most telling of any yet delivered in the House, After the nervousness of the first moment or two had passed away he grew excited with his theme, and opened his batteries upon Tom Fields ‘in tue name ot the Trish race,” in @ way that made even the troublesome galleries cease their Mumblings and preserve a respectiul silence. Fields pretended not to be taken aback when Connolly had begun to deliver his fire with witnering effect, and attempted to smile in a bland sort of fashion, like the heathen Chinee, who did not ‘get euchred: but it was plain to be seen that the smile was one feigned tor the occasion. Several of the democratic members in Tom's ifinmediate vicinity amused themselves by taunting him with questions as to how he liked the thiug while Con- noily Kept lashing away at him; but the latter's five minutes were pepuy up, and J \9 finally feit in NO HU! FOR JOKING, for he had a reply to make, and knew if he was not careful he might tumble into the ditch his antagonist was digging for him. ‘The five minutes came wv an enu at last, and the Speaker’s gavel warned Mr. Conaolly. that he had said his say; but loud cries of “go on," “go on’? rang throughout the House. In ebedience, therefere, to the general wish, Cennolly drew a fresh breath and continued to talk tor a few minutes longef. In closing he saic:— ‘This St, Patrick Day feature has been introduced, or rather inoculated into this bill by # certain gentleman from New York, who assumes the responsiblity of dolag so without any deatre that be should do so having been expressed on the part of tne Irish adopted citizens. In’ this he bas made an egregious mistake, for which they will holt hint to @ strict scomanianiliy If the gentleman is indebied, as I think he to his FELLOW CITIZENS OF IRI6H BIRTH for the promiuent position he now occupies in this House, he should veware now lest they send hint back to the obscu- rity in which they found him 1 have a right to provest against the feature of the bili [allude to, because I ain an Jr.sluvan myself, and I know that Irishiien dou’t relish «his way of 4 ROPING IN ST. PATRICK, Jone fn part to kill the bitl, No is moro reaty and Ihave an iden that it w: Bealdes, it is all pglitical clap-tr to do honor to the graves of the Union dead than L, but let Decoration Day be a voluntary one for the good and the pious and the patriotic to strew towers on the graves of those wh fell for a holy cause; but let not the sacred spots be dese- erated by the presence of the political speculator. When Fields got up to repiy to this scathing re- buke he began to talk in a flippant sort of way. as if he felt confident that he would demolish his col- league in the twinkling of an eye. temper he might nave got out of his difficulty in good style; but he did not, and so came out of the contest second best. He became very much excited atter having said a few careless words about the political fate his antagonist had laid out for Aim, anc while contending that ne knew what his Irish feiiow citizens wanted, denied that the fea- ture of the bill objected to had anything political about it, and then, strange te say, concluded as loliows, virtually swallowing his own words and conceding that the bill had something political about 1c aiter all:—“I tell you,” said he, “1 has been the mistortune of the democratic patty to stand againsta sentiment. No party can fight a sentiment. A party must oppose a reality te be suc- cessiul, and as a party mantel the gentlemen wh oppose this measure that they are making a very greac mistake. Thus bill is rigut in sentiment, an THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY cannot afford to fight against it.” It may be that Mr. Fields reterred to the 30th day of May poruon but if he did he lost sight completely of the fact that the 17th of March fea- ture was the bone of contention. Spiittiag hairs, however, didn’t amount to anything in the long run, for When the vole was being taken, afier the set-to between Fields and Connolly, Denny Burns had succeeded in earwigging almost the en- tire House on the question, and the final result stood 73 nays to 32 yeas. It may be 4 very poor ex- cuse for tue men who took it upon themselves to add to the original bill the previsions about the 17th of March to say now that the members who voted against it Jent their aid toward killing the 30th of May Clause, for the excuse is altogether too lame. Before the Vete was taken any one of them could have succeeded In having ST. PATRICK'S DAY struck out, and the bill would have then passed without a division, The desire on the part of a few w make political capital by hoodwinking Irishmen, and their total ignorance of the fact that Irishmen did not want to be hoodwinked after the fashion Proposed, and that they saw through the dodge Irom the stdrt, prevented any move of the kind. At all events, itis to be hoped that the way this St. Patrick’s Day foo.ery was Knocked in the head vy the efforts of men’ who are Irishmen themselves wlil serve as a lesson in the future to those who may hope to benetit themselves by equally comempubie tickerles. CONTINENTAL IMPROVEMENT COMPANY. Senator Pierce introduced @ bill providing that Charies Dawson, Edward H. Pardee, James F. Fields, Willard Derby, Aaron X. Cory, Charles W. Ramsay and otaers may associate themselves under above corporate title tor the purpose of contracung for the construction of ratiroads or other works of improvement, aud to receive in part payment (nere- for bonds or. shares of the roads coustructed, Capl- tal stock, $1,000,000, FEES OF NOTARIES. Senator Murphy introduced @ bill to-day, accom: panied by a long list. of endorsers of notaries, bank- ers and brokers, asking that the following increase be made in fees of notaries:— For protesting any note, or bill of exchange, draft or coupon and preparing the necessary uotices, in- cluding notarial seal, if affixed therete, the fee of One dollar tor such protest on all sums not exceed- ing $600 and twenty-tive cents in addition thereto on each additional sum ef $1,000 or fractional part thereo!, aud filteen cents for all notices not ex- ceeding Ave of such non-payment. The Taxation of Bonds and Mortgages. ALBANY, March 8, 1871. The Ways and Means Committee of the House held a closing meeting on the subject of exempting bonds and mortgages from taxation this afternoon, The committec was first addressed by Mr. DwicuT Kine, who said he did not believe it possivie to pass the bill; that It was asked for only by the capi- talists, and that the farmers were opposed te it, He felt certain the. bill could not pass the Senate, and proceeded to speak in favor of the amendment to the existing law. which would provide fur agsess- oat wa anu mortgages in the same ratio that real Mr. PEckiAM, of New York, appeared on behalf of the West Side Association of tat city. He made a iengthy and able argument in behalf of exemption, saying It Was not the mortgagee nor the capituliais Who asked for it, but rather the imdustrial, pro- ductive Classes, who now found it impossible to eifect ee eee and thus to raise money wo go on with their iness, whatever it might be. The association he represented here, for instance, was hampered greatly, and was extremely anxious fur this law, as it would aid them in their operations. Mr. GrBSON, of Albany, followed on the same side, and showed that the mechanics and iarmers were Voth affected by this taxauon. Mr. Eowarn Marrnews. areal estate overator in Had he Kept his | of the bill when he spoke as @ “party man,” | sppeal, and Hamilton Har’is for the Erle Company. '. Swan, the agent of the Engilsh stockholders, ‘was present, The following proceedings took place:— An afiidavit was read from Alexander G. Sisson, stating that during the first half of February he was frequentiy at the office of yarts, Soutumayd & Cho.te, in the city of New York, ani there saw many persons sign @ petition for the repeal of the Erie Classification bill, who declared that they were not stockholders of the Erte road aad had no in- tere-t init. The deponent gave the names of five such persens, and states that he himseli was in- vited to sign the petition ater he had declared that he was not a stockholder. An ailidavit from Ous N. Ainsworth was also read, stating that he was also invited to sign the said petitien after he had said he was not a stockholder of tue Erle Rail- road Company, and that ne did sign it as foliows:— “Charles Kicnardson, 107 shares.’ Mr. Tremaine asked whether any names men- Uoned in the affidavits were on the petitions. The clerk of the committee said he had not ex. examined the petitions and couid not suy whether they were there or not. Mr. Tremuine satd that the names spoken of had been cut off from the petition, it having been ascer- tained that they were there without authority, and that none of them would be found on the petition; that the name of no person Was on the petition who was not 10 bea bunt Jie representative of stock; that the bigh character of the lirm in whese office i¢ Was insinuated the fraud was committed made the charge incredible, and that the names objected had been placed on the petition by persons oppos to the objecis of the petition for the purpose of throwe ing discredit open fern r, Harris sald that they were not reaay to go on on thelr side, they having supposed, from the public Notice given, thai the persons in favor of the repeat ha b exhausted their argument, and woud go on to-day. Mr. Tremaine said it was unreasonable to delay this hearing in view of the stage at wich the ses- sion of the ‘islature lad arrived, and in view of the fact that the bill had been # matter of notoriety for aconsiderable period, aud that abundant time haa been given for beth sides to make preparations, Mr. Hares said that it Ube other side had limited themselves to discussion before the committee to tne prayer of the pettiioners, and had only gone into the policy and pence, of the Classification bill, the remarks of Mr. ‘Tremain would have some weight; but the argument before the committee had gone beyond that, and it had been sought to arraign | the managers of the Erie Company for their acts in | the management of the road; that having been allowed it might be proper for the company to give some answer thereto, and also have some opportu- nity to eXauune these petitions and see ll any bogua names are attached thereto. Mr. TREMAIN dented that the parties favoring the repeal had gone outside of the matters pre- sented in their petitions. The argument of Mr. Southmayd before toe committee was nothing but an ampliication of the facts set forth in the peti- tions, Besides the whule argument of Mr. South. imayd was based upon facts presented in the | Teports of the Managers Of the krie Company, and | the company could noi surely want tune to meet facts given in their own reports. ‘fhe first peti- tion was presented in printed form on the 13th of February, and it was notorious to all that there had been no concealment attempted of any | Kind. It was announced at an early day in a fair, | opeo-handed manner that they imtended to apply to the Legislature tor rehef by the repeat ot | this Classification law so far as tt applied to the Erie Company. ‘The session was drawing to a close and it was entirely apparent that if anytuing was to ve done in the matier 1t must be Weie soon. It was known to lawyers that often tue only detence | to well founded claims was delay. An actton in this matter tad been prevented last year by the delay, and it looked very like as if the same tactics were to be pursued this year. rr. GOODRICH pretested strongly against @ post- Ponement of the hearing, and said they woule con- sider an adjourDMent an attempt on the part of the Erie directors to delay action on the bill in order to carry the matter ever the session. Mr. HARKIS Said that he did not see that the ree marks made by the gentleman were at all called for or at all justifiable. In the frst place, the petition- ers were only beard a week ago to-day, and, as he had said before, if Mr, Southmayd, in his argument then, had confined himself to the question of the poilcy of a classification bill, the general principle of ihe thing, that nad been so often and fully dis- cussed already, that no extended answer would be necessary. Three Legislatures of the State have passed upon it alreaay, following therein the lead of @ majority of the States of the Un:on. But Mr. Southmayd’s argument had gone further, He tad gone inw the question of the mismanagement of the atfairs of the Erte Company by its present directors, and, althouga that is not german to the subject properly before the committee, yet, since the charges have been Inade, they ought to be answered. I was asked | whythey were not ready to-day, Simply because it | was uuderstood that the petitioners were not through with their argument. The public papers had announced that they were to go on to-day, and he (Mir. Harris) was sure that the managers of the Erie Railway had not understood that they had closed at the last meeting of the com- mittee. He nad @ communication from New York stating that they could not go on that week, and 1G was unfair and uncalled for te say that they made delay for the purpose of avoiding legislation. Mr. IRVING then moved -to adjourn the hearing until Wednesday next, which was carried, EAU DE Vike, Important Cap'ure e! Smuggled Stuf. The extensive trade which has been bitherto carried on in the clandestine importation of fereign merchandise from neighboring and distant coun- tries 1s receiving severe checks at the zealous hands of Chiet Detective Whitiey, who is DEVOTING HIS EARNEST and unflagging attention to this nefarious trafile. There 13 no means by which the dishonest tradesman could eat into the core of the revenue of the country aud indirectiy destroy the competitive value of his neighbor's business than by this DISKEPUTABLE THIEVING. The value of the services of the officer who devotes | his capability and untiring energy to the rooting out of this pernicious evil cannot ve too highly ap- pecan M4 os bar teen a oon suppress- Ing the robberies of these skulking knaves, wio avout cringing and stabuin aia a RESOURCES OF THE NATION in the dark, is a branch of the detective force im Which every citizen must feel an interest. Colone! Whitley, of the secret service detective force, made & most important seizure of liquors yesterday. From information he received througn some of his Vigilant subordinates he proceeded to. | No. lu Union street, Brooklyn, kept by F. Coschina,. and found three entire twenty gallon Six ten gallon. aud one forty gation casks of assorted braudies, ONE FORTY GALLON cask of whiskey, and one twenty gallon cask of rum. This merchandise was at once removed to the proper quarter. wnere it now lies. 1t Is under- stood the chief detective 1s ou the track of a large quantity of simiiar material, but good workmen bore quietly and are scideim heard irom otherwise than by their results, — ANOTHER VETO. Mayor Kaibficisch’s Recovery. Mayor Kalbfeisch resumed the duties of hig office yesterday, notwithstanding that he bas not yet re e from his injuries, and sili suffers consider- able pain. His course is understood to be contrary to the advice of his ES whose opinion, how- ever was vetoed by his Honor, he being determined to let his colaborers in the public service know that the “Old Dutchman was not dead yet,” Notwith- standing the Mayor has been somewhat hasty in re- suming his olticial business, it is beleved that he will entirely recover. Mr. Bergen, acting Mayor, retired gracefully from tie office, with such an ex- perlence of its dnues as to piake biw loth to accent the nemmaton Dex! jal