The New York Herald Newspaper, January 2, 1872, Page 4

r NEW YORK HERALD BROADWAY AND ANN S'TREET, JAMES GORDON BENNETT, PROPRIETOR. AMUSEMENTS THIS AFTERNOIN AND EVENING, OLYMPIO THEATR' Broadway.—Tuz BALLET PAN- ‘TOMIME OF HUMPTY Dour. hiya q se OOT RS TERATRR, ‘Twenty-third st., corner Sixth av.— GRAND OPERA HOUSE, corner of th ay. and 23d st THE COLLEEN Baw, AIMEE’S OPERA BOUFFE, No. 7: — pAlMEE’s Jo. 720 Broxdway.—La WOOD'S MUSEUM, Brosaway, corner sith at. —Perfo: ances afternoon and evening. Our OF THE Fiur. justine g FIFTA AVENUE THEATRE, Twoaty-fourt street. — Tur New Drama oF Divonor. WALLAOK’S THEATRE, Broadway ani 13:h streot. — Joun Garra. NIBLO'S GARDEN, Broadway, between Prince id Houston streets,—B1.A0k m BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery,—Prprstix—Tux Two Ports. ° ST. JAMES’ THEATRI Twenty- iF - Pi se By y-eiguth street and Broad- STADT THEATR! Nos, al ‘cae E, Nos, 45 and 47 Bowery.—Nan- MRS. F. BL MonTE Cristo, BROOKLYN ACADEMY OF MUSIC, Montague street— IGNON. CONWAY'S BROOKLYN THEATRE. THEATRE COMIQUE, 514 Broadway.—Couto Vooa ASMs, NEGRO AC18, &c. UNION SQUARE THEATRE, Fourteenth st. and Brosd- sway.—NEGRO ACTS—BOXRLESQUR, BALLET, £o, ‘ prerubsaaac \_ TONY PASTOR'S OPERA HOUSE, No. 201 Bowery.— Nroto Kocent=.witiks, BURLESQUES, £0. “BRYANT’S NEW OPERA HOUSE, 231 at, between 6th ‘end 7th ava.--BRyant's MINSTRELS. ‘BAN FRANCISCO MINSTREL HALL, 585 Broad: — fue SAN FRANCISO0 MINSTRELS, - spl NEW YORK CIRCUS, Fourteentn sirant.—SoRNRS IN wus Ring, AckOuATS, £0, Matinee at 2's, ‘NIXON'S GREAT SOUTHERN CIRCUS, 723 Droadway.— ENES IN THE RING, &0. Matines, NEW YORK MUSEUM OF ANATOMY, ‘BormNok AND Ant. 618 Broadway.— ry 2, 1872. New York, Tuesday, Ja: CONTENTS OF TO-DAY HERALD, "Pade, (1~ Advertisements, j—Desending Her Rights—A Sunday Night Dance— es. Advertisements, “Happy New Year!’ How the Day Was OCele- brated in this City, Brooklyn and Jersey—Lite erature: Criticisms of New Books—Literary Chit-Chat—The Law Courts: The New Judges— 4 Mormon White Elepna: Jncle Sam’s Dim- culty Brigham Young's Opportunity—Kxecu- tion in Uitnois—Forelgn Miscellaneous Items, @—Editorial: Leading Article, “Tne HFRALD'S New Charter—Yne Points of Proposed Legis lation—What New York Wants'—Washing- ton: The New Year's lican Couri—Amusem: ‘. G—The Teiegraphic Conterence: Cyrus W. Fieid’s Banquet to the Telegraph Delegates in Rome— Miscellaneous Cuble and Domestic Tele- rams—The State Capital: Caucus Over he Speakership; The Fenton Faction De- Teated; Smith the Candidate—Business No- tices. B—_Mayor fMali’s Coup d’Etat: The Ola Boara of Al- dermen [gnominiously Displaced and the New Board installed with Municipal Houors; Ex. citing Scenes in the City Hall; Alderman James Irving on His Muscle Again; A Fight in the Aldermanic Charober; All the Police Reserves in the Park; Meeting of the New Board Guarded by a Cordon of Police; Prompt and Cool Ac- tion of the Mayor; ‘The New Board of Alder- men Sworn in as the Board of Supervisors; Tne Mayor Impeacned by the Old Board; A Veto on the Impeachment Proceedings by the New Board; Tne New Alderwen Supported by the City Kxecutive—ilistory Repeating Itself— The Public Departments—Desperate Burglary— ptabbed im the tteart: Fatal Afvay on a Schooner; One Man Killed and Auother Dan- gerously Wounsted, Y—Connolly at Large: He ts Released by- Judge Barnard on $15,009 Ban; The District Attorne; Protests Against the Action of the Court; Af fecting Scene Between Brennan and Connolly — Ketraying a Friend: Robbery in Page's Hovel—Brooklyn Atvairs—The | nthe Ger- man lospital—Fell from a Fourth Stery— Stabbing Aray — Smaiipos — Disinfectants Wanted for the Cars—Severed {lis Larynx— Financial and Commercial—Marrioges and Deaths, B—The Trial of Mrs, Wharton at Annapolis—An- other one a A Beautiful Ulster County Gul a Victim of an Abortlonist—Obituary— Shipping Intelligenco—Ady: rlisements. Connolly’s Release. Ex-Comptroller Connolly was enabled yes- terday to make ‘“‘New Year's calls” upon his friends. He was liberated from Ludlow Street Jaii on sureties that were representa- tive of five hundred thousand dollars, When taken before Judge Barnard, in the Supreme Court, the Judge decided that the criminal indictments with which Connolly was charged were only misdemeanors, and thai $15,000 bail would be a sufficient amount of surety to secure the defendant to appear to answer, Surrogate Hutchings became surety to that amount, and Connolly breathed again the nir of frecdom, and tasted the sweet and enjoyable luxuries of his own home, made more precious by the enforced confinement in Ludlow Street Jail of the last five weeks, District Attorney Garvin protested, some- what fesbly, against the Conrt taking action on New Year's Day, and after giving him, as counsel for the people, only thirty minutes motice. Judge Barnard was evidently in o mood not to be influenced by even weightier ‘arguments than those which were offered, and it was easy to see what the result would be. Wanten—“‘Schell”-ter for the democrats, Apply at Tammany Hall. “Ring” Spain Musr Surrer deeply from the circu- Jatlon of unfounded political rumors in Madrid, To-day, presto! we have news that there is no ministerial crisis, nor any official confirmation of the recall of Seilor Roberts from Wash- ington. Sones or tHE Imrrisonep Connotty Yesrerpay—‘‘Locks, bolts and bars shall fly pounder,” and “We'll have a jolly New Year's, my boys.” Tne Powoe when on patrol should take note of all improperly covered sidewalks fronting buildings in course of erection and report the fact to their captains. During intervals, such as Sundays and holidays, the walks should be made passable, especially at this season of the year, when the alternations of the weather occasion mud and mire. In ‘most instances a few planks or slabs of flag- stone would obviate the inconvenience and an- noyance, A Goop Many Prope paid their respects to the Governor at Albany yesterday, which is evidence that His Excellency still retains his popularity. Ex-Governor Asnizy is out against the “caucua” system. In the vernacular, Ashley had better “‘cork up.” Tue Rioumonn Lnquirer is troubled to know what is going to be done with the one ‘million eight hundred thousand dollars in the Treasury. A matter like that has never been source of trouble in this city under Tam- ral Aa NEW YORK HERALD, TUESDAY, JANUARY 2, 1872, The Heralds New Uharter—The Points of Proposed Legislation—What Now York ‘Wants. “The friends of reform,” as some of our people call themselves, are like men who grope in the darkness, The ‘Committee of Seventy Scheme,” as it is called, has fallen dead. Something between an essay on poli- tical economy and a real charter, it lacks the finish and fulness of the one or the practical value of the other. Even the Committee has disowned it and repudiated it by solemo resolution, and we scarcely expect to sce it considered in Albany. We have little hope of any practical ckarter from the Committee of Seventy. That indus- trious and well-meaning mob has achieved certain political results in the elevation of some of its leaders to office. This is what it was intended to attain—no more. As a reform movement it has an uncertain value, for having on one day given Mr. Connolly a bond of immunity, the next day found him in jail and no Committee to aid him. Mr. O’Conor, Mr. Tilden, Judge Bedford and a few others whose work is outside of the Committee, whe have merely done their duty as cilizens and public officers, are the real reformers; avd their suggestions as to a charter would be three or four years, and, to remove any temptation to use his place for re-election, make him ineligible for another term. These are some of the axioms that should control the new charter. Let it be direct, simple, plain, lasting. Let all experiments be discarded. We have a clear light before us, and many memorable and sad examples of the follies and crimes of charter legislation in the past. Lot there be an end of that business at all events; and let us have a charter worthy the city and a reconstructed city worthy of the charter—a metropolis ranking with Paris and London in its mighty splendor and the glory of the Westera World. The Mayor and the Alcermen—The New Board Installed tu Office. It was a strange “New Year's” yesterday at the City Hall, Instead of the usual ‘‘cakes and ale,” with happiness all round and the compliments of the ceason thrown in, there was an abundance of discord, with fighting within and broils without, The ‘loving cup” was not passed round, but the jeer, the threat and occasionally the oath was liberally dis- tributed. ‘bere was gathered within the walls of the time-honored building an excited assemblage of politicians, each party of which beard with attention. We do not want a charter from the odds and ends of a committeo caucus, like an old-fashioned grandmotier’s sampler or patchwork quilt. Seventy mon, oreyen ten en. without any clear idea un- derlying their discussions, aitimpatient to realize a municipal millennium in a day, would, with what they call their ‘“‘ideas,” make a charter as incongruous and irrelevant as an almanac or a book of domestic recipes. What we wantis a charter that will be based upon sound, logical, lasting principles. The details of it should be elaborated by mea skilled in the law. Avcharter, for instance, should em- body these principles :— First—A strong central government, all execu- tive authority lodged in one executive head. Second—The Mayor, as chief of the municipal government, should ve chosen for a term of three or four years and ineligible tor re-election. Thtrd—The money-voting power should in some way represent the money-paying people. Fourth—The municipality should pass its own tax levies without reference to the State Legisla- ture. Fith—The charter should provide for the im- provement as well as tho reform of the city, Sixih—New York should be reconstructed tnto a Political metropolis by the consolidation of the city and s uburbs into one municipal organization. Any charter that violates these sound max- | ims, or fails to embody their spirit, will be a calamity—a postponement of the work of reform. As we have said, reform does not mean standing still. Reform is life, not death, The misfortune with most of our reformers is that they seo nothing in their work but to stop paying money, So long as an injunction continues, and no taxes are levied and no bonds are raised, the city is reformed. And if a charter can be passed that will give usa kind of a government and cost the people little money, they will con- sider their work to be done, Nothing could be more absurd than this. Reform did not mean to stop paying money, but to stop steal- ing it, New York understands very well that to make this city worthy of its future and its renown a great deal of money must be expended. We need docks for our large and | growing commerce, and would pay fifty mil- | lions to be as well served as Liverpool. We | must bave our parks completed and our boule- vards extended and widened. We must have bridges over the East River, and a system of rapid transit, either over the ground or under ground, to Westchester. Allof this will cost alarge amount of money. New York will gladly pay it, and the people look to those who have this charter at heart to see that these improvemenis are made. This done, then we want a reconstructed city, As we have shown New York is a misnomer, We are not the metropolis, but the fragment of a metropolis. All about us lie rich, powerfal, independent suburbs, which are really por- tions of the city. Draw a line thirty miles around NewYork and we have the city. By this we mean that most of those who dwell withio that circle are as much citizens of New York as those who reside upon Fifth avenue. Now, why not take these people and give them one form of government? Why should Brook- lyn and New York, lying within a rifle shot of each other, be two cities, with two ma- chines of government, double officers and laws and appropriations, ‘largely in- creased expenses and manifold disadvan- tages? Why should Newark and Jersey City and Hoboken be outside of the city limits. We could well afford, as a State, to give New Jersey an indemnity, in money or territory, for the cession of these towns, so that the work of consolidation would be com- plete and satisfactory. Let a line be drawn across Westchester, including Yonkers, and call it the city. We should have a metropolis in fact as well as in name, More than all, we should add to the voting population of New York the large conservative well-to-do out-of- town class of people who are really interested in the success of the city, its progress and good government, and should take their share of the franchise. They live in New York many hours of each day. They make their money here. They find comfort and value and business opportunity. They should help to pay the taxes and secure the election of good men to office. The city is theirs, Let them | take its responsibilities as well as its advan- tages, In the selection of Mayor there should be a system of moneyed indemnity or responsi- bility. We see, for instance, that when the President appoints a Collector of the Port or Sub-Treasurer he exacts a bond from him for faithfully performing the duties. This is wise. Now, why should not the same responsibility be exacted from the candidate for Mayor ? When be takes a nomination let him say :—‘I neme as my sureties cortain gentlemen, who hold themselves bound in one million or five million dollars for my fidelity.” We see over and over again our richest men glibly and incessantly recommending men to office who turn out to be indifferent or corrupt. They have no responsibility for it. Tho way to reach that evil is the way we suggest. Furthermore, when a Mayor is elected let it be for more than one year. No man can do efficient service in one year, and an evil about short terms is that they only lead to long terms by giving the incumbents a pretext for running again, Let the Mayor bo in office for was determined to have its own way. The Mayor appeared tn the character of “peace- maker,” and by his commendably prompt and wise action prevented an unseemly fight as to who should occupy the Aldermanic Chamber. Gi Saturday an order of prohibition had been served upon Mayor Hall, forbidding him: to swear in the old Board of Aldermen on the following Monday, Whether the Mayor would obey this order was a mooted question. That he did not intead to obey it is now known; for he told the newly elected Aldermen yes- terday he was well advised not todo so, The old Board was the only ono of the two con- tending Boards who had had given to them anything like the pabulum of a belief that the Mayor would decide in their favor. On Satur- day the Mayor had handed to their clerk the needful blanks for filling up the oath of office, and he dld everything but say what he would do. He lefta margin on which these Aldermen might rest their faith, and trust Lim, if they would. They met as early as nine o'clock yesterday morning, earlier even than that had they been in secret conference; they ad- journed after transacting formal business to half-past ten o'clock, At their second session their faith in the Mayor gave way. A diabolical whisper had reached them that the Mayor would play them false. They yielded to the evil suggestion, and they made an unseemly haste to be even with their supposed betrayer. They would impeach him, and to the amazement of the few privileged spectators who were permitted to represent the public in the Aldefmanic Chawber, these Aldermen assumed a virtue if they had it not, and were horrified to find the Mayor had been guilty of malfea- sance in office, ard were animated by only one desire, and that was to cleanse their pure aad unstained official robes of a blemish that was so hideous in their sight. The report setting forth the articles of impeachment, the resolutions that were immediately and unanimously passed, will be found in another columa, When the Mayor heard of this action of the Common Council he promptly decided that if they could not trast him he certainly could not trust them with any lengthened term of official life. He decided to withhold from them the oath of office and to swear in the new Board. How this was done, with what dignity and business tact the proceeedings were characterized, our readers can judge. That the new Board has been elected by the people there can be no doubt, that they have been appointed by the Mayor is equally cer- tain. That no unprejudiced person ought to deny their qualification for the places they have been called upon to fill was evidenced by their conduct yesterday in the first momeats of the flush of victory. The Mayor is of an opinion that this Aldermanic body will be endorsed by the Legislature. If so, itis mere idle speculation to discuss the ultimate result of the proceedings in the Supreme Court, With the active co-operation of the Logisla- ture and the executives of all the city depart- ments it would be extremely difficult for the Courts to displace them. Their initiation into office was attended by circumstances that should stimulate them to faithfulness of duty and the ultimate ‘‘well done” of their fellow citizens. A Motto ror tHE TAMMANY ADHERENTS— “Schell out.” A CommunaL Bank Wirn A CoLossaL Carirat,—The establishment of an institution of this description appears to be the latest idea of the French financiers. One firm sub- scribes forty millions of francs in furtherance of the project. The industrial savings of the French people will be evidently drawn out in some shape or other. Should the speculation then fail in the aggregate there will be very considerable trouble in France. Ex-ComPtTro.LER CoNNotty kept “open house” yesterday, having been liberated from Ludlow Street Jail—where the house was not quite so open. Tne ALBANY Journal says the last evidence of the complete oveithrow of the Ring is the decease of its special organ, the Leader. Does the Journa! mean to insinuate that that paper was really the Ring-Leader ? Tae Onty Reoeprion at tho Cily Hall yesterday was the reception and swearing in of the reform Boards of Aldermen and Assistant Aldermen, No wine, no cake, no cardimans. Tue Cutcaco Tribune suggests that the counsel of Isaac Bell that there was no necessity for deposing Tweed as a Tammany sachem, ioasmuch as Tammany is no longer what it was, and his retention will not harm the order, prevail, and adds that Tweed and Tammany ‘‘are about equally moribund and had better make their grave together.” The Tribune perhaps thinks with the man out West who was called upon to say something at a funeral, that they would make the “nicest, quietest corpses” that ever were seen, Turre Was more than one kind of “swears ing” around City Hall yesterday. Some of it was ‘“‘swearing in,” and there were a good manv “‘swoariag outs.” The News from We State Capital—The Rrpublican Coucus an Adwinisiration ‘Triumph. The republican legislative caucus held last night at Albany resulted in the nomination of Henry Smith, of that city, as the candidate of the party for Speaker of the Assembly. The issue had been fairly made between the supporters and opponents of the administra- tion of President Grant and of his renomina- tion for another Presidential term, and the Fenton soreheads again suffered defeat, Their representative, Mr. Alvord, had the additional strength of the lobby, canal ring, and all the marketable Members of Assembly to aid bim in the contest, and he was beaten on the first ballot by half a dozen votes, The veteran Greeley made a pilgrimage to the State capi- tol at the last moment to assist in the overthrow of Speaker Smith, and threw into Alvord’s scale the weight of the Twombly interest, The canal contractors used solid arguments in favor of their candidate, the lobby buzzed and fluttered in the halls of the Delavan around the country members as they arrived on the scene, and yet their united efforis could only raise forty-four votes out of a caucus of ninety-seven. We presume after this we shall hear nothing more of Fenton’s strength or of the patriotic oifer of ex-Assemblyman Dwight, of Tomp- kins, to withdraw the Chautauqua Senator's opposition (0 Grant's renomination, or of Conkling’s re-election, for the trifling con- sideration of~a Cabinet appointment for Fenton, a fair division of the federal offices among his friends and a seat in the United States Senate for Philosopher Greeley. It is charged by the Fenton- Alvord faction that the result is attributable to the use of money by the State Central Committee and the New York Custom House; but as the other side are equally positive in their assertion that a good portion of the forty-three bal- lots cast for Alvord were purchased with the money of the canal ring we may fairly set ono statement against the other and cry quits on the financial portion of the operation. It is no doubt true that a very strong force of federal office-holders were present at Albany, working in connection with the State Central Committee on the side of the successful can- didate ; but there is nothing extraordinary in this, The recent election was signally won in the cause of official reformation, and the standard bearers in the battle, the nominees of the Syracuse Convention, were especially the candidates of the administration, The Fenton faction denounced the republican State ticket on this very account, and laid the re- sponsibility of its selection at the door of the federal office-holders, It was natural, therefore, that those who were held to accountability for the character of the incoming State gov- ernment should use their best efforts to pre- vent the State Legislature from being handed over to the tender mercies of canal rings, railroad jobbers and lobby corruptionists, The assertion of Colonel Rush C. Hawkins, openly made in the caucus, that the election ‘of Thomas G. Alvord to the Speaker’s chair would be treason to the causo of reform, 80 triumphantly vindicated at the polls last No- vember, was indignantly repudiated by Assem- blyman Husted, of Westchester. Neverthe- less, it was felt by the caucus to be strictly true, Mr. Alvord might be as pure a man as ever sat under the roof of the State Capitol, and he could not escape taint from the asso- ciations by which he was surrounded, A mere glance at the crowd that was so loud and outspoken in his favor was sufficient to con- vince every honest reformer of his unfitness for the position to which he aspired in a reform Legislature, It would have been absurd to suppose that he could have shaken himself free from the influence and demands of the old lobbyists and unscrupulous rings, to whose efforts and active aid he would have owed his success. In one respect it is well that this issue between the honest portion of the As- sembly and the suspected members should have been made at the commencement of tho session, The friends of Speaker Smith, by boldly taking up the gauntlet in defiance of corruption, have pledged their candidats to @ pure and spotless record in his new and re- sponsible position. Unless he commences from the beginning the good work of legisla- tive reform, he will bring discredit upon his supporters and _ will disappoint the hopes of the people, No personal friendships, no fear of opposition on the floor of the Assembly, no Considerations of legislative courtesy should induce him to place on any important standing committee a single tainted name. He should religiously exclude from the committees of Cities, Railroads, Canals, Insurance, Judiciary, &c., every member whose official integrity is even suspected. Unless he fearlessly pursues this course the people will suspect that the professions of honesty made by bis supporiers have been mere shams and political tricks to gain an advantage in the contest for the Speakership. The test of his sincerity will be looked for in the first announcement that will be made from the Speaker's desk after the recess. If the Bemuses, Husteds, Frears and Fields are allowed any share in framing the business of the session, the public faith in the now popular organization of the Assembly will be seriously shaken, An honest and practical reform at the State capital is of the greatest importance at this time, and the people ex- pect it at the hands of Speaker Smith, Let him commence the work with the formation of his committees or he will be unable to accom- plish it at all, If there should be only a hand- ful of men in the whole Assembly of known and proved integrity he should confine his choice to them, even should he have to give each of them as many positions as they could fill with proper regard to the performance of their duties, But he will have enough members to select from without touching a name of doubtfal political virtue, and he will be held responsible should he neglect this first and most important oppor- tunity to secure honest legislation during the session, at least as far as the work of the standing committees is concerned. Let bim be faithful to his trust, and his election to the Speaker's chair will be the commencement of an important era in our State politics. It will accomplish a real legislative reform, as well as scatter to the winds the pretended strength and importance of the famous Fenton sore- head crusade against President Grant's admin- (atrationy A Telegraph Conference ‘Banquet tm Rome. A Heratp special cable despatch reports that the telegraphic conference assemblage in Rome was brought to a close last night by ®@ banquet, Mr. Cyrus W. Field entertained the assembled delegates. The affair was very grand and of most hopeful import, Twenty- one countries and six hundred millions of people were represented at the table, and twenty-six different languages fused into one common tongue for the purpose of a world- wide and universal communion by the subju- gation of the subtle power of electricity. Private companies appeared to the extent of three hundred millions of francs. A tele- graph conference will meet in Naples to-day. The reunion in Rome stands adjourned to reassemble in St. Peteraburg in the year 1875, The year 1872 opens under most aus- picious circumstances—the world at peace, and freed Rome the centre of enlightenment for humanity. It may be that the “light which enlighteneth all mon” who ‘come into the world”—the lux vera—has been seen in the ancient city since the very first dawn of Christianity, but that the gleam of its efful- gence has been shaded from the eyes of the masses hitherto, either from motives of misdi- rected policy in the interest of those who knew that ‘the light shineth in darkness,” but who wished to perpetuate the original con- ditions of mental blindness, which are ex- pressed in the words, ‘‘And the darkness comprehended it not.” TAMMANY is now confessedly M only a “Schell,” Tho Mormon Prosecutions. According to our despatch, published to- day, from Salt Lake City, the great chief of the bigamists is to surrender himself iato the hands of the United States authorities for trial on the charge of murder already pre- ferred against him. The general belief will be that his trial is to be proceeded with forth- with, and that under the circumstances he will. have a fair and impartial investigation. That, however, is by no means certain; for the same despatch that confirms the intelligence of the determination of Brigham Young to resign himself to the federal authorities also conveys some strong suggestions that, under the penurious condition of the courts and the corrupt influences of the Mormon legal officers, he has little to fear in doing s0. United States District Attorney Bates has addressed a communication to Senator Trumbull, Chairman of the Judiciary Com- mittee, in which he states that, according to the Supreme Court of the Territory, all felo- nies and offences committed there are against United States laws, and should be tried by federal officials, but that the officers of the Courts, being Mormons, will not punish their fellows for high crimes at all, while they per- sist in punishing Gentiles unjustly and un- fairly ; that Brigham Young's trial is set down for the 9th of Junuary, but that he (Bates) has no money for witnesses, jurors’ fees, or for rents, fire, light, &c., to enable him to do justice to the cause, and asks how he can go to trial without jurors or witnesses, He, moreover, states that although the number of prisoners has increased the government has provided no jail, and that the expenses of keeping them at Camp Douglas has also greaily increased, with- out any provision being made to meet the charges. This is doubtless a serious state of affairs, and demands the immediate attention of the Ji udiciary Committee, Tne “Ours” at the City Hall yesterday regaled themselves on sour ‘‘whines.” Doxe Atexis SWINDLED aT NiAGARA.—If evidence were wanting that princes are but human it might be realized from the treatment the Grand Duke Alexis received at the hands of a second class hotel keeper at Niagara Falls, For a single meal for self and suite the modest bill of fifteen hundred dollars was presented. This extortion was not submitted to, when the landlord prepared to seize the baggage of the Duke, but to avoid a law suit the matter was compromised by the payment of one thousand dollars. As the Chicago Tribune aptly suggests, ‘Niagara has now capped the climax as the meanest place in the United States.” A Cunning Rapioat Dopes.—Thd “one term” idea, extending it to six years,.and re- elect Grant. A Cnioaco Puiwosopugr has petitioned Congress for aid to enable him to experiment upon a system he has concocted for the artifi- cial production of rain, We have not wanted anything of the kind in thig latitude since Christmas, REFERRING TO THE passive policy, the Cin- cinoati Gazelte says, en passant, that it is exciting nowadays about the same amount of discussion ‘that is devoted to the exhilar- ating subject of Tom Scott.” If Tom Scott be an “exhilarating subject,” why wouldn't he make a lively campaign? Wuat Doxs Ir Mgan?—The Richmond Enquirer has an article headed, “The Widows and Orphans of Lynchburg and the Members of the Virginia Legislature.” What have the members of the Legislature been doing to the widows and orphans of Lynch- burg? or, rather, what have they left un- done ? Tae Omaua Herald wants to know who is to be elected Governor of Nebraska by the Legislature this month—Thayer or Strick- land. Although a rich agricultural and mine- ral State, Nebraska seems to be lamentably deficieut in first class political statesmen, AxotnHeR JourNaL WINTER-KiILLED—The Chicago Ttepubdlican, DEAF MUTES, Election of Officers by the New England Gale landet Association. Boston, Jan, 1, 1872. The New England Gallandet Association of Deat Mutes, In session at the Mercantile Hall, elected officers this afternoon as follows:—Prestdent, Wil- liam 8B. Sweet, Marbiehead, Mags; Vice Presidents, Willham Martin Chamberlain, Marbie- head, Mass,; William H, Weeks, of Hartfore, Conn.; Treasurer, Joseph ©. Sanger, Westbore, Mass. State Managers —Maine, no choice; New Hampshire, A. Alligon, Concord; Vermont, A. W. Ladd, Isiana Pond; Massachusetts, E, N, Bowen, Boston; Con- necticut and Rhode Island, William H. Weeks, Hartford, Conn. One of the features of tne clection to-day was an amendment of the bylaws so as to bliow Inay members to vote, and they quite freely a taonss¢ives Of bie DriVviloges “but onee or twice before. ‘Miss Nellie, WASHINGTON. The New Year’s Reception at the Republican Court. The Visitors at the Executive Mansion, the Vier President's and tha Cabinet Officers’— Toilets of the Ladiet—The Colored Foiks Receiving and Dis pensing Hospitality. WASHINGTON, Jan. 1, 1672 The reception at the White House to-day wae un- usually briiltant. in spite of the lowering skies and almost impassable streets, Only once a year is there anything like a Court day at the Executive Mansion, and though the ceremony of presentation 1s of the severest republican simplicity the display always partakes something of the character of Court receptions in Europe. ‘Lo-day some of tne diplomats, disregarding to some extent the Presidential order for carriages, went on foot to the White House, a ninoteenta century overcoat aud umbrella protecting from the rain and mist tne costumes and ribbons of uno six- teenth. It was funny enough to see an ardent young diplomat picking tus way through the mad in trying to get to tne Wulte House before the recep- tion began, but inside tne Biue Room, after the diplomatic corps had assembled, there was'a sight Which is seldom witnessed at the Presidential re- ception—namely, an assemblage of foreign minis ters, all of whom had met in the same piace Last year there waa no reception, owing to the vereavemeat_in the family of Secretary Belknap, and tn the two year since the diplomatic corps was received at the Executive Mansion the personnel vt the body has beon much cuanged, Blacque dey, the Turkish Min- ister, who was then only tivo years In the country— or, more properiy, near the government of the United States—vetug now the Dean of the Diplomats,” Sir Edward Thornton did not come here ttl Rea ruary, 1863, and, next to Blacque Bey, he has been in Washington longer than any Minister who represents a foreign Power in the United States. ‘Phe gental face of Baron Geroit Was missed for the first time in seventeon years; and Seflor Roberts, who was here for comparatively a@short time, to-day made his last New Year's visit to the White House, Baron Schiozer, the German, and Senhor Borges, the Brazilian Ambassador, were there for the first time, whtle neither France nor Russia had a ministerial representative. THE COSTUMES OF THE VISITORS, Tne Court dresses of many of the gentlemen were gorgeous, and among the orders worn by them were soveral Crosses of the Legion of Honor, Sir Edward Thornton was accompanied by his wife and the Secretaries of the Britisn Legation. Laay Thornton wore a dark blue silk trimmed on the train and body with wmite guipure lace and black velvet; her bonnet matched, Seiior Garota, the Minister of the Argentine Republitc, and Seilor Roberts, the Spanish Minister, were also accompanied by their wives. The Sefiora Roberts wore a black velvet polonaise, over a dark silk, and a foreign looking little hat of black velvet with fame-colored feather. Mexico was represented by Seflor Romero, who was also accompanied by nis wife, THE RECEPTION, The reception was simple even in its formality, the guests being introduced tothe President py Secre- tary Fish and ‘to Mrs, Grant by General Babcock. Mrs, Grant was assisted by her dauguter, and Mes. Coliax, Mrs. Wil Nams, Mrs. Boutwell, Mrs. Creswell, Mrs, Delaane, Mrs. General Porter, ee cree 4 td Mra, - lew minutes’ a Soiversatigh ZolaweR tS dnufoducuon, ak en this little part of tus ite pomp was over for an- other year. But the diplomats had scarcely got out of the way before other visilors were walung at (ho cee ane 60 “a vent on ee ba end, ‘ne Judges of the Ua tates Supreme Cours followed the diplomatic corps, but, unwisely snorn of their long oiliclal robes, these sages of constitutional law did not present that dignified and majestic appearance so beftung their high station, Judge Strong brought his fainily with him. The others were unatcended. Following the Judges came such Senators and Re- pronadtaueee of the Forty-second Congress remain= ing intown as had a mid to take ther privileged plac? in the pagentary of the day. ‘ney were nos strong in number,and added notaing to the glory of the occasion, Ms ivig dignity then won recognition in the recep. tio of the Officials of the District of volumbia who for once ers, ace rded precedence of the plumed and giitterlig army and navy ofi- cerg. Governor Cooke was attended vy Secre- tary Stanton, whose name seemed an echo of past receptions, and by four colonels and aldesede{ camp of the District militia, Who Looked as soldie! and as much at home in their new uniforms as 4 tape and sealing wax generals of Uncie Sam’s ger- vice awaiting the familtor cry of “Next.” The Judges of the District Court got through without any noticeable antics, this not beng their court day, and but one of the’ “end men” of the judtomt troupe being present. Robert Lincolo, with his wife, accompanied the District delegation and met @ generous welcome in the mansion where he, too, ‘was once “at home.’? The absence of General Sherman stripped the body of army officers, who were next presented, of any interest among the spectators, and this, wits their diminished number, made this part of the re ception tame. The navy, too, was naousually bare in objects of interest, Vice Admiral Rowan being not only the highest in rank present but the best known out of the service. ‘The ceremonies of pre- sentation for the army and navy were performed by Secretaries Belknap aud Kobeson, anu they bot acquitted themselves like gontlemen and gallant men. The Rev, Dr. Newman, official chaplain of the government, came in with the jolly tara. A straggling band of the Veterans of isi? anda rather juvenile lovking society of ‘videst Innabt- tants’ next claimed the Executive notice, and then the unorganized rabble, described ou such occa- sions as ‘clluzens generally,’ took charge of the manston, the President, Sirs. Grant, the Secretaries, military and ctvil, and ‘the rest tor an hour. Threa jovial “citizens” were untimely cut off by the police, and @ luckier and larger numer escay suck abrupt civility at the hands of these tuactionaries and clasped hands with the Presideat tn a slow and solemn shake. THE VICE PRESIDENTS RECEPTION, The Vice President and Mrs, Colfax received al- most as many callers as the President at their residence on Lafayette square, noted as the elegans home of General Sickles when Representative ia Congress, trom New York. RECEPTIONS OF CABINET MINISTERS, From the Colfaxes nearly everybody went in succes- sion to the receptions of the Cabinet officers, Of these receptions those of the Secretaries of War and the Navy were, by all accounts, the best, the former being assisted by uo less than’ five ladies and the latter by Secretary Fish. Solicitor General bristow was congratuinted by his many visitors on his determination to remain in Washington, and re- warded these friendly expressions by introductions to Miss Ballard, one of the famed belles of Louis. ville, The incoming Attorney General, ex-Seuator Williams, aiso drew an unusually large circle of friends about him, the Pacttic States and ‘Territories being strongly represented. ‘The scenes ut this re- ception were Unusually enjoyable, both the new At- torney General and his wife being In high favor ta Washington circles. . RQUALITY OF THE COLORED FOLK. The potency of the ballot was poworfally illus trated in the national capital to-day. Not oniy were colored men welcomed in stately houses which they had hever before entered except vnrough the basement door, but many of them held receptions at their own houses, at which ail colors presented themselves and were received on terms of equality. ‘This Was particularly the case with those tdentified with local politics, as, for example, where the bright and intelligent negro Who sits outside Secre. tary Boutwell’s ofice Welcomed to his com fortavie abode white men of wealth and power im the District, who hastened to do homage to his high station as President of the Trustees of Colored Schools, Other colorea’ magnates, strong in their Controi of thousands of negro votes, were equally honored by their white brethren, to whom those votes were of consequence, Senator Sumuer mignt have been nape, pag were happiness posstole to n . OEM PRRANCE, AT THE REFRESHMENT TABLES, Two remarkable improvements signalized this New Year’s Day in Washington. ‘The once famous Marine Band gave token of its former glory under a new leader, and the temperance plan was more generally iiiustrated at the refreshment tables thaa ever before. As ® consequence of this lattor reforay Washington was a gay but an orderly city all day, The Labor Commission, Colonel R. J. Hinton, a journalist of repute im ‘Washington, 1s a Icading candidate for appoint. ment on Representative Hoar’s Labor Commission, the passage of the bill by the Senate being deomed @ foregone conclusion, Colonel Hinton has been known for several years a8 an investigator of the juestions now up for consideration, and it fe desires the place wil probably receive the undivided support of the labor organizations of New York and New England, Willam J. Jess for several years President of the New York gtr Assemoly And a restdeut of New YorkAuity, 14 favorably mentioned as the democratic member of the Commission, it being the expressed intention of the President to select a democrat jor appoimtment, and Mr, Jossuy's political aliliatigas being with (hat party,