The New York Herald Newspaper, January 20, 1872, Page 5

THE STATE CAPITAL ‘woen tmey snould dome together and when they should end their meetings, The vote was anally | weeanetienasemeestanee carried—yeas 16, nays CONTRACTORS’ BILL. The bill | contracts made m New York city for street paving, &c., which was exclust ublished iu the HERALD yesterday, was report Comptroller Green’s Bill in | fda aby, the ‘Committee on Cities, "with certain the House. 4. GRAND TEST VOTE. The Fentonites Ahead—The Democrats Divided. * ALBANY, Jan, 19, 1872. As was generally anticipated, the bill authorizing the raising of money to pay off the claims against Wie city provoked quite a Leated discussion in the ‘Assembly. to-day, and, all statements to the con- ‘Mary notwithstanding, it may be regarded as a tees, and was in {fact made a test between the Fentonites and Conkimgites in the lower ‘Bouse. © Tie bill presented and reported by ‘Mr. Hawkins had been made the special order for to-day, and all last evening it was discussed rather sharply by the members of both Houses and others $n ®manher which showed a growing strength of ‘Opposition to it, The fact that such hostility existed end waa bourly growing stronger became evident ta.everybedy ihterceted in the matter, Comptroller Green and his henchmen began to think it was time to bestir themseives. They bustied about from one member to! another, and wis morning the Vomp- ‘weller himsel( appeared at an early hour at the Delavan, and was ou his way to seek the Sage of Onondaga, He stumbled against the poetical Prest- @ent of the reform Board of Aldermen. The two wentiomen at once emiered into an earnest conver- sation. ALDERMAN GENERAL JOHN ‘wsed his index floger and dexter hand most grace- faily and eloquently tn giving the appropriate ac- eompaniment, in the poetry of motion, so the ‘words—undoubtedly poetical—which were strained so. stadieasly through the shaggy but venerable Gbres of hirsute adornment with which his, no @oubt, classic lips are so plenteously orna- mented. On concluding the discussion Mr. Green bied him to the headquarters of “Ola Sal’ Alvord. He knew that the the latter would be the heaviest gun against his pes. project f any fight should be made. As results showed, however, his call was unproductive of good results ‘for him. At the appointed hour the Growds wended their way to the Oapitol, fnd all available piacea were taken pos session of in short order, At the rear of the Assembly Chamber, among others, were the ‘imperturbable Storrs, Mr, Green’s deputy; Counselor Jeiitre, who is here to do the Killin’ of rear, in favor of Killian; Commissioner Van Nort, @f the Public Works; Archie Bliss, the pet of Brooklyn; + “OLD WOLUNTEER” DECKER, @x-Speaker Hitchman, Colonel J. R. Fellows, and Ms. Wheeler, of the Committee of Seventy. The Jatter gentleman is here to watch the legislation boing transacted for the city. of New York. Ge and Mr. Biumentha), as. representatives @f the .Committee. of Seventy, are deter minea that the name of the committee snail Bot be continually drawn on by the contending {ac- tions a8 an ald to strengthen their movements and ‘tone to the me asures they may bring forward. simply: desire good government for the city of New York, and intend go to shape their course as to avoid anything that locks like aiding or abetting ny factious spirit that exists or may arise during ‘the session. This position will command the re- and aid of all oe and will, no doubt, to the benefit of the metropolis, ine House wont into Committee of. the Whole, with Jacobs in tue chair, This was a surewu doage $o get one of the most astute and-expertenced de- baters on the democrauc gide out of the way, and thus ‘weaken the aid which the Fentonites would segaive. @ Dill was read and all went off smoothly until the last clause was reached, 1t seemed as if the er would be allowed to go through without a “There was an evident LOOK OF DISAPPOINTMENT Many faces iu the Chamber and in the galleries, as the concluding section was read Twombly Pose and moved to strike out all after the enact @lause and substitute therefor the bill which a) (peaved in the HERALD of to-day as having been re- ried in the Senate. Twombly’s bill, however, @N aduitional, member of to’ Board of udif, in the person of the President of the Board of aldermen. Twombly advocated the seperation: - @ speech fomameanle a neither hor clearness, aud was follow: Course, aed hice by Beets ed Reon te THE SHAPE OF A CORKSOREW. _He.read off @ list. of debts which nad evidentl been ate cial for tap a es Coererler fe Beat coud ot aitnd ao ths “hues of 1 they discharged =% pet A a au ad ont adit formed of of a ents and did not ‘want another, bat that he would introduce a bill in peu days which would provide for a Board of dit composed Qf experienced men of busines Be sicsbolsers, Alvord then opened fire on 3 » » ONE MAN POWER with relentiess hand. He did not mistrust Mr, Mr.. Green might be stricken down, in_his grave the very day after this ‘and the office of Comptroller would Mr, Green would not be there, Mr. a you! man from Niki 5 who evidenuly fl nity consists in looking flerce gad eoemng lips together, to the great , icipient mustache, retorted on Alvord ‘bitterly as he could. He was in favor of the bill, Sanat for bis cousin is really the Comptroller @nd Auditor of the city and county of New York. ey geplied, cutting him with the rhetorical en ral i; but. ana bing salt inv’ the wounds, & say; then Smith, of Ak —Who, OF course, ust Alvord and she savatitute, Mr, Foley, of New York, made his : in speech, and did 80 with fear and tembiing, Slammer got out a most Y-NAME+IS-NORVAL)? wmyle of declamation; then Fort, of Uswego—who @iwaye follows in Smith’s wak lelivered @ har- CS Vedder, of Cataraugus, made a sensible @peech, short and poiated; and, finally, Alvord Moved to have the Committee mse and report prostate. 80 as to allow the members to study gubstitute. ‘This was done, and Alberger, who May have been warped by his position as chairman of Commerce and Navigation, wanted to dis ‘with she report and order the bill to a third r ing. This gave rise to more ‘discussion of the same sort; but was finally iost by the following vote:— Axrra—Messrs. pinersen D. L. Babcock, I. H. Babcock, Beckwith, Merri, B Enos, 'Flammer, Foley, sicwghtin, Hawi, rite fi "D. ordh Lott, Lena | wl )_ G. FB. yet le, farey, horton, Wnh-r, Moulton, Niles, Osyoud, Puig’, Prince, , Bhepardson, Simeon, Smith, Suyder, Speaker, Spring: Strahan, D. Tompifns, A.'L. Yan Dusen, Whitbeck, Ww wards Wyman, Yeomans. ‘Republicans, 46} ‘otal 52. Mave—Méscra, Abbott, Aitken, Alvord, Bennett, Blair, D. Bare, By. urns, Cumpb-Ul, Cook, Cou hmuin, Dunphy, man, By, Fowier, «.briag, Green, Gregory, Hark SL Hares, tiealy, Herrick, A. 14, Holdrlige, Bungerford, , Jaro’, Kingsland, Knapp, Knetties, Lincoln, G. 2. en, : vd, Loughran, Mackay, Moot Mowcley, dook, & Preston, Haye eet Romer Se vey, T foot, Whitaker. Repubi K. Brown, Greenbalgh, }, Smyth, Swain, Tucker, Wootsey—11. - Democrats—Buckley, Carroll,’ Chamberlain, Chambers, Fields, Frear, J. Hayes, Tilden, M. M. Tompkins, Wiley—10. THB QUESTION OF ADJOURNMENT ‘was again the subject of a short but sharp devate in the Senate to-lay. The motion was made by Mr. Graham, an was at once attacked by Mr. Benedict. He very good naturedly remarked that he would be the last one to prevent any one of the Senators from going home to “SEE HIS WIFB AND BABIES” ‘whenever he wanted to, but he was very much op- posed te the luea of stopping the public business impty because one or two were anxious to go @. Mr. Madden took quite another view of the matter. It was all very Weil to talk about the pub- He business, but the fact was that the various com. trees had already got even witn their work, and ig the Senate remained in session on Saturday there would be nothing for um and his colleagues to do. Mr. Lewis was neutral, tot so, He didn’t care a fy whether the Senate as far as he was personally concerucd, meant to stay in town any how. 41 course, 100k. . Ing a the. matter in a purely selfish ob, he Would that the Senators should remagn in town 80 he could have good company, during his However, there was just this about opinion, which would, if imiduce him to .vote for ¥ ng journment to Monday evening, aud ‘that was certain news w papers atiempting to the business of the Legisiature. The ox- jerience of the past had shown him that the public did not suffer irom the adjouruments froin Friday to Monday evenings, and for a few weeks to come he thought the adjournments should be The nate to get more rapidity tor very good reasons, 974, peat all arguments appiying to that branch: Legisiavure in reference to adjournments did apply to the ‘upper house, As for newspal were telling the two ho ‘when they shvuld meet and when they should ad- he respectiuliy submitted that the members better than any ower persons powsibly could the duies of | its, which will go a great way, 1 adopted, toward making tne Dill acceptable to both houses, The amendments are the same in substance as those presented by Mr. Deering, wno appeared before the Committee On behall of certain property owners who do not want the bill passed io its original shape. AS amended 1t provides for the sponges of a Board of arbitrators, one to the Comp- troller, the second the and the third to be appomied by Provides that nothing in the act shall interfere or im any wise relate to those cases which are now m litigation, There yetremains in the bill a clause which gives the Comptrolier sopramne power in the Matter of certifying as to what amounts are to be paid and what shouid be considered unpaid. This clause should be stricken out, 4 NEW STAGE LINE. . A dill was introduced by Mr. Tiemann antnorizing ‘a stage line to be run from the Astor House, running thence threugh Broadway Fourteenth street thence through Fourth avenue to Twent street, thence to and through Lexington nue northerly to its upper terminus (whenever the same may be opened, graded and repaired); also through Forty-second street to the fyand. Central depot, and further to and through Sikty-third street to the Central Park, returning by the same streets, Thomas McLeliand is the petitioner in the bill The Third and Fourth Avenue Kailroad vompauies will doubtless put a quietus on the bill if 1t 1s pressed in either House, NOT WELL POSTED, The new Senators have made a great many funny Mistakes since the opening of the session, owing to thelr ignorance of parliamentary Tules and “methods YW go a@bout,” as N. P. Willis used to say, Tiemann often puls his foot into it badly, out somehow he always turas right side up in tne end. big he created con- in Committee siderable merriment of the Whole, whie Senator Graiam was in the chair, by making ® certain pop Waich was entirely out of order, Graham did no! seem to be any betier posted than Tiemann himself, and far @ second or sv tere was @ dead silence. Each looked at the other in an inquiring sort of wi that must have been extremely amusing to the ol Benstors, it #0 happened that Terwilliger, who acts as i! THE PROMPTER-IN-OHIEF to the chairman in Committee of the Whole, was at the ume examining @ document on nis desk before him, aud thus did not hear ‘hemann’s motion in time to give Graham the cue at once as to whether it was in order or not. He Snally, however, came to. the rescue, and whispered Graham that the made by Tiemann was out of order, Graham, full of dignity, assume! jor the Khe ell lon, 80 rocluimed. Poor Tiemann looked bewildered, ad- justed his spectacies carefully, put his oy a nm This cons ventent remark clicited a general titter ail around, which Tiemann dtd not seem to notice. Now camd Graham's turp. iger told him what motion would be iu order, He announced it, and Tiemann, all smiles, bowed iat sg anil exclaimed, “An, tank you.” He then sat down. This reply took the Senators by storin, and there was another quiet ugh, which even Tiemann himself nad to join in, lespite eyere once the light began to vreak it upon him and he became aware of the novelty bis Parliamentary answerings. 4 NEW YORK LEGISLATURE, SENATE, ALBANY, Jan, 19, 1872, BILLS INTRODUCED, By Mr. Luwis—Repealing ‘the act of 1870 provid- ing for the appraisal of canal claims; also repeating the act of 1871 providing fer the payment of counsel Tequired to be employed on behalf of the State in ee sree rereny Peery a » ‘TIEMANN—Amen: the charter of the vaion Home and School of Noe York, Abu making provision for joeal improvements 01 rovemen| by contract in ‘New York was reported. e APPEALS FROM DECISIONS OF SUPERINTENDENTS OF THE POO! The Dill provid: for ay 8 from decisions of county superintendents of the poor was passed, CONSIDERATION OF BILLS IN COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE, Tne Senate passed the remainder of the session in Sassed upon ‘none of general iinportancey and thes s 101 ne of general importance, and then adjourned till Monday Svening meat, We ASSEMBLY. ALBANY, Jan. 19, 1872, OFFICERS AND EMPLOYES OF THE aSSEMBLY AND THEIR COMPENSATION, The biil prescribing'the oficers and employés of the Legislature, 1x! their pay and regulating proe. ceedings by investigating committees, was read and passed, REPORTS FROM NEW YORE DEPARTMENTS AND INSTI- TUTIONS. The annual reports of the Health Officer of New York, Quarantine Commissioners and Institution for Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb were received, THE PROPOSED INVESTIGATION IN THB OFFICH OF ~»- THE DISTRIOT ATTORNEY OF KEW YORK, The Senate retutnéd to the Assembly the concur- reut resolution proposing an investigation in the office of the District Attorney of New York, with a message Of non-concurreace, which was laid on the Le ae PAYMANT OF CLAIMS ON THE CITY AND COUNTY OF NEW YoRK, The House went into Committee of tne Whole, Mr. Jacobs in the chair, on the bill providing for the payment of certain claims on the city ana county of New York. The bili has been already pupiished. Mr. TWOMBLY, (rep.) of New York; offered a sub- stitute for the bill entitled “An act relating to ap- propriations for expenses in the city and county of New York.” The bill provides for a Board of Audit to adjudicate on these claims. Mr. Twombly said it was substantially the same as the bill agreed ‘upon by the Committee on Cities in the Senate, It contajns the features of the two bills he presented last Friday. On the 1st of January it was found that the treasury had been exhausted and many workmen were unpaid. There was also $6,000,000 of bonds due, and $9,000,000 claims were filed against the city. There seemed to be nothing to meet thisemergency, Tnere was a bill introduced @arly in the sesston, but it was tbought to contain too much power. It was necessary, however, to do something to save the creait of the city, The theory on which we started was to arrange a basis of settiement on a certain day, and then make @ temporary arrangement to carry on the govern- ment unuil the ist of april. Ithinkit needs no argument to establish the wisdom otf this. The urgency of some of these claims seems to call for speeay action, But it 1s charged that some or these Claims were fraudulent, gad it was determined to have a careful audit, The question was, to what tribunal should they be subinitted? it seemed to him that the bill before the House, providing for only one-half of the claim, was deficient, It did Dot comport with tho wants of a Figs! city. It is saying, ‘We will pay @ part, and the rest by and by.” ‘That was not business-like, It scemed to him that there should be @ Board of Audit to sift these claims; and then the question was, who shail be this Board of Audit? ‘@ thought of bringing the budget nere, but that was not thought advisavle from past experience, Mr. STRAHAN, (rep.) of Orange, asked who he meant by “wei = Mr, ‘TWOMBLY said everybody he had consuled with—Mr. Green and others. Mr, STRAHAN asked if this bill came from the Fi- nancial Department of New York. Mr, TWOMBLY Said the facts and figures caine from that department; therefore, he contiaued, as it was thought best to have a Board of Audit, to consist of the President of the Board of Aldermen, the Compsroller, Commissioner of Pubiic Works and the President of the Park Commissioners, he thought that this was the best possible course to yursue under the circumstances. Ho had tad whis ill presented, and the widest publicity had been given to it, Its provisions were framed by the Wisest aud best men in New York. He was sure an examination of the bill would prove that it con- tained all epotiont a He was not willing that matters 60 important should be adjudicated upon without the utmost care, Mr. HAWKINS, (rep) OLN. Y., hoped the substitute Would not be adopted, He- referred to the condi- Vion of the city and county treasury when the prea: ent Comptrolier wok tue position, and said it was imperatively necessary to provide the means called tor, Mo detailed the claims now past due, and aaid he thought it was proper to contide the payment of these claims, it found eorrect, to the Comptroller. The claims the original bul provides for auownt to $4,000,000, As toa Of Audit, he called atten. tion +0 the fact that one Board of Audit had spirited away over $6,000,000, anc said that that Board was Composed of OiNctals simiiar to waar te substitule rovided for. also Bi of <4 said neither of those 3 eads had act as & member of ony . Boant of Audit, The substitute did not provide for all the claims, ‘The $600,000 wel net rter of 1e reason why the origin i should be passed ts there are fifteen or twenty thousand people in New York waiting, with heavy hearts and tears i eyes, for us t0 pass this bill, Many of them have been obliged to go to tae sharpers and take filty per cent of their hi claims, 80 a8 to money to keep them {rom starving, ‘(his fact alone ought to impel tie members here to pass. this plain and iLL mptrolier of New York might reject some of these ales for this bill of immedl- he is, he thought, over careful, He ho} uel. “At thé proper time he would tain epics Jor @ Board of Audit; but When 6 a would go through to-day as 9 measu: the proposition did it must consist of others the heads of de- partments, - wna ‘Mr. ALBERGER, ) of Erte, opposed the substi- tute, chieny because the claims provided for uy to original bill were pressing and should be met. to the other claims, he would be in faver of a of Audit, He would rather have such a board nan trust to any one man, Mr, ALVORD, (rep.) of Onondaga, after referrin: atta chalets hou faa oat ort created a ui that Board consisted of the present Comptroiler—a man held tn high primedion 1s true, but he is Compixollcr, and he may not be the Comptroller one day afterthe passage of tnis and another very different sort of @ man may hold the position, He appreciated the importance of the present posi- uon of affairs in the city of New York; but in this repubiican government of ours that law amouuts not faithful Pea a ‘0 the sul 1 & proper wrap ee unr claims and demands. It proposed wo do, was necessary, leave to us the a and ot ‘ing a charter under which the people live and have their affairs honestly admupist ak yrould relieve us from launching out another: @fother bill for similar purposes. He was here to advocate reforms and require every man to honestly earn bv the sweat of. his brow his dally bread. lt was asked here tat the men who have stood ir the front of reform shall take these affairs in hand and settle ‘them, Tue seniors, who stanus at the head of this Board of udit 18 & gentleman who stands high in the _— estimation, So, too, with regard to the others; hey are all meno! high sanding for honesvy and integrity. It, therefore, seemed: to him~ that these gentlemen can pass upon these claims as readily and satisiactorily ag the Comptrolier. This, too, can be said in favor of the substitute, The matter hus recewed more consideration in the Senate be- fore Its committee, and they have agreed upon a bill contaimug provisions. almost exactly similar to those of this substitute. If this substitute is passed there will be but very littie difference vo adjust. Nor is the Comptroller shorn of any power by this Substitute, because, in case he was convinced a claim was a fraudulent one, all he had to say was that he would not pay it, and there it would end, Mr. H. SMITH, (rep.) of Albany, hoped the substt- tute would not be adopted. He was opposed to the substitute, use it provided for not only the past but tho future; it provided for Ing $8,000,000, in- stead of $4,500, As to auditing these claims, he thought one houést man could do an honest piece of work ag well as, three honest men. He did not like this Board; 1l was too much like what had been done and which had resulted so disastrously. He was Informed that there were 5,000 families in New York in this inclement season struggling to keep the wWoll from the door. Their situation appeals strongly to our sympathies, Let us provide tor their neceasi- tieaynow, and then hereaiter, ina charter, give the people of New York the means of preventing such emergencies. Mr. TWOMBLY explained that his substitute pro. vided for tue present urgent claims, and proceeded to say that further provision is made for the settle- ment of other claims, In short, it provides for all Claims that the original bili ppovmels for, and others besides, 1t also provided for a more speedy. settlement of the iost urgent claims. With the sebetoale we can much sooner reach a Jinal settle- ment Mr. STRAHAN Called attention to the fact that the House is called on to vote upon a substitute the bye gia of which aro not known to many mem- ra. As to ite being @ bill which had received the sanction of the Senate, as said by the gentleman from Onondaga, no such bill had received the judg- ment of the Senate, The original bill, plain and simple as tt was, made all necessary provision; and he sald that when it was introduced a lobby came asking that a should have the power to audit these claims, The fact 18,1n all well organized overnments it ia the duty of the Comptroller audit such claims. There is no such cnag as dictatorial power. He said he had had it from good authority that no bill which leaves out the executive oMicers of the city of New York a3 @uditors will receive, the Executive sanction, He ‘Was for passing a bill here -a plain and simple one— which will put a stop to the fraudulent acts from which New York has suffered; but to pass such a substitute as this wilt bring disgrace upon the House, Mr, ALVORD, after insisting that his action as @ legislator or in any other capacity was governed by honesty, said he never undert to lead any men anywhere without himself taking the lead. He tnen. proceeded to show that the republican ty had secured its recent victory on grounds of pure ree form, and it must carry ot that reform if it hoped for continued existence. Mr JUDD, (rep.) of Richmond, thought that if there ‘Was ever a time to lay aside party considerations it was now; and so the committee thought wien ‘they reported this bill. He the gentleman from Onondaga, It was not the Mayor who put Comptroller Green 1n his office. Com} Her Green heia the confidence of the people. New York, and why not, un ut this matter in bis hands? ‘There is no doubt that he will discharge the duties PEN rns upon him with the same judgment, jastice gad honesty that have always characterized his action. He thought it entirely proper to give him the power to audit claims, arid jel the others. be attended to in another vill, and, if thougnt ad- visable, in another way. Mr, FLAMMER, (rep. of New York, advocated the Bapp non, of the orig: bill and opposed the sun- atital ‘The committee rose and reported progress, on mo- tion of Mr. ALVORD, who stated that he would move to make it the special order again ior Monday morning. In the House Mr. ALBERGER moved that the report be Ginngreer With, and that tbe oill be ordered to a third reading. . ALVORD said he had made his motion in good faith, He did not want to see the bill rushed through hastily, and therefore hoped the bill would be poegn Up egal 4 meeeg utero “ » ALUERGER Fetorted that the gentleman had moved to report progress, thus cutting off debate, ‘The fact was there was cause for haste in this mat- ter, Thousands of poor poe im New York are calling upon us for relief, and it is our duty to heed their appeats, This was a bill simply provid- i ior paying outstanding liabilities, That was all ere was of it, aud he could not see the least con- heouon With party politics in thé matter. Mr. HAWKING neither of these bills provided for the future, He would, after the passage of this Dill, make provision for the future by a Board of Audit, consisting of citizens of New York —experts, and not oue of the heads of departments to be a member of it. Those officials cannot discharge this duty; and he gave notice it any bil were introduced here organizing a Board of Audit with a singie head of a department in 1t he would oppose it. Mr. Forgy, (reform dem.) of New York, hoped there would be no delay In thig matter, After further discussion Mr, STRAHAN moved the previous question, which was ordered. ‘The question was taken on ordering the bill to the third reading, which was lost—6z to 65—as fol- lows.— YRas—Messrs, Alberger, D. L. Babcock, I. H. Babcock, Bades ‘Burritt, Crandall, Davidson, Kast- ley, Ford, Geld, ridin, Haight, B. Hill, Hollister, Houghton, Judd, Lord, ott, Lynde, Marcy, ringe, Rice, jeaker, Sprin; A ie Vin Deusen, Whitbea man, Yeomans—62. fara ANDot, Aiken, Alvord, Hennett, Biatr, J. D. Hore, Campbell, Cook, Couchman, Dunphy, vimana, Ely, Fowiee, Goring, Goss, Green, Gregory, Hn 7'L. Hayes, Healy, Herrick, A. Hill, Holdridze, Huoger- forty Husted, Jacobs, Kingsland, Knapp, Kaett ad. les, Li In, Loughran, Mackay, Moore, Moseley, Murdock, Oakley, Pierce, Preston, Ray, Roche, Rose, Sage, Smiley, ires, Tobey, 'Twombley, W. J. Van Deusen, Veu- Ser Wells, Weal and Whitaker--o6° * Mr. ALVORD moved that the bill be made a special order for be ae | evening next, and the final vote be taken at eight o'clock. Agreed 10, BAVINGS BANKS, Mr. PRINOR, (rep. ) of Queens, from the Bank Com- mittee, reported against the investigation of a large number ol savings banks because they had not com- plied with the requirements of the generat laws. ‘hey were all laid on the table, to ve called up ata future ear. Mr. G. D. Lorp, (dem.) of Monroe, reported in favor of tne bill for the Incorporation of free pubilc libraries, WIDENING WASHINGTON AVENUE, BROOKLYN, Mr. HAWKINS introduced @ bill aeine for the widening of Washinzton avenue, Brooklyn. The House then adjourned unui to-morrow at eleven A, M. INTERNATIONAL PENITENTIARY CONGRESS, Apubdlic meeting will be hela in Stemway Hail East Fourteenth street, on Friday evening, the 26th inst., at elght o'clock, to hear from Dr. Wines, Commissioner of the Unitea States to organize an International Penitenttury Congress, a statement of the progress and results of his mission thus far; to respond to a similar meeting held in Londog on the 8d of November (in which, among otner distin- guished men, Archbishop Manning, Lord Carnar- von, Sir Jolin Pakington and Sir Charies Adderly took part), and generally to the action of European and South American governments in relation to the Cong ress; to give expression to the voice and sen- tment of America on this subject,.aud to take the necessary measures, so far as the Unived States is concerned, for the meeting of the Congress, His Excellency Jonn T, Hofman, Governor of New York, will preside, and the meeting will ve ad- dressed by Governor foratio Seymour, the Hon. dames G, Slaine, Speaker of the Unied States House of Kepresentatives; the Hon, Senator Wiison, of Massachusetts; tho Right Rev. — Archbisho| MoUloskey, of New York; Representatives Ne P, Banks, of Massachusetts; James A. Garfield, of Omo, and M. ©, Kerr, of Iodiana, and His xcellency Blacque Bey, Turaish Minister at Washington, e Rev, Henry Waid Beecher 1s also ,expected to address the ineetiug. Letters will be read at the meeting from the Presl- dent and Vice President of the United States, Mr. Wiliam H. Seward, the Hon, Senators Sumner, Cas- Trumbull, Represeutative Wm, D. Kelley and others. Tnis meeting is intended to speak, not to New York or this country only, but to all countries and continents, and tell upon public Opinion throughout the world, THE DEATH OF HENRY SCHNEIDER. Coroner Herrman yesterday held an inquest, at 116 West Thirty-fifth street, on the body of Henry bchnelder, the lad ninetecn and a half years of age who died from hydrophobia, as previously reported inthe ABRALD, In August last deceased was bitten vy a dog owned by aren een of West ears Pana it ed dstaers ease THE CUSTOM HOUSE COMMITTEE, Blackmailed Importers Com- ing to the Front. Administrative Senators Welcoming Merchants with Insult and Intimidation, What Frank Howe Says About the Naylor Case—General Denial of the Facts—An Ex- Official Defender ofthe Custom Houte Put Through a Course of “Sprouts”— Abundant Proefs of Oppres- sion and Intimidation. ‘The’ Custom House investigation was resamed at ten o'clock yesterday morning. As usual, a large number of Custom House officials, including ex. Collector Murphy, were on hand. The following nominations were submitted by Collector Murphy :— James M. Thompson, No, 13, vice Charles Phelps, removed, weigher; James M, Thompson, at a saiary Of $2,500, vice Oharies R. Phephs, removed, Appomtments approved vy GEO, 8S. BOUTWELL, Secretary. Mr. Williams, of the firm of Williams & Guion, testifled to the losses incurred in the general order ‘stores of goods belonging to his frm; does not be- Heve that agents of the steamship lines have been in the habi¢ of bribing inspectors; Mr, Drew, one of his agents, is in more immediate relations with the Inspectors; sums O1 money are frequently found on the books for secret service, Senator CassBRLY—1 wish you would ‘ascertain the extent of those payments and let us know, Q. What opportunity is there for packages being Opened before leaving the ship? A. In some in- stances they may have peen opeaed; bills of lading are given at Liverpool to the shippers, if the pack ages are in good order, certifying that they are in such order; sometimes packages are shipped at night, and, tnongh in bad order, they may be over. looked and shipped 0. K. % Josiah Rich, an Appraiser of Damaged Goods, tes- ufled—When goods arrive’ in damaged condition after @ voyage the merchants are entitled to reclam- ation; the goods are frst entered at the Custom House as in good condition; when found to be im- Paired a certificate Is made out, signed by the im- Porter, accompanied with the aMidavit of the ap- praiser testifying that the damage was in- curred on the voyage; the Collector then Notifies the United States Appraiser to ascer- tain the extent of the damage; insurance companies only insure against damage by the sea; other losses which may take: place on the voyago are not provided against, and merchants do not wish to pay duty on damageu articies—in particu- lar, fruits; when General Paimer came into office Ag appraiser he seemed to think that excessive damages had been allowed, and adopied very siringent measures to prevent anything like fmposition; has an importer of fruit for forty-five eats, and was considered an expert in this line; it is sometimes. very. dificult to. esttmace damages correctly; in most cases merchants are fairly reimbursed’ for their losses; the damages vary; they range all the Were ten tosixty per cent, ie Witneas here entered into a lengthened state- Ment.of the manner in wach the appraising busi- ness Is conducted. He said It was more difitult to et a seitiement made at the nt ume than t ever nas been before; the examiners nave tried to keep ‘him at arm’s length; latterly he has not been able 0 get a8 gdod a show in making his ex- aminations formerly. He 18 thrown almost entirely out of employment, and the bufiness he has form ot done has gone to the Custom House tavor- ites, e chief-‘causes of complaint are the dim. culty of getting examinations made and the par- taatity displ: in awards by the appraisers. Senator STEWART—Have you ever made complaint to the General Appraiser? A. Yés, and have been lnformed ‘that 1 was the most voluminons corre- spondent he had, (Laughter.) He, however, ex- pressed sympathy with me. Q What was the principle on which yon made charges—conuitional on the amount of d: ? A. No; there is @ certain opportunity given for ths r they leave the ship; Ppening. of packages before jis of lading are given at haa aes) whien certify Sas to the condition ot the packages; packages in bad order are sometimes shipped at night as 0. K, Josian Rich, an appraiser of damaged goods, tes- tifled as follows-. ous On arrival are sent to the Custom House and are sometimes certitied to by the appraiser as being in bad condition, consequent upon the Vo, ; the United States Appraiser and the insafan fapantes then settle the damage ve- YWween themselves, Genera! Patmer, when he came into olfice as Appraiser, thought that excessive damages had been allowed in many cases, and adoptei stringent meaires, prevent anything approaching to fraud; witness had been &p expert in fruit for a period of twenty-five years, yet considered that it was very ditMeuit to Socnrately estimate dai ey merchants are usually partly ré- mbursed for their iosses at au average of fron ten o sixty percent, (Witness here explained at some length the manner in which the appralaing busie ness 18 conducted, and asserted that he thought it Was more didicu!t for an owner to get a high Vaiua- tion 02 @ damayed cargo than it was formerty, There was favoriilam, aud the chief cause of com- laint seemed to be in getting an examination of a Fraley cargo made.) When! made a’ complaint I ‘was sympatiized with, but told at the same time that L was & most _yoluminous correspondent, colonel Frank B. Howe was next examined—He testitied that nis men had borne false witness against bim; he was charged with making $100,000 out of the goverument, but asserted that he could produce records {from the District Attoruey’s office which would Confute that asseveration; the amount of money accruing to the government from flues and mnalties was $187,000, and of that amount only $07,000, accrued to his office; the salaries of his Officers amounted to $24,009, and hisown pay was $15 per diem, less then $5,000 a year. (Senator Cas- serly stated tna: the government takes one-hall of the fines and penaities and all the duties.) With reference to Colonel Hoyt, the cause of all the dim. culty in the matter was our allowing the papers to be examined at Naylor's office, contrary to our general ruies; this mistake was the cause of many obstructions; I sald no settlement could be made; the matter involved $50,000, and i saiu 16 could only be settled througa the intervention of a suit of law or the Listrict Attorney; I pever said 1 would com- rontien the ager for a Lae ed itis entirely Riise; the Custom House exercised a'rule of terror over the house of Naylor, * . Senator BAYARD—It the isw has beeu violated unishment should be dealt out to the guilty par- jes, If there is a charge hanging over you itis de-irable that you slould acquit yourself at the earliest possivbie moment; we do not ask or wisn to make a general inquiry into your business; certain papers necessary for the pur} are With: held oy the Custom House officials; I lett the estab- lishment but ouce; that was for the purpose of con- Terence with the firm; I cannot say in what room the cigars were smoked and tie wine drank: I Made an agreement delaying tie action of the law on certain conditions; I mel the United States Mar- shal in the street last evening, and he was astonished at the evidence of Colonel Hoyt. Senator BAYARD—It is not evidence what you have heard at second hands, Senator UassgRuy (to winess)—1 would not like to mention all I have heard concerning you in your official capacity since 1 came to the cliy, and your officials also, “A, | would like to have tiem stated, that | might know what Lag A were, q Are you aware that Mr, Davis, the District Atiorney, has stated in bis evidence that the government had been defrauded of duties to the amount of $137,0u0? A. I was not aware ot the fact that he had been exam- ined; I thought those statements were inade by Colonel Hoyt; Ldov’t know who made the ani. davit on which the warrant for the seizure was made; Colonel Frank Burns, special agent of the Treasury at my office, produced the warrant; I have been In olice since the 20 Of May, 1869; the expenses of my office for special services amounted to $169,000; the amount accrumg to the government 13 $1,000,000; my salary ts fixed by tne secretary My the Treasury, 1 suppose; 1 am the only special seen besides Mr. Brown who receives more than $10 er day; 1am allowed the expenses of travelling Besiaes: ‘we don’t makea general inventory ; the case of Naylor was a special oe; we deviated frou our special rule; we will never do so again. REPORT OF COLONEL F. E. HOWE TO THB SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY UPON THE CASE OF NAYLOR = OFFton SUROIAT. AGENT Tarasuny Darane NT, 68 Wal Youk, Sept. 1d, 81n-Your telegram as follows reached this oftice at ten minutes atter one o'clock today :—tSend by mall to-night» nature and progress of your pro- full report of the seuang. ‘Navior.&. Co." 1b reply 1 would respect’ ull state that it would take Gags to rive you @ full report of the ‘case, although now I wilt Wor to give vou a few ft from im(ormation obtained three tmontus this ofice has been carefully of 4 officers view of this fact we last United Srates Marshal and ‘warrant from Judge Blatcbford ‘of Naylor & Co, r t,t a, beet selected for removal Se eambers of the firm and at sees: present, no! the to furnish a private room every facility for the examimation at the store, we relact- pi jou with this Tequest, the Deputy Onived ‘States me rematat ‘agents Brown and ao large ht you ily per hat ir cueciane, Be gemstone ht er thie port, Thele correspondetios gov, ae dike f alieoust, ait monte ‘Aorti f, 4 ax ‘sc'uee ‘ovat ‘dissount, ala NEW YORK HERALD, SATURDAY, JANUARY 20, 1872—TRIPLE SHEET, Comber 18, Tet, #9 Ws., Liverpool, 93 per cent discouny x infu. nea Wang & Co. he Ay brag on their ence acts are-well, I won't Sorte rate, "hey ‘ave we regarded as important bas disap! tee in our custody positively refuse to open, $nd have tbeir lawyer there to ansert this right. Of course have written this report in the greatest and in entire confidence inat no fon of fe will, for the present, be made known to Naylor & Co.; or, in other that the Department will place. confidence eno permit @ full investigation of Naylor & Co.'s made by this office, a great resistance to which by another link inthe chain of their guflt. No merchant yet has refused us. If the goods are invoiced at actual cost on market value they could show it to ty to one day, and all their grievances and our trouble would be over. Most reapectfully yours, Hon. J. F. Harr: yrs Becrutary of ine Treasur Bos Ra LEY, Acting Secretary of the ary, Colonel Thomas Thorpe testifed as follows:—I reside in Brooklyn and do bustuess in the Custom House; have the general supervision of the ware- houses; remember onjections being made to the ‘warehouses of the steamstip companies situated in dereey City, Ov account of the extraordinary privi- ieges atforded to the companies; there 1s zreat ob- jection to the Manner in which the business was formerly conducted; cannot recollect what the charges were; can obtain the information, bow- ever, The evidence of thts wimess was a repetition of that of others who lad been previously examined on the subject of the general order business, Charles Squires Was next called and questioned relative co an article watch he had written i the New York 7imes relative to the warehouse business, He testified that the statements contained in the ar- tlcle were true. He entered into soine detaiis of the prices charged for storage on various articles in the Uustom House geueral order stores; has had twenty-four years’ experience as ware- houseman; formeriy owaed stores which are now occupied by Leet & Uo.; 1 do not know that com- tapes are quite general among the merchants of he city relative to the charges of Leet & Co,; 1 do not know of any time within the past two years ‘when the charges of Lect & Stocking were bigher than they are now, Senator baYaRp—I will ask you whether you or Mr. Stewart Know most avout the business of the ‘Tormer? A. On some points he knows more, tn other ways T believe | know most; he (Mr. Stewart) maue complaints about certoin matters which com- plaints had no foundation, and he showed an ignorance of that part of his business in not know: ing that he was in error; I cannot give any other Instances in which my knowledge of Mr. Stewart's bugungaa is superior ¥o is own, Senator BAYARD examined the witness at great length relative to the reflections cast upon Mr. Stewart by the article 10 the Times, ‘The withess was further examined relative to the memorial presented to Mr, Marphy by 100 of the Yeading merchants of New York, on the general ordér question, but declined to give an opinion, al- leging a8 his reason that he did not wish to com- ron! himself with persous by whom he got a ving. ak Bloomfield, of 11 Dey street, testified—Am @ general importer Of goods; know something of the general order system; have known frequent casés uv. delay; have made specific arran; ents ‘when I have paid fees to Custom Mouse officers 1 detaming goods on the pier longer than the le; ‘ume; I cannot tell exactly tue amount f have paid for having the goods detatued, bat at ditierent ities have paid) ton or fifteen doliars for © same; I balers, it 19 @ general prac- Uce, but cannot give any names; cannot state whether it is@ general custom with high- minded merchants or not; the bribes are given in order to escape the exorbitant Saarges ol general order business; the inspectors called at my store to receive te mouey; they understood what they bad got to do in order to earn it; the reason for keeping goods on the pier istnat I do not wish to pay car’ and other expenses which are en- Tall upon me when my goods go into the order; I have had to pay the gratuily prevent the goods going to Leet, whea I had ample time to Begoure them, had it not been for the delay of the Oustom House officers in giving the permit; 1t_was understood that the inspectors are not limited to an nour or two while passing goods on the dock; I always acquiesced in the payments, and believe chat other merchants make & common practice of bribing the inspectors; Custom House Officers themselves have testifed to the amount ol,money received ‘by them before @ former com- mittee; am not er. that the agents.o! the steam- ship companies had been in the habit of bribing the ingpectors; am certain 1¢ is @ general practice of the merchants of the city; did not know that those gratuities were contrary to law; cannot specity the Dumber of times I have made other arrangements, Nor say with how many different inspectors; have never paid the money personally; my clerks always attend to that; 1 gapnot say that {t merchunts knew they were commit ‘@ crime they woald do it. Senator BAYARD~We are not here to try the right or the wrong motyes of merchants; we are vere to Investigate the conduct of: Custom Ronse olliclais; the matter we wish to reform Js the condact of the lic servants, It isanother thing to inquire about le conduct O1 those who may, corrupt them Lf we seek to implicate the merchants we will love a quantity of valuavie testimony. 4° Senator STEWART—It. Was proved by this witness that there is a general syavem of-brivery, and the juestions [have asked. gre ¢ Pe and_ proper. we wish to get at the triith of corruptions. the proper way is to get the names of the merchants who are guilty of bribery. bo.long as the merchants are willing to bribe there will be loand men who will take thoge brives, By the CuaiRMAN—is there a general opinion that the Custom House officials are Corrupt? A. 1 know nothing more than lhave told you; I cannot say whether tuey are right in receiving bribes, but knog it is the Heere custom. In the subseqdent examination of the witness va- rious attempts were made by the administrauion Senators to stife the revelations by imputing im- Brarer, iM tonin. Senators Casserly aud Bay- rd protested against such interierence, The commiitve adjourned at half-past five till half-past seven o’clock. Eveving Session. The Committee reassembled at half-past seven o'clock. W. F. Stocking, having been sworn, testified as follows:— Q. State to the Committe whether General Porter recommended you for the general order business in any.way—or General Babcock or any one else con- nected with the President? A. No, sir; 1 DO Way, shape or manner, Q. State if complaints have been made against your general order charges? A. We have had com- plaints from merchants and importers; sometimes they have been well founded, owing tO @ clerical error, and very often tuey have been satisied with the explanation given. . Do you make any profit upon cartage? A. No, air; {don’t think it 1s @ source of profit to us. Q How do you charge for labor? A. We charge the usual charges, the same as before we had the business; I presume the Collector nas power to ix Our charges; the Collector 1# responsible for the collection of the revenue upon all goods, and he designates our stores as the receptacie for sach goods; we ourselves give @ general bond to the Collector for bonded and general goods, for $340,000, to return goods in the same order that we receive u un. What rent do you. give for your stores? A. 1,600) ii dee’ ah ’ Now alate whatare your profte? A. That I ant Not at present able to state, having been sick; my partner, Colonel Leet, will answer that, Q What are the names ander which your two stores arerun? A. George K. Leet & company and Leet & Stocking; George K. Leet and myself are the only partners tat have any interest, direct or indl- Fect, in those businesses, Q What precautions do you take against bur- glary? A. We havo a couple of watchmen there every night, and Colonel Leet or myself sometimes o down to waten things; we have never lost any- thing out of our stores. Having tien explained the position, dimensions, &c., of his two stores, the witness added that he vhought the accommodation was in every Way suitl- rm tO, Have you ever given money to inspectors to send goods to your stores? A. No, sir; in case of any emergency we have @ large, Vacant space, 80 tiat if a vessel arrives leaky or asteamer arrives after time, we can accommodate tuem, Q The committes noticed the otier day, in pass- ing through your stores, that @ great many were marked “received in bad order." A. We have an expert to decide cases; @ case may perfectty dry, and yet the rusty condition of tho hoo ping shows that It has been wet; if the nals are | so ag to leave suspicion that the case may have been opened, the cases are 0 marked: after a stormy agsage 1 have known ail the cargo in a snip to be in bad order, Q How much did Mr, Stewart pay you durin; year 1871? A. Tiree thousand and filty-eight dollars, Q. How are the rates of cerage established by the government compared with the city rates? A. For te same service, a ivad of 1,200 pounds, the Uity Hall rate is seventy-five cenw and the govern- ment race, 1s only fifty cents, Q, Do you insist upon your charges before you de- liver thie goods? A. No, sir, not in ali cases; par- es that we know we trust sometines; I don’t kuow or pecially favorable arrangement granved to Mr. Stewart; there 18 @ proportion of goods left ‘under the general order which are never claimed, anu they are very olten Worthless; we have to keep Buch goods for a year and then they are sent to the government to be sold; we have to receive every’ thing that 18 sent to us, and to pay the cartage for it—even beas, for instance, of people who have died at ‘ag and thatare absolutely wortniess, Q You deny the existence of any arrangement of your-firm between those firms and A. T. Stewart, which provided for a lingtation of charges’ A, 50 far as iknow nosuch arrangement has ever been ma such ede. Q When were you first introduced to Mr, Lind- say? A. By Uie clerk of Willard’s Hotel, some- Wuere about the end of 1869; he was sometimes in Washington; I was in Washington on private busi- Dess, geting Up &@ venture we had made in Mexico: 1 had been @ manuia r of furnaces and ranges; 1 was the inventor of itilator stove, When did you first obtain an interest In a con tract with the Custom House? A. 1t Was not a con- wact; 1 became superinievdent of the cartage bu- reau, under Mr. Grinnell, with a salary; that was abolfsnedt on the 16n ot June, and on the 2otn of June J veeame @ obariner with Colouel Leet and Mr. Horton im the general order business; I had first met Colonel Leet a year delore that; he was then in the army; Iriendsut nd confidence in each otlier made us partuers; jad been on the best terins with him for some time; Mr. Horton put jo a ittie capital: phe gyn to popital 3 reguii our credit; I don't know now Leet bad bad she general order busi wi jong a ——w ness previonsly; 1 have no knowledge of that that I re ¥ Do you know Generat Porter? A. Ihave known him to bow to him for three years; I never saw hina with Mr. Lindsay. Q When did you obtain all the business? A. There was @ defalcation in Bixoy’s store, and threw ourselves mto the breach and all the business; there is only the same capital required in our business as in a commission business; there are two bonds; one of them is signed Beebe and Mr. Wakeman, ana the other fr. Sullivan and Mr. Solomon; | believe they stand until motice 1s given to increase or modify them; we have made no arrangement to indemnity, Q Why do you do business under two diferent firma names? A, The stores are diferent in each way, and in order to gee which store pays the best | we keep the two stores distinct in every way. | _Q. What degree of personal attention do you and your partner give to this business? A, Our entire time, and when we work all aight we are there, Q. How was it that Mr. Grianel! appomredé you Superintendent of the Cartage Bureau? A, After I Was introduced to Mr, Lindsay he suggeste that I shonld come on and get the position; Itnen got @ number of letters trom Senators—senators Morton and Harris and others; | caine on and showed them to Mr. Grinnell ana he appointed me, Q Did you have any \etter from Mr. Lindsay? A, No, sit; he may have spoken to Mr. Granneil about it, . Q. Did Mr. Lindsay have any interest in this place that you got? A. sir; | do not kaow that ne had any ulterior «i ns, Dut he acied very {riendly; Ido not know wheter tuere were any otner appil- cants. Q It was a very good position? a, It was so represented to me, but 1 found it the hottest bed | Was ever in. Q. What had been your previous business? A. Originally L was a cierk with Alderman Denny; then I went on to Washington; during the ward was captured at tie irout and was in Caste Thunder for siX mouths; after ihat 1 was. sick for a ir; after the war 1 went to Mexico on @ business advenjure, I was there a year, and after [came baek { was again sick; ax cartage su- perintendeat I was to have $5,000 @ year; Mr,,Grin- hell said I nad the strongest papers he nad ever seen; 1 was not recommended by ertaer of the New York Senators; I did not Know either of thenf, The committee then adjourned unull this morning at ten o'clock. HEAVY’ cRDNANCE, Have We an Effective Gun fer Naval and Sen Coast Defence? To THE Epiror oF THR HERALD: — We have read with great interest the arnéles in your paper in reference to the United States Navy and its guns; and Knowing that: your valuable and universally read journa) exerts a great anfuence ‘with those high in authority in the government we hope thus to call to their attention, aad to place be- fore the people, facts which are of the greatest and of immediate importance to the country. There can be no intelligent person who has seen and read comprehensively of our navy and those of first clasa Powers of Europe who will disagree with you as to tie utter Worthlessness of our slips aud armam Why our Naval Buread and Conzress do not action in reference to this matter 1s sometiiing incompre- hensible, and it is tu be feared that they will not awake to these facts until the disastrous reayits ure fully realized Sy actual war wilh some first ciass Power of Europe, One of the first points to be considered 1s,,‘‘Have we, by Comparison, an effecuve gun for naval and Seacoast defences’? By actual experiments made at Fortress Mouroe and at Shoeburyness, England, and the tests in Austria, Prussia and Russia, it has been cieariy demonstrated that we have not a gun that can equal 1m range, accuracy or penetration or even approach with any degree the effectiveness of the heavy naval ordnance now used by European Powers. ‘These facts are fully known to govérnments abroad, and should be known to our own: and we have every reason to know beyond a douvt that _the Naval Commission sent) to Europe Bome two years past, from Washington, to examine into thissubject, have reported these facta to the Naval Bureau, and especially recommend two foreign systems—one as a uew and complete built up gun Of steel rings onthe Krupp system, and the other system consisting of a cast tron Jacket with Qn inserted colied tube or tunes of steel or wrougnt dronp'which is kKuown as the Parson’s system, and is Particularly adapted to be used in combiaation with our American cast iron for néw guns, and tlis sysiem is thoroughly adapte to convert our present cast iron smooth bore fifteen-inch and eleven-inch guns to sicel-lined rifled guns, eqGal in weight of shot, endurance, ree accuracy and penetration to tae Krupp gun, which 18 considered by all Buropeam military au- thorities, aud our own comission ‘“aforemen- toned,” to be the most improved, effective and Teliable ordnance now Known, The great expense, \ime and experience required in the manufacture of this Krupp gua m.tne United States would not prove so advantageous as the “Parsons” saystem, consider ing our present faciiiues tor Manulacturing such ordnance. Whereas the ‘Parsons’? gua recom- mends itself so thoroughly, as regards Cntire eiti- clency, economy and its immediate avauanility to Our Duval and sea Coast defences, as a home manu- facture, and with the expense of aiew millions of dollate the entire navy and sea coast could ve put upon an equal footing in all respects with the Deaviest rifled ordnance known, aud tuls couid be accomplished in comparatively short time, at a cost of ted per cent less than by using the “ixrupp” syateni. The English standard government gun, bailt at the Woolwich Arsenal on the Brasier system of Wrought tron and steel and ritied, 1s considered by the English “government a3 an improvement ou ine Armstrong guu.’”’ The Armstrong and Frasier (Woolwich) guns may be considered as unworthy of manulactare in tais counery, as they are considered unwerthy ol purchase by the continental govern- ments Of Europe on account of thelc want o1 dura pees has been proved by coimpetiive tests in Austria, Prussia and Russia with tle Krapp gun. The English guns are equally effective up to less than one hundred and fifty rounds in each of tiese test cases, but bey ond one hundred ana fiity rounds they give way and are rendered altogether useless ¢ Parsons syste hag been adopted by the Eng. lish government for converting their heaviest cast- iron guns. ‘his has at Deen done to the ex- tent of several hundred, they are still working 8 rapidly as possible, until they shal! have convert: eq all they have, by this means saving their government an enormous expense, instead Of manufacturing new guns of wrought iron and. steel, and, at the same tline, their cast iron is weil known by them to ve twenty per cent “interior to our own for gun purposes, The foregolng statement contains nothing but facts, for which wecan furnish you the eviuences should you think it of sufficient interest for the people or the United States to know tnrough your columns of our inability to successfully defend our commerce, as Well us Our ports, {rom foreign ag- gression, M, & 0. & TeRRisie ApeamE, eee ees A Lady Burned to Death to Hartfond. (From the Hartford (Conn.) Post, Jan. 14.) About eleven o'clock this (Thursday) forenoon there Was a sail and terrivie occurrence at tne house of Mra. Pui'ip Ripley, No. 96 Church street, the same being the burning to death of Mrs, Vorde- ha Burke, wile of Captain Thomas F. Burke, of this city. Mr, and Mrs, Burke hud been for some time boarding with Mrs. Ripley, occupying aiarge front apartment on the second floor. Mrs. burke had been in poor health for several weeks and nad matnly been contined to her room, tnough not to her bed, Her husvand left her as usual avout eigut o'clock this morning, proceeding to Glazier’s art ‘allery, Where he was emploved, and she remained In her room. Tie first intimation that Mrs. Ript or of the servants had of any trouble was a shriek from above, and directiy arter Mrs. Burke came runuing down stairs, all ia lames. She ran throagh a short haliway, across the aining Toom and into the kitchen, where sue dropped deau. ‘Yhe horrified servants threw @ Dianket avout the body and extinguished the flames, but the fire had done its work, @ud a charred and scorched corpse ‘was all that remained of the delicate, fair-faced wo- man of @ few minutes velore, A physician was instantly summoned, but life was exunct, and the body, Whicn was ¢uarred irom the feet up to the lorenesd, wus covered trom sight where it lay. Captain Burke, for whom a messen i had been sent, arrived, but alas | the wife whom @ had ieft three hours beiore was. gone. His tard was pitiiul to witness, and tue tears fell \ike rain from eves unused to weeping. “Ib can’t be so)’ he cried, in agonizing tones. “I'l, not beileye it, | must see her;” but strong hands kept him away from the dreadful sight unui the ua- dertaxer bad arrived and Washed and dressed vue body, and then he was permiited to look upon ali that rem: d of his dead wile, Mrs, Burke was an exceedingly ladylike, well edu- cated, accomplished woman, aod had many warm friends. She was a planist aud vocalist oi far more wan ordinary ability, and sevecal ye ago was one of the seprauo singers lu the Cehtre church choir, under Dr. Barnett. Her en Lame was Hardwick, an @ iormerly lived in Bostou, where she has a brotl oO whom word Of the sad occurs Tence was seut. Her tather and mother were boin gat, ae, latter dying last spring aud leaving ner a censiderabie§ sum of money: © Indeed, it ig stated that she would nave come into possession of several thousand dollars if she lived tut sphing, She had veen married about twelve years and had no children, The news of her sad and bg Cea be snuperen ites ot @ host rieuds, Whiie ut wi the aa sympathy of ali ip tie dreadiul ve- reavement ‘The theory advanced in regard to sng, accident and justified py ihe appearauce of the room, is thas the dre caught in some way in closet; that Mrs, Burke discovered the smoke opened the door, @nd that the fames burst sudden! pen per, ignit Ing her clothing. She was ui imatight morn- ing rrepeey, ‘and must bave been ntly veloped in flames. Losing her she rusved out inio sa Bei ang do she stairs, fanning the blaze and inl os a8 she went, and dropped dead im the kitchen as stated. ‘the discovery of a box of Charred yr maten onthe floor of the closet would Taare the mo. wens to the probable supposition that Mra, Bur! Closet for sumetting and stepped upow the matches, mie very easily, an which, as 13. well known, a by the sudden pressure their ignition, and that from their flames her clothing waa set fire, The ano Of the adalr must, however, remain &