The New York Herald Newspaper, February 24, 1873, Page 3

WASHINGTON. Prepared for the Great Strug- gle on Tuesday. Poland’s Whitewash To Be Tinged with Green. COLFAX SECURE. The Judiciary Committee’s “No Jurisdiction” Theory. Bingham, Peters and Shoemaker Explain Why. The Essex Statesman Pre- pares the Report. NO IMPEACHMENT. Dreadfo) Mcasures Against Congressional Sinners, on Paper Ouly. The President’s Budget of Busi- ness for the Senate. THE VICE PRESIDENT ROBBED. A Professional Gentleman Steals $4,000 from the Ohristian Statesman. WASHINGTON, Feb, 23, 1873, The Colfax Impeachment—“No Jurisdic- tion” Theory of the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. When the nine members of the House Committee ‘on the Judiciary concluded a protracted meeting jst before midnight last night it was currently be- Heved that something very important had been done. This is the first time this session all the members have met, The cases of Vice President Colfax and Judges Delabay, Durell and Sherman were before them, and must be disposed of within ten days. The resolution of Mr. Tyner by inference might have meant cither Colfax or James Brooks, but, the latter having already been provided for in another way, the duty of the committee toward the former had evidently been under serious consider- ation, Then the reticence of the members, thetr positive refusal to talk or say what had been done, g@nd the cold assurance that the press would find out soon enough, led to speculation as to the result of five long hours’ delibera- tion, The political complexion of the committee also added to the speculative interest of the nine Solons of the House. There were the Chairman, Bingham; Wilson, of Indiana; Shoemaker, of Pennsyivania, and Peters, of Maine, who were radical republicans and within the party traces; Butler, who is always radical ; Good- rich, of New York, who had liberalized himself out of Congress, and the trio of democrats, Voorhecs, Eldridge and Clarkson N. Potter. It was true the report of Poland’s committee was no criterion; buat why this positive refngal to talk about cemmit- tee matters—this careful bridling of the tongue ? To answer this was the task imposed to-day, and to learn at about what time the articles of impeach- ment against the Vice President might be pr2- sented, In a@ pleasant room in the Washington House was found the venerable Chairman of the Judictary Committee, Judge Bingham, hedged about with volumes of the gathered wisdom of a thousand years and numerous copies of the HER- ALD. Acloud of smoke, like an aureola of glory, Qoated over his silvery locks; there was something indicative of new life in his features; his eye was brighter, his complexion clearer and his voice more impressive. mn “git down and make yourself at home,” was the cordial greeting when once I was across the thresh- old of his apartment, The weather, business before Congress and other minor topics were not breached as preliminary to an attack on the great impeacher, the man who has had more experience in this line than any other member of Congress, so I quickly asked the first question—‘What did you do in committee last night that could be repeated without infring- ing on your agreement?” “Nothing, sir; and who says to the contrary mis- tcpresents the fact.” Here I was in deep water, with no one but this venerable jurist to save me. “You are acorrespondent for the HERALD, are you? Who writes for that paper with buzzard’s guills, and questions my business transactions with Oukes Ames, or any other man, eh?” “| was not aware that anybody did; Ido not at least, I always write with a Faber No. 2, and prefer pencil to ink.” ‘The judge looked at me, squared bis chair ina better light, and after expressing himself very plainly about the ignorance of tite press generally, but notof the HERALD, as he sald Mat was the only paper he ever read, he said :— “This impeachment business is not so savory as many people would suppose. Let us see. Judge Pickering, of New Hampshire, was impeached about the beginning of this century. After that an attempt was made to Impeach Justice Chase, of the Supreme Court, which failed, as did also the attempt to impeach United States District Jadge Peck. Judge West Humphries, of Tennessee, was convicted of treason during the war, and then came the effort to impeach that great and good man, from the same State, Andrew Johnson, Presi- dent of the United States, in both of which cases I was the leader, and, as you know, not so successful with the last as with the first. Now let us go back ‘again, for I suppose you want to know what the prospect is of impeaching Colfax. Well, somewhere bout 1795 Tennessee had a Senator named Blount, ‘whom it was decided could not be impeached; and Joba Smith, a Senator from Ohio, concerned in Burr’s conspiracy, failed to be expelled for lack of votes. But the case which brings us to the point is that of Senator Humphrey Marshall, of Ken- tucky, who was charged with certain grave of- fences, committed pefore his election to the Sen- ate; and the Senate, acting under the precedent of the British Parliament, decided that it had no yurisdiction over offences not committed while a Senator was not a member of that body.” This Jast remark brought the question to an issue, and J asked for its application. “The resolution referred to our committee _re- quires us to ascertain whether any officer of ‘the government has been guilty of offences for which he should be impeached. If Mr. Colfax was guilty of accepting bribes while Speaker of the House he might have beem expetied for that offence; but as he could not be impeached then, but only expelled, he cannot now be impeached, because he lo Vice President. J tola you the Senate decided in the case of one of its own members that it had no turisdiction over the alleged offences of its mem- wers not committed during their connection with the Senate. The resolution !3 peculiarly worded and refers to Mr. Brooks quite as piainly as to Mr. Colfax, Mr, Brooks held a civil office at one time as Government Director-of the Pacific Railroad and was detarred from holding stock. If he did ‘this— (but I have no purpose in saying that he did, or that I think he did)—if he violated the law he coukl have been impeached by the Congress then ja Oflice, but with that Congress a’ NEW ¥QRK HERALD, MONDAY, FEBRUARY. 24, 1873—TRIPLE SHEET. authority, cedent, ceased. I see that. Poland’s Com- Mittee cite the ease of Jonn of the Brit- ish House of Commons, in support.of mendations against Ames. It is not for me now to say what I may say when that report is discussed, but the fact is that the word ‘expunged’—ex- panged, sir, was written over the very record ap- pealed to by the confmittee.” ‘Here Mr. Bingham invoked an- old volome full of reference marks, giving evidence that his experi- ence in impeachment matters had not been forgot- tem, and the celebrated words of Junius were quoted with a vim. 4 “But what I asked about—the evidence before Judge Poland’s Committee, concerning his verac- ity” “That, I must confess I do not-understand; un- legs it ig that Judge Poland wants,to prove Ames guilty of perjury to sustain the other charge of bribery.” “Then I understand that you are convinced your committee has no jurisdiction over the acts of Present oficers of the'government not committed during their present term of ofice 7? “That is my opinion.” Rerpecting his own connection with the Creait Mobilier matter Mr. Bingham expreseed himself as freely and plainly as before the committee. He was sorry it had not yielded a larger dividend, end emphatically denounced the accusation that he been governed by improper motives, He had néthing to.conceal, and the report let him alone. ‘There were strange inconsistencies in it, which Would probably provoke @ long and earnest dis- jr recom. _ by our own and Engfish pre-| tninking perhaps the fellow was more oMcious | 1 than diacreet. a “Don’t know, sah; but he can’t see any one; dose are my instructions.” . 4 ‘That was periectly clear; but as I was regretting the refusal anothef member of the Judiciary Com- mittee sought gn,interview and he, too, was re- fased, and so with all the visitors, This seclusion is the gossip of the city to-night, and a coup de main on Poland’s committee is expected. It may be confidently asserted that the report that General Butler is preparing—the judiciary report—and has worked on ail day will antagonize Poland’s report ih every particular. Heis to save Oakes Ames; and 6n the same ground the aemoeratic members will come to the reacue of James Brooks, and while re- viewing the testimony of the committte will draw the digtinetion alluded to in the above interviews, In these views Potter and Goodrich coincide, ’ At alate hour to-night Mr. Butler ts stilhengaged im his office, and if the report can be finished and read to the committce in time to-morrow, Mr. Butler will present it immediately after reading the journal. Mr. Bingham will sign it if there ig nothing too offensive to his sense and justice in it. .He would have prepared it himself were 1t.not that his name is associated with the scandal and respect for the opinions of those whom he esteemed. Jed him to waive the right ne had to the task. It 1s expected that the report will be a “scoroher,” giving the whole pack of speculaters from Dawes down to Patterson and from Wilson up to Ames, an unepviable notoriety. Mnch of the Crédit Mobilier matter remains untold, but Butler will probably tell it in his report. cugsion. As for the report of his own committee, the work of preparing had been confided to Gene- ral Butler, and he felt sure the sentiment of the committee would not differ in the main from what he had repeated, Mr. Peters Thinks Ditto. Jolm A. Peters, another member of the commit- tee, in response to the question as to what passed during tho meeting of the committee, last evening said:—“We had four cases before us, namely, those of Judge Durell, Judge Sherman, Judge Delahay and Schuyler Colfax. The case of Judge Durell we did not tonch at all, and I do not think that any action will be taken on that matter. It will probably remain on the calendar and die out. As to the case of Jndge Delahay, the committee has unanimously decided to report articles of impeachment against him. Gen- eral Butler, who is drawing up the report, has specially urged this, and the committee are of opinion that the evidence warrants the impeach- ment of Delahay. The committee then considered Judge Sherman’s case, but reached no conclusion. I think, however—and: this ts also the opinion of the committee—that there has not been evidence enough to take action. Judge Sherman ought first to be heard in his own defence before the commit- tee take such a grave step as to report articles of impeachment against him, As there are only a few days left of the session his case cannot be investigated as fully as it ought to be, and the committee will therefore recommend that it be referred to the next House for consideration. In the third case—that of Vice President Colfax— the committee is pretty nearly unanimous that it cannot report articles of impeachment against him on the ground that Congress has no jurisdiction over the conduct of Congressmen and officers of the government previous to their election for the pres- ent term.” “But ia not Congress the guardian of its own honor? Does not one of its acts say that any mem- ber who brings Congress into disgrace 1s a subject for expulsion?” ‘At least seven of the nine members of the com- mittee will sign Butler’s report, and while its writer had declared Colfax should be impeached, he could not find sufMcient grounds on which to base the articles. The report will doubtless have something to say about Henry L. Dawes, Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, General Garfield, Chairman of the Appropriation Committee ; Samue! Hooper, Chairman of the Com. mittee on Banking and Currency; Mr. Scofield, Chairman of the Naval Committee, and Mr. Keliey, Chairman of the Centennial Celebration Com- mittee, . Judge Durell, of New Orleans, is en route for Washington to prevent action in his case before the Judiciary Committee, The Report Finished. ‘The report of General Butler was finished ata late hour to-night, and the committee will ask to be discharged from the further consideration of the charge against Mr. Colfax, and that the resolu, tian offered by Mr. Tyner be laid on the table. The report will certainly be presented to-morrow. The President’s Message to the Senate— Senatorial, Financial, Diplomatic and Political Changes—Committecs To Bo Reconstructed and “Impure” Poli- ticians Shut Out. The President’s prociamation calling the Senate together for executive business is issued under authority of the third section of the second article of the constitution, which says that “he may, on extraordinary occasions, convene both houses, or either of them.” ‘The document is a verbatim copy, with the exception of the dates and the signatures, of that issued from the State Department by direction of Preai- dent Lincoln just prior to the close of his first term of office, It has not, therefore any especial siqnifi- cance at the present time, neither are the “objects of interest” of remarkable !mportance. Tho neces- sity for reviving the joint Mexican Claims Commis- sion has been communicated to the Senate ina Special megsage, but there is no time “I think that Congress has an arbitrary power to . for any action on the subject before the xpel ih om f 1 - hd neeise® Dx hnpengne moana on enen ans ech close of the present session. It is algo ment; but it would not be discreet and legally right to use that power.”” “Then there will be no minority report?” “No, I think there will be no necessity for one, and upon this same technical ground the majority of the House will not vote for the expulsion of any of the members implicated in the Crédit Mobilier, This will be Butler’s line of argument in defence of Oakes Ames, He is drawing up the report of the committee, and it will be quite a vigorous.one, ‘We shaif meet again to-morrow morning, and the report will be presented on Tucsday.” “Apart from the technica) objection of jurisdic- tion, do you think, sir, that the evidence against Colfax justifies his impeachment ?”” “1 do not think that the evidence of Oakes Ames alone would convict him before any court of law. Mr. Ames has doubtless prevaricated ; he has been very unscrupulous in his testimony, giving differ- ent versions at different times about the connec- tion of the implicated members with the Crédit Mobiller, althongh I think that his last version was the true one, and that there is circum- stantial evidence against Colfax beyond Ames’ testimony. Still there is a legal doubt, though there may not be a moral one, and before a court of law the accused is entiticd to the benefit of it. I believe that public opinion will deal with Colfax as severely as he deserves, “Would the judgment of your committee have been different ir Fernando Wood's resolution had prevailed 7” “I do not think that would have made any differ- ence. The republican majority did not waut to have the resolution from the democratic side; but Tyner’s substitute really amounted to the same thing, and it would be of little use to report the impeachment of Colfax, because there is no time left for Congress to take any action whatever in the matter.” How the understood that there is an extradition treaty with Honduras ready for ratification, and that a new treaty with the Dominican Republic, in which the rights of the American colony at Samana Bay are to be guaranteed, may reach here in time to be considered. . There will also be a considerable number of nominations to be confirmed, including the heads of departments, all of whom will, in ac- cordance with long established usage, tender thetr resignations on the 3d of March. The postponement by Mr. Boutwell’s opponents of the Senatorial elec- tion in Massachusetts unui! March 11 will embarrass the President, but he will reappoint Mr. Boutwell, and should that gentleman be elected Senator Judge Richardson will be his successor. The friends of Senator Poote, of North Carolina, whose term expires on the 3d of March, have been so clamorous for his appointment to a Cabinet office that they have disgusted the President. Secretary Fish will have a large budget of nomina- tions, as he is anxious to rotate a number of our diplomatic and consular representatives abroad, Schenck will remain at London, Wash- burne at Paris, Sickles at Madrid and Jay at Vienna, The Assistant Secretary will keep his uncle Bancroft at Berlin, and Senator Edmunds won’t have Marsh removed from Rome, while Cameron is willing that Boker should remain at Constantinople; but jovial old Nye must be pro. vided for by rotating out Governor Lowe from Pekia or Charley De Long from Jeddo, and anew man must supersede Bassett at Hayti, now a first class mission. The Central and South American missions will be much changed, as we need men there who can enlist the diferent governments in & grand American policy, Ex-Senator Henderson, of Misssort, is spoken of as the probable successor of Mr. Part- ridge at Rio Janeiro, and had it not been for the Crédit Mobilier scandal, Mr. Bingham would lave been sent to Paraguay and Uruguay. Mr. Pile has been here, urging his retention at Carac- cas, but his management of the claims against Venezucla has not becn altogether satisfactory. Indeed, all of the South and Centrai American ministers may be rotated. The consular force will certainly be much reconstructed. George E. Seward, who came here from Shanghae hoping to obtain the position of Minister to China, wiil not even return as Consul General, and scores of other Consuls of high and low degree will have to give way to new appointees. The reports of the special agents sent abroad are not favorable con- cerning @ great majority of the Consuis, and new men will be sent who will obey the law and regu- lations. But the Senate, while it will have to sit in judgment on treaties and on nomi- nations, ‘has home work to perform, The expiration of the terms of @ number of Senators vacates the chairmanships of a number of impor- tant committtes, It will be necessary to provide successors for Cole, on the Committee on Appro- priations; Pomeroy, on the Committee on Public Member from Wilkesbarre Feels About It. The conversation of your correspondent with Mr. Shoemaker, a member also of the next House, ‘was as follows :— “How will the report ef your committee deal with the alleged chief offender, Colfax?” “We shall not reach a positive conclusion until to-morrow. In the report the committee will pro- pose to lay down some principle as to the right of Congress to expel any member or impeach any oficer of the government for offences committed previous to his election to Congress or to a term of omice, as the case may be. The committee have not yet fully determined on the principle which should govern their action on the question of jurisdiction. It will probably be decided at their next meeting to-morrow. It is, however, pretty certain that the committee will not report articles of impeachment against Mr, Colfax. I don’t think it would be safe to give Congress the power to expel a member or impeach an officer for any crime committed before his term commenced. If that were allowed there would be no limit to the power of the majority. The safer plan is for the House to take cognizance only of offences committed while the accused is a member of the House; or of an officer, of offences during his term of office. For any crimes previeus to his election it is safe to presume that those who have elected him have passed judgment upon him. Of course, as a gen- eral thing, they understand more about the character of the man for whem they vote than Congress; they take the conduct of his whole life inte consideration, and draw their conclusions from that as to his fitness or unfitness for office, and as @ general thing they know the man whom they wish to represent them. They don’t judge from one act, but from his whole life. That is the prevalent idea in the committee. Suppose the republicans in the House bad only one majority, and they wished to get a majority by which they can suspend the rules and pass any measure they may desire, how easy would it be for them to expel & required number of the opposition by trumping up charges against them. Hence the importance of establishing some general principle on which this pewer of expulsion can be exercised, so that the rights of the minority should be rezpected.” Butler Too Busy To ie Distarbed. Having proceeded thus far into the subject before the committee, the astute and vigorous General Butler was next sought at his residence on Fil- teenth street. A “piercing piping wind” was not necded to chill the venturesome writer as he walked with doubtful steps toward the office of the Essex statesman. The magnetic infuence which sometimes invites a reckless fellow into his pres- ence was cut off, Not on account of its being Sun- day—certainly not—but because the Lord of the House was engaged. “Engaged to everybody" was the answer of the polite Africanus who guarded the outer portal, “What is he doing that is so important?” said I, Lands; Harlan, on the Committee on Indian Affairs, and Patterson, on the Committee on the District of Columbia, besides less important chair- manships, held by Nye, Pool, Sawyer and Kellogg. The entire list of Senate commit- tees will be reconstructed in @ caucus of republican Senators and then reported to and | adopted by the Senate. But the Senate will also have to scrutinize the credentials of those newiy elected Senators who are said to have “bought in,” among them Dorsey, of Arkansas; Conover, of Florida ; Ingalls, of Kansas; Pinchback or Warmeth, of Louisiana, Bogy; of Missouri, and Patterson, of South Carolina. Allison, of Iowa, will probably come scorched with Crédit Mobilier, but he may escape notice. It 18 the known wish of leading Senators, however, not to admit to a seat any one | who cannot show @ clean bill of electoral health. It will not answer for the Senate to be tainted as it has been of late. The Vice President Robbed of $4,000. Misfortune never comes singly. Poor Coliax can well testify to the truth of this sayin, Yesterday afternoon, while he and his father-in-law, Mat- thews, were engaged in their respective duties at the Capitol, @ plausible, stylishly dressed young man, who had been staying as @ guest at Worm- ley’s Hotel, walked into Colfax’s room, broke his trunk open and helped himself to the valu- ables, consisting of four thousand dollars’ worth of bonds and coupons, When Colfax returned in the evening the remmant of that happy smile which ornamented his face before the black days of Orédit Mobilier was chilled into blank amaze- ment, It is not deemed good to mention for the present the registered name of that plausible young stranger, although it was probably, like the shirt on his back, changed as often as convenient, Suffice it to say that he is supposed to have taken one o'clock P. M. train for New York yesterday, immediately after his transaction was executed, He did not leave his future address behind him, ‘The only token of his visit to the Vice President's room was an umbrella which he left on the bed, and which has been identified as having belonged tohim. The thief was a gentlemanly looking man of about thirty-five, with high-toned English airs about him. Some suppose him to have been an emissary from an investigating committee of light-fingered gentry in New York, who pre- sumedly came here in response to Colfax’s late challenge to the Poland committee to investigate his household affairs. It 1s a remarkable coincl- dence, too, that the value of the bonds and coupons abstracted by the emissary aforesaid should have been $4,000, the very amount which Colfax is alleged to have received from the liberal government contractor, Nesbitt, as a donation, or, as malicious persons bave it, a8 a year’s salary in quarterly instalments, The colored gentlemen at Wormley’s are very mysterious about the theft, as Mr, Colfax has specially requested that the matter remain a profound secret. Utah Has Another Chance Yet. ‘The Utah question will not be disposed of by the House Judiciary Committee this session, and the Jaw must remain as at present until the next ses- sion of Congress. Spain and Cuban Slavery—Downing Down on Hasty Measures. George W. Downing, the well-known representa- tive colored man, has written a letter saying the unexpected change of government in Spain should restrain for the present our government from declaring belligerent rights to the Cuban patriots; that it refused to grant belligerent rights to them while. Spain was monarchy, upholding slavery, and perfidious in her course towards our government; that the new Republic of Spain should be allowed reasonanle time to act for freedom and Cuba; that we should be cautions not to embarrass the new ally to republicanism by pre- judging her unfavorably; that as republicanism is progressing with hopes of success in at least four nations of Europe, we should be careful not to cross and impede its progress in these countries as well os in Cuba and else- where. The letter has been written because action has been taken by colored men in dif- ferent parts of the country on the simple an- mouncement of an intention to issue a call for a national assembling of colored men in Washington on the 34 of March in favor of free- dom in Cuba and the declaring of beliiger- ent rights to the Cuban patriots. Though no formal call has been issued, a National Assembly will meet to urge Spain to immediately free her slaves, to sympathize with Cuba and to in- augurate further efforts to induce early action on the part of the incoming administration, to the end of securing all citizens of our country in their civil rights. Comstock’s Christianity Refused by the Senate. ‘The Senate cruelly put an end last evening to the hopes of a fellow named Comstock, who came here a few weeks ago with a budget of indecent engrav- ings and immoral articles, which he professed to have obtained in response to letters which he sent, enclosing money, to parties whe advertised them for sale. His first exhibition was at the house of that statesman, Sub. Pomeroy, and the leading lights of ‘tne Young Men’s Christian Association were invited by printed cireulars to go there and gaze upon this collec- tion. Then they were displayed in the room of Colfax at the Capitol, and Comstock eloquently descanted on the necessity for a law not only to prevent the sale of the dirty trash, but to sup- press all advertisements which did not mect his approval. Even such a law as he desired, he said, would be a dead letter on the statute book unless there could be @ special postal agent appointed, who could enforce it. “But,” said the virtuous Comstock, “if I receive this appointment I shall entirely reform the advertisements of every newspaper in the country.” Alas, for Comstock! He adroitly managed to have the paragrapn authorizing the ‘Coveted appoltitment inserted in the Postal Appro- priation bill, but when it came before the Senate it ‘was unceremoniously rejected, and he was left out in the cold with his indecent stock in trade. When the government desires a censor of advertisements or of morals he will doubtless be appointed, Pictured Glorics of the Inauguration Ceremonies, Thousands of persons in distant citics have en- gaged quarters at hotels and boarding houses for Inauguration week, and large sums have been pai for front rooms on Pennsylvania avenue, from which to see the procession, The arrangements for the ceremonies are fully matured, and will be carried out upon a scale far ex- ceeding any display heretofore attempted in the history of the Republic. There will be almost fifty different military and civic organizations in procession, each preceded by a band of music, and it will form a parade only equalled at the time that Grant and Sherman’s § armics were reviewed here at the closing of the war, in the Spring of 1865, The Inauguration Ball, for which tickets are selling rapidly, will be the grandest ever given In this country. The building is the largest ever erected for such purpose, it being 350 feet in length by 160 feet in width, and its complete appointments for comfort and conveni- ence are unsurpassed, The West Point and Naval Cadeis will attend the ball in force, as will numbers of the officers and members of tie other military organizations. The President, Vice-Pres- ident, Cabinet Ministers, Senators, Representa- tives, foreign Ministers and distinguished civilians from all parts of the Union will be Jn attendance, On the 5th of March the President, the Secretary of War and the Secretary of the Navy will review the West Point and naval cadets. A por- tion of Pennsylvania avenue will be assigned for their parade and mancuvres. As numerous volunteer organizations will be in attendance it is probable that several of the broad avenues will be oceupied by them in their competition drill, This will afford an opportunity to compare the West Point school with the volunteer system. - Lobbyists Out of Luck. ‘This has been a bad year in the Senate for lobby- ists, as well as for Christian statesmen. At the commencement of the session they had extrava- gant losses of dives, of lines of mail steamers to be subsidized, gigantic ship yards to be built with bends guaranteed by government, land-grabbing schemes of- all sorts, with scores of other schemes; but as the session draws near to a close they see their hopes extinguished, one after an- other, until it isevident that some of them must borrow money to pay their fares home. Indignant Dealers in Spirits. The Internal Revenue Office still has under con- sideration the sppeal presented by importers of liquors against the ruling holding them to be recti- flers when they mix wines. The decision will be rendered in a day or two. The representatives of the importers have also had an interview with the Secretary of the Treasury on the subject, Crime at the Capital. Immoral houses are now in full operation in Washington, ready for such visitors as may choose to be victimized. The managers have thus far | been very successful on a few residents here, and several large robberies have been reported. A large influx of thieves, burglars, pickpockets, £c., are not only expected, but will be daly provided for by @ corps of detectives, whose services are considered necessary to the gcod name of Wash- ington. The Tax on Banking. Senator Morrill," of Vermont, recently made a report from the Committee of Finance on the peti- tions of bankers and merchants for the removal of all taxes whatever on State and national banking institutions. The committee express the opinion that no legislation is at present required on the subject, and ask to be discharged from the further consideration of the petitions, They say, in con- cluding their report :— It is argued that the removal of national taxes from banks would cheapen or lower the rate of in- terest paid by those who obtain loans from banks, but it is somewhat doubtful whether or not such @ removal would make wny appreciable difference to the advantage of the customers of banks. Banks are by no means the sole creditors of the commu- bk nor the sole lenders of money, are compelled to ni on as favorable terms as can be obtained elsewhere, or their loanavle funds will lie idle, aan ee ‘ feripty inet itations are intended to - institutions for the accommodation of the publics THE B00K SEASON. holders preter farge rather ‘than. smal dividends, ee eee oe en dp |”. There 1s almost nothing doing in the book pub= and therefore they seek the highest legal rates 0! pa interest Compativle with the fut S neaeee of | lishing business at this time, and there is little thelr capital. They will demand about the usual | promise of any new books of tmportance before tha’ market rates. ‘The value of money in banks Autumn. is not exempt from the universal law of supply and ‘Temana. Exemption from taxa- Mr. Seward’s long-promised narrative, which 1a tion would not increase the amount or diminish | soon to be issued by D, Appleton & Co., ia the workg of exceptional interest among the few forthcoming) ae cemend. The rate of Uitesens on wipers Coe able for use a8 money cannot be reduced exce} ‘4 rnd volumes, It will be published Ly subscription, and so rigidly is the plan tobe adhered to that it will competition, or except by increasing the amount even be denied to the press for review. to be loaned, or by diminishing’ the amount re- quired by borrowers. Those who have money to lend, incinding the banks, will get the current €: rates for it. Though it cost the lender much or The same principle is not applied to the trash off Hate. fee peee ter iy 4 rr! mot third or fourth rate novelists: ‘This is always opem the demand, It is believed by the committee, | t?Pufery. We have been fairly deluged with ii peg bat Ene Sanconmens of Ragonal maxed during the Winter, and there is no prospect tha upon national banks would not be so much @ favor | we shall escape till a new writer of exceptional Wo their borrowers as to their stockholders, and the latter do not appear to be very greatly op fiction appears to set the fasnion in this generation pressed os restrained from receiving reasonable | as Dickens did in the Ia Modern fiction {8 threadbare, and unless the It is not even pretended that banks and bankers , 4 we are not receiving ample profits from their business; | Mllar novelists of the period cease writing w' rae ivlolva yg he Tareas f the ea shall be compelled to classify them under thenamal cy, showing dividends averaging @ . “ ” fraction ove: ten per cent, for several years ele OF Mrs Mee eee eee joule ae forget th with @ constantly increasing surplus, would have If Mr. Charles Reade wants people to forget tha Bate oe eppetence. h é he fs the author of “Hard Cash” he has only to ad: ear, While national banks can Joan al } 7 thelr captia}, two-thirds of the r deposits, andall of | £0 the list of his works books like ‘Ihe Wandering their circulation, except their reserve, that the | Heir. ba rol of ene ECE not be eee Bk If Professor De Mille desires to blur his reputae repealed on the capital “ deposits and clrouiation of State banks and bank, | VOM 98 the author of “The Dodge Club” ho nas only, ers yielded for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1872, | t0 remind people that he also wrote “The Lady o! the Ice’? aud “The American Baron.’’ His latest novel, “An Open Question,” proved that his case is closed, He writes too much and ha no longer writes well. $4,628,229 14; the estimated decrease on account o! deductions. made by the act of June 6, 1872, 13 $825,000; there will remain an_esti- mated yearly income of about $3,800,000, to which ‘must be added a similar tax of about six millions of dollars paid bv the national banks directly to the Treasury. It will be seen, therefore, that the total amount which it is asked to have surrendered ts $9,800,000, or nearly $10,000, ‘This may not appear 8 large sum to the bauks and bankers, but it 1s much larger than eke, be well spared for any purpose from the ‘These petitions also refer to the question of re- funding taxes ou dividends, interest and profits earned on or added to the surplus of corporations during the last five months ef the year 1870, but the cominittee refrain from expressing any opinion further than tosay if all the schemes for refunding taxes levied during the hard necessities of the re- cent war were to be favorably considered fresh war taxes would at once have to be again resorted to or the Treasury would become bankrupt. THE HERALD EDITORIALS, {From the Shreveport (La.) Times, Feb. 15.) The New YORK HknaLD never has made short editorials a specialty. It has always made ita point to fully and clearly discuss every question of the day and to say all that was to be said on the subject whether it took a quarter of a column or two columns, but in the fewest possible words, And this is the real character of true journalism, Those papers that estimate the value of editorials by their shortness generally have a higher appre- ciation of brevity than they have of information and idea, The New YorRK HERALD is the greatest and most successful newspaper in~the world, and it publishes more lengthy and exhaustive editorials than any journal we know of. 3 THE HERALD IN MAINE. {From the Machias (Me.) Union, Feb. 18.] The New York HERALD leads all others in this country. From its columns we gather news from every portion of the globe, whether habitable or uninhabitable. From the jungles of far-off Africa, from the snow-covered plains of Russia, from the impenetrable swamps of South America, from the ice-locked harbors of Greenland, as well as from the more civilized portions of this mundane sphere, its vast army of correspondents, with their busy brains, never tire of sending us the latest details. It is a perfect book, from the pages of which we can glean everything worthy of note now going on in this bustling world. Politics, lterature, science—everything finds a place in its col- umns, Its expedition under Mr. Stanley, sent out several months since into the wilds of Africa in search of the great traveiler and explorer, Dr. Livingstone, has been heard from and the curiosity and sympathy of the world as to the noble philan- thropist’s fate gratified. As the great Pacific Rail. road is the climax of all ratiroads and modes of transportation, as the great Atlantic submarine telegraph line is the climax of all telegraph lines and systems for the transmission of intelligence, #0 ia the Nuw Youk HERALD the climax of all news- paper enterprises and methods for obtatuing all the news in the world. It is a complete and reli- able datly history of the world. THE HERALD COMMISSIONER TO CUBA, [From the Janesville (Wis.) Gazette, Feb. 17.) Some months ago the New YORK HERALD sent a correspondent to Cuba to report for that journa! the condition of the rebel cause, the action of the Spanish authorities in dealing with tie rebellion, the progress of events in connection therewith and such other matters touching the social or political condition of the island as might have @ relation to the all-absorbing topic of the rebellion, It has seemed to be the policy of the Governor General of Cuba to prevent the world from obtaining an accurate knowledge of what has transpired on the island during the past four years, and particularly to-keep from the press in | this country the details of the barbaritics which the Spanish troops practise upon the people under the license of war, Their conduct has been simply atrocious. The HERALD was determined to know all the facts; so its correspondent penetrated to the headquarters of the rebels and furnished in- veresting and valuable information and unmaskca the atrocities of the government, The autnoritics dared not expel him from the island, but lately notified him that if he passed to and fro across the lines he might be arrested and shot, and de- clned to be charged with any responsibility on account of his safety. The governinent was also guilty of the pucrile act of ordering its troops into camp when the correspondent joined them for the purpose of reporting the result of the ex- pedition on which they were sent, and the com- mander declined to move until the reporter had leit. A government that in this age is afraid of the press ought not to exist: and, although we do not | want Cuba at present, we snail rejoice in the snc- cess of the patriotic Cubans apd hope our people and government will do all in their power to assist them, The HERALD well says:—“In these modern times republicanism is the refuge of the nations.’ From the villanous despotism of Spanish rule in the Antilles the people of Cuba are fleeing and they are making heroic sacrifices to cast off the intolerable yoke, and instead of a despot- ism-supporting tropical slave labor institute an en- tirely new social and political structure. The ress everywhere will support the HERALD in furling defiance at the cowardly knaves who have threatened the life of its correspondent; also in demaading of our government a firmer and more consistent policy by ee recognition of the right of the Cubans who for four ey past have successfully resisted the Spanish rule in that island to be regayled and treated as belligerents. Our government 4nd our people cannot afiord to Rave the life of one of our citizens threatened in Cuba. Aside from the interest which our people feeiin the struggle that 1s going on there, from the hamanitarian point of observation, we have important commercial interests which will be se- Tiously affected if any one of our citizens who ‘The tall end of the book season shows othersigng of feebleness besides the’ publication of poor novela with well-known names on the title page. ° ” The reissue of works which had an ephemera! success when they first appeared is one of the féaa tures of the dull season. Events of no great sigd nificance are seized upon to give old books a tem< porary sale, The death of Napoleon IIL is one of these, an “The Napoleon Dynasty” of CO, Edwards Lester i: already republished by Sheldon & Co. It is a boo! full of personal details, and in thts it is interesting but among other things it perpetuates the ol: slander that Napoleon owed the command of th army in Italy to Josephine’s interest with Barras, Timeliness seems to be a great virtue with pul lishers, and even the Protestant Episcopal Societ: for the Promotion of Evangelical Knowledge doe not forget to send us at this particular moment volume of “Lenten Thoughts on the Collects, Epia4 tles and Gospels,” There are, of course, a few books coming front the press which are not timed so nicely as to méct the demand which a passing interest may create One of these is Thomas Sully’s “Hints to Portral Painters,” published by J, M. Stoddart & Co, Thes: “Hints” of the distinguished artist were prepare more than twenty years ago, but they were no’ published during his lifetime. Anything that Mr. Sully wrote upon art cannot fail to be of interes: to artists, und this little volume will be generally: welcome, Another work of an interest which dees not depend upon seasons or events is a new rene tion of “The Electra’? of Sophocles by J. G. Brincklo, which is published by John Campbell & Son, of Philadelphia, The design of this transla tion is of course to reach closer approximation tu the form of the original, but it often degenerates Into the baldest prose, as will be seen from the fol~ lowing lines :— yi Wherefore, since we stich oracle have heard, Do these, Wheno’er an opportunity inyiies, The palace enter. Orestes might as weil have told the tutor to get inf ‘by hook or by crook,” as whenever “opportunity’t invites. But the faithiulness of Mr. Brinckle’< work recompenses faults like this and some of thet passages are remarkable for clearness, conciseness, and vigor. The celebrated passage describing chariot race in the Pythian games is a case 4 point, even the free version of Lord Lytton no being more spirited, Speaking of Lord Lytton reminds us that sincg the appearance of “The Coming Race” there hag not been genuine literary sensation, Mra Darwin’s book on the “Expression of tha Emotions in Man and Animals’ was expected ta set every tongue wagging, but the result provedt that the Darwinian theory has lost its novelty. Its{ application to nation-making in Mr. Walter Baged hot’s “Physics and Politics’ was, however, a Pleasing diversion, If the new “International Scientific Series” pro4 jected by the Appletong is to be composed of work as fresh ag this littie volume of Mr. Bagehot’s, wa may expect new pleasures for semi-scicatists, Nd additions have been made to the series for sond time, and not even the publishers know which ss the volumes will next appear. Some of them ar expected very soon, and three or fonr of themtra likely to be published in rapid succession. People are beginning to be anxious for an Ameri{ can book which everybody must read. Such book has not appeared sitice “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.’4 ‘The Boston and Cambridge school of writers had season of temporary success, but now they writd only to repeat themseives. ‘This Winter Dr. Mayo’ novel, “Never Again,” was @ subject of considera able gossip in New York society, but it was tod weak in plot and too turgid to make any deep imy pression, The ‘Southern novel” was the most fr quent contribution to our literature this season, but none of them made the impression of Mis. Evans’ stilted “St. Fimo” some years ago. Southern ladies seem to take naturally and easily to novel writing, The latest work of thid Class is Mrs. Westmorelagd’s “Clifford Troup.” Aq “Never Again” is a New York story, so “Clifford Troup” is @ Georgia story. The idea of the “un« happiness” is the same in both—the businesq necessities of a supposed milllonnaire and the de+ sire of the father to marry bis child in order ta pay his debts and escape imprisonment and reg proach. In the one Mr. Ledgeva! wanted to giva his daughter to a count to whom he owed moneyd In the other Citfford Troup, Sr., desired his son ta marry the heiress of ‘Mossy Creek’’ to help him t@ pay the mortgages on his estate. Love, of course, was to be sacrificed. Dr. Mayo could not deteat the young lovers, and so he unravelled his plot and saved them by the introduction of Mme. Steignit%, who gave old Ledgeval the money he required, and young Lansdale the wife he loved. Mra. Westmorea land sacrificed the lovers and left the ‘“Manoi’s for which they were sacrificed to be lost after alla Her story is a singular story of selfishness and diss appointment, and while it is not what can be called! & great novel it will Sud readers because it deserves them. Southern poetry also seems to he taking a plac@ once more in our literature, though the South hug may bein charge of its affairs there is liable to be | " notified that the ‘government has no regard for his | Produced no new poets since the war. Of the an’e~ life. In other words, if that power which we call | War pocts Henry Timrod—now dead—was one of government can publicly advise the worst elements | the most promising. His verses tave been cold of society that murder will be winked at, the obii- 1 rerun nd published b: ‘and respect for si jected into @ neat little volume and p x iy eases and sooner re shail be compelte E, J. Hale & Son. If he had lived he might have ity seases and sooner or later we shall be compelled to interfere either for the protection of our own | produced much excellent poetry, for there is great citizens or to redress their wrongs. Itis better promise‘in many of the lines in this book. Soma of the poems show much vigor; but we can only that the patriots should receive our moral support, and by that means they will bring the rule of Spain indicate the quality of Mr. Timrod’s verse vy @ stanza frem a pretty little serenade :— in Cuba to a speedy end. Hide, happy damask. from the stars NAVAL INTELLIGENCE, What sleep enfolds behind your veil; ren Te Ba oottich the dreams of anldnight au; | Gaigua were at Aspinwall on the 13th instant. And shane coptgen Foss wore, Tal Apout her in by alt ogee AANAPL Eee a ep return to el a 8 firmer: with only @ lumited jobbing demand, however. for | lines are pleasing notwithstanding. The boo the United Bintan, (btock in warchouses at Havana and | contains too much Southern war poetry to suit th ‘i Matanz boxes and 6,4) Havana, Ped. 22, 1873. F inne masters cpanel dale Metatioot aativeana |. Tere ts AD thle & cegtemomct Searem ens | week at Havana and Matanzas, | taste of many readers, but this will be forgiven fo Bhda Experi, of the week ¢ from, tiavang tm | the many sweet and tender things which are in ity ing 7,700 boxes and 5,100 hhds. to the United States | The poems were edited by Paul H. Hayne, who hag Shines paatr: rrove. | aiso added to the work aaketch of the deceased sid rea gree nlassea | Doct sla Hicoten FIRE AT MA’ pct et MaTAWAN, N. J., Feb. 28, 1873. + Some property owned and occupied here Sy Patrick Kelly was’ entirely consumed by fire thid morning. The building and furniture are a total loss, It 1s supposed to have originated from a des fective fue, A FIRE IN DORCHESTER, MASS. a ond ing al’siner prison the not 8 $3 12 per Bosrox, Feb. 23, 187% y ti An unoccupied wooden dwelling in Dorchester, H al Mavuna and'$3) ad meth 4 srdawhah Nets det ak whan known ag the John H. Mears Mansion, and owned epee ports, 378. 6d. fy, Load xchat rant; on the United States, 60 da: 4, | by B. W. Carpenter, was burned last night shia Seager nes NO | tt Havana, $4 25 0 $8