The New York Herald Newspaper, December 13, 1873, Page 6

NEW: YORK HERALD, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1873—WITH SUPPLEMENT. CONGRESS. GENERAL HOWARD'S DEFALCATIONS. Porter Discussion and Recommittal of the Salary Repeal Bill, = S WEW YORK HARBOR IMPREGNABLE. - Dew Drop Cox and General Joe Haw- ley on National Spirit. —_—+ Passage of the Extraordinary Naval Appropriation. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. WAsHInoTon, Dee, 12, 1873. POLITICAL DISABILITIES. The Senate bill, removing political disabilities wom Thomas 8, Bocock, E. J. Harvey and Daniel Frigg, Of Virginia, and John H. Reagan, of Texas, wae taken Jrom the table and passed, PAYMENTS TO RAILROADS. Mr. HonMaN, (dem,) of Ind., offered a resolution éireeting the Secretary of War to report whether any payments have been made by his Department te the Tilinois Central Railroaa Company for the transportation of troops or supplies of the United States since the Ist of January, 1866, and requiring Wke mformation as to other roads in aid of which land grants had been made, Adopted. REPEAL OF THE BANKRUPT LAW. Mr, Duet, (rep.) of N. Y., presented petitions trom a large number of business men all over the «ountry jor the repeal of the Bankrupt law. Re- terred. LIQUOR TRAFFIC. Mr. Cox, (dem.) of N. Y., presented a petition of the Grand Division of the Sons of Temperance of Fastern New York, representing 17,000 members, jor acommission of inquiry eoncerning the alco- bei hquor traffic. Referred, LIQUOR BURNED. Mr. BECK, (dem.) of Ky., from the Committee of Ways and Means, reported a bill authorizing the vancellation of an export bond for 50 barreis of divtilled spirits belonging to John 8. Miller, of ino ss, destroyed by fire while in bonded cars of the United States. After explanation the bill was passed, GENERAL HOWARD'S DEFALCATIONS, The SPEAKER laid before the House a communica- ‘on from the Secretary of War, calling attention 1o defaications inthe accounts of General 0. 0. Howard, of the Freeamen’s Burean, At the request of Mr. Woop, (dem.) of N. Y., the Jetter was read in extenso. It fixes the total amount of defalcations at $278,573 66, and states that the Secretary of War would have General Howard triea by @ miktary court o! inquiry were it not that most oi the matters are barred by the stavute of limita- tion, At the conclusion of the reading Mr. Woop, of New York, offered a resolution that the letter of the Secretary of War, with the accom. panying reports relating to the defalcation, &c., of General 0. O, Howard, be referred to the Commit- tee on Military Affairs, with instructions to report a resolution providing for tne trial by military court marwal ol any officers of the army implicated thereby. Mr. Dawes, (rep.) of Mass., moved to amend the resolution by striking out the clause relative to in- structions, He wished to have the subject simply referred to the Committee on Military Affairs, leav- tng that committee to take such action in the mat- ter as it should judge best. ‘The SrkakeER remarked that he had been about to refer the communication to the Committee on Military Affairs. * Mr. Woop said that he preferred, in view of the antecedent history of the Freedmen’s Bureau and uf General Howard’s connection with it, that there should be some instructions given to the commit- ees. Mr. HALE, (rep.) of N. Y., objected to debate. ibe vote was taken on Mr. Dawes’ amendment und it was agreed to by yeas 174 to nays 88, Mr. DAWeEs said that he did not desire to shield General Howard, but he objected to the resolution making statements as facts bejore @ bearing. It stated as a fact the defalcation of Generai Howard, and he did not understand that there was any such thing in the papers. Mr. Woop—The resolution states as a fact what has been authenticated in two oficial documents gent here by the Secretary of War. I think we can weil afford to stand on facts which the administra- tion declares to be Jacts. If that gentleman (Mr. Dawes) goes back on the administration I will not. Mr. Dawkes—No matter how strong the proot may appear it is sufficient for us to use the words “alleged defaications.”* Mr. Woop—The Secretary of War submitted these Oocuments to the Attorney General, and the At- torney General gave his official opinion that Gen- eral Howard was liable to be tried by court mar- tial and should so be tried, but that there was sume technical difficulty owing to the lapse of ume. Mr. DawEs—All that may be; but the proper thing is for the Committee on Military Afairs to report these facts. Imove to insert the word ‘al- leged” belore the word “‘defalcations.”’ Mr. Woop—It is a very small matter, and! will not aetain the House with quibbling about it; let it go; but I desire to say that if that side of the House takes the responsibility of shielding this man it may do so. Mr. Dawes—This side of the House will take the responsibility o! shielding no man, Mr. Woop—It has been done so to-day. Mr. DawEs—But it will take the responsibility of passing jndgment after conviction, not betore. The resolution, amended by inserting the word ged” and striking out the instructions, was pted. » Honse then, at hals-past one o’clock, re- sumed the consideration oj the measure in REGARD TO SALARIES, Mr. NESMITH, (dem,) of Oregon, said that he had come to Congress instructed to vote for the repeal of the Salary bill, but when he witnessed the attack that had been made on the gentieman from New York (Mr. Cox) for having drawn pay from the date of his predecessor’s death up to the date o/ his own election he bardly knew how to act, ag he himself was in te same position as the gentle- man from New York. Mr. COMINGO, (dem.) of Vo., defended the in- creased Salary bill, and argued that the public clamor against it had been produced partiy by Misrepresentation and partly by a misapprehen- sion of the facts, He announced nis intention, however, to vote for the bill reported by the com- mittee. Mr. Pius, (rep.) of Kansas, regarded the question betore the House as a very peculiar one. This Was one Oi the few cases wherein the servant undertook to decide what his own compensation should be, regardless of the will of the master. The argument 0! Mr. Stephens yesterday that it was une of the prerogatives of Congress to fix its own compensation, and that there was no limit to its power, reminded him of the anecdote told of War- Ten Hastings, who said that he had only taken £500,000 out of the Indian Treasury, while there were millions in it, and that he was only surprised ft hisown moderation, There had to be @ limit to their compensation, and that limit had been Oxed by public opinion, The American Congress stood to-day at the bar of public opimion. Mr. BURCHARD, (rep.) of LI, remarked that there ‘Was such unanimity on the part of members in re- ard to the propriety of a modification or repeal ol the present rate of compensation that he did not like to delay the House by any remarks of his, bat he thought that the pending motions to refer, with instructions, omitted one important point— that was as to where the modifications should be- win to apply. It seemed to him that members could not defend themselves if they did not make the law take effect irom the commencement of the Congress. He would not attempt to judge or to defend the measure of the last session. He bad made his effort with the minority in opposi- tion to that measure, and he had nothing now to say in regard to it. The people had passea upon it. The people did not simply condemn it because it was retroactive, but also because it gave too much pay; too much back and too much future pay. Their predecessors were not on triai beiore m, but they themselves were on triai belore the rpountry. Shey shoulda justify the expectations formed of them and date back the commencement ofthe decrease of salary to the commencement of the present term. Me, OrrH, (rep.) of Ind., said he had offered his Proposition last evening more in the nature ofa compromise than anything eise, because it was upparent that unless there was a compromise the House would never arrive at any con- clusion, He thought that four proposi- tions had been definitely settled by pub- lic opmion—First, that the law of last Congress should be repealed; second, that tne mileage shal) fever again be restored; third, that tne franking privilege, so far as relates to the per- sonal privilege of members of Congress, shall never be restored, whatever else may be done in regard to distributing Fae documents, and, fourth, that the salary of members of Congress shall be substantially what it was under she oid Jaw. All this = he ogame for in the proposition which he bad offered. Mr. TREMAIN, (rep.) of N. Y., asked Mr. Orth whether lis proposition made any provision jor covering back pay into the Treasury. Mr. OxrH replied thatit did not. He said that rsopally he would have no objection to let the law date ‘kK, but as a matter of compromise he thougpt ib Reiter to Igt the reduction commence yrom ana after the passage of tne iaw. He pe- lieved that that would meet with the wishes of the people, and wouid be in coniormity with the pre- Vious history of Congress on that subject, argued that the people were as much in fayor of a reduction of the President’s salary as of ‘that of members, but it could not be touched till after the present term. He modified his proposition so as not to touch the salary of the Supreme Court judges. lt would apply, however, to the members ‘of the Cabinet. It applied, therefore, only to what were known as political oflices, Mr. Have, of New York, asked Mr. Orth whether it was his judgment thata salary of $8,000 toa member of the Cabinet was a iair ‘and respectable salary, especially in Peenoesicn to the pay of a member of Congress if fixed at $6,000, Mr. ORTH believed that it was, in consideration of tue expenses Of members of Congress and oi the injury to their business in coming to Congress, Mr. HALE asked Mr, Orth whether he was not aware that by the first act of 1789, regulating salaries, the pay of the members of the Cabinet was fixed @t more than three times as much as that of members of Congress, and remained 80 for 20 ears, 4 Mr. ORTH said that might be so, The law was sed before he was born, and he had not exam- ned it, He moved the previous question on his proposition, Mr. SHANKS, (rep.) of Ind., hoped the previous question would not be seconded. The discussion should be continued until the people were satisfied that the House understood it as well as a Mr. ELpRIpGg, (dem.) of Wis., said that this was one of those questions in which the gentlemen feit more than ordinary interest, Most of those who ad been m the Forty-second Congress had had their motives impugned, and cer desired to give expression to the jeelings and ideas which they entertained on the subject. He thought that the latitude of debate should be much greater. The honor of Congress as well as the honor ot individ- Gals was concerned, Mr. MoNROK, (rep.) of Ohio, stated his position m regard to the Salary bill to be this:—He believed ‘Utlat the true thing for the House to do was to re- peal as completely and as thoroughly as it possibly ae. consistently with the constitution the Salary ill of the Sd of March, 1873. That was the Saocs which he would like to accom- lish by his vote if he could. He had isapproved entirely of raising salaries at that time and bad so voted. He was o/ the same opin- ion still. He wished to see the law totally repealed. He thought that was the simplest course, the right course andthe course which would best satisfy the country. Such being his conviction, he desired to yote, if possible, 80 as to make his vote eflective to thatend, He believed honestly that it was wrong for the Forty-second Congress to at- tempt to raise salaries under the circumstances, He bad opposed the back pay and the forward pay, and he was still opposed to them both. He had also thought it a great error in policy, and should be glad to see the law wholly, cleanly repealed and utterly disposed of, His opinion was that the way to peace and quiet and rest for the House on this question was to get rid of the whole of it. He believed that the sooner it was repealed the sooner they should have ence. If they repealed only @ part of it e suspected that they should feel a certain linger- ing tendency to go back to it again and introduce new bills on the subject to see if they could not accomplish completely what in the beginning was only done in part. He feared thatif they did not make a clean business of the matter at the very Outset the measure would haunt them during the winter. The House now came to a vote on the two pend- ing propositions. The first was that offered b, Mr. Hurlburt, of Illinois, to recommit the bill, wit! instructions to strike out the second and third | sections of the bill and substitute ior them the | following :— First—That from and after the passage of this act the compensation of Senators and Representatives and Dele- gates shall be at the Gt $60 per annum, payable monthly, and, in addition thereto, the actual individual expenses of each senator, Representative and Dejegate, in going to and returning trom the seat ot government ‘once in every session, to be certified in writing by each. Second—Ihat the compensation of the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall be $2,000 in addition to his pay asa Representative, amounting in all to $8,000, an. that of the Vice Presicent the same amount, with the sane, allowance for travelling expenses as hereimberore rovided, ki Third—That all Jaws and parts of laws inconsistent with the provisions of this act are hereby repealed. For these instructions Mr. ORTH, of Indiana, of- fered a substitute, as iollows:— That the select committee report a bill repealing the whole salary act, so tar as the same can be done under the constitution, excepting the Judges o! the Supreme Court, and ascertain the average amount of salary, mileage and all other allowances (exclusive of any esti mates for the use of the franking privilege) paid te’sena- tors, Representatives and Delegates im the Forty-tirst Congress, and report a bill determining the compensa- tion of Seuators, Representatives and Delegates in Con- gress Pereatter' at the atount, as near as practicable, thus ascertained, with the necessary travelling ex: penses, and restoring all other salaries as they were before the passage ot that act. The previous question was seconded by a vote of 132 to 126, and the main question was ordered, ‘The question was first taken on suostituting Mr. Orth’s proposition, and it was adopted also with- out the yeas and Days, so the bill was recommitted to the special committee, with the instructions proposed by Mr. Orth, and it was agreed that when the bill shail be reported back it will be considered under the ffve minute rue. THE EXTRAORDINARY NAVAL APPROPRIATION. The House then, at three o'clock P. M., went into Committee of the Whole, Mr. Tyner, (rep.) of lnd., in the Chair,and took up the bill appropriating 9,000, 0 jor extraordinary expenses of the naval service. in the course of a disenssion, Mr. Cox, (dem.) of N. Y., said that there Was not fight enough mm the House to killa mouse. That had been proved the other day on the belligerency question. The diplomacy of the government Was not up to the ee sentiment. The flag of the country had en dragged in the dust through our diplomacy. One thing, however, was certain, and that was that the navy ought to be better and stronger than itis. The city of New York to-day is at the mercy of any of the European iron-clads that might choose to enter that harbor. It could close up the business and destroy the property of that city. By some pecoliar refinement of naval architecture and naval warfare that city was to-day at the mercy of even 80 mean and contemptible a Power as Spain. Mr. KELLOGG, (rep.), of Conn.—Is it a good time, then, for going to war’ (Laughter.) Mr. Cox—I am not speaking of going to war. I ar speaking of the increase of the navy irrespect- ive of our diplomacy. When we get all our dipio- Macy published we may have an opportunity to understand the business. We will find that the administration has not come up to the sentiment of the people. There is no question of the fact that the House is pusianimous before all the worid. On the oid principle that the fag of the country covers the ship, we have not shown the first scin- tilla of the patriotic spirit; but I will vote at all umes to strengthen the navy from other consider- ations. Even if we had the pluck we have not got the guns to inside the harbor of Santiago de Cuba and take the Virginius thence. We want a stronger navy, a better spirit—a little of the oid spirit which belonged to the country im the better days of the repubitc, tir. HALE, (rep.) of Me., said it was gratifying to Witness the conversion of the gentleman from New York (Mr. Cox). He had in his memory the constantattacks made by that gentleman hitherto on all the naval appropriation bills. He congratu- lated the House and the country that that gentie- Tan Was to-day in favor of good and fatr, liberal and noble appropriations; but there was a mon- strous inconsistency in the gentleman's cry for war. He bad started out by declaring that the House was pusillanimous, that the administration was lacking iu proper sentiment, and that, if it had been guided by a better spirit, it would have pro- ceeded to take the Virginius out of the harbor of Santiago de Cuba and bring her into American waters. At the same time that he (Mr. Cox) was thus urging and hounding on to war, he had said what was not borne out by the facts, but which was all the more inconsistent in him. He says (Mr. Hale continued) that a nine Ly peg frig- ate can blockade our ports, can bombard our towns and cap burn down millions and millions of prop- erty, Ifthat is 0, if he believes it to be so, what is the sense of his intartated cry for war? Sir, the best thing about the Appropr ation bill and the conduct of the Secretary of the Navy in this emer- gency is thst all bis naval preparation is an argu- ment not jor war bat for peace. To be well pre- pared ior an emergency and to show to the world that we will not bear insult, if such is put upon us, is the best protection agai insult. The Secre- tary of the Navy found the battered ships of the American navy in the distant waters of the globe old and broken, rotten and harcly seaworthy, and in 4 time compassed by five or six weeks he has put @ respectable navy afloat, which is on its way to the Cuban waters. He did that in the best interest of diplomacy: he did it in the best interest of hu- manit; It was not to precipitate war upon this country, When to-day we are big with the memory ofa war, which, unless it be jorced upon us, no sane man wants to see again in this generation. He did it in the interest of peace; and { venture to say, now that peace is looming in the sky and the speck of the war cloud has passed away, that that is More owing to the conduct, the vigilance and the enterprise of the Secretary of the Navy in putting in this sbort time @ avy in those waters, ready for ap emergency, than to any other cause. He has not been, and the administra- tion has not been, hounded on to war in this mat- ter by those like the gentleman from New York, and for one I thank them for it. Mr. HAWLEY, (rep.) Of Conn., said that he had listened with an in ant start to the remarks of the gentieman from New york (Mr. Cox), who had dared to tell the House that it was pusillanimous and had not energy enough to kill a mouse, and that the flag of the country had been draggied in the dust. He had mo admiration for that cheap Sort of bravery, but he would not retort by any remarks that would be equally cheap. He would not ask that gentleman why, when there was a grand opportunity @ few years ayo to plunge into @ fight on the one side or the other, andit was not rial on which side, he had not gone into it? Did that gentleman know what war is? Had he ever seen nnon balis through men by his ie, and hi he seen men mowed down by hundreds around him? Did he know what war was’ If he did, wh' had he got up here and ranted as he had done ? say, continued Mr. Hawicy, that 4 man is guilty belore God and his country who dare stand here and trifie with this great question, He does not know Wiha war 38 ce if he does, then is he ten tumes the more guilty. I knew a man once who was extremely anxious to get into one of these jit- been progressing about tle fights. Per ia a) ‘a be iz a tency “auty at some Gistant post, “aca complained that he never saw a fight. We started an expedition, and gave this gallant colonel < command of J He came BUAQERIF WHO Vhs. ‘he compand of jt Be came enemy and the Conrederaves opened a terripie nre upon him, In three minutes’ time he came out of it and came out hand: , but left about 80 men benind him, Tasked it same evening how he liked it. “Well, he, “1 am satiated, but when I was in the aminute or two and saw men falling down all Around me, 1 thought to my- sell, can’t this confomnded ss, f be compromised in some way?’ Senente ) wish to add an emphatic commendation. ¢:! retary of State for the calm self-respect, good sense, and, | may venture to say, Christian temper and Chrisiian statesmanshij expression has become, whic! in this matter. It would have easy plunged the country headlong into war, unpre- pared as we were; but even if we had hau the grandest navy in the world I should have de- manded of the administration the same reticence and self-respect which it has shown, The time has passed when this American nation can go round the globe§ with a chip on its shoulder, trying to get up a fight with every rowdy it meets. We can patient, temperate and dignified with all the world. Nothing that General Grant ever did, from the time be left Galena until he passed through the Wilderness and came into the White House, does him more honor than the patient firmness with which he bas iaced the jSpaaish difficulty and set- tled it to the satisfaction of all. Mr. bs owt of Pennsyivania, supported the bill and said:—I believe this appropriation is demanded, not only by the extraordinary event which nas hastened the necessity for it, but by the ordinary re- quirements of the Navy. Secretary Roveson, in his report for 1872, Warned the country that our cruis- ing navy, unless new Materiais Were added to it, would rapidly pass away. by ordering the construction of new sloops 0: war and something Im the direction of repair to the old naval vessels, The Secretary also called attention to the {act that our'iron-clad Neet needed extensive repairs. Much of the wood work was going to de- cay and many improvements were needed. Durin, the war our supplies of live oak from Florida an Georgia were stopped, and the timber we did use was not proey seasoned. Several of the monitors had been placed in repair, and he strongly urged that the remainder should be ready to meet any duty. In reply to this some gentlemen contended here that our navy was strong enough and that no jeMergency was likely to call tor adi to its efficiency. low suddenly that emergency came we ali know, and it should prove a jesson for the future. The massacre ol the Virginius’ passengers naturally aroused the indignation of the American people. It was done in detiance ot the law of nations and of civilization, in violation of our treaty with Spain, and with a haste and disregard of the protests of our Consul utterly unjustifiable. Not only was the Virginius an Alnerican vessel, properly registered and cleared, flying the American flag, unresisting, and illegally captured on the high seas, beyond the jurisdiction of Spain, but the seizure of the telegram sent by our Consul, in order to ascertain her nationality, speedily followed by the execution of a number of the passengers and crew, would of itself have furnished @ serious ground of complaint. Wben the news of this out- Tage reached us there was but one sentiment among the American people—protection is the first duty of the State to the citizen. That nation is derilect to its highest onlaarae Which fails to vindicate the sovereignty of its flag. Right faith- fully and nobly did the President and the admin- istration assert our rights and proceed to vindi- cate our honer. The gentleman from New York (Mr, Cox) says we have been fawwesr oy Berend as a nation in the conduct of this affair, I am astonished at. such a declaration. Every demand has been made tbat the Presideat had the right to make, and to these demands Cas- telar—as lervent a republican and earnest a states- man as Europe in tnis century has produced— thought it no disnonor to accede. My judgment is the people of the land are satisfied that bot cet has been done to maintain the national honor, an further steps will yet be taken to obtain the only compensation for the wrong which can now be given. When the rebellion came we almost impro- vised @ navy. Now, responding to the wishes of the people, aithough Congress was not in session, General Grant took the responsibility, and in a few short weeks the navy is almost upon a war Joot- ing, ready, as the nation believes, to resent any wrong; a fact highly creditable to the Navy Department and the administration. Gentlemen have said the war cloud is passing away. Isincerely hope and believe this to be true. The nation reunited has had enough of war, enough of debt and taxation. It is time to turn our attention to the wants of the people and their employment. A panic, following the fattures of many o! our firm business houses, has caused @ financial crisis, and many thousands are out of work. It is a matter of congratulation if this speck of war not only paces our navy in good condition, but aids to give that employment and restore that confidence whicn alone is needed in a country whose material wealth and resources are as great as ever. There is every reason to believe tre Virginius will be surrendered at once, but the survivors of those who were taken from her are still in custody, Castelar at present is master of the situation in Spain, yet any day may bring new complications to him and fresh necessity that our navy shall enforce the rights of American citizens in Cuba. Such protection was called for and given only last May in Panama. A sufficient power should be kept in our various squadrous to secure this protection at all times, Peace will be best preserved and foreign complica- tons avoided in this way. Henceforth we are se- cure trom danger within our own borders, and it is of the bighest importance that our naval ser- vice should be made efficient, not only to co-ope- rate in missions of civilization and humanity and protection, but by its very strength to ward off the possibilities of war. Mr. CROOKE, (rep.) of N. Y., said in reply to Mr. Cox’s remarks, that the harbor of New York was not defenceless. That gentleman (Mr. Cox) had been speaking of what he knew nothing about, while he (Mr. Crooke) was talking of that whereof he knew. Thanks to the Secretary of the Navy and thanks to the administration the harbor of New York to-day is impregnable to all the naval force of the world. Ifthe whole Spanish navy, strong as it was, should attempt to force the har- bor o! New York to-day it would be sent to @ warmer climate than New York is in, (Laughter), He knew that the harbor of New York had been well prepared wivnin the last month, It had been tolerably well prepared before that. It Was guarded by torpedoes; by the Roanoke, which, when manned by a thousand sailors and stationed in the Narrows, could prevent the whole Spanish Navy trom passing; by the Dictator and by the monitors and other means. He wished the whole world to know and he wished the pusilianimous House to know that the harbor of New York to-day Was RInTee NES, to the whole naval force of the world, Mr. GARFIELD, (rep.) of Ohio, said he would yield a few minutes to Mr. Cox, hoping that his friend would liberate the House from the charge of pusil- lanimity and the harbor of New York from the charge o1 being defenceiess. Mr. Cox—When I made the remark about the pusillanimity of the House | had in my mind the Way it shoved off the other day my resolution of belligerency. Idid not expect, when I made a speech just now sustaining this bill, that a lot of ‘nese Captain Bobadils, fresh trom the war, who want to recount their own great deeds, should come here and make anti-war speeches. 1 have made no speech for war. Mr. GakvigLb—And never did, fenanter.) Mr. Cox (not noticing Mr. Garfleid’s interrup- tion)—But I never knew in my life a single mem- ber of Congress trom Connecticut, from the Hart- Jord Convention down, who did not begin to have some sort Of war spirit, as agaiust his own country on sectional matiers, and who had not always cowered when it came to fighting for the fag abroad. Mr. HAWLEY (misapprehending Mr. Cox’s last remark)—I want to know who is the coward? Mr. Cox—l am making ho personal fight upon you. I said “cowered,” not “coward.” Mr. HaWLEY—I suppose you used it ina Pick- wickian sense? Mr. GARFIELD (to Mr. Cox) —Do you spell it with an “h?’) I spell it “ered; I sata Mr. Cox—No; “cowered.” I say to the gentleman from Con- the President and Sec- | of the atrocious outrages which had dishonored humanity in that island, » Mr. Beck, (dem.) of Ky., spoke in rej to the same clause and ogeasion to the ad- ministration for its course in reference to Cuban affairs, He said that if there was he | which the President had managed wel it was the negotiations with — Spain, The President might have plunged =the country into difficulties, and perhaps have aggran - dized himself at the expeifse of the counsry; but. the course which he had pursued had been ex- tremely moderate and wise. ‘The discussion "was carried on for some time longer, and then the committee rose and reported the bill to the House, and it was thereupon passed, The House then, at twenty minutes past four o'clock, adjourned until Monday. THE MONETARY SITUATION. Fresh Taxation and a Further Increase of the Public Debt—Reaction in stocks— The Situation in the Ca: Affairs on the street yesterday wore an agree- able aspect, until the announcement of Secretary Richardson’s new policy in regard to taxation, Then there was “hurrying to and fro,” and mut- terings, not loud, but deep, in regard to a financial policy that had begun so ostentatiously in reducing the public debt, and reached such an impotent con- clusion im the shape of more taxes. Irreverent men were found whose estimate of the situation trans- cends the power of an evangelical pen to record; but above and beyond this special grievance the inquiry was often putin less figurative language, if such things are found in the green wood what may we expect in the dry? To help out this anxiety an evening paper published the following table, showing the outstanding principal of the puvuc debt on the 1st of January of each year men- tioned for the last 80 years and the gross expen- ditures of the government tor each fiscal year :— Public Debt Gross jan. 1. $82,742,022 $12,118,105 23,461,652 83,642,010 925, 429, wes areas 826,53 20,86 47,044,862 65,1 3,061, 808 56,386,422 63,452,773 44,604, 718 68,304, 48,476,104 66,190,341 46,712,608 ), 803, 11 54,577,061 42,242,222 6,473,170 85,586,956 06,164,775 81,972,537 72,726, 341. 28, 609, 831 71,274,587 44,911,881 82,062, 186 58,496,837 83,678, 64,842,287 77,055,125 90,580,873 85,387,813 526,176,412 667,563, 1,119, 772,138 899,815,011 1,816.784,370 ——_-3,205,461,114 2,680, 647,869 483,331 2,778,236,173 ‘1, 180,314,081 22678,126,103 ‘1, 093,079,655 2.611,687,851 1, 069,889,970 2,588,452, 313, 584,777, 096 2,480,672, 427 702, 807,842 2,358,211,332 601, 680, 858 2,253, 261,328, 682, 525,270 2,234, 482,993 524,044,097 INCREASE OF TAXATION, Information was received on the street yester- day aiternoon to the effect that Secretary Richard- son had said in the morning that the pabile debt would be largely increased, although it was now 100 early to estimate the amount. le had written aletter to the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee recommending (and enclosing a bill for this purpose) the restoration of the duty on tea and coitfee, which will yield about $20,000,000 per annum. He also enclosed a letter to him from Commissioner Douglass, making the following recommendation :—An increased tax of 10 cents per gallon on distilled spirits, which would yield $7,000,000 annually; four cents additional per pound on tobacco, which would yield $4,000,000; a tax on illuminating gas, yielding $2,500,000 additional; on gross receipts of railroads from passengers and ireignt, $6,000,000; on steam- boats, gross receipts from passengers and freight, $600,000; on insurance companies, $1,300,000; on telegrap! receipts, $250,000; on express compa+ nies’ receipts, $500,000, making in the aggregate, $22,150,000, ‘Phis, with the tax on tea and cottee, would make more than $42,000,000, The Commis- sioner says If more revenue is wanted it could be obtained to the extent of $10,000,000 by ‘restoring the taxes formerly in Schedule B, which includes stamps on all legal instruments, deeds, mortgages, &c., thus making additional receipts of over $82,000,000 from internal revenue sources. The ef- fect of these reports wasasharp decline on the Stock Exchange, operators appearing to forget that while the Secretary thus provided for a gra- dual return to the Treasury of his reserve jund, which has been 80 heavily drawn upon of late, he also in a quasi manner suggests that he intends to use the whole of what reserve, and 80 produce tem- hecticut, who is ag irascible a8 most soldiers are, that when he puts in my mouth a speech for war he makes a slight mistake. I said nothing of the kind. Isaid that the House did not come up to tue spirit of the poe. Congress has not yet vin- dicated the g—has not shown the old devotion to the flag which belonged to other days of the Republic. As to the harbor ol New York, 1do not consult on such bject, with politicians. I got my iniormation from en- gineers. I believe to-day that unless our navy be in some way strengthened, and Unless our harbors and our forts be strengthened, we are at the mercy of other Powers that have those great iron- clads and this new system of aggressive warfare which has grown up within the last five years, Mr. SCHUMACHER, (td of Y.—I will to my colleague that no hostile feet could get into the harbor of New York and get out of it again. Mr. ARCHER, (dem,) of Md., speaking of the rel- ative force of the Spanish and American Navy, said that Spain had 818 guns afoat, and could concen- trate by the last Ca! of this month 545 guns in the Cuban waters. It it were granted that the Vir- ginius was to be delivered up, that tne American citizens in custody in Cuba were to be handed over to the United States government, and that indemnity for the execution Of those massacred was to be paid to the widows and orphans, there was yet & Serious question before the country—and that was the demand of the popular heart, the demand of Re gl the demand.of humanity—that Con- gress should acknowledge belligerent rights toa people who had struggled 60 many years for their Independence, As that Was & question that might come before Congress eeeeery alter the set- tlement of this one, it was well that the countr: should be in a condition for war. he not believe that the American navy could con- centrate more than 414 guns in Cuban waters, while the Spaniards could place 645 guns there by the first of the comin; The oni the American navy cot occasion was by the by mounting them with th were now being made by t z partment. The bill before the House should (2 ee a much larger sum than $oReee. ere Was no nation pretending to hold anythii like an ascendency on the seas that did not have from four to eight large armor-plated vessels, The United States none, and American naval cap- tains could not hold the line of battle unless the; had sach vessels to enter the contest, The pend- ing bill, however, peeen to pass immediately, and he only hoped tha’ ¢ Committee on Appropria- tions would at an ‘ly day ask for still larger ap- Propriations for the same purpose nd. Mr. HOLMAN, idem.) of objected to a tech nical provision in the bill, and, in the course of his TomATke, spoke of the pold rudagism of Cuba apd porary inflation, THE CANALS. Next to the operation of the above news on stocks, the iollowing probably helped the reaction. Mr. Edson, President of the Produce Exchange, re- ceived the following despatch tuis morning :— Scnenecrapy, Dec. 12, 1873. Ww mild: sufficient water this ’morning; ice breakers at work: think boats will move to-day. Subsequently the following was received :— Lirtie Fats, Dec. 12, 1873. 8. A. Grant, Superintendent Produce Exchange :— Boats are moving this morning, with iair prospects of getting through. JAMES KENNA, Jr,, Collector. It is estimated that, should the boats that were frozen in the canal be enabled to bring their car- goes to New York, 1t wouid be a saving to the pro- duce dealers interested of at least $1,000,000, WORKINGMEN’S CENTRAL COUNCIL. Delegates from Twenty Trades Unions Present—A People’s Party To Be Or- ganized. Delegates from 20 different trades unions met last night at Masonic Hall, in Thirteenth street, Reports from the plumbers, painters, carpenters, cabinet-makers, blacksmiths, coopers and several other trades unions were read, It was unanimously decided to submit the follow- ing preambles and resolutions to the different trades unions for their endorsement :— Whereas the Workingmen’s Central Council has from its formation urgently and peeeeney. Ve te just clains of the laboring people of ity, and were the first to call the attention of our city ities to the present deplorable condition of the w. ingmen of this country; and wherens the Standing Comm: of this Council have, by instractions from Hed on the men now running our city government, demanding that employment be 1 ed to” «those in need, id the finance department = jurnish the "mouey to carry, on tnesé works, but up tothis time very litte has been done to relieve our present wants: whereas nearly all the departments of the city government having given to our committee evasive answers and promises that up to this time have not been fulfilled, and we believe there is no intention on their part to do so; whereas the reports of the working classes are ignored because of the defectiveness of our organizations, the political pai knowing we will Not act together in the only manner in which we might be effective: be it theretore Kesolved, That we have appealed to these men for the Jast time, and henceforth will act to unite our fellow workers under one political banner as the only true and sure means of success for an oppressed peopl Resolved, That this Council recommend that each or- Uae Tepresented in this body shali elect seven ad- tional delegates to those firead: appointed. for the urpose of organizing the industrial classes of this cit; Into @ political organization to be known as the people's arty. £4 Tesolved, That when the wards are organized in con- formity with the rules to be hereafter ado ‘the organizing delegates, a general committee shi from each ward, to consist of one from each election district, and in tte assembling of such general committee their credentials shall be examined by the organizing boy ane they shail strike off the namesot all persons that in their judgment are not Working In the interest of ‘the industrial classes. solved, That the organizing delegates shall have power to add to their nambers such members of labor Organizations as are not at present represented in the Workingmen's Central Council. Resolved, when the Organizing Committee shall have fully organized the General Committee then their duties shall cease, and the members of the Central Coun- cil shail return to their legitimate business in the Coun- ‘eal, RELIEF FOR SUPPERING LABORERS. The Erie Railway Company Paying Of Their Employes—Official Changes in dersey City. The adage that “Corporations” have no souls is not always correct. When the attention of the directors of the Erle Railway Company was called by the Heratp last week to the fact that the employ¢s had not been paid for the month of October measures were immediately taken to meet the exigency. All the employ¢s, far as Paterson, have been paid off, and it has been decided to send an assistant pay- master during the present month to pay the em- ployés in the Port Jervis branch of the Eastern division, Mr, J.C. Clarke, one of the vice presi- dents, whose administration has been marked by extraordinary activity, has vetoed the recommendation to discharge a large number of hands. Not only will the entire be retained during this season of distress, but provision has been made for & more prompt payment ol the men, Several important changes will be made on the opening of the new year, Mr, Thomas J. Brown, the Superintendent of the Pa- vonia ferry, has been appointed superin- tendent of the Eastern division, the appointment to take effect on the 1st of January. Mr. Edward Hill, formerly @ clerk in the motive power depart- ment, and recently assistant superintendent, has obtained leave to retire from his present laborious osition, The change is hailed with great satis- Faction by the joyés. At an informal meet- ing of the hel the Pro: loy és, ld at je a pect House Jast evening, a vote of thanks ‘was passed to Vice President Clarke, Whio is styled sudoramate oMicers at the Jersey City depot nave been removed, and at the end of January further changes will be made on the line from Jersey City to Paterson. THE WORKINGMEN'S UNION—A DENIAL, To THe Epiror or THe HERALD:— Isee by the report of the mass meeting heid at Cooper Institute that several of the speakers there fre credited as oelonging to the Workingmen’s Union, Now, I wish to state that there was not any member of the “Workingmen’s Union” on the latform or outside stands as speaker or spectator. ‘he Workingmen’s Union does not sympathize with Communism in any of i 8; nor does it believe in clanish organizations, either German or French, whose avowed purpose is to subvert this vernment into a for men too lazy to seek work. hospital RAEME, Recording Secretary Workingmen’s Union. TURF TROUBLES. —eee—aee Meeting of the Board of Appeals of t National Tretting Association—All the Cases Heard, The Board of Appeals of the National Trotting Association continued its session yesterday morn- ing at the Everett House. There were present, as on the preceding days, T. J, Vail (Chairman), Hartford, Oonn,; ©. J. Hamlin, Buffalo, N. ¥.; Gates H. Barnard, Troy, N, Y., and George Sturges, Philadelphia, Pa. The cases called for the consid- eration of the members are as herewith annexed, and, as usual, all decisions were reserved :— R. J. Wheeler vs, Graves and Loomis—complaint in relation to the mare’Clementine.—This case was first brought to the notice of the Board by letter from Mr. Wheeler, under date of November 24 last, wherein he asserts, from information and belief, that the mare Clementine had trotted this year at Cleveland, Buffalo, Utica and Springfield in purses from which she should have been debarred by a former record received in Wisconsin, and this record was 2:44 or better, And Mr. Wheeler asked for time to procure afidavits to show that the statements made were true. Subsequently Mr. Wheeler sent Secretary Longstreet another letter enclosing an affidavit of Alexander F, Pratt, of Waukesha, Wis., wherein he states that Clementine was raised in Palmyra, Jefferson county, in that State, and that she bad contested inarace at Waukesha under another name, and had made a better record than 2:44. Upon reading the affidavit, the substance of which is above given, and the letter scoomipanging it, the Board considered the question of whether the language of Mr. Wheeler’s letter, which was very ambigu- ous, gave the members jurisdiction at this time to act. It was ruled that it did give them the power to proceed in the investigation, In behalf of re- spondents appeared Mr. W. K. Loomis, who first submitted the affidavit of Mr. A. B. Hall, Treasurer and Secretary of the Oconomowoc (Wisconsin) Agricultural, Mechanical and Stock Associa- tion, comprising the counties of Wau- kesha, Jefferson and another. In _ this it is stated that there is no record standing against the mare Forest Girl (now Clementine) during the years 1868, 1869 and 1! Mr. Loomis also submit- ted an afidavit from Mr. G. C. Thurston, ot Osh- Kosh, Wis., wherein he explains that he bought the mare when she was four years old. and, though she had trotted two or three times before thut period, she never obtained a record; Thurston aiso owned the mare Forest Maid, and that she had trotted in less than 2:50, but not Forest Girl. It is also shown in the affidavit that Thurston sold the mare to Graves and Loomis. The latter gentleman being sworn, said that he bought Clementine four years ago, and that he named her alter Mr Graves’ wife; that he did not know until 18 months ago that she ever had another name, that coming to his notice alter the matter was talked of in uhe papers. She was an unruly animal, and in consequence of her disposition when. among other horses was not entered in any purses until last spring, and then only the three minute classes, and never for green orses, No. 29, Thomas 8. Foster vs. Woonsocket Agri- cultural Society, Woonsocket, R. 1.—Application for removal of penalty of expulsion. It seems that While the petitioner was driving the bay gelding Harry Genet in September last, he was taken irom behind him and another driver put in the sulky, After a heat had been trotted with the new driver Foster would not let Genet remain longer on ie track, and against the wishes and direction of the juages took the gelding to tne stable. For this and improper lan- guage he was ruled off, Counsel appeared for ‘foster, and trom witness elicited that Genet was very lame at the time, and that Foster did not con- sider the driver substituted a competent person to entrust with such a valuable animal in his then condition. Therefore counsel justified Foster's con- duct. This case being closed, Mr, Vail, in behalfof the Nationai Association, stated that Foster, after being expelled as avove, appeared at Hartford and New Haven, aud there drove certain horses. Foster Was Sworn and admitted that such was the case, and also said that he bad read che rules as laid down by the National Association. Counsel ad- mitted the violation of the rules by Foster, quested, because of palliating circumstance at the penalty imposed upon him be removed or modified. No. 34, Henry Hughes (ex-parte).—Application for removal of penalty of expulsion heretofore sed on his bay mare Lady Hughes, alias Mollie Mr. Huglies, who was present, had an aifidadit his own read to the rd, to the effect that last winter, in December, he sent his mare, Lad; Hughes, to Lewis Brokaw, at Morristown, Pa. that she was then lame, and he gave explicit di- rections to take her shoes off and turn her out. Mr. Hughes then went to Europe, and upon hisreturn was astonished to find that Brokaw had trotted hey at Wilkesbarre, Pa., ander the name of Molhe Garke, and upon her right name being ascertained both she and the driver were expelled. Me asked the Board, therefore, to remove the penalty from the mare. With these cages closed the open session of the Board. To-day they will sit in executive session, and probably when through with the necessary de- liberation will communicate their decisions. These are looked for with much interest throughout the trottmg world. CITY CHURCH EXTENSION SOCIETY. Mission Work of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the City, East and West— Reports of the Presiding Elders. The City Church Extension and. Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church met yesterday, in the Mission chapel, 805 Broadway, Mr. J. B. Cornell in the chair, The Secretary, Mr. J. H. Pelton, read the minutes of the previous Meeting, which were approved. Dr. Brown, Pre- siding Elder of the west side of the city, which is in the bounds of the New York Conference, reported 145 visits made by the missionaries, 56 sermons preached, 266 prayer meetings held, 155 visits to the sick, 24,200 pages of tracts distributed, 42 con- versions and 14 received into full membership. The Sunday schools contain 147 teachers an 114 scholars, with an average attendance of 743. The report from Grace church, 104th street, was lack- ing, but it was subsequently reported that that mission has 140 Sabbath scholars, The Rev. Mr. Merwin, Presiding Elder of the east side of the city, in the bounds of the New York Kast Conlerence, reported four conversions and two probationers; teachers, 21; average scholars’ attendance, 119. There was’ no report irom South Harlem church, sixty-first street church or the Cornell Memorial church, the three largest on the east side of the city. A eet report from Forsyth street Mission Sunday school showed that the missionary had visited families and {nduced 22 persons to attend church. He held sev- eral services in the City Prison, where 108 prison- ers asked prayers lor themselves and 97 signed the temperance pleage. 35,428 pages of tracte were distributed, 'v. Mr. Pullman reported his charge (Sixty-first street church) in good condition, and 2 conversions there during the month, The treasurer, Mr. Bowles Colgate, reported a balance on hand November 22 of $8,217, whica, with the receipts during the month, made an aggregate of $16,178, all of wi was @ ded save $002. But there are bills due between this and January 1 1874, which will leave the treasury in debt $3,656 at that date. The Committee on Ways and Means reported that collections had been taken up in the hty-sixth 300, and in the Thirty-fifth street street church, urty-seventh street church was re- ported ‘a8 saying it was too poor to give @ collec- ion to the society, Special collections are to be taken up to-morrow, December 14, in St. Luke's Methodist Episcopal church in the morning and in the Forty-third street church in the evening; in St, James’ church, Harlem, January 11, 1874, and in Jane street church January 21 in Washing- ton square church and Seventh str church De- cember 28, Mr. Bowles Colgate, having been appointed Srpaenrer ise eS Sg eae his resignation corre secretaryship was accepted and Mr, L, Skidmore was elected thereto. " The Committee on Ways and Means were au- thorized to raise $4,000 for the Washington Heights chureh, by mort on the property of that church or otherwise, as soon as possible. The President, J. B. © rneil, Dr. Curry, Mr. Wolf and others spoke in regard to the work of the s0- clety. Mr. Cornell thought that if there should be 4 general turning to Christ among the masses the Church would be terribly frightened, because it 1s unprepared for it, He Roped the missionaries and Christian laymen would use all their efforts to further the interests and work of the society. ‘The meeting then adjourned. INFANTIOIDE IN BROOKLYN, ‘The body of a male infant, about six weeks old, ‘was found yesterday morning on the sidewalk in Bedford avenue, near Madison street, The re- mains, which were wrapped In @ newspaper, bore in the resolution “the poor man’s friend,” Another resolution expresses the ‘ification of the emplovéy at the elevation pf Mx, im, Threg traces of foul i of violence being visi- now an pre. cinct, hiss hove of Auding the Murderer, } verbally, oe AMUSEMENTS, Academy of Music—Salvini as Sullivan, Suilivan—a character as antithetic to that of San- some as it is possible to imagine—was that in which Signor Salvini appeared last evening, before: one of the largest audiences of the season, Apart from the uniqueness aud pathos of the creator of the principal rdle, the acting was distinguished by a merit which is conventionally spoken of as “even. excellence.” The grade of that excellence which is called even, however, is often low. Last even~ ing it was high, and that superiority of level was. maintained throughout, As a specimen of elegant comedy the acting which the Italian company gives us in “Sullivan” is superior to that, to which American audiences have been accustomed in “Davia Garrick,” and this we say without dis- paragement to the very excellent’ and popular artist who first familiarized those audiences with the part, or the several ~ clever per- formers who have appeared in auxiliary rdles at Wallack’s and the other theatres. When the late Mr. Robertson adapted “‘Sujlivan,” he was obliged to Anglicise the characters and ‘situations and to lend them that tinge which would be likely to cap- tivate an average Brittsh audience. To some ex- tent he vulgarized the colors, which in Version certainly possess a more e tint. What pleased the London public did not fail to fascinate New York. All that we say 1s that in the English rendering are asturdier streak and a heavier dash of color than are found in the Italian, and for that the genius of the English-speaking One is ultimately responsible quite as much as ir. Robertson, Meanwhile it is needless to dwell upon the points made by Signor Salvini, They are known by this time, and they were repeated with all their first éclat, This afternoon “Sansone” will be given. “Othello” is prepari for Monday night, the oc~ casion of Salvini’s benefit, and “ilizabeth’ jis in Te- hearsa , Piamonti being promised in the title rdle. “Stadt Theatre—Dic Afrikanerin.” Meyerbeer’s posthumous. work was given last. night at the German opera house before a very large audience. The representation was unusually good as far as the two prime donne, Mme. Licnt- may and Mile. Canissa, and the chorus and or- chestra, under the baton of Herr Schramm, were concerned, The Selika of the former of the ladies is a well studied, artistically conceived and satis- factorily impersonated rdle, although her voice has lost much of its pristine power and dramatic expression. Inthe beautiful aria with which the second act commences Mme. Lichtmay displayed, in her style of singing, at least, qualities which belong only to a prima donna otf long experience and indisputable ability. In the grand duo of the fourth act she was equally successful, The rdle of the gentle, loving Ines found a worthy represenia- tive in Mile. Pauline Canissa, whose emotional voice and finished siyle of acting lent a charm to the impersonation of one of Meyerbeer’s most poetical heroines, In the second act sbe won well-deserved applause. When she came to the dungeon of Vasco di Gamaas a messenger of peace and hope, the exquisite arta allotted to Ines immediately before the grand en- semble in which Selika, Vasco, Ines, Pedro and Nelusko take part, was delivered by Mile. Canissa with such intensity of feeling and vocal effect that mnmerous recalls ensued from the enthusiastic Germans. The chorus and orchestra, altho small in number, were without a faw in the general. renaering. The tenor, Herr Pfueger, has not an agreeable voice, and the best that can be said of him is that he made no mistakes in singing the music of Vasco, The Nelusko of Herr Vierling showed a decadence of voice on the part of that gentleman very remarkable. Herr . Weinlich’s Pedro labored under the same disadvantage. ‘Die Afrikanerin,” will be repeated on Sunday evening. On the 26th inst. ‘Lohengrin!’ wiil be produced by Herr Herrman Grau with a cast comprising some of the best German operatic talent in America. The Emperor will be represented by Herrmanns and the heroine by Canissa. Musical and Dramatic Notes. “Wedded Bliss” is the title of Mr. Frank Mare Shall’s new comedy. Mme. Ristori is announced to play in Rome during the early days of next month, M. Alexandre Damas, Fils, has brought omt at the Gymnase a new comedy, called “Monsieur Al- phonse.”” The new soprano, Mile. Biarini, who has ap- peared at the ktalian Opera House, in Paris, as Adaigisa, has not satisfied the subscribers. They were also displeased with the new tenor, Sig. De Bassini, who made his début as Pollio. A young American singer, Miss Violetta Colville, made her first appearance at the Piacenza Thea- tre, Italy, a few nights since, with success, in Donizetti’s opera ot “Linda di Chamounix. Tne well-known cavatina gave her an opporvanity for the display of facile and correct execution, and the duets with the tenor and contralto were both encored. The local journals encourage her to per- severe in the arduous career on which sue has 60 auspiciously entered, At Munich @ short time ago the King of Bavaria gave an order that the ballet of “Un Bal Sous Lows XV.’ should be played for himself aione, after the representation of the opera. His Majesty wit- nessed from a private box the improvised repre- sentation, which lasted from eleven to one in the morning. AS usualon such occasions, for these royal caprices are not rare, the greatest care had been taken to expel from the house every specta- tor, and the servants on duty had to keep watch in the corridors to prevent any noise. The next day presents were sent to all the artists to, in- demnify them for their non-obligatory perform- ance. PLESSY MORDAUNT AS A LEADING LADY. To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:— In your issue of Sunday, the 7th inst., appears an article entitled “Leading Ladies and First Old Women,” which, perhaps without intention on the. part of the writer, reflects rather unfairly on the recent decision in my suit against the management of the Union Square Theatre. The writer of the ar- ticle may not be aware that in the theatrical world and among theatrical people precedent and cus- tom are accepted as law, although not legally enti- tled to the definition, and foremost among these accepted ideas is the one that none but an excep- tionally fine artist can venture to attempt a rdle out of his or her so-called line of business without seriously jeopardizing a position that has, mostly, taken years of study, practice and hard work to attain. The réle in question, which I properly refused, has, by precedent and invariable custom in this country and in England, been assigned to the ‘old woman” of the theatre, where the piece has been played, and the ludicrous contradictions, made by the defence in attempting to classify, or Tather disclassify, it would have puzzled a much more Intelligent jury than that present at the trial of my case. I can safely assert, without fear of contradiction, that other actress in my place would have. acted as I did. Asfar as my position in the theatrical profession is concerned I would suggest to the writer of ror, editorial that I nave never “flickered,” but that since I have occupied that of “leading beg i it has always been with success. Mr. Lester Wallack, Mr, John Gilbert and Mr. Join Brougham, who may be considered as | bald authorities as the management of the Union quare Theatre, nave separately, by letter and paid me the highest compliments- on my rformances, and the almost unani- mous opinion of the New York press during my seagon at Wallack’s Theatre somewhat justi~ fies pretension to the title of ‘i jady.?? Were it in place here much could be said by disin- terested persons on the quality of the evidence ac- cepted against me and the manner in which the case was presided over, but Isimply request a right, to be heard when partial insinuations are brought against me. Trusting, for the sake Of fair piay, ow will ki insert L beg to remain, respect- Juuly yours, oH — VLeSsY MORDAUNT. SUICIDE OF + A BOOKKEEPER, Mr. Joseph 8. Reinhart, a gentleman 36 years of age, recently living at No. 41 West 125th street, was long a bookkeeper in the employ of the Missourt Life insurance Company, but some weeks ago he lost his position, and was by this made very des- pondent, He formed a purpose in his mind to ti Minate his existence, Mr, Reinhart accordingly communicated his. intentions to one or two reia~ tives, who endeavored to dissuade him from pur- auing such a course, but without effect, ashe, with- out their knowledge, proceeded to a drug store, and purchasing a quantity of landanum swallowed it, death being the result. Coroner Kessler held an inquest over the remains, ALMOST A MURDER. About half-past eleven o'clock yesterday morn- ing, a8 William Nolan, a “haif-witted fellow,” was engaged in breaking up barreis in the cooper’s yard of A. T, Briggs, corner of North Fifthand Second streets, Williamsburg, some boys, WhO were play- ing in the vicinity, 80 enraged him that he threw near the knee, fevering the arteries, OmMecer Pha len, who was passing at the time, arrested Nolan and locked bim up inthe Fifth Bgesig station District ‘Hospltay, where his infusion were’ prp. ‘ PI MOURCED 19 be Pla serious Nature.