The New York Herald Newspaper, January 12, 1874, Page 7

WASHINGTON. The Appropriation Committee Grimly Resolved on Retrenchment. Millions of Expenditure in Com- pensation of Idleness. The Army of Drones Lounging in the Departments. Salary Caucus of Republi- can Statesmen. Bumors of Republican Revolt Against the Confirmation of Cushing. WASHINGTON, Jan. 11, 1874, @he Appropriation Commitiee Grimly Resolved on Reduction—aA Hust of Use= less Employes Droning at Govern- ment Expense. The House Committee on Appropriations have considered the revised estimates of appropriations submitted in reply to the resolution of the House of Representatives of December 15, 1873, and have “unanimously agreed thut the reductions reported are not, in their opinion, down to the standard of an economical administration of the government. ‘The committee are indignant at that porticn of the letter of the Secretary of the Treasury which says, “That it the estimates are to be omitted or re- duced to any further extent it will involve a change in the policy and laws of Con- gress, upon which they are founded, the neceasity-or expediency of which are matters within its own jurisdiction, and are not left to the discretion or judgment of the Secretary of the Treasury.” It is the purpose Of the committee to investigate the subject and to see how far Congress 1s responsible 1or the present eXtravagance in the administration of the affairs of the government, as is iusinuated by the Secretary of ‘he Treasury, and how far, ashe alleges, the reduction of the estimates will involve a change in the policy and laws of Congress upon which they are founded. The different mem- bers of the committee have been assigned to the various duties connected with a personal examina- tion of the subject of the clerical force employed in the different departments. Two considerations have been laid down as a gencral line to be observed in these investigations— first, the increase of clerical Jabor necessitated by the increased requirements of the war, and second, the increase required by the natural growth of business. In the first instance, though the war has now been ended nine years, there has been no reduction of the number of clerks, though it is evident that there has been a material dimm- ution of business. This applies, in the opinion of the committee, particularly to the Treasury De- partment, which, with reduced duties, nas con- trived to increase its force from yearto year, and that without other law than tue appropriations m response to the extravagant demands of that de- partment. General Garfield, Chairman of tne Com. mittee on Appropriations, has nearly completed ® searching investigation of the entire subject of the civil service. He begins his labors at 1860, and takes the business and employés of the various executive depart- ments at that time and follows both through the war, when the maximum was reached in certain departments, and since which time the duties have declined, without, however, decreasing the num- ber of employés. Instead of Congress being re- sponsible for the army ot clerks, or, as the Secre- tary of the Treasury says, the estimates being en- tirely based upon laws of Congress, it has been discovered by the chairman that the departments have always clung to the number of clerks already allowed, and each year have asked for more, when there is no evidence to show that they were. needed. 1t is the opinion of the committee that so far from being responsible fer the enor- mous outlays for clerks the heads of de- partments are to blame. ‘Ine investigations of the committee and the statement being prepared by General Garfield will present an inter- esting view of the workings of tle executive branch of the government, The ‘Treasury Department shows this to the best advantage. The United States Treasury rogister, containing a list of all persons employed in the Treasury Department, end its various branches, gives the names of 11,000 employés. The bureaus are also found crowded with clerks who have no other duties, itis charged, than to read newspapers and, perhaps, to answer or copy # letter or two, elther of whien consumes but a few minutes. In going over the bureaus the committee find that in that charged with the mak- ing out of appointments in the Treasury Depart- ment there is a chief who gets $3,000, besides an extra thousand out of the fund for the compen- sation of cle rks with increased responsibility, and his assistant, who receives $2,400, and, besides, 10 clerks and five messengers and laborers, The cost of this bureau is nearly $23,000 a year. Passing over other bureaus also overstocked with clerks, that charged with the care of stationery has eight clerks, four messengers and five laborers, at a cost of $21,000 a year. Another branch, equally éx- travagant, is that charged witn the reception aud making up of the department mails. The chief of this department receives $3,000 for doing nothing, and has 12 clerks to assist two messengers in doing the work. The cost here is $20,000 ayear. The committee think this arather extravagant sum for clerk hire for attending to the mails of a single department. But the best evidence of the superfuity of employés in this department is tound in the Bu- reau of the Superintendent of the Treasury Buila- ing. In addition to the custodian clerk, assistant mesvenger, Storekeeper, machinist, engineer and assistant firemen, captain and lieutenants of the watch, there are 57 watchmen, 33 laborers and 90 charwomen, making a total force of 200 men and women to watch and sweep oat the building, and at the enormous annual cost of $101,000, These are extravagances which the Secretary of the Treas- ury accuses Congress of requiring him to indulge im. The fact is, the 160 toomg are hardly suffictent to afford desk room for the necessary and super- namerary force employed. The object of Mr. Garfleld’s exhibit Will be to check this growing evil, and itis his opimton that hundreds of thousands of dollars can be thus annu- ally saved, and for which the government at pres- ent receives no adequate return. ‘he same rule will be applied to all the departments not affected by the growth of the country and natural increase of government business. 3 has been found that a large number of temporary clerks are employed in all the departments. As these indicate the supposed increase of business they will be cut of, It has been found, also, that there are a number of manufacturea duties which are not necessary to the efficiency of business, These places have ocen created to make room for political appointments. The committee have gonerally decided that, in some instances, a reduction of 40 per cent can be made, but this is considered the maximum, It may be stated, how- ever, that through all the departments the aver- age reduction in the number of clerks will be from 2% to 30 percent. In the Treasury Department alone, that is—in ajl its branches—it is the opinion that the services of at least 4,000 can be dispensed with, Taking the 40,000 civil employés of the govern- Ment, exclusive of 33,000 postmasters, and a reduc- tion of 25 per cent would make 10,000 persons, Atan average salary each of $1,000 4 year, the amount saved would be $10,000,000, This would be a per- manent reduction, The Committee on Appropriations thus far have been unable to get any safsfaction out of the In- dian Bureau as to items of expenditure, or satis- factory explanation of the enormous increase in the outlays for the care of Indiays, The statement that estimates are all made in accordance with of Mr. NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 1874.—TRIPLE’ SHEh... tne various devices resorted to by the depary ments, for an increase of force, that the commit- tee have no faith m any such declarations, The report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs has not yet been submitted, and investigation in this direction is entirely suspended. A prominentmem- ber of the Committee on Appropriations remarked that the Commissioner on Indian Affairs, instead of writing bis report, was away in Minnesota, answering charges of corruption in office, and he thought tt did not speak well for him to be even under suspicion or open to such charges, The pensions, though @ delicate subject for poli- ticlans, it is admitted, have become an enormous burden to the government by constantly admit- ting new claimants and extending the range of the law. There will be no reductioa here, how- ever. The committee have already made a reduc- tion of ten millions in the Army, Navy and Fortifi- cations bilis, and they express their determination to cut down at least twenty-five millions. The committee, however, fear the formation of rings in the House which would thwart the best devised Plans of economy. It will therefore require dis- cretion in the selection of items of appropriation, for public buildings, ior instance, sufficient at least to hold a majority in the House, and thus make themselves masters of the situation. + It is also under consideration in the committee to recommend that another hour be added to the day’s work in the executive departments, which would enable the heads of departments to get rid of a large number of ornamental clerks and effect @ handsome saving in the appropriations for sal- ares, At present the departments open at nine o‘clock and close at three. Wormer Supporters of the Administra- tion Opposing Cushing with Bitter Earnestness—Will the History of Andy Johnson Be Repeated? The nomination of Mr. Cushing for Chief Justice was, the leading subject of conversation in every quarter yesterday and to-day. The public record of Mr. Cusning is being over-. hauled, and every book in the Congressional Library containing the name of this important individual has been taken out for reierence. The disappointed aspirants for the office are lending the influence of their knowledge to those engaged in villtying Mr. Cushing’s politi- cal record. ‘he action of the Judiciary vom- mittee is strangely in contrast with tnese l-efforts, No one knows Mr. Cushing’s his- tory better than Senator Edmunds, chaur- man of the committee; none could be more partisan than the chairman and his 1epubiican associates, Senators Frelinghuysen, Carpenter, Conkling and Wright. When a prominent republi- can Senator remarkeu to one of these gentlemen, “How could you favorably report the name of a man whose whole life has been in an- tagonism to republican principles?” the question was asked in return, “What do you mean by republican principles? = If. you mean the political dogmas of the party the answer is plain. The Judictary Committee is not calied upon to discuss the politics of the nominees for judicial offices, That the President determines, and our only duty ended when we were satisfied of the ability, character and fitness Cushing for the office.” No doubt bitter speeches will be made in executive session against his confirmation; but the most galling of all is the free expression of denunciations heaped upon President Grant by Senators who are supposed to be exceedingly loyal to the adiminis- tration, These remarks are sure to be repeated to the President by some of his friends in the Senate, and it is no longer doubted that between Grant and & portion of the republican Senators, there will no longer be friendly feeling. One of the number satd.to your correspondent to-night, “‘Whose funeral shail this be, Grant’s or the republican party's? Would it not be better to incur the ill will of Grant and reject Cush- ing than. the {ll will of the party by con- firming him? The editors of administrauon journals in distant parts of the country, fearing their denunciation of Mr, Cushing’s nomination might not reach here in time, have tele- graphed to Senators to beware of putting Cushing in the Supreme Court. The query has been made, “Is Grant crazy? Have we another Andy Jolinson in the White Bouse?” Not since the time whén the rupture between Johnson and Congress took place has there been so much excitement in political circles a8 prevails in Washington at present, and the strangest part is that Mr. Sumner, wno first shook his defiant fist at the White House when Andy Johnson disgusted him and transferred his hatrea tothe Senate Chamber, is now the defender and friend of the nominee, through whom che Presid2nt is receiving the severest denunciation. In con- versation to-night Mr. Sumner claimed that Mr. Cushing’s record during the war was a good one and that he was perfectly satisfied that his future decisions, should he be confirmed, would in all cases sustain the results obtamed by the war. Mr. Cushing, Mr. Sumner claimed, was one of the earliest of the repentant democrats, and not only was the trusted adviser of Mr. Lincoln, but sus- tained the reconstruction policy of Congress against Andrew Johnson. While it is believed Mr. Cushing will ultimately be confirmed, the dan- gerisinthe delay debate may cause. Should he be rejected, the President has deciared he will make haste slowly, very slowly, and not bother the Senate with another nomination for some time, Mr. Williams Fails to Cover His Contin- gent Expenses from Public View. Attorney General Willams thought the First Comptroller of the Treasury or some of his clerks had done wrong in allowing the vouchers of the contingent expenses of the Department of Justice to be copied or seen without authority from him and complained to the Comptroller about it: That omcer replied that these vouchers were public property and must be open to inspection at the request of any member of Congress, as was the case in this instance. One of his predecessors had decided that the expenditures by any of the departments which passed through his office were accessible to any proper inquiry, either from mem- bers of the press or Other persons, and tat there- fore neither his clerks nor himself had committed any oficial impropriety in the matter. The Proposed Freight Line, Under Gov- ernment Management, Between New York and Council Blaffs. Representative Hurlbut, of Illimois, a member of the Committee on Railways and Canals, will prob- ably to-morrow introduce a bill—the features of which he foreshadowed at the meeting of the friends of cheap transportation last night—for tue Construction of a double track freight railway from New York to Council Bluffs, with branches to Uhi- cago and St. Louis, the railway to be constructed and operated by @ corporation under the uuspices of the general government and controlled by a board of government commissioners, the rates for transportation on cereals to be fixed at five mills per ton per mile for any distance over 750 miles, the entire length of the road being 1,500 miles. These rates are never to be increased. For shorter dis- tances than 750 milea the rates are to be a littie more then five mills per ton per mile. The road is to be operated exclusively as a freight road for cereals, stock and other productions. ‘The trains will move at a quick but at the same time the most economical rate of speed, which will be at the least ten miles an hour, The cost of the road is estimated at $175,000,000, including the necessary rolling stock. The government aid sug- gested iy a guarantee of 5 per cent interest on 30,000,000 of bonds. The capacity of the road will be 60,000 tons a day, each way. The Commis- missioners are to fix the various rates of trans- portation aha make suitable provision for the care and safety of the freight carried both ways. When the road shall earn beyond what is necessarf for the payment of interest on the capital stock and S percent dividend the rates of freight originally established are to be reduced. Effort to Shield the Delicate Secor of the Navy from Curlosity. It is stated to-night that an effort wiil be mado in the House to-morrow to rescind the resolution of Mr. Beck, of Kentucky, cating upon the Secretary of the Navy for information as to the manner in which the millions appropriated to his department ry last year have been expended. The resolution also | batween ports o! aims to ascertain if the Secretary has violated any fb (aw bas become go waakanad hy the expganra.of | law Jn bis conducg of the affairs of thua donarynen: during the recent excitement. Should the resolu- tion be rescinded it will not prevent a statement Of sacts when the discussion on the Naval Appro- priation bill is resumed on Tuesday which will be dificult for the republican side of the Louse to explain or apologize jor. R ican Caucus to Settle Upon a Course Regarding the Salary Bill. The republican Senators will meet in caucus to- Morrow morning at hali-past ten, for the purpose Of deciding upon a programme by which the de- bate on the salary question may be speedily ended, The opinion already prevailing 1s that the House bill Wil be amended in many important particu. lara, and will again be the subject of acrimonious debate in the House, Death of Jadge Dille. Judge Israel Dille, of the Internal Revenue Bu- reau, who died suddenly last night of apoplexy, was 76 years Of age, and was well known, during his residence in Washington, in academic and literary circles, The New Trade Doliar Popular Abroad. Eight hundred thousand trade dollars have thus far been coined, and the demand continues. They have been made a iegal tender‘in Hong Kong and Shanghai, and are becoming daily more popular in China,.driving out’ the Mexican dollar, which does not, like our own, bear a general uniiormity of weight and quality. The Coming Patent Congress. On Thursday next the Patent Vonvention, called by a committee of the International Congress at Vienna, will assemble in this city. The object of the convention is, primarily, to take into consid- eration the resolutions adopted at the Patent Vongreas held at Vienna last year and pass upon them, but it will doubtless take up also the ques- tion of the condition of our owa patent system, and discuss various propositions for its ameud- ment. All persons interested in any way in the subject of patent protection are invited to attend the Convention, and an opportunity will be given for a free expression of opinion on all the questions that may be brought beiore it. The Convention will be held at the Legislative Hall on Pennsylvania avenue, between Ninth and Tenth streets, and will be called to order by a member of the Vienna committee. Mr, J, M. Thatcher will then give an account of the proceedings of the Vienna Congress, to which be was commissioned by the United States government. It is understood that a large pumber of delegates from all parts of the country, representing every class of men inter- ested in patent questions, will attend the Conven- tion, and it is expected that the discussions will have great interest for inventors and manu! turers and for the general public, A local Execu- tive Committee has the arrangements in charge, and has extended invitations to Judge Nott, of the Court of Claims; Judge R. B. Curtis and the Hon, M. D. Leggett, Commissioner of Patents, to address the Convention, Whe Last Voyage of the Virginius— Testimony Before the Naval Court. The United States Naval Court to inquire into the exact condition ot the Virginius when she was delivered to this government, her condition gener- ally before and during her voyage from Bahia Honda for Tortugas and as to the immediate and remote causcs of her sinking, &., yesterday ex- amined Captain William D. Whiting, chief of Rear-Admiral Scott's staif, to whom the Virginius was delivered; Licutenant Marix, who com- manded the Virginius ‘rom Bahia Honda to her auchorage at Tortugas; and Engineer Harris, who made an inspection of the vessel at that point, Captain Whiting testified that at the time he took charge of the Virginius the engines showed want of care, but there was no appearance of any leaks about the vessel. The Spanish oMcer who turned the vessel over to Captain Whiting reported that she made water and was obliged to be pumped out once in 24hours, A sinall leak was discovered in the Virginius when she arrived at Tortugas, which @ppeared to have been stopped by filling in with cement. The Virginius was putin necessary re- pair at Tortugas for her voyage to New York. Had it been possible Captain Whiting would have docked her, a8 @ measure of precaution, to repair the leak, He considered the Virginius asin con- dition to make the voyage to New York in fair weather and in convoy ol the Ossipee. The testi- mony as to the sinking of the Virginius was given yesterday by Ensign George A. Calhoun, who was on board the Virginius irom the time she left Bahia Honda to her sinking on the 26th of Decem- ber, and who was the Executive Oficer and navigator, His testimony shows that considerable exertions were necessary to Keep the vessel clear of water from her start from the Tortugas. On the morning of the 23d of December water was gaining fast, being nearly up the grate bars in the fire room, and they commenced signalling to the Ossipee, “Making water badly; go ahead faster, so we can woyk our pumps.” Afterwards signalled to the Ussipee, “Stand in towards land.” At nine o’clock on that morning threw overboard old iron and heavy weights and took other means to lighten the vessel, and at half-past five P. M. on the same day one fire in the furward fire room was extin- guished by water. Signalled to the Ossi- pee, “Will wave red lantern to-night in case we need assistance.” Also sig- nalled, “Water rising in forehold; can go noturther north, Dock at Charleston.” The Ossipee answered, “Is water rising in your fire- room?” Reply—“Yes! Six inches in lust half hour.” Ossipee—‘Can you hold out till daylight 7” Answer—“Yes! If forward buikhead holds out,' Ossipee—“‘We are bound for Charleston.” On December 24 Chief Engineer King, of the Ossipee, went on board the Virginius to inspect her boilers, the crown sheet of the after boiler having collapsed, and at 8:25 o’clock the same day the Ossipee sig” nalied, ‘We will continue up the coast.” Her course was then changed to northeast. On Decem- ber 25 there was @ moderate gale and a rough sea. ‘The hawser parted early in the morning, but was afterwards secured, and in the a(ternoon the Ossipee was signalled to take off the crew. At five P. M. the men came aft and requested that some arrange- ment be made to leave the ship, they being en- tirely exhausted. The leak being somewhat re- duced the Ossipee was signalled, “Can hold out untilmorning.” December 26, a heavy sea, At five in the morning signalled the Ossipee to be taken off, and commenced abandoning the ship about seven inthe morning. The men dropped into the boats by means of a line from the fore- castle, The boat made five trips, taking about 10 persons each trip. . About eight A. M. the last boat left the ship, taking the officers and a few personal effects. Captain Gore Jones, of the British navy, and General Sherman were in the couriroom during the proceedings, and paid their respects to the dis- tinguished officers of the Court. HALIFAX Fatal Boiler Explosion—Shipment of Coal for the Year 1873—Distressed Schooner. HALIFAg, N. S., Jan. 10, 1874, On Tnursday morning the boiler in Ourrie & Thompson's steam saw mill, at Maitland, Hants county, exploded, killing John Hustard, one of the workmen, and destroying the mill and Currte’s tan- nery. Pieces of the boiler weighing 300 and, 400 pounds were carried fully 20 yards, The Episcopal church was struck by @ fragment and considerably damaged. A number of shop windows in the vil- lage were also broken. Had the explosion, taken place laterin the day more fatal results would Probably have occurred. Five hundred and seventeen thousand. three hundred and seventy-six tons of coal were ee from. the Cape Breton collieries in 1873, aguinst 381,002 in 1872, Anthracite coal has been. discov- ered at Spring Rill. The schooner Viola eet from, Prince Ed- ward Isiand, bound to England, put in. here yes} terday leaking, having been in the ice inthe St. Lawrence. She willrepair before proceeding on the voyage. ITALIAN INTERESTS IN THE QOENTENNIAL, PHILADELEAIA, Jap. 11, 1874, Yesterday Director General Goshorn received a letter from George P. Marsh, Minister to Italy, in,’ answer to one sent October 29, im relation to the appointment of a Commission by the government of Taly vo act tn ite behalf tn matters connected, with the Exposition. He states that the Commissioners are nat yet appointed, but beleves soon will be. He refers to the Vian’ faciliues of commanication Italy and the United States, and eer tne herp ed of @ line of Ba wad eon the two country, W 8 PAA! would patraniged, 4 1 SPAIN. Serrano’s Plan of Executive Concentration for Purposes of National Pacification—Dis-- solution of Radical Associat ons— Campaigning Against Carlists. TELEGRAMS TO THE NEW YORK HERALD. Lonpon, Jan, 11, 1874, Despatches from Madrid report that Serrano will not convoke the Cortes for a twelvemonth, He will bend ail his energies to the suppression of insurrection and the tranquilization of the coun- try, and not until these tasks are accomplished will he summon the Legislature: THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE CARLISTS, General Moriones has commenced operations against the Carlists on the line of the River Ebro. Deeree of Dissolution Against Radical Assoviations, Maprrp, Jan. 11, 1874, A decree has been issued dissolving all political associations charged with conspirlug ugainst the interests Of the country or the integrity of its ter ritory. Republican Successes Before Cartagena. Lonpon, Jan, 12—5 A, M, A special despatch from Madrid to the Times says General Dominguez, commanding the forces besieging Cartagena, has telegraphed that his can- nonade has compelled Atalya Castie to surrender, and that he has summoned the other forts of tho city. A telegram tothe Standard trom the vicinity of Cartagena givesarumor that another magazine exploded within the walls on Satuiday, and 250 persons were killed, It is expected that the capture of Atalya Castle wiil lead to a speedy capitulation, GERMANY. Prussian Electoral Contests—Libera'ist and Frogressist Gains—Churchmen in Tri- umph at Important Centres, TELEGRAMS TD THE NEW YORK HEALD. BERLIN, Jan. 1, 1874, In the elections for members of tne Reichstag yesterday the Danish party carried all the districts in North Schleswig in which they were successful at the last and previous elections, Liberalist Gains—The Church Party Strengthened. BERLIN, Jan. 11, 1874, Partial returns of the elections siow tnat the number of national liberals and progressisis re- turned is about even, other parties falling far be hind, Dantzic, Leipsic, Bremen, Lubeck and Munich elect liberal members, and Berlin, Koenigs- berg and Breslau progressists, Candidates of the clerical party are chosen in Krefeld, Cologne, Dusseldorf and Aachen, ENGLAND. Testimony Contradictions of the Tichborne Trial, TELEGRAM TO THE KEW YORK HERALD, LONDON, Jan. 12, 1874, A letter from Mr. Whalley, M. P., appears in to- days papers contradicting the statements made by Lule, the Tichborne witness, on trial for perjury: INDIA, Provincial Distress in Consequence of Famine, TELEGRAM TO THE NEW YORK HERALD. CaLourta, Jan. 11, 1874, ‘The famine is already causing great distress in Behar and Benares. MEXICO. Governmental Troubles in the State of Coha- « huila—fevere Fighting with the Troops ofa Deposed Executive—Rule in San Luis Potosi. TELEGRAM TO THE NEW YORK HERALD. MaTamoras, Jan, 11, 1874. The forces of General Zepeda, the deposed Gov- ernor of Cohahuila, have again been defeated by the troops supporting the Legisiature, and Dr. Silas has been elected Governor. The action took place near Monclova, capital of the State, and, although severe, the engagement was not de- cisive. Both parties are still in the field. yhe general government has appointed a pro- visional Governor for the State until a new elec- tion can be held. it is supposed that General Flemy, who is in command of about 1,000 Federal troops and 2,000 National Guards, will be able to prevent further hostilities. GOVERNMENT OF S4N LUIS POTOSI. General Escovedo, Governor of San Luis Potosi, has retired, and Manuel Muro has taken charge as Provisional Governor. It is said that Escobedo leaves the office to attend to private business. Want of accord between him and the general gov- ernment is perhaps the real reason. WEATHER REPORT. +——__—+. OFFICE OF THE CHIEF SIGNAL OFFICER, Wasunarton, D. C., Jan. 12—1 A. M. Probabilities, For NEw ENGLAND AND THE MIDDLE ATLANTIC STATES, GENERALLY CLEAR OR FAIR WEATHER WILL PREVAIL, WITH FRESH AND BRISK SOUTHWESTERLY AND NORTHWESTERLY WINDS, LOWER TEMPERATURE AND RISING BAROMETER. For the lower lake region partly cloudy weather, witn areas of light snow, fresh to brisk westerly winds and low temperature, For the upper lake region and thence westward to Iowa and Minnesota, very cold and generally clear weather during Monday, the winds in these districts gradually breaking to southwesterly, with rising temperature. For the Ohio Valiey and Tennessee, and thence westward to Missouri and Arkansas, but slight cloudiness will prevail, with temperature below freezing, the barometer in-these districts continu- ing high, with northerly winds, For the South Atlantic and Gulf States lower temperature, with variable winds and increasing cloudiness, The Weather in This City Yesterday. The following record will show the changes in the temperature for the past 24 hours, in compari- son with the corresponding Gay of last year, as indicated by the thermometer: at Mudnut’s Phar- macy, HERALD Building :— 1873, 1874. War DEPARTMENT, | Average temperature yesterday... ‘ Average temperature corresponding woe OBS date last year... aN JOURNALISTIO NOTES. Lockport has a model religious editer tn the person of Willard H. Cobb, of the Journal, who has been elected President of the Young Men's Christian Association. Colonel 8. D, Pool has retired from the editorial chair of the Newbern (N. ©.) Journal ef Com. merce, 1n favor ot his sen, Colonel Pool is en- gaged upon a work entitied “Our Living and Our Dead,” which taintended to illustrate the valor of North Carolreans in the late war. Postmaster N.D, Sperry, of New Haven, has purchased ‘the interest of H. Lynde Harrison in the Padladium and is negotiating for the purchase Of the interest of Dexter A. Wright tn the same daily, with a view of coutrolling if in tue vext Seuatertal camvaiga THE- LONDON THEATRES. “Dombey and son” at the Globe=Mr. Burneand’s Readings from «Happy Thoughts”—Actors Out of Work—A Lit- erary Scandal—A British Peer Charged with Libel—He H His Choice of Re- tractation or Pistols for Two—He Chooses the Former—Two New Daily Journals for London—The London “Special; Start for St. Petersburg. Lon pon, Dec: 24, 1873, Mr. Andrew Halliday, who bas been very suc- cesgful in rearranging Shakespeare’s plays to bring in the ecenic accessories, ballets and processions, which, unhappily, are now considered necessary to enable the Britisn public to endure representations of their great poet, and who has “adapted’’several of Sir Walter Scott’s novels for the stage, has recently turned his attention to Dickens, and is gradually using him up, dramatically. Mr. Halliday’s last effort has been to popularize “Dombey and Son,” under the title of “Heart’s Delight.” His “Dom- bey,” while containing some of Dickens’ most pa- thetic and most humorous writing, 1s perhaps the most unnatural and most repulsive on his list. The whole story of Edith and Carker is preposterous in the highest degree, The idea that any woman, to revenge herself on ner purse-proud, stiff-necked husband, would run away witha mao whom she loathed and despised, is purely Dickens- ism and utterly unlike real lie. The episode of “good Mra. Brown," her daughter and Rob the Grinder is uninteresting. Tne Toodle family are lugged in by the heels, and Join and Harriet Carker ar varying bores, The portions of the story which take the strongest hold on the reader are the life and death of littie Paul, which are obviously unfitted for stage treatment, and the eccentricities of Captain Cuttle, of which Mr. Hal- liday has liberally availed himself, Ihave often heard Americans speak of Mr. Bur- tou’s wonderful impersonation of Captain Cuttle; but J doubt whether it could have been better than that given by Mr. Emery, an uncertain, but, when in proper cue, & most admirable actor. His Makeup was so perfect that he looked as if he had bodily stepped out ofone of Phiz’s pictures, and his periormance was, to my ‘thinking, simply per- fect. Salt as the very sea, hearty and biuf, he convulsed the audience with his genuine humor, and at the two great “hits” of the part—one where he burs*s into that agonized wail of despondency when he declares that every hope of his life was “gone down with Wal’r,” (he other where he ar- rests Floreace’s attention to prevent her turning round and noticing the shadow of the rescuea jad upon the blind—his pathos touched the hearts of his hearers, and called forth loud and long continued applause. Mr. Montague. the lessee of the theatre, “doubled” the parte of Walter Gay and Toots, In the former he was excellent, handsome, trank and natural; and Iam bound to say -though some jault has been found with him—that he pleased me in the latter. Touts is one oi Dickens’ eccentrics—an impossibie person, such as was never seen in real lite—an idiot, of whom atfferent readers may form different conceptions, Mr. Montague represented him as a lank-haired, nerv- ous, blushing, stammerimg youth, and as such made a bit of character out of him intelligible to most of the audience, who certainly would have comprehended nothing of the Toots of the novel. For the rest of his drama Mr. Halliday has taken the domestic unhappiness of Mr. Dombey and Edith, giving in full the scene bevween Edith and Carker at the French inn after the elopement. All this is very patchy and scrappy, and is not led up to in any fashion. Moreover, Carker (played by Mr Fernandez) is a melodramatic villain, and Miss Barry (the handsome woman whom Mr. Bouci- cauit discovered, and who made her first appear- ance as the Queen of the Amazons in “Babil and Bijou") is overweighted as Edith. She looks re- markable well, though so tall as to dwarf every- body near her, and is undeniably clever, showing that she understands what she nas to say, and can emphasize Clearly and correctly; but she has not had gumcient Stage experience to know what to do with her hands, and her attitudes and gestures are thus occasionally awkward and constrained, Miss Carlotta Addson, a py and interesting in- génue, made the most of Florence, and the scenery and general decorauons leit nothing to be desired. Mr. ¥. ©. Burnand, the author of “Happy Thougnts,” has been reading selections irom those, pleasant papers in public. The selections com- prise the adventures 01 the hero while staying at a country house, where be 1s called upon to sing a stupid comic song, to the manifest boredom of the majority of the company, and his experience oi a yachting trip. Mr. Burnand 1m person is a genial, jovial, pleasant-laced map, with a powerful voice ‘and considerable facial and histrionic powers. He does not attempt to act, but he does quite suMcient to embody his creations, and he certainly carries the puoiic with nim. On the first night when 1 was there the people laughed with unmis- takable heartiness, and certain of Mr. Burnand’s sketches, notably those of a “gushing” young !ady and the’ seasick hero, were warmly applauded. One of the most enthusiastic among the audience was Mark Twain. I should not be surprised if you see Mr, Burnand in America, and prophesy for him @ success, I suppose your financial crisis has curtailed the opportunities of the, “‘amusing classes’? in New York aud elsewhere in the States, else I could rec- ommend to your managers a list of excellent actors and actres who, notwithstanding tne fact that we have 31 theatres in London alone, are walking about without engagements. Among them are Mr. and Mrs. Hermann Vezin. Miss Lydia Foots, Mr. Belmore, Mr. George Honey, Miss Moodie, Mrs. Stephens and many more, who are “artists’’ in every sense of the word. The man of whom I have spoken in my notice of ‘Heart's Delight,” Mr. Emery, whose periorinance ts now delighting all London, was recently out of a me- tropolitan engagement lor two years. A great literary scandal is now oceupying our attention. A series of papers, calied ‘The Ches- tertield Letters, 1873," has been appearing for the last six weeks in & magazine called London Society. They have been fuil of very strong and unmistak- able personalities, with the real names of the per- sons animadverted upon disguised under the thinnest o/ aliases, and with curiously full details of their private lives, The last nomber contained @ large instalment of this kind of gossip reflecting upon a certam “Harry Brown,’’ whom everyone in society immediateiy knew to be Coionel Uharles White, son of Lord Annaly, Member of Parliament for Tipperary, who as “Charley White’ 1s well known and liked in society. Colonel White him- sell recognized the portrait, and was silly enough to fit the cap on to his own head by insisting that Mr. Bentley, the publisher of the magazine, should deliver up the name of the author. Mr. ‘Bentley named the Earl of Desart, a young Irish nobleman, who has been dabbling 1m iiterature, and Colonel White despatched two of his friends, also colonels in the Guards, to wait upon Lord Desart at his country house in Ireland, and obtain from him an apology, or invite him to a duel in Spain. Lord Desart, while denying the actual authorship, admitted his ‘‘responsivility” for the article, but declared that any idea of a design to placken White never entered his or the writer's head, and thereupon signed a most pro- fuse and humble apology, such a document as nas been seldom seen. The matcer does not rest here; ali London is tatking of it,and Mr, Bentley has declined to act any longer as publisher of the magazine, which goes to Messrs. Sampson, Low & Co. The person very much to blame in the matter is the editor—unfortunately in this instance a lady—Mrs. Ross Church, She protests she knew nothing of the personality contained tn the arti- cles, But the editor of London Society ought to be in London society, and if she haa been she could not have failed to know what was meant; and. again, if she did not know they were personal, why did she publish them at all? for, barring their personality, they were very dull productions. Two new journals are on the eve of appear- ing. One is to be called the Circle, and 19 to deal solely with London and Paris, The other, entitied the Independent, owned by a rich Hebrew. gentie- man named Abrahams, will go in projessedly to oppose the Daily Telegraph. The most recent effort at Oak a ap daily newspaper has just come to grief. Mr. D, Neville Evans, who for years was the city article writer of the Standard, and who on seceding trom that journal ventured his capi- tal in starting the Hour, is in the .Bamkruptcy Court. The Hour is rapidly coming to an end, and some of its convributors have struc ‘The principal special correspondents of our jour- nals are about setting off for Petersburg, to chronicle the gay doings in connection with the Duke of Edinburgh’s marriage. Dr, Russell goes for the Timea, Mr. Forbes for the Daily News, Mr. E. Dicey tor the Daily Telegraph. But if the Em- peror of Germany dies all this will be changed, as, the marriage will be postponed. MUSICAL AND DRAWATIC NOTES. “La Femme de Feu’’ of Adolphe Belot wilh be produced this evening at Booth’s Theatre. Mr. John Brougham lectures at Association Ball this evening in the Mereantile Library course. His subject 18 “Files in the Web,’? A telegram annoances that Master James Speight (Young America), the child violinist, died suddenly, on Saturday night, in Boston, of heart disease, The funeral takes place today, at half- past two o'clock, at Mount Auburn Cemetery. “They killed three birds with one stane in St, Louis on the sth instant, when, a% the Democrat puts it, “the celebration arranged to commemo- rate the battle of New Orleans, and ‘also the sub stantial completion of the Hiinois and St. Louis Dridce, WAS VOhE SBREOD AMIR TARA to Serve as AL en tribute to me distinru‘shed cantatrice, Mme. Nilsson, who honored the celebration with her Presence, The ingenuity of the affair ts charming, but one can imagine the dificuity the average after dinner orator would have to group a bridge, @ battle and a prima donna in a single sentiment, Judge Krum, whom there was no compassionate Lazarus to pick from the table, attempted to make the three mcongruities blend as follows:—*While the occasion of the celebration might have been the bridge, still that was merely typical—for rivers and fiddles had bridges in common, and the bars of iron might typify bars of music, and though it might have been the celebration of a victory for the Bird of Freedom it was aiso for the triumph of the Swedisn Nightingale.”’ PERSONAL INTELLIGENCE. Josiah Quincy, of Boston, is staying at the Windsor Hotel, Postmaster W. L. Burt, of Boston, arrived |ass evening at the Astor House, Professor John F, Weir, of Yale College, has ar- Tived at the St. Denis Hotel. Olaf Stenersen, the Swedish Minister, has apart ments at the Hotei Brunswick. Lieutenant A, Palmer, United States Navy, i# quartered at the Glenham Hotel, American Presbyterian missionaries are holding @ synod at Dehra, iu the northwestern provinces of British India. The Czar Alexander has forwarded 18 decorations to Montenegro, to be distributed among the-Var vodes and Albanian chiefs. The “Knights of St. Patrick” ts the title of a new organization in Hartford. They will celebrate St Patrick’s Day im the morning and evening. The missing Pawtucket (R. I.) merchant, Good man, has not appeared. He is supposed to have met with foul play on board a Stonington sicamer bound ior New York. Governor Booth, of California, will not take hia seat in the United States Senate until 1375, as it ie thought necessary he should retain his guberna torial position to thwart anticipated railroad schemes, The Archbishop of Canterbury (Dr. Tait), speak- ing on the position and mission of the English Church, says it 1s no part of its business to make inroads upon dissent, but rather to make inroada upon ungodliness, On the 29th of December Mr. Gladstore come pleted his sixty-fourth year, having been born on the 29th of December, 1809, and on the $ist of the same month Mr. Disraeli numbered 68 years, hav ing been born on the 3ist of December, 1805, Yhe foreign ambassadors in China are just now objects of great regard. They are daily expected to become devotees of the godlike Emperor, and it is reported throughout the Empire that they were paralyzed at his augustness during their audience with him, so that most of them had to be carried out of his preseuce, “THE GRANGE&S The Movement in the West—They De- clare Railroads Without Vested Rights, and Advocate a Direct Issue of Currency. Sr. Louis, Jan. 11, 1874. A caucus of members of the Legislature, who are also Grangers, was heid at Jefferson City last nignt. It is understood they resoived te demand retrenchment and reform in alt departments of the State government, They declared that railroads have no vested rights, and that corporations must submit to the same laws that govern individuals; that the National Banking law should be repealed; that the government should issue its own currency without the intervention of corporate bodies, Another meeting will be held in a few days, at which it 1s expected that a Legislative Grange will be organized, Jt is stated that the granges? members will act as a unit on all questions ol nancial policy and political reforms, without regard to former political asso- clations, They will introduce bills providing. tor cheaper railroad rates and for semt-annual pay- ment of taxes. They also propose establishing .& gtangers’ bank at St. Louis and other cities ia the State, and pack their own hogs neXt season. Adespatcn from Leavenworth, Kan., says the general feeling among the best politicians and citi- zeus there, as well a8 among the leaders of the farmers’ movement, is, that the leadership of the opposition in the Legislature this winter, which has been assumed by Colonel York and Mr. Clark, is ualortunate, aud likely to prove disastrous to that party. THE HUDSON RIVER RAILROAD, POCGHKBEPSIE, Jan. 11, 1874. All obstructions to the regular running of train: on the Hudson River Railroad have’ been cleare® away and trains now go through on time, RAILROAD DISSECTING, BaLrTimoreE, Jan. 11, 1874. Last evening John Zettle, aged 50, while walking on the track of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, near Brown’s switch, a short distance from. this city, Was run over by a freight train and instantly killed, His body was cut completely in two. ASIOKENING SUICIDE PORTLAND, Me., Jan. 11, 1874 Nosh W. Cross, of Gardiner, committed suicide on Saturday by throwing himself into the flume of Gray’s mill. His mutilated body was found to day. ie was 51 years old, and leaves a widow and five children. A.—Hernt cians use only the ronized by Surgeon Gen ican Institute, and Clneinn easy till cured. As Watcr Extinguishes Fire, So Does ANAKESIS extinguish Piles Sold by all druggists. De-. pot 46 Waiker sireet, New York. ‘The Most Eminent Physi- sLASTIC TRUSS, 683 Broadway. Pat- has highest medalat Amer- Exposition. Holds Rupture Bankers. TAYLOR & CO., 11 Wall stret, New York, will the highest rates for Doubloons, Spanish Bank Governments, &c., &c Batchelor’s Hair Dye Is Splendidt Never fails, Established 37 years. Sold and pro] applied at BATCHELOR’S Wig Factory, 16 Bond st, N. Colosseum. Card, In consequence of the press of visitors and annoyance, attending the division of the several entertasamentis, the Tittagement have decided to fix $1 ns the price of ad— mission to the entire entertainment, includime the Poly~ technic, Promenade, Cyclorama and Lectorium. To. avoid the crush at the tieket office, it is well for the public: to understand that it is not necessary, the exposition, Deing continuous trom 12M. tod P. M., for the matinee: of London by day, and. trom 7 P. M. to: 10. M., for the evening display of Paris by night, and, cards of admis- sion may be obtained in advance for amy day in the week, Dr. Newton’s Medical and Su Institute, No. 34 Bona street. —Special, attention chronic diseases. Consuitation tree, Established 40 Years.—Dr. Lewis’ Modi-~ CAL AND SURGICAL INSTITUTE, No. 7 Beach street Special attention given to Nervous Diseases, teak. verse Fire and Water.—Selling Of at m sacrifice, our entire stock of Man's.amdk Boys, CLOTHING. count of fire of January 2. on account of ot Jat Ti, EUBA, er Broome street, j Safes.—Bargains in New and Second hand SAFES at our Serpents ie eee noes Calla examine betore purchasing.e! eee TL LIGRR & 00% The Best a Surest Remedy in the world for atl diseases with whieh children sre a! during, the proces of teething is Mrs. WINSLO! SOOTHING SIRUP. I,not only relieves she child fam pain, but invizorates the stomach and bowels. cures wind colie, and, by gixigg quiet sleep to.the child, gives Fest to the mother. ‘Wigs, Toupees..G. Rauchfass Practical Wig aut Toupee mmoken, No. 44 East Twellth stredt, near way. 10,000 Yards Ingrain Carpets at 75 conte peryard; G, FISHER & COs, 14 Fougth avenue. WALL STREAT. OFTEN LEADS. to vage net frees T OF. ao, kers, No. ‘ail stree' sholagy MPRRENOLSGICAL JOURNAL See LJ year, "With SCIENCE UP REALE 82, Both for $4 %, by 8. R, WEGLS, No, 389 Broadway, N. ¥~ 17 18 CERTAINLY THE BEST OF AMERICAN 1 Magaaines.”—Express, Buffalo, N. Y. ola The. leading n thas wean GALANT is the best andsmost ably edited American Magagine, A model periodical: a credit wo American; periodsea Mrorature. 2 Yhiadelphta Press. Who would not give $4 to secure such asmonthly visi® aut Wor the year 1874? SUBSCRIBE AT ONCR, be had with either “Harper's Weekly”. o ‘gr ‘Appletons’ Weekly” tor $7. A SHELOON & COMPANY, SHELOON & Now Xe