The New York Herald Newspaper, January 13, 1874, Page 3

NEW YORK HERALD, TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 1874~TRIPLE SHEET. WASHINGTON. Jealous and Partisan Opposition to the Confirmation of Cushing. Calumny Refated in the Facts of His Patriotic Career. The Senate Passes a Sweeping Repeal of the Back Pay Bill. Prospect of Large Reductions in De- partmental Expenditures, Rejection of the Inflation Propo- sition by the House. WASHINGTON, Jan, 12, 1874, The Charges Against Cushing Refated by the Facts of His Patriotic Career— Hope of His Ultimate Confirmation as Co f Justice. Very considerable opposition has developed itself as to the nomination of Mr. Cushing as Chief Justice. That opposition all takes shape from the allegation that he is not in accord with the repub- Mean party upon tlie great measures of recon- stroction and the constitutional amendments which authorized them, and the fear ia expressed that it may not be safe to trust him as the head of the Supreme Court with these cardinal principles ‘of the republican party, or, ag republican Sena- ter expressed it, with the jewel of the party. ‘The opposition is fommented largely hy candidates with lingering hopes that they may take his place, in case Mr. Cushing is rejected, The animus of those opposing Mr. Cushing may be un- @erstood upon hearing the remarks ofa candidate for the Chief Justiceship from Massachusetts who came on the floor of the House to-day, and said to @ brother member, ‘Have you heard the latest news? It is said that the President has withdrawn Cushing’s name for Chief Justice and nomited Jerry Black.” Still it is believed by thinking men here that when Mr. Cushing’s record tsjfairly put before the Senate they will find that since the breaking ut of the war (and who of the Senate dare go back of that date?) his record has been as good and firm on the side of his country as the most prominent republicans from the democratic party, such a6 Logan, Morton and Butler. While Mr. ‘Gushing has not been as noisy as some of these, especially the last one named, in his profession ot @evotion to the republican party, it appears that he bas been quite as patriotic and effective in atd- Img all the teading measures of recon: struction. It was asserted in the Senatorial caucus, in an informal discussion, by a republican Senator to-day, that Mr. Cushing was the author of the original draft of the text of the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution. The facts of Mr. Cushing’s record as presented by his friends seem to be briefly these :— Mr. Cashing was a member of the Charteston Convention and presided over its deliberations, and also, on its adjournment at Baltimore, he, in connection with other Northern democrats, ‘warned his Southern friends that the seceasion of the Southern members of the convention and con- sequent disruption of the party would surely bring about the sectional strife that followed, from which war must come, asit did. When a majority of the Convention at Baltimore insisted on fillmg up the Convention with delegates from the South without constituencies tn place of those that seceded at Charleston, thus foreing the nomination of Judge Douglas. Mr. Cushing, with Butler and other Northern demoorats, seceded front that convention and nominated Mr. Brecken- riage, with the expectation that in the event of republican success, which they deemed certain, they would be enabled, by alliances with the Boutherners, to prevent secession, in the hope that the mistakes of 1860 might be corrected in 1864. But the disruption had gone teo far, and when it appeared in the following December upon the meeting of the committee of the Breckenridge Convention, that South Carolina bad gone out and war was inevitable, the Breckenridge democrats of the North, who had striven all within their power to pre- serve the Union, almost without excep- tion enrolled themselves on the side of the constitution. Butler went to the war immedi- Btely alter the firing on Sumter, and Mr. Cushing made a most patriotic speech, which was pub- Mashed in the HERALD at the time, in Newburyport, in which he tendered his services to his State and the Union in support of the government. This Was within 10 days after the surrender of Fort Sumter. Mr. Cushing then tendered his services to Governor Andrew, with whom, however, he had had personal conflict on the foor of the House of Representatives in Massachusetts, which Andrew never could forgive. Andrew repelled Cushing’s offer with insult, notwithstand- ing which, Cushing, being a war democrat, sup- ported every war measure for the support of the government, and voted ali supplies for carrying on the war, even when Andrew threatened to with- draw the Massachusetts troops if Lincoln aid not &t once emancipate the slaves. In the Trent effair Mr. Cushing took the American view of the question, and in a long letter, in response toa letter trom Fernando Wood, then Mayor of New York, asking his views, argued the question in the Most masterly manner, the conclusion of which is as follows:—“To conclude then, in my judgment, the act of Captain Wilkes was one which any and every self-respecting nation must and would have done by its own sovereign right and power, regardless of consequences. It was an act which, it cannot be doubted, Great Britain would have done under the same circumstances. Attme same time it was on act amply justified by the principles and doctrines of international juris- prudence. We may well regret that occasion for the act has occurred, and that the selgure needed to be done from on board a@ vessel, and, still more, a mail packet of Great Britain, with whom, for all possible Teasons, we desire to continue on the footing of cordial amity; but Messrs. Mason and Shdell, not having been embarked on board of the Trent by the British government, that government, as such, has not been offended by the seizure. The Trent, her officers acting on their own responsibility, could have no immunity from the ordi- nary laws of war, which affect the ves- sels of a great power equally as of a amall one, and Great Britain cannot fail, I think, to perceive that, as no offence was intended to her in the matter, and as the rights of bel- ligerency were exercised by Captain Wilkes in the Most moderate form, without seizure of mails, without bringing in as prize, without injury to private property, her national Pride and her national honor conspire to dictate the most amicable construction of this mevitable event. Mr. Cushing’s course Was so grateful to President Lincoln that in De- cember, 1861, he tendered to him the appointment of Brigadier General, intending to detail him with Butler’s expedition to New Orleans, in order that he might have advantage of his legal learning in settling questions of international law, in the event of the capture of that section of the Confederacy, which might grow out of the movement. Napoleon was then making war against Mexico, Governor Andrew, on learning of the intention of the President, came to Washing- ton and demanded that Mr. Cushing's name should be withdrawn. The President, unwilting to offend the Governor of @ leading republican State, reluct- antly consented, put showed his appreciation of Mr. Cusbing by appointing him agent of the United States before the British American Commission, in the matter of the Hud- son Bay Company. Mr. Cushing came to Washington, accepted the appointment anda en- oyed tne confidenve of Presiaent Linwin and Becretary Seward thencejorward, With tis uspel : Adetity and ability be Gleckargea me duties of bis place and became the comfdential adviser of the State Department and of President Lancoln dur- ing the remainder of the war, When a commis- sion was appointed té revise the United States statutes, at the instance of Mr. Sumner, President Johnson appointed Mr. Oushing at the head of the commission; but he found the isbame of -it too arduous and fatiguing, and soon resigned the position and returned to the practice of law, being employed by the government to take care of its great interests in recovering the property of the Confederacy in foreign countries, which came to us by the break- ing up of th@rebellion. During the time of the whole legislation on measures of reconstruction and the adoption of the amendments to the constitution, Mr. Qushing was in constant consultation with tne great leaders of the republican party, especially with Mr. Stevens and Mr. Sumner, Doubtlesa, the facts stated above will be news to the enemies of Mr. Cushing, yet he advised and constructed the origina! draft of the Fourteenth Amendment. From that time those who have enjoyed Mr. Oushing’s acquaintance in Washington have known how pronounced have been his opinions upon these amendments and the measures to carry them into effect. Notic- ably he has retained the confidence and support of Mr. Sumner because of his opinions _\’upon those subjects. Mr, Cushing has never had anything to do’ with @&e-class of practice in. Wash- ington which falls into the hands of claim agents. He has always held aloof from it. Nor bas he ever promoted business or made arguments before the committees of the two houses of Congress. The singie instance in which he broke this rule was in matters of election, and for a day or two, in the absence of other counsel, assisting his old friend and acquaintance, Mr. Ames, of Massa- chusetts, when the Union Pacific Railroad matters Were being examined before a committee of the House. Mr. Cushing voted for Mr. Lincoin in 1864 and for Grant in 1868 and 1872, going to Massa- chusetts for that purpose, and contributed $500 to the campaign im his adopted State of Virginia in the eleotion of 1872, Having been so pronounced ® democrat before the war, his services having been repelled by the Governor of his State and being employed most fully in his profession, Mi. Cushing has never thought it proper to make any loud protestations of his re- publican feelings and views lest his motives might be misunderstood. The readers of the HERALD will remember, however, that he appeared in the Louisiana case in the Supreme Court, last winter, upon the question of the right of the government to put in operation the Enforcement laws in that State, It is known that Mr. McPherson, the Clerk of the House, has kept a record of the doings of public men of prominence ever since 1863, by cutting out all newspaper mention of their important acts and comments thereon. Senators on both sides have had access to this reco they have failed to find a single word eit id by or against Mr: Cushing from that tame until now which impugns his patriotic record, which is but now briefly recited, On the contrary, one of those slips gives a character to Mr. Cushing, as a Judge of the Su- preme Court of Massachusetts, which it might be well for the Senate to consider. It was published in the Boston Advertiser, in 1870, and an extract is as follows:—“It has seldom been our own fortune to agree with him, these many years past, bat it has not seldom occurred to us that those who have been at the greatest pains to inveigh againat him must find points in his character and history worthy of something more than contempt His untiring industry, his great learning, the charm of his conversation, his entire devotion to whatever he undertakes to do, his actual success in official positions—these count ® good deal in the sum ofa public career and will some time be acknowledged. Never was there a fairer or more considerate and courteous magistrate on the bench; never a legislator who was more industrious and skilful and ready to assist in matters of legislation even those from whom he entitel red on purely political questions. It will be diMcult to find a lawyer of eminence whc’ not lke to meet an opponent of such fairness as well as ability. Perhaps the time has hardly come to say all this, and it may grate on the feelings of those who have warmly resented Mr. Cushing’s political course, and may tend to rake open the slumbering fires of old controversies; but we ven- ture it, and also the further remark, that as things have turned out, the bitterest foe can afford to be just, as well as generous, to a citizen so remarka- ble, so able and so distinguished.”” It is believed here that, upon full reflection upon the subject ‘and upon Mr. Cushing’s record as given, there will be no difficulty about his confir- mation. The list of Senators opposed to him tele. graphed from here is wholly incorrect and unre- Mable. The names which head the list tor and against confirmation are Ames and Alcorn. Both Senators are in Mississippi. Alcorn will not be here for several weeks and Ames not at all, he having gone down to take his seat as Governor. Your correspondent had an interview with Mr. Sumner to-night in regard to tne confirmation of Mr. Cushing as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, at which the following facta were elicited. He believed the nomination was a very good one, and that Mr. Cushing possessed all the qualifications of ability and record as a lawyer and in the requirements of intellect to make a good Chief Justice. He mentioned to most of the lawyers in the Senate and those on the Judiciary Committee, holding in doubt but a few who had not spoken to him on the subject. Promment among those enumerated who were favorably dis- posed were Edmunds, Conkling, Carpenter and Frelinghuysen, Cameron, Boutwelland Fenton he knew to be strong advocates of the favorable action of the Senate. He had received a telegram to-day from J. B, Smith, a colored member of the Legislature of Massachusetts and whom he pro- nounced a strong leader of long standing among the colored republicans of Massachusetts, in which the confirmation of Mr. Cushing was strenuously urged, closing with the remark, that “we colored people, have need of his great service,” In addition this he had received a very strong letter from one of the highest sources of republican strength and respectability insisting upon the same action. Mr. Sumner laughed quite heartily at the statement in some of the republican papers which said this was Mr. Sumner’s nomination, He stated that he aid not know anything about the nomination until it was made, and he has not laid his eyes .on Grant since the inauguration, and had not spoken to him for along time. He had no opportunity of knowing anything about it until it was announced, He knew Mr. Cushing very well, as he had been a guest at his house, for a long time visiting him occasionally, and he had examined thoroughly into his record, and was conscien- tiously satisfied, through and through, that he was all right and perfectly acceptable to the republi- can party. He did not know of any opposition to him of any importance in the Senate. He could Not account for the opposition of certain papers to him, espectally one of the New York papers, unless in the case of the latter, Mr. Sumner said with a smile, Mr. Cushing’s view of the English Chief Jus- tice did not accord with its English views which he believed they entertained, because the paper Was managed by Englishmen and was under Eng- lish influence, He believed there was some oppo- sition to Mr. Cushing on account of his former democratic tendencies ami States Rights advo- cacy in times long gone by, but he did not fear anything en that score, as he had full op- portunity to know Mr. Cushing’s views thoroughly, and he felt them to be quite up to the standard of the progressive republican spirit of the day. He thought the only real grounds upon which any substantial objections could be urged against Mr. Cushing were in regard to his age and in contemplation of the law governing the incum- bency of the office and the retirement of the in- cumbent when 70 years of age, Mr. Cushing being 74 years ol age. In this @ prominent member of the House of Representatives from Masssachusetts who was present concurred. Though not invited to the caucus wnich took place among tne repub- lican Senators this morning, which was to be re- sumed after adjournment this evening, he said it ‘was understood the matter had not been falty dis- cussed, as yet; but, alter reviewing the personnel in the Banaye, be could natsee that it would have fog » ite purpose any course which would militate against the confirmation of Mr. Cushing. Upon ita being suggested to Mr. Sumner whether there was &@ Dosstbility of his overweening friendship and in- timacy with Mr. Cushing interfering with a close and critical seratiny of his capacity for the office from a genuine republican standpoint, he said he-did not allow his triendship or his preferences to interfere with a question of principle, and his action in this case was from the dictates of prin- ciple, in addition to which he always stood by a friend, and especially when he needed one. An outside ‘ear of the availability and the propriety of confirming Cushing arose, he said, from a fear that, owing to Mr. Cushing’s age, if he should break down, which was nothing un- Usual in one of advanced years, the next admini- stration might be democratic, and, in the event of ® vacancy by death or retirement, a democrat might replace him as Chief Justice. But this he re- garded as an uncontrolling mfuence now im the selection of Mr. Cushing, inasmuch as, with the rst fact established, the contingency might occur with any one appointed, and could not be avoided, He thought Mr. Cushing, being a man of such vigor and healthful constitution, would last a long time. On the whole Mr. Sumner Jooked easy, hopeful and good natured while contemplating the impending event, and, is very anxious, as he is almost confident, that Mr. Cushing in due course of time will be confirmed by a strong vote. The questien of the dissolution of the republican party or the severance of it from Grant, and he from it, he does not regard with a sufficient degree of importance or probability to discuss, One thing may be counted on, that unless some- thing unforeseen and unexpected should be de- veloped in the investigation of Cushing’s record, of which no fears are entertained, he will stand by Cushing to the last. The extraordinary importance attached to the office of Chief Justice so plainly developed in the Opposition to Mr. Cushing’s confirmation, re- calls the fact that in the act providing for Supreme Court it was mever in- tended that the Chief Justice should be, in the decision of any case superior to either of the other Justices. The extraordinary ascendancy of the earlier Chief Justices, including Chief Justice Marshall and Chief Justice Taney, was due to the circumstance, especially in the case of Chief Justice Marshall, that the Chief Justice, having the assignment of the cases requiring decision, assigned to nimself the decision of nearly all the cases before the Supreme Court, until in the popular mind the Supreme Court was supposed to be Ohief Justice Mar- shall. With the last few years the number of cases before the Supreme Court being so great, and owing to the modesty of Chief Justice Chase, there has been a very large number of cases in which the opinion of the Court has been given by the Associate Justices, By way of explanation it may be stated that whena case has been finally heard before the Supreme Court ana the Justices announce in the consultation room, by their verbal opinions, the decision of the majority, the Chief Justice merely selects the Justice to give the opimion of the majority of the Court, which Mr. Chase was called upon to do in several important cases in which he found humself in the minority. This explanation being kept in view, the shallowness of the political Opposition to Mr. Cushing will be ap- parent when it is stated that, of the member of the Supreme Court as at present con- stituted, six are republicans, viz. :—Messrs. Davis, Bradley, Strong, Hunt, Swayne and Miller, and but two are democrats, Messrs. Clifford and Field. Even though the charge should be true that Mr. Cushing is an unreconstructed demo- crat, the public will recognize that his power for mischief on the bench would be very feeble indeed, and it is proper to add, in this connection, that the republican members of the Supreme Court are indignant that the impression should bave got abroad that in the event of Mr. Cushing’s confirmation his vote and his personal opinion in any case would outweigh the judgment of the re- publican members of the court. Ominous Opposition in the Senate to the Confirmation of Cushing as Chief Jus- tice. General eter was diligently engaged during a good part of the day canvassing the Senate in favor of Mr. Cushing’s confimation. Conspicuous among those who received his attention were Morton, Brownlow, Howe, Morrill, of Maine, and Carpenter, the first of whom did not seem to re- spond to the appeals made to him, but looked darkly out from his heavy brows and dissented from the arguments of the statesman of Essex, who, childlike and biand, browsed around uncon- soled. All day long Senators hob-nobbed tn groups of twos and threes, During the debate on thesub- ject of Cushing’s confirmation and in bringing it at once to a vote the presiding officer had fre- quently to suspend all business and bring Sena- tors to their seats and customary at- tention to the matter in hand, Finally, pending a motion of Senator Sherman to get the Senate to take up the special order, Edmunas moved an executive session to bring the long agony over the Chief Justiceship to an end, when, by a very decided vote in the affirmative on Sargent’s motion to adjourn, the Senate mani- fested its positive unwillingness to take up the con- sideration of the case of Caleb Cushing. It will be tried again to-morrow and a hot conflict is ex- pected, with what results no one pretends to know. Massachusetts Senators Endorsing Cush- ing’s Nomination. Mr. Cushing has of lgte years hailed from Vir- ginta, but when he found a hubbub raised over his nomination as Chief Justice he fell back upon the Massachusetts Senators for support. It was amusing to see the Washington Chronicle, which only lives by the droppings from the tables of ad- vertising clerks, paid by order of the administra- tion, pitching into Sumner, hammer and tongs, for sustainig an administration nomination; but Sumner was not easily scared. His defence of Cushing’s position as to the reconstruction acts of Congress and his endorsement of him—although a friend of Judge Hoar—had a great effect. Neither was Boutwell inactive in advocating tne claims, the political soundness and the loyalty of Caleb Cushing, “of Virginia.” The Senate Passes a Sweeping Substi- tute Repealing the Increase of Sal- aries. Another long, weary day, marked with the ac- liberations of the Senate on the Salary bill, not withstanding the caucus held this morning had for its object to decide upon some way of reaching anearly conclusion, After several petitions per- tainingjto the Bankrupt law and liquor trafic were presented a joint resolution from the Legislature of Louisiana was placed before the Senate asking for the admission and qualification of Pinchback, who ‘was on the floor of the Senate with Sumner dur- ing the reading of the resolution. Senator Chand- ler reported from the Committee on Commerce a bill on the Homestead law, and Cameron a Tesolution to permit Mennonites to settle on public lands, both of which were re- ferred to the Committee on Public Lands. The salary bugbear then came up in consideration of the amendment offered by Sena- tor Gordon, late Major General of the Confederate Army. He read a lesson of economy from his notes to the officials who were receiving high salaries, made a drive at those of Sherman and Sheridan, certain rear admirals and vice admirals, and was indignant that they should receive more than an august United States Senator. He was particu. larly severe in manner when he referred to the salary of the Lieutenant General being twice that of the Chief Justice, and, in a kind of a recon- structed way, under the announcement ot a per- sonal explanation, made allusion to his military service and the surrender at Appomattox, which ‘was in response to allusions made to his im- agined animus in assailing the army and navy. Following this, a simple bandying of words was brought to a close by Carpenter declaring that he was in favor of a repeal, fair and square, of the bill, and Conkling, with a sarcastic and indignant handling of the subject, put a clincher in the first business way as yet manifested by offering a substi- tute which virtually brought the salaries back to the statu quo in which they were before March 3, 1873, which waa, after some cross firing intended to save bureaa officers, adopted oy @ strong vote. ‘Thus for the present this vexatious question was set at rest inthe Senate, and now goes to the House, where they can have football with it, A conference committee will have to dispose of it finally, a8 it is now materially different from the House bill as originally offered in the Senate, The Government Hive of Drones Further Investigated—Where the Axe of Reform ls Needed. ’ The retrenchment measures of the House Com- mittee on Appropriations are being pressed 80 vigorously that the various branches of the execu- tive departments of the government are beginning to show signs of alarm. As an ofset to these operations a flank movement is contemplated by again bringing forward the resolution of General Coburn, Obairman of the House Commit tee on Military Affairs, introduced in the early days of the session, which contemplated the restriction of the Committee on Appropriations to the general consideration of the appropriations, and the assignment of all details to the different committees entrusted with mat- ters of legislation directly connected with the business of certain departments. The Military Committee favor this and will make the first move looking to an invasion of the prerogatives of the ' Appropriation Committee, by attempting to have the estimates for the army referred tothem. The Military and Appropriation Committees are at variance on the question of army reduction, and the carrying of this point will make a very mate- Mal change in the manner of disposing of appro- Ppriation bills, The Committees on Post Offices and Post Roads and Foreign, Naval and Indian Affairs have direct reference to those branches of the government. An alliance of these in the House, in the campaign contemplated by the Military Committee, will give that on ap- propriations a lively Nght, if they do not gain their point. The House Committee on Appropriations to-day made another inroad upon the army. A prominent member of the committee remarkea that the Ordnance Department has for a long time attracted attention as being an extremely close corporation ; that the committee have always been politely bowed out whenever they have mady any attempts to investigate the internal administra- tion of that branch of the service. At the meeting to-day the committee determined to make a re- duction of $75,000 in the allowance for the pay of the civil and military members of the corps, The Quartermaster General’s Office at the same time was reduced $50,000 in the same way. In the tn- vestigation of the clerical force of the Treasury De- partment the committee has discovered that, not- withstanding the reduction of internal revenue taxes, the abolition of the offices of assessors and assistants ana supernumery offices under them, and the consolidation of collection districts in all parts o1 the United States, thereby materially re- ducing the expenditures for officers and clerks necessary to the transaction of the business out- side of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, the force inside 1s as large as it was when the revenues from this souree were $100,000,000 greater than now. On the rollsof the bureau, in addition to the Commissioner and three deputies, there are 5 clerks in the Appointment Division; 37 clerks, 10 copyists, 1 messenger and 6 laborersin the Law Division; 8 clerks, 33 copy- ists, 1 messenger and 9 laborers in the Division of Correspondence and Statistics; 28 clerks, 7 copy- ists, 1 messenger and 4 laborers in the Division of Accounts; 51 clerks, 16 copyists, 1 messenger and 6S laborers in the Division of Distiilea Spirits, As- sessments, &c.; 26 clerks, 18 copyists, 2 messen- gersand 4 laborers in the Stamp Division. This makes @ total of 278 employés of all kinds, at an annual expenditure of nearly $500,000 for sal- aries. The committee have also discovered that the large majority of the clerks receive the highest salaries allowed, and the copyists aud laborers fhe same in their grades. The pay here is higher than in any other branch of the department. As the service has not suffered from the reductions made within the past year in the employés of the various collection districts, it is believed that the same rule will work in the internal organization of the buret There is some talk of a reduction of as high #840 per cent. This would make a saving of nearly $200,000 in salaries alone, ‘The commit- tee are much struck with the large number of clerks in the Law Division, and are decidedly puz- zled to know what part of the legal business is per- formed by the six laborers. Several propositions have already been presented having in view a re- organization of this bureau, but from some cause or other have hitherto always failed. This time the axe of reform seems certain of its work. The Salary Bill, Finance and the Bankruptcy Bill to Receive Early Attention. A meeting of the republican caucus of Senators was held this morning for the purpose of deter- mining the order of business. The claims for pre- cedence of the finance, cheap transportation, Louisiana and other questions were brought for- ward and discussed, but no conclusion was reached and the caucus adjourned without action. Although no formal order was agreed upon, it was, how- ever, generally understood that the Salary bill should be disposed of, and that either the Finance Committee’s resolutions or the Bankruptcy bill should be next in order. The Virginius Investigation. The Court of Inquiry, in sesston at the Navy De- partment to-day, examined the officers and crew of the Virginius. ‘The crew were interrogated col- lectively and fully corroborated the statements set forth in the official report of Captain Woodrow, Appointment of Sub-Committees on Coin= age and the Law on Abrasion of Coin. Dr. Linderman, Director of the Mint, was before the House Committee on Currency, Weights and Measures to-day, and the result of the conference was the appointment of a sub-committee to con- sider the bill heretofore referred to that commit- tee, providing that the Secretary of the Treasury may issue in payment of the net coinage value of gold bullion deposited at any mint or assay office certificates in sums of $10, or even multiples thereof, redeemable at the Treasury or specified Assistant Treasury, in gold coin or fine gold mint bars, at its option and convenience, and the Secretary may also from time to time transfer to the Treasury or specified Assistant Treasury, from the buliion fund of any mint or assay office, refined gold bars bearing the United States stamp of fineness, weight and intrinsic value, and apply the same in the redemption of the certificates authorized by this bill to be issued, or in exchange for gold coins at par. A sub-com- mittee was also appointed on the bill authorizing coinage to be executed at the United States mints for foreign countries, and to consider whether there should be an amendment of the law in rela- tion to the abrasion of coin. Condition of the Chinese in This Country. Mr. Houghton’s bill on the Chinese question, in- troduced in the House to-day, provides for the ap- pointment by the President and confirmation by the Senate of three commissioners, whose duty it shall be to collect and report to Congress all avatl- able information relative to the condition of the Chinese in the United States and the effect of their presence on the white labor of the country. Au- thoritative data thus obtained will, Mr. Houghton believes, facilitate the procuring of such federal action a8 May be found necessary. The Committee on Territories Pondering female Suffrage and Polygamy. At the meeting of the House Committee on Ter- ritories this morning Mr. Cannon, Delegate from Utah, continued his argument against the Anti- polygamy bill, At the commencement of the sea- sion Mr. McKee, the Chairman, stated that Mr. J. K. H. Willcox, a delegate from the New York ‘Woman Saffrage Society, was present and would like @ hearing on that part of the bill regarding the boundary of Wyoming Territory which abol- ishes Woman suffrage. A memorial on this subject from that society was presented by Mr. Mellish, and read to the House. Mr. Carey, District At- torney of Utuh, stated that he would like to be heard against woman suffrage in Utah, The committee decided to hear each gentleman for half an hour on Wednesday. During a con- versation that preceded this agreement My. McKee stated that the bill to unite certain parts of Wy- oming with Colorado had been assailed by the woman suifragists on the ground that. it was de- signed (0 diafranchise the women of Wyoming; but that idea, in fact, had not occurred to nim. ‘The bill which was intended to reduce expenses would have that eifect. Mr, Willcox replied that this point could be adjusted by providing that nothing in the bill should operate to deprive any person of the right of suffrage. This suggestion met with concurrence, A Stolen Treasary Check Protested. Notice of protest on one of the checks for the refunding of taxes, stolen from tne Internal Rev- enue office last week, was received at the Treas- ury Department to-aay, 1t having been presented to the Assistant Treasurer at New York and pay- ment refused. The thief has not yet been arrested, The government will not suffer any loss, as none o1 the drafts will be paid by the Treasury's dis- bursing oficiais, to all of whom ‘notice of the rob- bery had been communicated. New Laws for the Prevention of Ucean Collisions. There is every indication that Congress will, during the present session, adopt some measures looking to a mitigation, if not entire suspension, of the dangers incident to collisions at sea. At the next meeting of the Committee on Commerce of the Senate and House of Representatives, John A Stevens, of New York, will make a statement on the proposed creation of an international com- mission for the marking out of marine roadways and ocean tracks in and out between the ports of the United States and Europe and any other countries where there is a large trade, A Dill will be introduced requesting the President of the United States to invite each of the different maritime nations of Europe to join with the United States in the appointment of a commission to meet at an early day to carry out the purposes of this measure, and the same committees will also take into considera- tion the use of electric lights on steam vessels, The unexampled development of the steam carry- ing trade of the world and the increasing number of collisions has long suggested the adoption of some suitable measures of saiety. The movement of the commercial communities along the Atlantic seaboard will doubtless be responded to by Con- grees in the passage of the proposed bill. Difference Between Coilecting Money and Building a National Monument, Congress is to be memorialized to call on the Washington National Monument Society for a de- tailed statement of the moneys contributed to its agents by the people—not the amounts paid into its treasury by those agents; and in case it ap- pears that the society has only applied a fraction of the moneys donated to the construction of the monument, to cancel their charter and order the completion of the monument, under the direction of General Babcock, the bills to be paid from the National Treasury. The Registry and Designation of Ger- man Merchantmen. The government of the United States has re- ceived trom the German Minister the text of the law causing the registry and designation of Ger- man merchant vessels, and also a copy ot the proc- lamation relating thereto. A Methodist War Claim Under Con- sideration. The House Committee on War Claims this morn- ing heard ex-Senator Henry 8S. Fvote, Mr. John Wilson, formerly Third Auditor, and the Rev. D. Abbey, in support of the claim of the Publishing House of the Methodist Episcopal Church, for com- pensation for the use of its property at Nashville, Tenn., in 1864 and 1865. The committee decided to postpone the further hearing of testimony, tn order to consider first certain legal propositions involved in the case. Expenses of the Corps of Engineers and of the Indian Burea The House Committee on Military Affairs to-day heard the statements of General Humphreys, Chief of Engineers, and Mr. Smith, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, concerning the requirements of their respective branches of service as to military force, the object being to throw further light upon the question of the proposed reduction in the rank and file of the army. Presidential Receptions. Oficial receptions at the Executive Mansion will be commenced on the 20th inst., lasting from eight to ten o’clock P.M. Receptions will also be Leld on the 3d and 17th of February, Bill for the Organization of a Board of Appeals. A bill will shortly be introduced in the House providing tor the organization ofa Board of Ap- peals, to consist of the present Comptrollers, the Commissioners of Customs and the six Auditors of the Treasury Department, in order to prevent the necessity of going to the Court of Claims in cases where there is an adverse decision of the First. Comptroner. Nominations by the President. The President to-day sent the following nomina- tions to the Senate :— ie ectors of Customs—Luther Lee, for Norfolk Bedford, Mass.; Cornelius B, Merchant, for Ed. gartow n, Mass. FORTY-THIRD CONGRESS. First SENATE. Wasainoron, Jan. 12. 1874. MEMORIALS AND PETITIONS, Sundry petitions were presented asking the appoint- ment of a commission to investigate as to the sale and manufacture of alcoholic liquors. Referred to the Fi- nance Committee. The Cnare then laid before the Senate a communica- tion from the Attorney General enciosing a list of per- sons in that department using official postage stamps. Laid on the table. Mr. Conx1ina, (rep.) of N. Y., presented a memorial signed by colored citizens of the State of New York, ask- ing such legislation as will enable them to enjoy the fa- cilities of railroad travel Laid on the table. He also presented # petition of the New York Chamber of Commerce suggesting amendments to the Bankrupt law. Laid on the tabie. Also the proceedings of a pablic meeting at Utica, N. Y., in favor of the absolute repeal ot the Bankrupt law. Laid on the table. Mr. Sarcent, (rep.) of Cal, presented a petition of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony and others, asking that women be allowed to vote, or that the same right be extended to them as to colored men. He asked that it be referred to the Committee on Privileges and Elections, and hoped a favorable report would soon be made. Mr. West, (rep.) of La., presented resolutions of the Legislature of Louisiana endorsing Mr. Pinchback and asking that he be admitted to the Senate, The resolu- tions were laid on the table. ‘Mr, CAMERON, (rep.) of Pa., presented the memorial of the Russian Mennonites, setting forth that they desired to become citizens of the United States and asking that they be allowed to occupy public lands. Ferry, (rep.) of Conn., objected to the recention of the petition, as it was trom foreign citizens, and could not be received by the Senate. NEW POSTAL ROUTES, Mr. Ramsey, (rep.) of Minn, from the Committee on Post Offices and Post Roads, revorted favorably on the House bili to establish various post routes. Passed, BILLS INTRODUCED. Mr. Hircncock, (rep.) of Neb., introduced a bill amend- atory of the act in relation to the Pre-emption and Homestead law. Referred to the Committee on Public nds, Mr, Wriaur, (rep.) of Towa, introduced a bill in rela- tion to the several courts in'the Territory of Dakota. Referred to the Judiciary Committee. 4A FIRST CLASS MISSION TO THE LAND OF THE MIDNIGHT SUN. Mr. Ramsey, (rep.) of Minn., introduced a resolution in- structing the'Committee on Foreign Relations to inquire info the expediency of advancing the rank of the Minis- ter Resident at Sweden and Norway ot @ mission of the first class, Agreed to. ‘ AN ASSAY OFFICE IN OREGON, Mr. Mircrers, (rep.) of Oregon, introduced a bill to establish an assay office at Pordand, Oregon, Reterred to the Committee on Finance. EXPENSES OF SPRINGFIRLD ARMORY. The Cnain laid before the Senate a communication from the Secretary of War in relation to expenditures at the Springfield armory. Laid on the table. PAY OF NAVAL ENGINEERS, Mr. Sancenr, of California, introduced’ a bill fixing the pay of civil engineers In the United States Navy. Re- ferred to the Com*iittee on Naval Affairs, THR TITLE OF LANDS ONDER LAKES, Mr. Pratt, (rep.) of Ind., introduced a bili ceding to the several States, within Whose limits they respectively lie, the beds of unsurveyed lakes and other bodies of water. Referred to the Committee on Public Lands. TRAFFIC ON THE UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD. Mr. Ixcatis, (rep.) of Kansas introduced a bill in Foren: ence to carrying treight and passe: J Pacite Ratiroad and its branches. Keterred to the Com- 1 jortation. renee OTA YMENT OF INDIAN ARNUITIRS. Mr. Bucatnauam, (rep.) of Conn., introduced a Dill to provide for the manner of paying anuuities to Indian Pribes under treaty stipulations or legal enactments, Referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs. UNION PACIFIC CHARGES. Mr. Ingalls’ BHI in Feterence to (relght and passengers on the Union Pacific Rai ranches provides {hat ail freight and passenger traffic between Kani City and Leavenworth, or any point on the line of Kansas Pacific and Denver Pacific Ratlways, via Chey- enne, Wyoming Territory, to Ogden oF any point on fine df ihe Union Pacitic Kailroad, or ports beyond its Ii be carried by the said compantes jointl; Au the same rates as are charged on similar trafic Lé- fween Omaha and like points; but the Union Pacific Company not be requiked ‘to wceive upon the said trame © lems sum than it would Le entitied to receive upon similar trafic over 1 own road when rates and from Omaha. Suits may be Brought and sugtarned? in any United States Court in which any portion of either, of the said roads is situated for treble the amount of damages and loss occasioned by a refusal! to comply with the foregoing provisions. RECORDS OF UNITED STATES COURTS AND OFFICE. Bills were introduced by Mr. FeNtOw, (rep.) of N. ¥.. tox provide for the permanent location of the records of the, offices of United States Attorneys and Marshals, and of the records of the clerks offices’ of United states Cire and Distriet Courts, It requires the various District an Clreult Courts to designate prior to January 1, un Rovernment buildin e most accessible citi their respeetive districts for the permanent location of their records and clerks’ offices; and the Marshals’ an@ Attorneys’ offices are to be located in_ the same city with the records and clerks’ offices. Referred tothe Commits tee on the Judiciary, PURLID BUILDINGS IN FLORIDA. By Mr. Conover, (rep.) of To provide for governs Ment buildings at Jacksonville and Tallahassee, Flag aud tor repairing the Custom House at Key West Rew ferred to the Committee on Public Buildings. SMITHSONIAN REGENTS. Mr. How, (rep.) of Wis., trom the Joint Committee of the Library, reported tavorably ou the House bill to fil certain vacancies in the Board of Regents of the Smithe sopian Institudon, Placed on the calendar. THY SALARY BILL, the morning hour having expired, the consideratiot! of the Salary Dill was resumed, the pending question be~ ing on the amendment of Mr. Goupo, dem.) of Ga, He asked leave to withdraw ui endment, and offere: another providing that the s ‘of all commissione ofcers in the srmy and , Whose pay and allow~ ances exceed $3,500 per annum and Is less thart 000 per annum, be reduced 10° per cent; thas the pay and allowance of general staf office such as tie Paymaster General, Quartermaste: General, Commodore in the navy, “and oth shall not exceed $5,000 per annum; thatof Rear Admiral in the navy and Major General in'the army 4! ceed $6,000; thatot Lieutenant General ot th Vice” Adniirat the navy. not toe that the army and Ad-! the navy exceed $10,000 per. annum; that the salar the | President of fret itt $25,010 port United States after March 3. 1877, ehall be annum, and the annual approoriatons tor the next Ou Years (or the exeoutive mansion shall be $2 Jor the four years preceding Murch 3. Sis os A Mr, Epmunps, (rep.) of Vt, moved to strike out all tha@’ portion of the, fmendment éxcebt the last portion, whiehy relat the President’s salary anc ie appr iT for the White House, Agreed fo. ride pie ait Mr, Bayakb, (dem. ot Del., opposed a reduction of th President's salary. ‘He thousht $00,000) an exceeding! modest and just compensation. He voted for it lase: spring amd would vote for it again, He denied the guthority of this Congress te fix the future approprias tions, as they must be governed by the necessity of thet case, The President's house might be destroyed by firey but if sucn a law be passed as one proposed it could now be rebuilt until 1877. Mr. Sacisnuny, (dem.) of Del., favored the reduction o! the salary of the President to $26,000 per annum afte! the present term, and would so vote. Mr. CONKLING, ep.) of N. ¥., said thus far he had taken no part in this debate. He came here prepared: to Vole for two propositions; first, forthe salary repeal, and secondly to vote for a provision to settle once for all the back pay not drawn, oF drawn and sinee returned. feo public judgment said this salary bill was ilf judyed, and ouxht to be repealed. He thought the oack: pay which had not been drawn and that which had been: returned should be covered into the Treasury, and woud yote for such @ measure. Phe Senate ought to have acted and might have acted on this measure in less thane one to He had no doubt a majority of the Senate tavored the repeal, and much time been waste He ep pened to every member of the Senate to unite with him in putting an end to this whole subject, in order that the Senate might proceed to the Bankrupt law and financial measures which the country needed. He had prepared @ substitute for the whole thing, and would oiler it at the proper time. The measnre hud already consumed time wolen might have been devoted, aud ought to have been devoted to more important questions. Mr. Gordon's amendment was further amended so as not to apply to annual appropriations for the President's house, leaving only the question of salary after March 3y 1877, to be acted upon. gollig amendment was then reected by a vote of—yeas ) nays 13. Mr. Conxuina offered as a substitute for the House bill as amended by the Senate, that so much of the act ol March 3, 1873, as provides jor increase of compensation) of public officers and employes be repealed, except that ortion Which allects the ‘salary of the President of the nited States and the Judges of the Supreme Court, and. that hereafter all sularies, with the exception of those. named, be the sume as they were prion to the passaze, of that act; provided that mileage should not be allowed! for the first sessiou of the Forty-third Congress; and, further, that all back pay not drawn or returned to the ‘Treasury be covered into the Treasury and declared tol be the property. of the United states. In presenting this substitute Mr. Conkling said that he offered it to take the: place of the House bill and every amendment that the Senate had adopted. Mr. Saemay, (rep.) of Ohio, thought the act of July», 1870, provided that ali urtexpended balances of uppropria= tions in the Treasury be placed to the credit of tie sure plus fund, and he ‘saw no necessity of the clause in the substitute ‘of the gentleman from New York providing, for covering the money into the Treasury. Mr. CONKLING hoped there would be & vote on his sub- stitute. He wanted thix question of back pay settled a well as the salary increase. So far as toe President’ salary i8 concerned, the constitution forbids that it be: ed now; but as to the other salaries, he hoped they; ortsmouth, Va.; John A. P. Allen, for New | toue! would be put back to the same as they were prior March 3, before the salary enactment was made. Mr. AnrHowy, (rep.) of R. 1., favored $5,000 a year com~= pensation to Congressmen, and thougnt there should bo. fan allowance for mileage, stationery and p stamps. Mr. Bourwst, (rep.) of Mass., thought there should ber some provision ‘made for covering this pack pay into the Treasury, asthe Department had oftentimes nor means of knowing what Ciaims against definite appro~ priations were outstanding. Mr. Wright, (rep.) of lowa, hoped there would be am immediate vore on Mr. Conk substitute and the question disposed ot. Mr. EpMUNps, (rep.) of Vt.. offered the amendment: which he presented a few days ago, providing that the act shall take effect as ot March 4, ‘3, and that the. accounting officers make rataple ‘monthly reductions from said salaries at the rate necessary to effectuate this provision within nine months next /hereaiter, Re~ Jected—yeas 8, nays 36, Mr. Hamiiron, Gem.) of Md., offered an amendment fixing the salary of the President of the United States a€ $35, per anbum after March 4, 1877. Rejected—yeag 16, nays ir. ANTHONY offered an amendment that the prove sions of the act sbai! not affect the salaries of the Presi« dent, Vice President, members of the Cabinet, nor any employes of the Senate or House of Representatives oF gtier, ‘persons named in this section of the act of arc! . Mr. Wricut inguired if the effect of this amendment was not to repeal the ia ras it apphed to Senatorsy Representatives and delegates in Congress, r. ANtuony replied in the affirmative. Mr. Wricnt said, as he before stated, he did nov prov pose toeat humble pie himself, and ‘say Congress cid) Wrong in increasing the salaries of its own mewbers, but The amendment was re- right in increasing all others. jected. sete Nonwoon offered an amendment that the act of June, 1s repealing the tranking privilege, be re- pealed.’ Rejected. The question taen recurred on the substitute proposed by Mr. Conkling for the House bill and ali the Senate | ainendments thereto. The bill was reported in tull, as tollows:— “An act repealing the increase in the salaries of me bers of Congress and other officers.” Be itenacted, & that so much of the act of March 3, 1873, eniitled an ack ‘appropriations for legislative,’ executive and Kany Judicial expenses of the government for the year endin, june 30, 1874, as provides for the increase ol the compemsation of public office: whether members of ‘ongrest de! except the President of the United States of the Supreme Court, be, and the same hereby is, re- Sealed, and the. salaries, compensation and allowances of all said persons, except as atoresaid, shall be fixed by the law in force at the time o! the passage of said acts provided, that mileage shall not be allowed for the first session of the Forty-third Congress; that all moneys ap~ propriated as compensation to the members of the Forty= second Congress in excess of the mileage and allowal fixed by law at the commencement of said Congress, ant which shall not have been drawn by the members said Congress respectively, or which, having beem drawn, have been returned in any form to the United States,'are hereby covered into the Treasary of the, United States, and are declared to be the monéys of the United States absolutely, the same as if they had never been appropriated as aforesaid.” PASSAGE OF THK BILL. ‘The yeas and nays being ordered, the bill was passed, as above reported, by the following vote — 'Yxs—Mexsrs. Allison, Anthony, Bayard, Bogy, Bores man, Boutwell, Buckingham, Cameron. Curpenter, Chandier, Clayton, Conkling, Crozier, Davis, Dorsey, Edmunds, Fenton, Ferry of Micb., Frelinghuysen, Goldthwaite, Hamilton of Md., Hamlin, Hitchcock, Howe, Ingalls, Logan, MeCreery, Merrimon, Mitchell, Morrill ot Me., Morrill of Vt, Morton, oer Patter- son, Pratt, Ramsey, Robertson, Sargent, Saulsbury, Shurz, Scott, Sherman, Spencer, Stevenson, Stockton, Sumner, Wadleigh, West, Windom and Wright—5u. Navs—Messrs, Brownlow, Conover, Flanagan, Gordon, Lewis, Norwood, Sprague and Tipton—& ‘Mr. Coorsk, (em,) ot Tenn., announced that he is ired with Mr. Cray fn. Hy would have voted for the bill and he (Mr. Cooper) against it, Nor Vorinc—Messrs. Alcorn, Ames, Dennis, Ferry of Conn, Gilbert, Hamilton of Texas, Johnston, Jones,, Kelly, Ransom, Stewart and Thurman, The bill now goes back to the House for the concum rence of that body. FINANCIAL RELIEF. Mr, SHERMAN moved that the Senate proceed to the, consideration of the resolution reported by the Finance, Comunittee early in the session declaring it to be the duty’ of Congress to adopt definite measures to re- deem the pledge made in the act of March 18, 1869, and directing the Committee on Finance to report to the Senate at as early a day as practicable such measures as will not only redeem this pledge, but will also furnisir currency of a uniform value, always redeemable in gold or its equivalent, and so adjusted as to meet the chang> ing want of trade and commerce. Agreed to. rt, Epaunps then moved that the Senate proceed to the consideration of executive business Mr. SARGENT moved to adjourn, which motion pre= yailed, and at halt-past tour o'clock the Senate ade journed until to-morrow. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. | ‘Wasnrncron, Jan. 12, 1874, BILLS INTRODUCED. Under the call of States a large number of bills were introduced and referred, including the tollowing :— By Mr. Cxssna, (rep.) of Pa.—To repeal legislation prow hibiting promotions in the Ordnance ¢ orp By Mr. Raxvatt, (dem.) of Pa.—To reorganize the In, ternal Revenue Department and reduce its force. By Mr. Lownpxs, (rep.) of Md.—To aid in estabhshing polytechnic schools in every county in the States and Territories. By Mr. Hane, (rep.) of Me—For an inquiry into the condition of the United States Navy. By Mr. Dawes, (rep.) of Mass —To regulate the seizure ‘and examination of invoices, books and papers im customs revenue cases. ‘Also in relation to the estimates of appropriations. By Mr. G. F, Hoan, (rep.) of Mass.—Further to insur the safety of the lives of passeng ers on railroads, By Mr. Brery, em,) of Ohio—To establish and elastic currency, and to reduce the nationa! By Mr. Hypx, (rep.) of Mo.—To repeal the internal tag ‘on tobacco, By Mr. Gover, (dem.) of Mo.—Authorizing the erece Hon of a railroad bridge across the Missouri River ag Fixxp, (rep.) of Mich.—Making Treasury notes By Mr. & legal tender for customs duties. revent financial Al to anics by the issue of +See ade tae ct Meant ete storgan ir. HovaHTon, (rep.) of Oal.— ton relative to the endian of the Chinese on the Pas cific Coast of the United States. By Mr. Carton, (rep.) of Cal.—For the appointment of an if raiser General on the Pacific Coast. By Mr. Dawes, (rep.) of Mass—To regulate th fing in on certain imported goods, propostn duty of 38 percent on spun silk. tor ail he gum and on floss per cent om sewing: silk in Mth! um or purifies 10 per Sea Jawtings, mohair cloth, silk twist or other manufac! QONTINUED ON NINTH PAGE.