The New York Herald Newspaper, January 19, 1874, Page 5

Gorgeous costumes, One of the most enjoyable pf entertainments.” ‘The Franciscans sre about to founda col- lege and erect a church in Trenton, N. J., and to aemove the headquarters of their Order from Syracuse, N. ¥., to that city. An out line of their purposes will be found in another column. HISD) SSS When Sheald Franklin's Birthday Be Celebrated} ‘There seems to fave arisen some little con- fusion in regard to the proper day—the 16th or 17th of January—on which to commem- rate the anniversary of the birthday of the great printer, philosopher and statesman. On Friday last, the 16th, the Typographical societies in New York and Boston celebrated the event, and subsequently the Boston Transcript is received containing the following brief paragraph:—‘’Three npted sons of Massachusetts were born on the 17th of Janu- | ary—Benjamin Franklin, 1706; Caleb Cush- ing, 1800; Josiah Quincy, 1802.'’ By consult- ing Appleton’s “Cyclopedia of Biography” it will be seen that Franklin was born in Boston on the 6th of January, 1706, “old style; but, adding the eleven days which the Parliament of Great Britain do- termined upon in 1761—making the 3d of September, 1752, the 14th, in adopting the Gregorian calendar—the proper day to ‘‘cele- ‘brate” is, of coume, tle 17th, and yet those who choose to commemorate the event on the 16th may find authority for the same in the fact that only ten days were retrenched by Pope Gregory in reforming the Julian calen- dar. But as we in this country have accepted the new style of reckoning, as arranged by the British Parliament, we repeat that the 17th must be regarded as the true natal day of Benjamin Franklin. The only trouble with our Typographical Society friends is that they were commendably premature in celebrating an event that should be commemorated so long as types are used in printing or the lightnings ‘Mash. Connect—The opinion which it is said General Grant expressed the other day that the republican party has. too much dead weight to carry, and that it is time to lighten the ship, particularly of the dead weights apon the party in the South. Gerrixe Livecy—The agitation among the contesting parties and candidates touching the approaching election for an Assemblyman in the uptown district for which ex-Senator Genet was elected, bat who has mysteriously disappeared and gone to parts unknown. Too Lare—The endorsement of Attorney General Williams for Chief Justice by a repub- lican delegation from the party in Maryland which waited upon the President on Seturday ‘test, PERSONAL INTELLIGENCE. tbeimcaneipacemowaans George M. Pullman, of Chicago, has arrived at the Brevoort House, Judge 0. A. Lochrane, of Georgia, is staying at the Sturtevant House. Commander Babcock, United States Navy, is again at the St, Nicholas Hotel. Mayor H. G.* Eastman, of Poughkeepsie, is regis- ‘Vered at the Fifth Avenue Hotel. Commander Henry Wilson, United States Navy, (es quartered at the Westminster Hotel. Exdovernors J. B. Page and Levi Underwood, of ‘Vermont, have apartments at the Windsor Hotel. General Alian Rutherford, of the Treasury De- partment, yesterday arrived at the Metropolitan Hotel, * William A. Dart, United States Consul Genera! at Montreal, is among the late arrivals at the Filth Avenue Hotel. ‘The Springfleld Repudlican says it would be mean and foolish to forbid Mr. Cushing going on ais Spanish mission, as has been threatened, A clergyman in Pennsy!vania having married 999 couples, there is great competition among the belles of the town as to who shall make the round thou- sand, and the beaux have a hard time of it, you gay be sure, Minnesota papers are boasting of thetr beantiful Weather (January 15), and want Eastern people to some out and enjoy it. This is, indeed, a very good time for tfivalids to go to Minuesota and stay, for Jew ever come back aiter winter sets in in earnest, Why will not the papers allow the name of *Behuyler Colfax to rest in dignified oblivion? But they will not; for instance, one has just chronicled the death of Schuyler Coifax’s stepfather, and an- other gives an account of the arrest of Schuyler Colfax’s brother-in-law for robbing the mails, : The sophomores of Yale are a lively set of youths, Aruly. The other night they bedaubed the seats ‘and maps in the freshman recitation room with ‘Dlack, and, after committing other amusing pranks, ‘proke into the chapel and rung the college beil at three o'clock in:the morning, at the same time lowing fish-horns and crying “Fire!” ‘The elevation of Admiral Howard to the British peerage as Lord Lanerton raises the number of ‘the Howard family who at present bold seats in the House of Lords to seven, Thode are the Duke ‘of Norfolk, the Earts of Suffolk, Effingham, Wicklow, Carlisie, and Barons Howard of Glossop and Laner- ‘ton. In fact, the seven peerk hold eight coronets fetween them, for the Bari of Suffolk ts aso Earl ‘of Berkshire by virtue of a separate creation. Premier Gladstone has replied to a memorial ad- dressed to him by the secretaries of the Central ‘Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, West of Eng- dand, Edinburgh and Belfast Women’s Suftrage committees, in which the petitioners requested athe privilege of an oral discussion on the subject, ‘Mr. Gladstone, in concluding, says:—“He regrets ‘that he is unable to undertake a deputation for the voral discussion of the subject in question.» The chief of the English Uabinet desires to avoid an -~awfal death. JOURNALISTIO NOTES. ‘ The Jim and Fliza Journal is the name of a new paper in Mississippi. Jim and Eliza are the editor -end wile, ‘Jim-along-Josie” would have been as ‘pretty a name. The Animal Kingdom, organ of the brute crea- tion in this city, has entered upon its second vol- ‘ume successfully. Editors in Vermont have a very summary way of Rettling pugnacious visitors, For example:— “George Huntington called at the office of the Mid- “dlebury Register with an open jack knife to settle @ little dimculty with the editor of that sheet, The @ditor happened to be a fighting map, and pro- Ceeded to calm the irate Huntington by pouring over him three or four bottles of ink, rubbing in ‘the liquid with an office stool. Huntington ex- Pressed his entire satisfaction.” . The State Gazette, of Trenton, has @ new dress, @nd presents an improved appearance. Captain J. A. H. St. Andrews has purchased the Anterest of his late partners, Messrs. Madison and Sutherland, in the Farmville Mercury and the Southside Virginian. The republicans of Bowling Green, Kentucky, Mave arranged a “pool,” and announce that to-day (friday) they will issue the Republican with 900 dona fide subscribers. ' ne St. Louis Daily Times, the leading demo- cratic organ of the State, commenced the new yesr with a new dress, and now presents an ap- pearance never before reached, JOHN B. GOUGH’S NEW LECTURE, John B. Gough will give his new lecture, entitied “Now and Then,’ before the Yorkville branch of ‘the Young Men's Christian Association this even- ang, ‘fat the East Side Hail, corner of Third avenue Dee we street. Alarge a joe bs ex —" WASHINGTON. other departments there # @ special disbursing oMecer, but in the Department of Justice the Chief Clerk, in addition to his other and Jegitimate duties, has managed to have assigned to wim the Checking Suspicious. Expenditure in the pomypen op od expenditures of thevemice. Department of Justice. HIGH TREASURY OFFICIALS INDICTED. The Swarm of Drones Employed With- out Warrant of Law. THE oO-NOTHING POLICY OF FINANCE. Pozaling Over Problems with Plenty of Idle Gold in the Vaults, 7 WASHINGTON, Jan. 18, 1874. The Do-Nothing Policy of Finance—Ne- cessity of Activity—Pienty of Gold in the Treasury. sf The question as to what is to be done at once practically to reimburse the depleted $44,000,000 currency reserve, which is reported to be as low as $17,000,000, 16 engaging the serious attention of those who have in view the maintenance of a strong condition of our finances in the Treasury and the corresponding confidence and consequent easy condition in financial circles outside. Con- siderable anxiety ts felt in this regard on account of the approaching obligations of the government and the growing exhaustion of the reserve fund, which is aggravated by the dissentient and do- nothing course of Congress. While many pre- tend to be anxious to provide some means of relieving the increasing distress, yet the opposition among the political economists to the plan of each other is daily made more manifest here by them, and with the exception of Mr, Kelley’s plan of re- vlenishing the currency reserve by the issue of a three-sixt)-five convertible bond, no feasible plan has yet been suggested. This or some such method, it is thought, will alone meet the diMculties of the case, The only one other resource left the Secre- tary of the Treasury is to sell gold, of which the government has plenty on hand; but the fear then arises that the urbane freebooters and financial bandits, ag Senator Howe called the Wall street people, wowd bear the government on gold, and it would consequently suffer u loss by depreciation of the value of gold, or, in other words, gold, going down under their pressure, would not buy a8 many greenbacks for a certain sum as if it remained as high as it now is. The Secretary of the Treasury is reported to have avowed himself in favor of Mr. Kelley’s or some such plan, and was of the opinion that the author of it was the only person really and sin- cerely devoting his energies unremittingly to the early and successful remedial agency so much needed. Heretoiore, it 1s remarked by several Senatora, the Secretary had some plan or set of ideas around which, a8 a nucleus, Congress could raily, and irom the nettle danger pluck the fower safely, But now it 1s loudly complained that he has no suggestions to offer and manifests very much of the same masterly inactivity as 1s displayed by the Senate Committee on Finance, who are wait- ing to know what the body of the Senate will ap- prove, Meantime long speeches are made, each one occupying nearly a whole daily session, and the days pass by, the country still suffering, when if straight, downright honest work was meant, the problem could be practically solved at once by the selection Of the best plan in caucus and its immediate adop- tion, Letters are owing in here from every quar- ter, in which bankers and manufacturers complain bitterly of the continued unsettled state in which business is Kept, influenced by the dilatory action of Congress om, the finances, which is sensitively felt by those interests, reflecting as they do the general policy of the government, and by common consent, as it were, being governed in their fuc- tuations accordingly. The united banking and manufacturing as well as government requirements will be made manifest through the respective agencies during tuis week, and it is believed we shall reach some practical conclusion to meet the case, The Treasury Hordes—No Warrant of Law for the Employment of the Im- menmse Force in the Pay of the Finance Seeretary—A Rich Field fdr Retrench- ment, In connection with the developments made by the House Committee on Appropriations respect- ing the personnel of the Treasury Department it has been found that the organization is entirely without warrant of law. In 1865, when the business of the department was at its maxi- mum, the oMce of the Secretary proper had thirty-three clerks. In addition to these there were two comptroliers, six auditors, a treasurer, Register and solicitor of the Treasury, com- missioner of customs and the Lighthouse Board, Now the committee find an establisnment of immense proportions. They will make an in- vestigation, not only for retrenchment, but in order to discover by what authority this vast es- tablishment has been built up. The bureaus of the Secretary for which there is no law are:—Appomtment, 12 clerks; Warrant, 17 clerks; Independent Treasury, 17 clerks; Cus- toms, 15 clerks; Revenue Marine, 10 clerks; Navi- gation, 7 clerks; Internal Revenue, 9 clerks; Sta- tionery, 8 clerks; Captured and Abandoned Prop- erty, 6 clerks; Special Agent, 5 clerks; Supervis- ing Architect, 12 clerks; Marine Hospital, 6 clerks; Supervising Inspector General of Steamboats and Statistics, 37 clerks; Mint, 3 clerks; Mail, 13 clerks; Records and Files, 10 clerks; Loans, 21 clerks; Miscellaneous duty, 15 clerks; Currency, 17 clerks; Engraving and Printing, 6 clerks; Light- house Board, 10 clerks, and Superintendent of the Treasury Building, 200 employés. In addition to these are the comptroliers, auditors, treasurers and other branches of the department regularly provided for bylaw. In addition to the force of clerks in these illegal bureaus are scores of copy- ists, counters, Messengers, assistant messengers, laborera, watchmen and charwomen. In the Bureau of Record and Files alone are twenty-six copyists, In this connection it should be stated that in addition to these bureaus is the regularly organized service, which again employs a large force, Of these may be mentioned the United States mints, assay Offices and depositorica, in- ternai revenue, customs, life-saving stations, lighthouse, marine hospital, revenue marine, special agents, special cummissioners and steam- boat inspection services, and the United States Coast Survey. A prominent member of the Appropriation Committee remarked that it seemed as if the department, not. knowing what to do with the immense force, manu- factured places for them, and, having ¢x- hausted their ingenuity, establishea a bureau known as miscellaneous. What duties a miscella- neous bureau has to perform the committee is at a loss to know. They propose, however, to have a ‘Btatement, by way of explanation, of the elaborate establishment thus grown up without regard to law or reason, The committee little expected to find extravagance on so large @ scale when they undertook their examinations, and are daily more impressed with the umportance o: their work. ‘They are pot surprised that there is a deficit when they are it face to face with such extraordi- hary and unnecessary outlays. The Kxpenditares of the Attorney; Gen- eral’s Ofice To He Better Guarded— Commissioning @ Disbursing Oficer. It appears that committees have been appotnted atthe commencement of every session to audit the expenditures of the diferent departments, with the exception of those Of the Department of Justice, which by some oversight have heretofore escaped investigation. To remedy this, Mr. Sener, of Virgimia, has introduced a reselntion asking for the appointment of a committee to examine the financial matters of that department. The recent nomination of Attorney General Williams for the position of Chief Justice has attracted public at- tention to the loose manner ln which the Quancial With a weak Attorney Generai this, of course, makes the Chief Clerk the controlling influence of the department, He can grant favors to his chief which places that individual completely under his control, To prevent any more purchases of lan- dauilets, horses and harness, for private use, paid for out of the contingent expenses of the office, and the payment of coachman and footman as Messengers, it is understood that an amendment will be made to the Appropriation bill assigning the duties of disbursing agent of the Department of Justice to @ regularly commissioned omcer. The expenditures are so great that it is absolutely demanded they should be placed in responsible hands, Tne Pay of Retired Naval Officers To Be Reduced ai the Force of idiers Di- minished. In the further carrying out of the economical Policy of Congress a bill 1s to be introduced in the Senate repealing the act which increased the pay of retired ofMicers of the Navy from half to threo- quarters, and it will provide for a reduction rate wo what It was before, This is urged on account of the large number ofretired officers doing nothing while drawing the increased pay, and another source of objection arises from the vast nam- ber of superfluous officers on duty in the various. navy yards, where they have little or nothing ¢o do, and will shortly, after reduction of the working force, outnumber, it is said, the men employed. The bill also eontemplates no allowance of extension time in the limit at which the officers are to be retired, and this is to meet the present attempt on the part of a corps of naval officers who are here to have the law as to retiring officers amended so as to make ten years beyond the age of sixty-two, as now, fixed by law for the period of retire- ment. In fact, so numerous have they become that Buffinton, the able bodied and humorous Representative from Massachusetts, says that he cannot move around in the transaction or impor- tant private business without stumbling over two or three gilt edged sons of Neptune. A resolution of inquiry will also be introduced in the Senate asking information from the Secretary of the Navy as to how many officers of the Navy are now in Washington without proper leave of absence. Mr. Lamison, of the House Naval Com- mittee, has prepared, @ report and will introduce a resolution accordingly, that all matters pertaining to the merits of cases o1 retirement shall be flually decided by their own Board of Naval Officers now appointed for that purpose, and shall not be referred to Congress except in such in- stances where the officers affected have not been actually before the Board, and have not been examined in person, Illustrative of the ob- jection to the increased pay which the retired officers are now getting, the case of certain persons in Brooklyn, who are drawing $3,000 per annum for doing nothing, is in- stanced; and these parties are, besides, building rows of twenty houses at atime. Those who are urging the bill contend that every one else, mem- bers of Congress and department officials, having been cut down, it is no more than right that these officers who are doing nothing should also be razeed. Appropriations for Fortifications. An official report has been prepared, showing in detail the amount of appropriations which has been or will be expended in each of the permanent forts and batteries for which regular appropria- tions have been made from the period of com. mencement of each work to the present time. The aggregate total to February 21, 1873, is $54,686, $37, The following are among the larger amounts:— Fort Warren, Boston Harbor......... Fort Adams, Newport Harbor. Fort Schuyler, East River, New York. Fort at Willet's Point....... Fort Hamilton and battertes Fort Tompkins and batteries, Tsland........ Fort at Sandy Fort Delaware, Fort McHenry, Fortress Monroe. Fort Wood, Hamp: Fort Sumter. Fort Pulaski. Fort Taylor, Key Wes' Fort Jefferson, Florida. Fort Morgan....... Fort Jackson, Mississ'ppi River, La. 2 13131,608 Fort at Fort Point entrance to San Fran- cisco. 6 seseeseseeses sees 2y795,833, Fort at Alcatraz, San Francisco Harbor... 1,819,167 Fort at Lime Point, San Francisco Harbor 450,000 Contingencies of fortifications expended OD BDOVE WOFKS........seeeeeeereveeesees 2,084,593 Amount of Money Received on Tempo- rary Loan. An official communication from the Secretary of State the Treasury gives a statement of the total amount of money received on tem- porary loan under the acts of Febru- ary 25, March 17 and July 11, 1862, and the act of June 30, 1864. From March 31, 1862, to June 30 of the same year the issues were $716,090,997 and the redemptions within $78,310 of this amount, The date at which the largest amount was outstanding Was the 31st of Mareh, 1866, at which time it had reached the sum of $115,816,008, The rates of in- terest were four, five and six percent. Of the notes specially provided for the redemption of this loan $47,074,374 were used, Rumor of Secretary Richardson’s Resig- nation. It was rumored on Saturday afternoon that Sec- retary Richardson had gone from his office to the White House to tender his resignation. This he had intended doing, it was said, at the last Cabinet meeting, but circumstances had prevented. As might have been expected, this created a “sensa- tion,” and there was mucb running to and fro to ascertain the correctness of the report, without success, Iaconsisteney of the Republican Senate in Regard to Confirmations. ‘The confirmation of Mr. Hughes as United States Judge for the Eastern district of Virgima excites very considerable comment in connection with the fierce opposition to Mr. Cushing for Chief Justice. on account of his political record, It is true that Mr. Hughes was the late nominee of the republican party for the Governorship for Virginia, but in spite of this recent endorsement his political record will not bear scrutiny. It is well known that he was an original secessionist and did all in bis power to take Virginia out of the Union. It “was only after the war was over that he thought it the better policy to join the republican party. While yet fresh in his new allegiance he ran for Congress, but was badly beaten. In nis contest against General Kemper for Governor he ran @ good way benind the strength of his party, because many Virginians who were Unionists during the war thought it an outrage to be asked to vote for an original secessionist. Yet he was confirmed, and Mr. Cushing, because of the writing of @ friendly letter of introduction to Jefferson Davis, was bitterly opposed, and would have been, if not withdrawn, in all probability reyected. Thus an imprudent act was made to weigh more heavily than actual overt acts. It is thought here that to have been consistent the Senate should have either rejected or confirmed both nominations. It is looked upon as a strange proceeding, this putting the seal of condemnation on the lighter offence and permitting the graver offence to go unrebuked. In his canvass for Governor Mr. Hughes took open ground against the Civil Rights bill, and lost thereby a large portion of the colored vote of his State. ' Indictment of Two High Treasur, Officials tn Brooklyn—Excitement and Rumor ta Washington. Great excitement has been occasioned here, spreading its influences to: New York, Boston and Brooklyn, by the indictment of two Treasury officials, named Sanger and Hawley, the latter the Supervisor of Internal Revenue. It appears that ‘under the law of 1872 the Secretary of the Treasury was authorized to employ three persons for the collection of internal revenue taxes due and not paid on personal income. There are a great many wealthy persons who have failed to make any retarns and some made were fraudulent. These persons have for their object to ascertain by vestigation, in the employment of secret wervice men and detectives, who there persons are, to vring them to ® ComUARCG With the jaw and payment of penalties. These services paid for by the government in moieties on the successful working up of a case, and {re- quently they amount to large sams. The officials on the other hand invest their time and money, in both of which large expenditures have to be made. Sanger and Hawley went to work in Brooklyn, Operating with Bliss, the District Attorney, Daven- port, Commissioner and marplot at Albany, who Was recently here on this business, and they were suddenly brought up by an indictment being found against them before the Grand Jury of Brooklyn. As Sanger represents the Treasury Department direct, and Hawley is Supervisor of Internal Revenue, and there beimg a law authorizing their Proceedings, the tndictment was found without proper basis and facts to warrant the finding of it, and tt ts said vy friends of Sanger, ‘who have been here im dozens from | Boston, wheucd he hails, to straighten the thing out, that tne indictment will be at once quashed, and the whole thing be amicably setuled among the government ofictals who have gotten into @ victous snarl over it, The next move will be, it is given out, to sue the editor of a Brooklyn democratic paper for libel in publishing severe comments on the indicted omicials, General But- ler, who secured Sanger’s appointment and whose patron he is, has been retained as counsel by the lavter in the suit for libel and slander. Tho Great Naval Drill and Pageant Off Key West=—Preparations Nearly Com- pleted for the Great Marine Spectacle. The Navy Department has nearly completed its preparations for the grand naval drill in the Florida Channel, off Key West. Commodore Fox- hall A. Parker, author of the “Naval Tactics,” has been appointed Chier of Staff to Rear Admiral Case, the senior oMcer in command of the fleet originally concentrated at Key West to commence warlike operations against the Spaniards in the West Indies. Commodore Parker will, under the command of nis superior officer, superintend the details of the drill, which will em. brace all the naval evolutions under steam and sail, Commodore Parker is a native of New York and entered the navy from Virginia in 1839, Dur- ing 1861 and 1862 he was Execative Omicer of the Navy Yard here. After the battle of Bull Run he garrisoned Fort Elisworth with 250 sea- men and marines, thus checking the ad- vance of the Confederates, aiding in rally- ing our scattered battalions and saving Alexandria, In August, 1563, he commanded the paval battery on Morris Island, Charleston Harbor, and after various services in 1864 was assigned to the command of the Potomac flotilla. During this tine Commodore Parker was engaged in perfecting his system of tactics, which, it is sald by competent naval critics, is the most complete extant, as applied to modern naval warfare. The Navy Department has sent to the feet a complete outfit of day and night signalling apparatus, to which it is proposea to give a thorough test. The code of flag signals has been radically revised and improved, and a new style of signal lights has been adopted. The grandeur of the naval pageant is assured by the high character and services of the oMcers in command of the fleet and vessels, all of whom have had experience in active war. Rear Admiral Case, who will have chief command, figured at the capture of Vera Cruz, Alvorado and Tobasco, ana in the hotly contested naval attacks on Hatteras and Roanoke Island, and served as fleet captain in all the general active operations on the Atlantic coast. Rear Admirat Scott, second in command, also took @ prominent part in the blockading squad- rons on the Atlantic during the rebellion. The ves- sels, including the largest frigates of the American Navy, are commanded by such officers as Franklin, Whiting, Ransom, Simpson, Rhind, Caldwell, Trax- ton, Beaumont, Carter, Badger, Lowry, Wells, Braine, Fillehrown, Custiing, Reed, Watters, Gates, Jewett, Kane and Benham. The drill will not take place till after the arrival of the Ossipee, which wilt undergo some slight repairs at Norfolk, consuming two days, and will then sail for Key Weagt. Itis stated that the Ossipee will probably carry out some prominent naval officers who desire to witness the drill. The interest at the Navy De- partment in the driliexceeds anything kn8wn in our naval history. as this is the first time our vessels will have ever had the opportunity to prac- tise by divisions, a school of discipline which the younger officers will greatly appreciate, First Evening Reception at the White House, The first evening reception at the White Hquse will be on Tuesday, when the State apartments will |. be thrown open and the Marine Band, under its new leader, will play from eight to ten o'clock, President Grant keeping time with handshaking. Presidential Election by Direct Vote. The Senate Committee on Privileges and Elec- tlons yesterday, met and considered Senator Mor- ton’s proposed constitutional amendment to pro- vide a better mode of electing the President. With- out reaching Jormal conclusions the following prop- ositions were considered :—First—To abolish the Electoral College. Second—The President and Vice President to be voted for. directly by the people. Third—Each State to be divided into as many dis- tricts as it has Representatives, and the candidate having the highest vote for President tn the district toreceive the vote of that district, which shall count one Presidential vote; each State to be also enti- tled to two Presidential votes at large, which shall be counted for the candidate having the highest number of votes in the whole State. Fourth—The person having the highest number of such Presi- dential votesin the United States shall be Presi- dent. This will allow a President to be elected by 8 plurality vote. Fifth—These provisions to be ap- plicable to the election of Vice President. sixth— Congress shall have power to provide for holding and conducting Presidential elections and to es- tablish tribunals for decision of contested elec. tions in districts or States and make regulations to govern these tribunals. The Civil Service Commission and Chris- tian Statesmanship. The Civil Service Commission have been in ses- sion a few days considering the subjects to be pre- sented in their annual report, which will soon be made, to the President. There were present Messrs. Eaton, Shellabarger, Walker, Elliott, Black- fan and Cox. Mr. Cattell, the otner member, is absent in Europe. They adopted yesterday the following preamble and resolution :— Whereas, by the rules for the regulation of the civil service the duty is devolved upon this com- mission of supervising the application of said rules on the ret of persons specially ap- pointed thereunder, for the Purpose of carrying the same into effect, and a due performance of said duty may require carelul examination into the facts, to the end both that no injustice may originate from false reports, and that no possible abuse may escape correction; and whereas the commission Proposes very soon to reissue a report of its doings during the past year, in which the re- sults of such supervision should appear; therefore Resolved, That there be # committee of three members of the commission, of which Mr. D. B. Eaton shall be chairman, the other members to be appointed by the chairman, to sit during the com- ing recess of the commission, at its rooms, No. 1,421 G = street, Northwest, for the purpose of investigating and making a report’ upon any matter aforesaid which may be brought to the attention of said committee concerning the ap- plication of said rules in Washington, on the part of any said Person, and for the further purpose of giving such attention as the committee may deem appropriate to any suggestions that may be made by any responsible person for the improvement of the civil servige, A crowded meeting was held this afternoon under the auspices of the Congressional Tempe- rance Society. Senator Buckingham presiding, Addresses on the moral duties of Christian citizen- ship were made oy several gentlemen. A National Bpard of Health to Combat Contagiaus Discasen. The House Committee on Commerce have had under consideration a bill to prevent the importation of contagious or infectious dis. eases into the United States, and have made it the special order for Tuesday, at which time they will hear an argument in its support by Mr. Bromberg. The bill provides that the surgeons general of the army and of the navy and the supervising surgeons of the Marine Hospital and of the Treasury Department be con- stituted, ex oplcio, & National Board of Health, with power to estaplish and enforce such rules and regulations as they may deem necessary to pre- vent the importation into the United States of any infectious or contagious diseases, by providing proper quarantine reguiations, which shall, before going imtqg effect, be approved by ‘NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, JANUARY 19, 1874—WITH SUPPLEMENT, soe the President and be laid before Congress st its annual meeting, The committee referred all bills to the sub-committees of five feach as fol- lows:—Relating to river and Harbor improve- ments, to Mr. Wheeler, chairman; to the security of life in Ocean steamers and steamboats, Mr. Negiey, chairman. Mr, Bass, of New York, also appeared before the committee advocating the granting of American registers to certain Canadian steamboats, Growth of the Registered Letter Service. During the quarter ending December 31, 1873, there were sent from the New York Post Office 20,865 registered domestic letters and 10,983 foreign letters, The fees om the former amounted to $3,028 75, and on the latter to $818 23. This shows an increase over the previous quarter of 2,590 do- mestic and 289 foreign registered letters. Pinchback’s Advei Fate. Mr. Morton had his Committee on Privileges and Elections in session at the Capitol on Saturday, and tried to prevail on them to report that Pinek- hey Benton Stewart Pinchback—such 18 his name— should have the vacant curule chair of Louisiana {n the Senate chamber. But “Pinch” could not be put through, to Morton’s ineffable disgust. Governor Shepherd’s Ball, The President, the Cabinet and one half or more of the dignitaries whose names figure in the Con- gressional Directory were at a bali given by Gov- ernor Shepherd on Friday night. Many exquisite toilets were worn, but the most striking one was a dress which Mrs. Belknap had made for her in Paris last summer, of light mouse-colored satin, with trimming of rolls of the same, bound with black velvet, and reaching from the waist to the hem of the long skirt. The Secretary appeared proud of his bride, who was the observed of all ob- servers. Mrs. Attorney General Williams was present, tastefully dressed, but with a sadaened expression of countenance. A Sumner Fac-simile. Senator Sumner is sitting, or rather standing, to Mr. Ulke, @ German artist here, for a tull-length Portrait, which has been ordered by the Haytian Legislature for its hall. ’ Steamboat Inspection. The Board of Supervising Inspectors of Steam- boats holds its annual session in Washington this week, beginning on Wednesday next. Dificalt Labors of the Senate Transpor= tation Committee. The Senate Committee on Transportation ex- pect toreport about the 10th of February. They have taken a very large amount of testimony, and; have procured, besides, a great deal of statistical data relative to the subject before them. They have, however, found but little correlative data covering the entire scope of their inquiries, and have therefore been obliged to enter upon tedious and elaborate statistical computation requiring much time, and hence they have been prevented from reporting at as early a.day as they wished. A Committee Getting Talked to Deatn. The Committee on Banking and Currency will this week give a hearing, on the financial question, to R. W. Hughes, of Virginia, George F. Wilson, of Providence, R. I., and Daniel H. Landon, Mr. Nourse, of Boston, will present his views to-mor- row before that committee. Wheat and Flour Export to England. The Chief of the Bureau of Statistics furnishes a statement showing the quantity of wheat and wheat flour imported into Great Britain from Russia and the United States respectively, trom June 1, 1860, to September 30, 1873. The recapitu- lation is as follows :— Cwts: Bushels. Wheat from Russia. 127,308,357 237,642,254 Flour from Russia. 250,462 701,293 Lotal bUSNEISY.......2- 220+ cere eeecee ee 238,343,547 Wheat from United States.123,799,544 231,002,482 Flour from United States. Total bushets. a —The bushels of wheat are computed at sixty pounds the bushel. The bushels of flour are com- puted on the basis of 168 pounds of wheat to one hundredweigit of flour. 15,555,167 POLITICAL NOTES. The Maine Democratic State Convention for the nomination of a State tickét to pe voted for in September will be held June 23, A little ahead of time, but probably not so much as the nomina- tons will be at the tail after they are made. The probibitionists are determined to push their views into national and local politics, Why not? There is no law to hinder them, 1tis 9 somewhat singular fact that every mem- ber of Cengress from Minnesota was either born or spent the early part of his life in Maine, But is that-any reason why the State should be called Mainiesota? “Shall the women of Ohio settle the question of woman suffrage for themselves’? is a mooted tn- terrogatory. If they do, let them beware the fate of Abby Smith and her cows in Glastenbury, Conn. A Washington correspondent of the Lynctburg Virginian asserts that the speech delivered in the Heuse by. Mr. Elliott, the colored member from South Carolina, and in which Alexander H. Ste. phens and other prominent Southerners were severely handled, was written out by Mr. Hoar, of Massachusetts, and given to Elliott to deliver. The question is not exactly, ‘Has some one tam- pered with the $7,000 Pomeroy-York package,” but “Has sumebody ‘stampeded’ with 1t 2” “Every man who saves money must be made to divide with every man who saves none,” is what the Chicago Times alleges to be the platform of the Communists, “Are we not to elect a United States Senator next year?” asks the Nashville Banner, and then it wants to know “why there is so much lethargy on the subject ?””? Ask Andy Johnson. Martin Van Buren used to say that it was better to walk thirty miles to see @ man than to write hima letter, and Caleb Cushing, according to the Chicago Tribune, agrees with him, Democratic State Convention in Connecticut, New Haven, February 3. Anti-Monopoly State Convention in Des Moines, Iowa, February 25. , COMANCHE INDIANS RAIDING, Sr. Louis, Mo., Jan. 18, 1874, Captain Wykof,, of the United States Army, who has arrived here from Fort Concho, Texas, reports that on Monday last, while at Fort Griffin, he learned that Comanche Indians had just raided upon a settlement in that vicinity and had driven or x horses. ps had gone in pursuit. Cap- tain Wykoff also reports that there are Indians about the Fort Sill reservation, and it was believed that they were on a raid, DEATH OF A PROMINENT MEROHANT. PHILADELPEIA, Pa., Jan. 18, 1874, Mr. Arthur 8. Simpson, of the firm of A, 8. Simp- son & Brothers, ship builders and proprietors of the dry docks at the foot of Christian street, died to-day, aged forty-seven, of B: t's disease of the kidneys. He was the head of the firm for twenty ears, succeeding his father. He was also a prom- Irene Mason and a member of the Union League, DEATH OF A OLERGYMAN, CINCINNaTI, Ohio, Jan. 18, 1874, The Rev. Samuel Fisher, of College fll, fell dead this morning. He succeeded Dr. Beecher as pastor of the Second Presbyterian church, and was also for several years President of the Hamilton Col- lege, New York, A KNIFE MUBDER IN BALTIMORE. BaLtimore, Jan. 18, 1874. Edward Berry, & barkeeper, ana Charles Jones, an oyster shucker, both colored, disputed this afternoon over shuffling a pack of carda, and agreed to settle the difficulty with a fst fight. While thus Rs Jones drew a large knife and stabbed Be ree times in the back, one cut penetrating the lung. The wounded man died in ten minutes. During the excitement caused by the deed the murderer escaped, and up toa late hour had not been arrested. RAILWAY AQOIDENT IN MISSOURI Lov1s, Jan, 18, 1874, wo of the rear cars of a passenger train on the St. Louis, Kansas City and Northern Raliroad were thrown from the track on the bridge over Pardenne Creek, The cats fell on their side, but the coupling held them from falling the creek, a distance of eighty feet. Some boney were broken, but no persons were seriously bust, to the bed of SPAIN, ths Wer Aastast osc by Cxeration. TELEGRAMS TO THE NEW YORK HERALD. —~)papaip, Jan. 18, 187% General Dominiquez haa be'¥2 Appointed to the command of the Central Army” operating against the Carlists, THE YRON-CLAD NUMANCIA RECURS] WO FROM AYRIOL. The tron-clad Numancia has sailec\ from Mers-el- Kébtr for Cartagena, convoyed by the\Vittoria and Carmen. x PROSECUTION OF THE PRESS. The publication of three more mewspa Pers of this city has been suspended by the governm PBt Alarming and Fatal Accider \t- Mapnip, Jan. 18\ 1874. The railway viaduct at Toquella fell yer terday and thirty-three workinen were killed, FRANCE: GERMANY AND French and [Italien Opinion of the Prussian” Policy on the Papal Question. TELEGFAW TO THE NEW YORK HERALD, LONDON, Jan, 18, 1874 The threatening article in the North German Gazette last week on the policy of France with re- gard to Papal questions excites uneasiness and indignation in Rome and Paris. L’Opinion Nationale says, notwithstanding thetr recent success, the Prussians are still ignorant of that nobleness which refrains trom insulting the conquered, SHIPWRECK. Loss of a Vessel and Ten of Her Crow. TELEGRAM 10 TH NEW YORK HERALO, Lonpon, Jan, 19—5 A. M. The Minnehaha, from Callao tor Dublin, has been lost off the Scilly Islands, Ten of her crew were drowned, LATEST SHIPPING NEWS ARRIVALS. REPORTED BY THE HERALD STRAM YACHTS. Steamship Victoria (Br), egow Jan 7, with mdse and 52 passe: to ros. WEATHER REPORT. War DEPARTMENT, OFFICH OF THE CHIEF SIGNAL OFFICER, WASHINGTON, D. C., Jan. 19—1 A. M. Probabilities. For New England increasing cloudiness, with rising temperature and probably rain during the afternoon or evening. For THE MIDDLE STATES AND THE LOWER LAKB REGION, AND THENCR SOUTHWARD TO WusT Vine GINIA, BAIN AND FRESH TO BRISK SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL PREVAIL, WITH RISING TEMPERATURE AND FALLING BAROMETER. For the Ohio Valley and Tennessee cloudy an® threatening weather, with areas of rain aad southerly and southwesterly winds. For the South Atlantic and Eastern Gulf States clear or fair weather will prevail during @ por- ion of the day, followed by cloudiness and rising temperature in Mississippi and thence eastwar® to the Atlantic coast. In the Upper Lake region increasing pressure, with lower temperature, and clear or clearing weather during the aiternoon. For the Northwest light snow or rain, followed by cold ana clearing weather and rising barometer. The temperature will probably ‘all in the Lower Missouri Valley, and thence southward to the Gulf. The Weather in This City Yesterday. The following record will show the changes im the temperature for the past twenty-four hours im comparison with the corresponding day last year, _ as indicated by the thermometer at Hudnat’s phar- macy, HERALD Building :— 1873, 1874. 1873, 1874, 19 «8:30 P. M..... 23 35 18 6P.M... 20 3 +20 20 9PM aL 12M.... +22 6 12P.M. 3a Average temperature yesterday Me Average temperature for corresponding sast year.. A.A. Pairs of Self-Acting Over. SHOES, pat on and off without using the hands, at BROOKS’, 1,196 Broadway, corner ot Twenty-ninth st. A Triat of Mme. Porter’s Cough Balsam, for the past 35 vears has given proof of its efficiency ‘ny curing pulmonary complaints, ft has livin evidences its unrivalled usefulness. 25¢. and Sc. A.—The Surgeon General at Washin, ton has arranged with the ELASTIC TRUSS COMPANY, 683 Broadway, to supply their TRUSS to. pensioners, sol dies, sailors c., a8 needed; first medal at American inst A Sworn Cure for Roursleins Rheuma- . pains in the back, lunga, heart, head, kidneys, ne vous Gissasen KS RORUMATIC REMEDY. iseases, Dr. FILTER’S RE ure no charge; $50 for an meurable case. 21 J street. Batchelor’s Never fails. Established, applied at BATCHELOR? Hair Dye Is Splendid— 37, years. Sold and proper! Wig Factory, 16 Bond woke y Dr. Newton’s Medica) and Surgtoal In@ stitute, No, 34 Bond street.—Special attention wiven té Chronic Diseases Dr. R. Fredericks, 25 West Twenty= second stree rit presence.” Special and infallible treatment of cancer. Established 40 Years.—Dr. Lewis’ Media, and Surgical Institute, No. 7 Beach street. Speciali Sttention given to NERVOUS DISEASKS. i Novelty.—Carr’ ¢ Cradle and Carriage. combined, with Patent Adjustable Canopy. Send stampat for cireular to LEWLS P. TIBBALS, No. 512 Broadway, New York, opposite St. Nicholas Hotel. ToAll Persons Suffering from Rheuma~ tism, Neuraigia, Cramps in the Limbs or Stemach, Bil- ious Colle, Pain in the Back, Bowels or Side, we would say THE HOUSEROLD PANACEA AND FASULY LIN-; IMENT {s the remedy you want. Forsale by all druggists. <$i0 TO $100 IN WALL STREET OFTEN LEADS . fortune, Thirty-two page pamphlet free. A Leamnstiigy- VALENTINE, TOMBHIDGE & CO., _ Bankers and Brokers, No. 39 Wall street, eeu MAGAZINE FOR FEBRUARY. The February number, the second of the new volume, of Lappincott’s Magazine fairly sparkles with brillant, interesting and attractive articles, In this number Mr. George MacDonald's long prowlsed serial story, Malcolm, really begins. It is brimful of fine Scoteh humor. Its characters are skilfully and clearly drawn. It is alfo- gether a most syrring and capuvating story, the aatnor’s best, The continuation of “The New Hyperion” main- tains the universal interest already erested—an Interest which is constantly surprised and intensified by the sin- ‘ularly original and suggestive iMustrations by Dore. 0 FTosephine ant Malmatsan,” Uustrated, 1s an Inverestin @ sRewh of Napoleon's lite # Malmaison and of 2 rel 4 tions with Josephine, by Marie Howland. “A Weste MP iy Wit Wallace, Harney, is & graphic ¢ jiece, descriptive of adventures il lustratiy: Py acuity, of second, sight, ‘© Marguises,’ Reginald ford, contains MA) sul of orto’, who was th 1 of Tha > yas character, “The We Met,” is a charm! tory, by aut? ror “Blindpite.” “Kiemet,” a Kastery Dowm, by Ge" sree er, Will command universal attention, “Am the Alligators” is a lively Florida hunting sketch, C Romence of a Tin Box,” by Louis A. Robes its tile indict amus " ebeien Prench. Fiction,"* ao Ashe! joa in aes able critical arnele on a subject of reasing ot. This numDge S169 ood “A Quee aa havens very § ‘ eaac by’ Yan i Gossip” in variety to any of ita p a commend the Magazine to all readers of re good judgipent, rms—Yearty aie, Feudge. M the Pebruary aember Is Squal, in ctieaed Wogan at (tm $4. Sin Ae Te umber, She. u I { ge! cl = = Dy eee ver, With preminge ; N. B.—To & club of twenty sul geribe: price $00, ls presented to the per son geitiug up the club J.B. LIPPINGO'AD & TAS and 7H Vaarket street, Philadelphaa, an’, 3% Bond street, New York. a rata a ee Om CATARRH.” AN ABSTRAGE Universit: Coll Sent free. A w SLAM Wa AUTHOR, ress, Kgabrevoutsenth atreck, } /