The New York Herald Newspaper, February 26, 1874, Page 3

WASHINGTON. The Financial Fog in the Senate. GROPING STATESMANSHIP. Dangers o1 the Precipice of Inflation. OPPOSITION TO FRANKIN Wasuinoron, Feb, 26, 1874 Phe Interminabie Finance Uchate—Much Ado and Nething Dene, as Usual. ‘The usually accepted axiom, ‘There is an end to everything,” does not seem to apply to the financial debate in the Senate, What ts the ul- terior object to be accomplished by protraction oes not appear to the closest observer, nor even “oldest inhabitant; yet that there 1s some ul- terior object at bogtom is beyond doubt, but so Well is it covered that it has not yet been made manifest. Such persistence in debate after the Ygsue or result had been made inevitably clear has not often been exhibited in the disenssion of @ question, and should not in this case, since the majority vote, though only by aslight advantage in mumbers, has been declared. No one seems to know how much superfuous debate there will yet beon the finance question, and how long it will Jast. Senator Carpenter is reaay to open up the Louisiana guestion, to secure the advantages of a republican form of government to a sovereign State; but itis said that this fnancial debate 1s projonged thus ad nauseam to keep out the Louts- Jana case. Then, again, as, in the language of a distinguished Southern Senator, “capital is ham- mering at the doors of the Senate,” it Is suspected that the behests of the great capitalists are being heeded and regarded as the voice of the people, and that tne safe as well as experienced members Of the Senate are influenced by this in the direc- tion which their views have taken in fa- Vor offfcontraction, or, at farthest, a stand- still policy. Hence they are making this an inch- by-inch fight, as shown by the determined and repeated refotations made by the anti-inflationists of the policy of expansion, The debate to-day was e@pened by the inflationists. Senator Merrimon was followed by Senators Logan, Ferry (of Michi- gan) and Morton. Then came Senator Sherman, who aimed to be especially effective with some of Senator Morton’s old field pieces, which were turned against him in using his speech made in 1872; but in turn, pursuing the same tactics, Senator Morton brought out some of the old financial guns of Senator Sherman, which he had abandoned and nad supposed were spiked. It is needless to say that after the Sripg Was over no positive victory was declared for either side, The affair was a Roland for an Oliver. Senator Allison avowed himself firmly in favor of the $46,000,000 expansion, and Senator Schurz re- plied to the strictures of Senator Morton as to his want of knowledge of the country, and retorted with his customary acerbity. To this Senator Morton replied with force, and after the bloodletting a good-natured smile prevailed, though before it came like @ sunset upon the | hostilities the President of the Senate had to rap both gentlemen to order for being unparliament- ary. Mutual disavowals of intention to offend | were made and the spicy contretemps was de- olared at an end. End of the Debste on the Franking Privilege—Nothing Accom p)ished. The debate in the House on the bill to restore the franking privilege ended to-day, and the main question was ordered by a small majority. A mo- Yon was made to reconsider this vote, and a mo- tion followed to lay that motion on the table. The better portion of to-morrow will be occupied in Glibustering, and the remainder of the week will be devoted to the consideratioa of private bills, 30 that three months of the first session of the Forty- third Congress will have passed without having accomplished any good thing for the people. The Special Agents of the Treasury De- | partment and Their High-Handed Pro- | eedures-How They Are Enriched by Plundering Merchants with Govern- ment Sanction and Sapport. The recent exposures of the manner of spying | putand settlement of suits, judgments or claims in behalf of the United States for violation of the revenue laws has opened an investigation into the whole detective and secret and special agent | system of the Treasury Department. The curtous | circumstances connected with some of the traus- | actions in moieties have suggested the necessity of & more defined and responsible method of en- forcing the revenue laws, and one which would open less opportunity for collusion between oMctals. The Treasury agencies grew ont of the Bub-Treasury law of 1846, their duty being to examine accounts, From one step to another their duties were enlarged, though without war- rant of law, till they were assigned to all sorts of work, and their operations extended beyond the Umits of the United States. The office of Treasury Agent afforded an excellent opportunity for re- wardiug favorites, and shortly became a source of great extravagance in sending parties abroad on pleasure excursions and on various errands of no service aiaevees tothe government. This abuse became so noto- | rious that the act of 1870 was passed limiting the number of special agents to fifty-three and dividing them into three classes, with com- pensation varying from $5 to $10 a day and the payment of expenses. The duties of these Officers were to examine the accounts and busi- ness Of Collectors and officers of customs, and “to be employed generally tor the prevention and detection of frauds, under the direction of the Sec- retary of the Treasury.” This latitude allowed the Secretary, it has been found, has not been of much benefit to she service, thongh it has succeeded in enabling & few men to realize large sums oat of importers. Now that the subject has been brought to the attention of the whole country numerous compiainis are sent to members of Congress exposing the high- banded proceedings of tnese sharks under the auspices of the Treasury Department, let loose upon business communities. It is claimed by lead- tog members from New York and other importing Cities that, though the government has realized largely from these reported violations of the law, it is by wo means certain that justice has always been done, the officers of the department follow- ing upacase with the same rapacious and hot- headed zeal of the informer or special agent, For the purpose of systematically “carrying on this business the various collection districts are grouped under sixteen districts, with a special agentin charge of each. The operations of Bing- ham, in charge of the Boston, and Frank Howe, of the New York district, and their assist- ants—Kimball, Hines, Chaiker and others— foot up hundreds of thousands of dollars in their pockets, Itis believed that, in many cases, ‘there Was no intention of wrong, but that the un- fortunate victims nad their goods seized apon the ‘most trivial grounds, the word of an informer, for some reason, being superior to the oath of a mer- chant. The heaviest operations are those of dayne, who was the favored one of the set and enjqyed & sort of roving privilege ander a special assignment of the department, which covers New York and other ports. Jayne's share in the spoils of an exceedingly lively campaign reach over $200,000—out of Phelps, Dodge & Co. alone realiz- ing $65,000 and out of another firm $29,000, The operations of the year show 161 civil and 24 ctiminal suits institutea at the instance of special agents. Those in personam were institated for over $3,000,000. ‘The ag- gregate salaries and expenses of the service cost the government $162,000 a year. The Committee of Ways and Means will shortly report a bill to correct this summary process of levying ‘upon imported goods. They think it rather anjast for the covernment to be at an expense of $160,000 | fication as they might deem expedient. ‘ae fo ot ake NEW YORK HERALD, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY \2,;1874?RIP B year to enable a number Of special agents to en- rich themselves at the expense of importing mer- chants, The President's Message on the Pro- posed Centennial Exposition. ‘The President to-day sent the following Message to Congress :— To wuz SkNaTE AND House or RerREsmNTA- ‘TIVES: — I have the hopor herewith to submit the report of whe Centennial Commissioners, and to aad a word in the way of recommendation. ‘There have now been ioternational expositions held by three of the great Powers of Kurope. It seems fitting that the one hundredth anniversary of our sadopendence should be marked by an event that will display to the world the growth and rogress of & nation devoted to freedom and to Phe pursuit of fame, fortune aud honors by the lowest citizen a8 well as the highest. A failure in this enterprise would de- ploradie. Success cam be assured by arousing public opinion to the Importance of the occasion. To secure this end, in my judgment, Congressional legislation is necessary to make the both national and international, pe derived from @ successiul iNternational ex- position are manifold, It will necessarily be ac- compsnied by expenses beyond the receipts from the Rxposition itself, but they will be compen- sated for, wany told, by the commingling of peo- le from all sections of our own couatry, by bring- ing together the people of different ‘nation- alities, by bringing into juxtaposition Jor ready examination our own and foreign skill and progress in manufactures, agriculture, art, science and civilization. The selection of the site for the Exposition seems to me appropriate, trom the fact that 100 years before the date txed tor the Exposition the Declaration of Inde- pendence, which launched us into the galaxy of nations as an independent people, emanated trom the same spot. We have much tm our varied cli- mate, il, mineral products and sk}il of which ad- vantage can be taken by other natiovalities to their profit. In return they will bring to our shores works of tneir skill, aud familiarize our people with them, to the mutual advantage of all parties. Let a8 have a complete success of our Centennial Exposition, or suppress it in its infancy, ackbowl- edging our inability to give it the international character to which our sell-esteem aspires. U, 8, GRANT, EXECUTIVE MANSION, Feb. 25, 1874, The Rights of Government Transportation Over Roads, ‘The Attorney General has decided that the Sec- cretary of the Treasury may withhold from a rail- road company compensation for vwrangportation services when such company has received trom the United States, to aid in the construction of its roads, bonds upon which it has not paid the inter- est, though the services were rendered upon an- other of its roads to which no government aid haa been given, Important Recovery of Money by Gov= ermment Suits. The Interna) Revenue Commissioner is to-day advised, by telegram from District Attorney Wil- son, of the district of llinois, of the successful re- suits of the suits brought by the government to recover moneys lost on account of the stealing of distillers’ bonds from the office of the Collector in Springfeld, in 1872. The government brought suit at that time, but the case was dismissed because of insufficient evidence as to the identity of the sureties, Recently the Court granted the abscond- ing Collector Harper permission to return from Canada, for the purpose of testifying in the case, and the results have been judgment in favor of the government tn all the suits excepting and that a new trial has been granted, The amount thus iat SFed is $194,000, ‘The Work on the War and Navy De- partment Buildings Suspended for Lack of Funds. Architect Mullett declines at present to go on with the work on the new Navy and War Depart- ment buildings, which are to be under the same roof as the State Department building now in process of construction. The reason assigned is that it will require all the money leit of the appro- priated $4,000,000 to finish the State Department, and that therefore it cannot properly be diverted to the other buildings. The granite has been furnished for the State Department from the Quarries of Messrs. Ordway & Co., of Rich- mond, Va.; but the Architect decides that he cannot make the contract for the other buildings until Congress makes an appropriation forthem., The contractors complain of this de- cision that it forces them to keep a large amount Of material on hand at great expense, awaiting the appropriation, and it appears that the govern- ment are also paying quite a number of useless ofMfice-ho. ders gust iing the government materials for dressing the stone, tc. Mr. 1, Ambler Smith, tne Richmond representative, has urged tne Com- mittee on Appropriations to report a Dill at once to Free Subsidized | for she necessary appropriations, so that the work can be continued in the Navy and War depart- ments and pushed to completion at the earliest possible period. Lt is estimated that it will require to complete tnese buildings in accordance with the plans adopted the same amount for each as that for the State Department, or $12,000,000 in all. The Proposed Improvements in . Ohio River. The Secretary of War has submitted to the House of Representatives the report of Major Merrill. ‘This gentleman replies at length to the inquiry of the Chief Engineer respecting @ project for improv- ing the Lower Ohio River, from Louisville to Cairo, 80 as toaford a depth of not less than five feet at the lowest stage of water known, the only plan which he is at present prepared to recommend is the one now in use throughout tne whole Union, which ts the concentration of the currents by dikes or wing dams, and the closing of all but the main channel. Whether this method would secure five feet during dead low water he cannot now tell, but he ts rather of opinion that it woukt not. He bas too little experience as yet to give a positive reply, and must, therefore, await farther examination of the subject. Dredging in the ordinary way would be useless, and reservoirs are impracticable for the Upper Ohio, and still more 80 for the Lower. Improvement of the Mouth of the Mississippi and the Banks of the Rio Grande. The Secretary of War asks an appropriation of $30,000 for the improvement of the mouth of the ‘Mississippi for the next fiscal year, and for the im- provement of the banks of the Rio Grande at Fort Brown $10,000, Necessities and Petitions of Indians. The Secretary of the Interior, in an oficial com- munication, shows the necessity for legislation in behalf of the Misston Indians of Ualifornia, and algo transmits for the consideration of Congress 4 copy of amemorial of¢he indians of the Cattaraugus aud Alleghany reservations in New York, remon- strating against the passage of aay law authorw- ing the sale of any part of such reservation with- out the consent of said Indians owning the same being first had and obtained, Opposttion of the Secretary of the In- ter and the Indian Commissioners to the Proposed Change of Authority in the Indian Barca The Secretary of the Interior and the Vommis- sioner of Indian Affairs were before the House Committee on Appropriations to-day on the subject of the Indian bill, They bota spoke with disfavor of what they designate 46 an injudicious reduction of appropriations for the Indian service of the next fiscal year, The main point of concern, how- ever, in the minds of the officials above named is the provision in the Indian bill, as prepared by the sub-committee and reported to the committee iaat Friday, to the effect that the Board of Indian Com- | sioners shall have absolute control over all con- tracts for Indian supplies, and also vesting in xposition | The benefite to He states tnat | them the power now exercised by the Secre- | tary of the Interior in matters of appeal. The Secretary of the Interior stated to the committee to-day that the provisions of the bill making the decisions of the Indian Board final were in coatravention of the organic law of the department. The committee agreed to report | the bill back to the sub-committee for auch modi- Judge Loughridge at once took the question up, and was engaged with the Commissioner of Indian Affairs most of the day. The irregularities which have been practised in the Indian service under the present system have convinced the committee that some change is necessary, but it is yet unde. cided whether they wili recede trom the position taken in the first dratt of the bill, tion bill for the Indian service has been cut down $1,900,000, and will probably be reported to-mor- | row. Relict for Starving Indians. The Secretary of whe luserios has OfMcialy asked ‘The Appropria- | | pated many jears which existe the House of Representatives for $2,000 to assist the Indians of Charta county, California, who are in @ starving condition. The Secretary also rec- ommeuds $414,500, in lieu of the $268,737, a8 per original estimate, for the use of the Ute and Sho- shonee Ladians, FOBTY-THIRD CONGR i» oe First Session, SENATE. WASHINGTON, Feb, 25, 1874. The Senate @iweussed the vill relating to the liquor trafic. im the morving, which was post- poned to allow two members, who #0 desired, to | €xpress their views before the vote upon it should be taken. The Centennial Appropriation bill was also aia aside at the suggestion of Mr. Sumner antii the financial question sould be definitely settled. Mr. Perry, (rep.) of Mich., presented a petition of the workingmen of Michigan, asking the sub- stitution of national bank currency for legal ten- ders, and that such currency be made a legal tender for ai) debts, public and privaie. Referrea to the Commitive on Finance, FINANCE, ‘The Senate then reagumed consideration of the bill to equalize the distribution of gusrency, the pending motion being that of Mr. Bu ain, of Connecticut, to recommit the bill to the Findmge Committee with instractione agreed upon, direct- ing the committee to report in favor of in- creasing the volume of national bank currency to $400,000,000, Mr, MBRRIMON, (dem.) of N, 0. argued that thére Was not a sufticient volume of currency in the country to meet the wants of the community. It more banks couid be established in the West and South the tendency would be to localize capi- tal and the effect to stimulate enterprise and in- dustry of every kind. Mr, SHERMAN, (rep.) of Ohio, said he was weary of this discussion and hoped it would soon bl ended, This measare proposed to increase the currency, but no provision Was made for its dis- tribation in the tace of all the promises made by Congress and the President. Here was a@ deliber- ate proposition to add to the paper money of the country. He would ask his friends from the South how they were going to get this increased circula- Sap. |aaey must buy it, and what had they to buy w! Mr. MERRIMON satd that they had a cotton cro} Worth $27,000,000, and other proauctions whic! were worth over 000, Mr, SugRMaN—Yes, but your cotton crop has been sold for gold. Mr. MERRIMON—I beg the gentleman’s pardon. MS may State not one-half of the crop has been oved. MOBE PAPER IN THE SOUTH THAN BVER. Mr. SHERMAN said—For every pound of cotton tne South had it could get either paper money or‘goid. There is more paper money in the country than ever before. Both political parties are pledged to Go no act to carry the country away from specie payment, and did not every man see that the ue Of More Papar Money would carry us away from specie restimption. It had been held out that to inflate the currency would help the poor, Make money easy and give the laboring man plenty o1 work. ere Was never @ greater decep- tion, More money would be given the laboring Leal probably, but its purchasing wer would be diminished. Why was it that petitions were received here every from Chambers of Commerce all over the gountry against any in- crease in the paper money? Because the people were against if. The cry of more paper mone; jrom 1] who had not came, examine‘ it they would see the error in time, The proposition of the gentleman trom North Caroling @ volume Baa ay some OFS ae, but its ye ms 2 turn back on the promises of the past, were modes by which we could gat to specie payments, and he believed the Senate would accomplish a great result if it should only resist this cry of more money. Many of the evils caused by the panic which existea when Congress met have passéd away; money is abundant now, and the three months which bave paneed have dissl- n, INFLATION WOULD BE CRIMINAL. To embark the country on a sea of more aper money now would be criminal, He woul say, | with the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. Bout- Well), “Stand still if we can do nothing more.’”’ But be (Mr. Sherman) would go further. That Portion of the $44,000,000 reserve issued should be | retired and not be issued again, except in some reat emergency, and then its use should not be left to the discretion of the Secretary of the Treasury alone. He would go further still and fx some time in the iuture, say the 1st of January next, when the conntry would redeem its broken promises either with i- terest-bearing bonds or gold. The people wou! then be prepared, and when the day came no man ould care Whether he received gold.or bonds for his greenbacks, Knowing that such greenbacks were good jor them upon presentation. He favored the redemption in bonds, because that would do away with maintaining in the Treasury a great pile of gold. The money-received for bonds could be ased im liquidating the public debt and still kept in circulation. He was not wedded to any theory, but wanted some step taken in the right direction, Oniy stand stil and prevent any inflation and one step would be gained. He be- lieved all of the $41,000,090 reserve had been issued without the authority of law, subject. The Senate ought to go back tothe Proposition and vote for the bill asitcame from the committee, and thus give the sections now in want authority to organize local banks. The advantages of sack banks would be grea! SCHURZ STABS MORTON WITH SARCASM. Mr, Scuurz (lib.) said the Senator from indians pe Morton) yesterday referred to him as not un- lerstanding the country in which he ltved, referring to him as being a foreigner. He (Mr. Schurz) remem- bered the time when Ne helped to promote the po- litical interests of the Senator from Indiana, with some others, and then the Senator agreed with hin and thought he understand ‘the country very weil, It would be well for the born constituents of the Senator from indiana to Understand that aT, were all right and under- stood the country go long as they agreed with him; but if they differed from him, they did not under- stand the country, aud must keep quiet, It wasa ltue difficult for him (Mr. Schurz) to pap With the Senator from Indiana in his opinions, for no pub- lic man was found on both sides of a question as often as that Senator. He (Mr. Schurz) felt that he was an American citizen, and understood our country, but could not keep up wita the Senator trom Indieus tn ail his opinions, Mr. ALLISON, (rep.) Towa, said he evould not mive his vote for any measure which he belteved Would depreciate values or cause distress. He did not have any idea that the merease of $44,000,000 would have such an effect, but, on the contrary, would be beneficial. MR. MORTON 18 RUALLY TIRED. Mr. Morron (rep.) said for some time he had been tired of this discussion, and would not have taken such @ part in it had it not been for the effort on the part of some Senators to force him ito it, He (Ms. Morton) had not c his views as to the greenback, but had changed them somewhat as to the feasibility of aretura to specie payment and the time at which i shouid be attempted. Fur- ther, he believed now more currency was reqgisite to meet the business interests of the country; but he did not think that inconsistent with ws leo He had changed bis views on several im- record. [I a) Guring tus life, but had always tried'to do right, His friend from Ohio (Mr. Sher- man) it seemed had changed his views also on sev- eral questions. He (Mr. Morton) tn 1868, then @ young and inexperienced Senator, introduced a plan in the Senate ig a@ return to specie payment, by which he Riven. to fix @ time when such resumpWon should be com- menced. The Senator from Ohio (Mr. Sherman) opposed it, and said such a measare would tead to disaster and destruction. Now the gentieman came forward with a similar plan himself, As to Ms friend from Missourl (Mr. Schurz), that gen- | tleman difected @ considerable part of his argu- mene to him (Mr. Morton) yesterday, and made it ag offensive iv manner and expression as he could and still be purdamentary. When he (Mr. Morton) said the Senator did not understand the country to which he lived; he did not mean te say that ail our foreign born citizens did not understand our country, and the Senator (Mr. Schurg) should not array nmseif at the head of such citizens. He (Mr. Morton) remembered some two or three years ago when his friend Mr. Schurz tried to put him- self at the head of our toreign born citi- zens, and endeavored to lead them out of one party to form another. His experience in that | matter wes nol very sausfactory, and the Senator should not attempt to place himsell at their head again, He (Mr. Morton) started with the repubii- can party in 1854, and bad never changed his mind fo such an extent as to get out ol the party, and had never betrayed bis party, his princtples, dis | friewus or those who honored him. ACHURZ GEITING WARM. Mr. Scounz said he expected just auch an ex- traordinary reply a8 the Senator had just made. He (Mr. Schur”) wanted the Senator to point out a single principle or iriend he had vetrayed. One of the first things the Senator aliuded tu yesterday was that [ did not anderatand this country and spoke of Germany as “hw country,” reiercing to its being my piace of birth. He thought ve had just as much right to differ with the Senator from Indiana as that Senator had to differ with him, ana ho would always claim that privilege, If he maae his re- marks offensive to the gontieman from Indiana he ‘would say he did not intend them ‘o be ao. But, when the gentleman iu reply made misstatements 80 willl, 80 atrocions— The Caaik (Mr. Carpenter) cailed the geutieman to order, aud said such language Was not Par- hamentary. Mr. SOHURZ said te would withdraw it. Mr. MORTON Said bis speech was in the hands of the public printer, to appear just after that ot the Senator from Missouri. If misstatements were in it the Senator could point them out, and he (Mr. Morton) would have the magnanimity to with- fa them; but if the disingennous aims of Hen- ator— The CualR, rapping pp the table, said such Jea- but knew | there was an honest difference of opinton on the | original | ioreigin | being | (Mr, Schurz) | | guage was out of order. One Senator should not cbarge another with being disingenuous. MUTUAL RXPLANATIONS, Mr, ScuuRz said he did pot entertain any sonal unkindness towards the Senator irom r- indl- ana, but that gentieman was @ strong debater, and it was against bis arguments he speke, not ‘The allusion of Senurz’s) ainst the geniieman personal, gentieman (Mr. Morton) to Tis ‘the gentiemsn shoul arp) hat be was aghained of bis birthplace —but, being American citizen, represent one of the 9 Of this Repubiic, sent here by the people, he | had a full right do express his views, and thought | at ratber unkind tn Ms iriend to reier to his Ger- | man birto. Mr. MORTON paid those who knew him knew that | among his earliest and most earnest friends in | Indiana were citizens of foreign birth, ana he | would say to-day that he was a8 good a friend to savh citizens as the gentieman from Missouri. He @i4 not incan Zomerday to refer to the country | from which bis friend came in an offensive sense but the gentleman himself frequently spoke ot | Germany while addressing the te. He (Mr. | Morton) did not mean to impute that the Senator | had been unfaithiul to any o} nis Ce ego | Mr. SCHURZ—Does the Senator say that tue words | | were in & Pickwickian sense? Then I say.t used | mine in @ Pickwickian sense also. Mr. MORTON said he was not in a Pickwickian mood yesterday. His friend (Mr. Schurz) was pat- tial to Germany, though he could not diame him for that, It was not more than two or three years ego that the genticman arraigned our own coun- try jor selling arms to France; but he exensed him, knowing it to be natura) for a man to fee} for |, bis place of birth. Aiter the Pacer sion of the Prestdent’s Message on the proposed Centennial Exposition, which was ordered to be printed and laid on the table, the bade gerd into excoutive session, and then ad- JOUPNED, += «irre 7 Poe (Mi HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. WASHINGTON, Feb, 25, 1874. THB CASE OF ADMIRAL SANDS. Mr. SCOFISLD, (rep.) of Pa., from the Committee on Naval Affairs, made an adverse report on the - bill to retain Rear Admiral Sands on the active list of the navy. Laid on the table, Mr. Goocn, (rep.) of Masa, from the same , committee, reported back the Senate bill to restore William Kilbourne, of San Francisco, to che navy 48 au ensign, he having resigned under temporary sickness, Passed. OUTFIT OP ENLISTED MEN. Mr. Mygns, (rep.) of Penn., from the same com- mittee, reported a bill providing for an outfit of clothing to the enlisted men and boya in the navy. Referred to the Committee of the Whole. PAY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS IN THE NAVY. Also a bill fixing the pay of civil engineers in the navy according to the length-of service, the same as fixed by law for naval constructors. Referred to the Committee of the Whole, Mr. PLATT, (rep.) of Va., from the Naval Commit- tee, made adverse reports on bills to establish a phd yard at Port Royal, 8. ©., to increase the facilities at the Washington Navy Yard and to enable the President tu revoke the acceptance of the resignation of Paymaster George Plunkett. Laid of the table, Algo @ bill to authorize the removal of the powcer magazine at Nor.olk, Va. Passed. VOSTMASTER’S COMMISSIONS, Mr. ORTH, (rep.) of Ind., from the Committee on Foreign Affairs, reported a bill for the issuing and recording of commissions to postmasters ap- pointed by the President with the consent of the Senate. He oxpiaged the object to be to transier that duty trom thé State Department to the Post Omice Department, Paased. ORGANIZATION OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT. Algo a biil to provide tor a more complete or- ganization of the State Department, cre: two new oftices, that of Third Assistant Secretary of Svate end of Solicitor to the Department of State, with salarios of $3,500 respectively, and abolishing the ofice of Examiner of Claims, Referred to the Commitiee of the Wroe. 1GUTS OF AMERICANS IN TEREEY, Also & bill to authorize the President to accept for citizens of the United States the jurisdiction of cert trwunals jn the Qttoman Dominions and Egypt instead of Consular Courts, and the recent law of the Ottoman Porté, ¢ | right of foreigners to hold, possess and transfer | real estate in the Ottoman Dominions, Alter ex- planation the bill was passed. Mr. E. R. Hoar, (rep.) Of Mass., rom the Com- mittee on Foreign Affairs, reported a bill to carry into execution the provisions of-the fourteenth | amendment to the constitution concerning citizen- ship, and to define certain rights of United States citizens in Horeiga countries, and certain duties of diplomatic and consular officers. The bil now being completely matured in the committee it was Tecommitted, Mr. Bunby, (rep.) of Ohio, from the Committee on Public Lands, reported a bili todeclare tne Memphis and Kansas City and tue Kansas City and Memphis railroads military and post roads. The bill was recommitted, Mr. Bunpy also reported adversely on the bill | in aid Of the public schools of the District of Coum- | bia, and it was laid on the table, Mr. CONGER, (rep.) of Mich., from the Committee on Commerce, reported @ bill to end the Steamship Passenger act in regard to the publication uf lists of mmigran Passed. THE FRANKING PRIVILEGE. Mr. SMALL, (rep.) of N. H,, presented resolutions of the New Hampshire Press Association tor the restoration of the law allowing weekly newspapers free transmission through the mails in the county of their publication, Also resolutions declaring hostility to any ac- tion that may result, directly or indirectly, in the restoration of the abuses of the [ranking privilege. ‘The House, at half-past one, resumed considera. tion of the bill to provide jor the distribution of public documents printed by the authority of Oon- ress, and of seeds furnished by the Agricultural Department, for the free exchange of newspapers between publishers and for the iree transmission edtak the | PPAR LE SHEET. | expense Of all the people and distributed among & Mr. Ricr, (rep.) of Ill., advocated the bill ag an educational measure, and oy on that ground. Mr, MELLisH, (rep) of N. Y., opposed the bill, ant remarked’ that if the visor or tne. bill were lifted the tamiliar features of the (ranking privi- lege would be revealed. Anything that orth having was worth paying ter. This iree ‘aistcibor tion of public documents was a violation of fi at principle of equal taxation. There shonid @ no special privileges given to larmers, country editors or anybody else. It would be better to have je made universally cheap, 80 that al eould ipace in its great educational afi other advantages, and theresore he had suggested | yesterday au amendment to reduce the rates of postage. MR. BUTLER ON MR. DAWES. Mr. BUTLER, (rep.) of Mass, reviewed the history | of the postal service of the country and of the con- nection with it of the franking privilege. In the process of time, he said, the newspaper press took oxsession of the mails, alt tong of mai! matter which left the New York Post Odice datly, ouly etyht and a half tons con- alsted of letters and correspondence, while forty. seven and @ half tons conaiated of newspapers and two and a half tons of transtept printed matter. He noticed in the very veranrtenis speech of his colleague what wap ciaimel ig be a great abuse. A MemegR— What Colleague Mr. Bi Dawes. He is the only one of my colleagues 1 4 makes remarkable apeeches. The others are goed. ii are remarkable, Here e Clerk read an extract Mr. Dawes’ speech 10 the Increase in post of expe tures. AN ATTACK UPON THE 8) Mr. Bur.ea? went on to that the amoi annually paid On leiter Was $20, » and only a littl and i Congress “wn eee apars of the burden, se of for bo to relieve f] q le contrasted the Iranking speeches and docu- Mentg on the approach of Presidential elections with the greater abuse of loading the mails with newspapers, rge portion of which consisted of advertisemen‘s O! no interest owtsie of the place where pubjished. He Knew that the newspaper educator. Na man an was & great {ace %5 how gréat educator It was jw it edue; . They heard now of murder, , arson, larceny and ounterielting @ll over the country, and why? ecause of the news: rs, They published evety detail of how murder has been and may be com- mitted, how connterfeiti can be practised, how banks are broken open and how sales arejrobbed— the very minutiz, A man with an insane delu- sion about murder was taught how murder can be done sately, The last words and dying speech of @ murderer were tranamitted as precious in- | formation. If there was a@ case In court where prarient details must come out for the purpose of justice, which ought beard in ailence, and where in the old English courts women and children were ordered to withdraw, tucy were all spread out in the newspapers, in their most sickening and disgusting details; and yet these papers were to be seut free through the mails, to educate the people | and the children in the ways of crime, If any Congressional committee ever franked any such | document as this he would take away not only the franking privilege from that committee but he would take away the committee itsell, Yet/mem- berg were to take off thelr own privileges 88 public servants in order that the mails might be loaded down in that way. Think oi it, said he; think of it, fathers, brothers, good citizens; think not how much the people are educated, but bow they are educated py the newspapers. ‘They say, “I am an enemy of the news- | papers.” By no means, I am only an enewy of their abuses. I desire that the children of this country shall not be taught where bad books prochted ai how fo Jans. Petrone er od FOC 0: use them. I propose that the Sarglar stat oe Snow the experience of every other burglar. Ido not desire that the man who has got af insane mind ready to commit murder shall be taught exactly how it can be dofe and done with safety, Ido not aesire that the speech of the man on the eythin wherein be clams that he is going trom the gallows straight to heaven, | shall Teported #0 as to induce every gther murderer to propose to go heaven by the same route. I should a Iittle rathér not do that at the expense of the government, if you please—(Laughter)—and therefore 1 have no desire to puss this bil, If a@ slander is cha: reach our consti slander mny be rged upon one of us we cannot ents to repel it, while the broagcagt free. If yon get Qopgress to repel ck, the newspaper that attacks you wiil not publish your statements, 1 can give you an instance of it. I rose here the other day and stated that 1 bad never heard of a certain bill introduced by Mr. Morey, of Louisiana, affecting Judge Durell, and that the whole thing was a falsehood, and rr. orey got up and nee that phe bill would not disturp Judge rel, And hdW do you suppose that the newspaper to which I calied the attention of the House treated that explanation’ 1 saw in that newspaper pext day these words:—‘General Buuer rose vo a personal explanation and got into Morey, of Louisiana.” (Laughter.) ‘That is ail the Tetraction there was. That isali the explanation, and the only way 1 could send my remarks toa single man Was to buy and send copies of the Con- onad Record, while iorty-seven tons of these ies were going through the mails at twenty-six cents a yeur, and that, somebody says, not paid. THE PREVIOUS QUESTION. At the close of Mr. Butier’s remarks Mr. PACKER, (rep.) of Pa., Who has charge 0/ the bill, demanded the previous question, reusing to admit any amendments except the suostitute offered by Mr. Hale, of New York, to repeal the law which bolishes the iranking privilege. The previous question was seconded—t112 to 67. The vote on ordering the main question was taken by yeas and nays, and resulted in—yeas 126, nays 117, the democrats almost uniformly voting in the negative. Furtner action on the bill went ever until to-morrow, and then, at a quarter to five o'clock, the House took a recess, GRANGER QUARRELS. Massachusetts Farmers Retuse to Be of weekly tbe tua by mail within the county where pubjishet THE GRANGERS AND THE POSTAL SERVICE. Mr, Cops, (rep.) of Kan., criticised the speech of Mr. Phelps, of New Jersey, yesterday, particularly as to his allusions to the graugers. He attriputed to Mr. Pheips’ great possessions the deflance which | he had cast to the grangers, and deciared that these grangers meant business; that they were | the movable force of 20,000,000 of freemen; that it was {foolish to array against them the planks or | the Philadelphia or any other platform; and that the: id have justice inside the republican party if they could; outside of it if they must. He supported the measure before the Huuse because it was demanded by the ople and because it was opposed by the 8 of men who arecertainly mot in the interest of the le. Another reason for his support of the bill was. that it was the only means o! keeping the people informed of the acts their representatives in Congress. If there was tobe no opportunity for this except through the reporters jor the news- | papers, then tbe source of power was in the hands ofthe gentlemen in the gallery, and not in the hands of the members themselves. Mr. Wagp, (rep., of Lil, said he should vote against the j, and desired to state the reason why. The Convention of the republican party in Philadelphia had deciared for the abolition of the franking privilege. The conventions which nomi- nated many of the members had declared for its abolition, and he bad not yet heard that any coa- siderable body of men, even the Fen tags had de- Manded its restoration. Until Be was conwnced that te people who had asked for its abolition de- manded its restoration he was bound to vote against 1. h If, however, the bill were to pass he — should Move an amendment to extend the applica- ton to the speeches of members and Senators, Mr. PHXLPS, (rep.) of N. J., replied to Mr. Cobb’s speech, and im an amusingly sarcastic man- ner pieaded guilty of the charges made against aim, that he was a director m banks and trust companies and railroad and e. companies, | He admitted that he was unfortonate enough, by pard work and industry, to have secured positions that involved a deal of bor and responsibility. if | any! envied him for that he pitied | Bwen if it were @ disgraceful thing for him that he had secured positions of trust and responsibility, | | i i and that widows and orphans were willing to trast him with their fortunes, and that | he had put his money in rauroads which had made Iilinois and Kansas blossom like the rose, bat | whicd had left bim as eae as poor could be, he should be at least cre: d with the frankness of | having confessed his guilt tn the paragraph which | had been read from the “Congressional Direc’ tt He found on reference to that same publication | | that his friend from Kansas (Mr. Cobb), instead of | | doing these disreputable things which he (Mr. Phelps) had done, had preferred almost continu- | ally to feed at the’ public crib and to use as a non- roducer the wealth which others had acquired, (Laughter at Mr. Cobb’s expense.) Mir. CoB disclaimed any intention of refiecting | personally ou the gentleman from New Jersey. Mr. COBUBN, (rep.) of Ind. rted the biliand | argued that the law tor the ‘abolition of tue irank- | ing privilege would never have been passed 11 it | had not been understood at the time that an ar- | rangement would be made for the free :ransmis- sion of public documents, | A DISCIPLE OF HONEST HORACE. | Mr, Withtams, (rep.) of Mase., advocated the paveage of the bill, He said he bad been for many years the disciple of Horace Greeley, and, among other teachings of his, had embraced the idea of the abolition of the tranking privilege. he had been very argent for that aud had been very glad when it was accomplished. He had come (to Washington this season still maintaining these views; but in the Post Oftice Committee, nd on hearing the views of differeut gentiomen, had been led to change his opinion, and so tac as this bill went, he was now its earnest advocate. ‘the bill was not in accordance with all the con’ tions of his itfe nor with nis own personal wishes, but he believed it to be for the benelit of the country, and therefore he advocated it. PREE TRANSMISSION OF NEWS, Mr, LAWRENOS, (rep.) of Obio, declared himself in favor of the third section of the oil providing jor the free transmiasion of weekly newspapers, &¢., | and Opposed to allite other provisions. He argued | that the same principle which justified the support of common schools at the public expense also Justified the iree circulation of newspapers and | periodicaig within appropriate limits, Common | schools, the press and the public addresses of | every man were the great moral and political in- | structors of the people. He knew no reason, how- ever, Why documenss ahowd be orimied al the } { i ("h m them. | Used for Political Purposes and Break Away from the National Grange. Boston, Mass,, Feb, 25, 1874. At the stated meeting of the Boston Grange this evening letters were read from Marion Grange, No. 391, of Iowa, from @ member; from a member | Of the State Grange of South Carolina; from an organization fn Brooklyn, N. Y., and from a mem- ber of the Massachusetts State Grange, asking the | Boston Grange to take the initiative in an inde- pendent movement, and pledging themselves to support and extend it to the best of their abilittes, The following resolutions were then adopted without debate, being reported by a committee ap- pointed at a special meeting held Monday even- ing:— Whereas, 11 Patrons ‘he members of the Boston Grange became of Husbandry, so-called, in good faith and r form, and whereas, without having violatea our obligations, we are declared not tobe in food standing by the National Grange, so-called, at St. Louis; there- fe Resolved, Such action was contrary to the common obligation which makes each and every one a member of the Urder, and was done simply, to cast political power into ln a &® faction which seeks contro! of our ; theretere, ‘Resolved, (hat the Boston Grange, No. 4, Patrons of Husbandry, ia and ought tobe, and we hereby declare ourselves free and independent of a seW-constituted body Known as the National Grange, and we adopt the follow - ful of our obligations in the as our declaration ef principles e, the undersigned, mind: exercise of political rights, and sovepintys ot gur respon: sil wy tor the proper we hest preroga- tive of aMisewekip tne elect (wo franchises and ithpressed with a deep sense of the industrial, commercial and co- operative abuses weighing upon our ‘and country, NS ER a ann ET Te ER a ae ray La genes ‘be associated with us for the following ob- jects, viz. j— 4 Pied ‘o aecure to the cultivation of the soil the re- ward jubily due to the firat and most vital of industries 1; + the fouudation of the prosperity of every com. to insure such cheap and equitable. transit from the field to the market as will guarantee a fair romuneration to the proaucer and reas- onabie terms w the censauier. To prevent unjust discrimination in the charges of tr: the ucts of the farm and the factory, and to co-operate in every well considered movement, whetber within our ol the several States, to arr eecure fairness juality in tariffs establisned Upon the areat Seutte ot oncas aa Thied—To resist. ihe commerce. i? _eacronchments of sorporative Ybeir ‘cor diseoun ter Tights of the people, from whom id monopolies they derive sane time and unjust porutive existence. Wwhiie at the elu against corporative interests pair the useiuiness and inure to the industry in its unequal sts les against i oppre: ‘and exactions of orga ‘capital; to secure equily and justice in all the relations Capital and laber, and to allay the untortunate antagonism between the two, which cripples the ¢1 ‘ot both and can resutt only in injury to the mate: terests of the people. F(ta—To obtain & re-adjustment of the system of taxa tion, so that all property shall contribute its equitapie proportion ot the expenses of goverament. th— 9 which woul ergies 1" in- ‘o secure pel of the strictest prin- ciples of economy in the administration of government with just, but not exasasive compensation for the dis- charge of official duties. Seventh—To elevate the standsrd of political parties by educating their members to a full appreciation of their responsib in reference to the management of pub- lic affairs; and Pinally-To secure better legislation and a purer ad- ministration of law by restricting the influence of par Sanshup in both, by seeking the nom: tent andincorrupuble candidates tor public oft conventions, of ail political parties, and by fidelity the big’ make honesty, capacity and of qualification. And to thisond we do now organize ourselves into a Known as the ‘Anaependent Grangers, mtarily binding ourvelves so jong as our body to be hereby volut membersnip shall continue to obey promptly and cor- dual constitutions and laws ot the order and all constitational and legal, requirements made and pro- mal ts executive authority. Mea ead. That the Boston Grange being an indepen. dent body, it asaume the powers of a national body adovt a constitution and ritual, issue dispensations and pertorm such other dutios as pertain to that body. Kesolved, That an Kxecutlve Committes be appointed, with power to confer and unite such other persons find orgamizavions as sball accept our platform of prin: neral ‘Ropotteuethat the. executive Committee attend a con- vention in Albany, N. ¥., March 4, 1874, and that they be empowered to © pringtield, Mass, Friday evening, March 6, 1874, for the election of officers National Conclave and otherwise completing its nization. Messrs, J. B. Bartlett, E. G. Brown and T. W. Brown, Jr. Were appointed as an executive com- milked, Of the Mity-eight and a | @ controversy on a question of veracity with Mr. | ing Ml advised combinations | 38 GRAND NAVAL SPECTACLE, The Torpedo Practice at Florida Bay. | COLUSUVS OF FIRE AND WATER, Splendid Array of Wessels in Action—Returning to Key West—Frogramme for the Remaining Exercises, | | The following despatches have been reecived | from our special correspondent with the United Staces fleet om Florida Bay :— ‘ FLORIDA Bay, via Key Was, Feb. 25, 1874, The feet exercised to-aay at torpedo practice. The following general order was issued yes= terday i * GENERAL onveR, FLI@EMTP Wanasu, Fel A target for torpedoes wil be pier Shire Toorrow, and each vessel will steam at the target and explode one or more torpedoes under 1%, ae cording to her fitting. The torpedoes must bi fired on the starboard side, aud submerged at least twelve feet. Each boom wiil be markea, to indl. cate proper submersion. Kaci vessel will have a; spar Betting, to protect those on deck from aying, Pieces of wood. Torpedoes must be discharged, whether target 1s struck or not. The speed of four kuots ag hour must be accurately kept, By order of A. LUDLOW CASE, Commander tn Chief. THE DRILL OF YESTERDAY. A rait twenty by ten feet, constructed of heavy! planks, was to-day towed by the Fortune to a po« sition one mile ahead of the fect. At one o'clock all the vessels got under way, and, forming inia columns, steamed toward this raft in the following order:—The Wabash first, then tne Congress, Tis conderoga, Canandaigua, Ossipee, Colorado, Brook lyn, Wachusett, Kansas, Lancaster, Alaska, She~ nandoah, Franklin, and, lastly, the Fortune. Each vessel carried a 100-pound torpedo, rigged out on the starboard side on a 50-foot spar. Tha Wabash carried 3 and the Brookiyn 2 Ail were to be fired by electricity. A SPLENDID DISPLAY. Fourteen out of the seventeen torpedoes wer@ successively exploded. The spectaci® was very grand. In many instances a solid column of water was thrown twice the height of the malnmast. The best execution was done by the Colorad Wachusett aud Shenandoah. The Fortune’s to! pedo was carried away by her speed before tad explosion occurred. THR SHOCK OF THE EXPLOSION. The shock on shipboard was something terriblee RESULT OF THE EXPERIMENTS, Commodore Parker declares that to-day's ex4 periments have demonstrated the impropriety of applying torpedoes to large war vessels incapabig of great speed, AN ENGLISH SPECTATOR, 5 Captain Jones, of the Royal Navy, witnessed tla experiments from the Brooklyn. TO-DAY’S PROGRAMME. Genera} fleet exercise willbe the feature of toe Morrow. The Despatch and Pinta, now at Ko: West, will take part in the drill, after which th Despatch will go to Havana. CLOSING OF THE EXERCISES. The exercises in Florida Bay will conctude to¢ morrow, instead of on Friday, The fleet will saiy for Tortugas on Friday, The Juniata arnved aq Key West to-day, When the Fleet Will Retarn to Key | Westerhe Final Exercises—Torpeda Practice. Flora Bay, via Key West, Feb. 24, 1874. It is now definitely settled that the fleet wilt leave here‘for Key West via Tortugas on Saturday morning next. The feet will remain at anchor off Tortugas on Sunday and Monday, and on Tuesdayg | with the remainder of the fleet, will depart fos Key West. TRIP TO HAVANA. The Wabash will go to Havana toremain untiP Sunday moraing. She will then return to Key | West, where ‘he final landing exercises will occur | about the 9th. Twenty-five hundred men will ba \ landed through the surf instead of 1,700, as on | a former occasion. The skirmish drill on shore | will be much the same as before. The function will conclude on the day following the landing with @ brigade dress parade. This trip to Havana prolongs the function an. | other week. Commodore Parker will go North o: | the steamer of March 12, WASHINGTON’S BIRTHDAY. Yesterday was observed as a national holidays All vessels remained at anchor. BXERCISES AT TORPEDO PRACTICB. The fleet to-day exercised at torpedo practice. The vessels formed in column, the Wabash leading, and passed the target three times. A full broade side was fired the last time. To-morrow will ba devoted to experiments in exploding torpedoes on spars, NAVAL INTELLIGENCE, Movements of the Portsmoath—Arrivah st the Sandwich Islands, WASHINGTON, Feb. 25, 1874. The Navy Department 1s advised of the arrivat | gt the Sandwich Islands from surveying duty ot; the Portsmouth. She will very probably go to San Francisco to be attached to the North Pacific feet under Admiral Pennock. The details of the sound- | ings made by the Tuscarora, Licutenant Come mander Belknap, have been received at tha aepartment, and are pronounced very satisfactory< Waiting and Transfer Orders. WASHINGTON, Feb. 23, 1874. Lieutenant John C. Morong has veen detached! from the recruiting ship Independence, at Mare. Isiand, and ordered to the Kearsarge; Lieutenant’ D. Deichanty, from the Kearsarge and ordered ta the Independence; Assistant Surgeon Edwin E., Corson, from the Kearsarge and ordered to wait orders at Mare Island Navy Yard. THE BOSTON COLLECTOBSHIP, Simmons’ Confirmation Considered a Certain—Probable Reorganization o: the Republic Party tn Massac! setts, with Butler as Leader. Boston, Mass., Feb. 25, 1874. The almost absolute certainty of the confirmae tion of the nomination of Mr. Simmons as Collector of the Port of Boston has had the effect to destroy’ anxious cariosity. Despondency on the part of | the “antis’” and joy on the part of the Simmons | party has followed, however, and the mercantile: community has settled down to the pending fate of Mr. Simmons for Collector; but it 13 not unlikely: that his official advent will be the preiiminary! measure to @ iresh organization of the republican BEE, in Massachusetts, and, of course, with Ben jutler at the head. ‘The news comes from Washington this evening: that the anti-Simmons delegation is on its way back to Boston, and the other party is reported to be lingering at the capital and indulging ip @ ban-. quet over the administration triumpn. It is not improvable that, notwithstanding the: persistent opposition which has been made to the nomination of Mr Simmoug and ita confirmation,, he will be neartily supported After all the furry ts, over. Nothing ig brought up againat him from any quarter, and the argument which General Butler has advanced 1n behalf of the nominee has not even been criticized, either by the press or politicians. ‘According to private advices this evening the 4 - | confirmation of Mr. Simmons will be accomplished | to-morrow. | No Action on the Nomination by tho Senate. WASHINGTON, Feb, 25, 1874, The executive session of the Senate to-day passed without any consideration of the nomina- tion of W, A. Simmons for the Collectorship of the Port of Boston. The matter rests exclusively with Senator Boutwell, who finds it the hardest task of his life vo bear this responsibility, for, whichever way he decides, he is bound to make lasting political enemt SENTENGE OF A BIGAMIST, NEWBURG, N. Y., Feb. 25, 1874, George W. Pine was convicted here to-day o! | Digamy and sentenced to Sing Sing prison for two \ years and six montha,