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

ee WASHINGT ON. Discouraging Prospect of Financial Relief. PROPOSED TARIFF CHANGES. told Reception of the Civil Rights Bill in the House. WILL JUDGE DURELL ESCAPE? Proposed Enforcement of the Common School System in All the States, A WASHINGTON, May 25, 1874, Virtual Defeat ofthe Senate Finance Bill in the House—Small Hope of Any Defi- mite Action This Session. By a vote, which, in the optnion of members of jong experience, decides the fate of all financial Measurea this session of Congress, the House to-day refused to suspend the rules to take up the Senate Finance bill, Those who had the opportu- aity of hearing expressions of opinion among infla- onists and contractionista say that, whether strengthened or weakened, @ majority cannot be | fot at this stage of the proceedings to vote for any | measure whatever, It is doubtful now whether any jurther effort will be made this session to press a financial measure to a vote. Pears of the Defeat of the Civil Rights Bill in the House—Failure to Bring lt Up To-Day. The effort to get up the Civil Rights bill in the fouse to-day provoked considerable bad blood, | ind the Southern members generally, as well as ; many discreet and sound republicans, were taken | oy the ears at once, The committee having the »ill in charge failed to get it before the body under | s suspension of the rules. The opimion prevails ‘mong a large number of members that the bill will not go through tne House, and it was even | said that if it did pass the President had given an | timation that he would veto it, The leading re- publicans are anxious that the Civil Rights bill whould be consigned to the tomb of the Capulets, Modifications of the Tariff Proposed by | the Committee on Ways and Means in Reporting the New Bill. ‘The Committee on Ways and Means to-day made dterations and additions to the Tarif bill before ‘eporting it to the House, The bdillas recently ublished 18 correct, with the following excep- ons :— All still wines are to pay forty cents per gallon in sasks and $1 50 Bee dozen quarts or twenty-iour pints in bottles. There is a proviso that any wines mported containing more than twenty-two per yent of alcohol shall be forfeited to the United States; maccaroni and vermicelli three cents, and dimilar preparations five cents a pound. Schedule © is amended to read as follows:— drafts and vouchers for the pay- Ment of any sum of money Whatever drawn upon | spy banker, bank or trust company to pay a tax ot two cel Amendments are made by which erewers are called wholesale and retail dealers | 0 malt liquors instead of being classed with (pirit distillers, Heavy penulties are prescribed for afixing to casks, barrels or kegs any label gearing the similitude of an official stamp. No mash, wort or wasnjehall be fermented elsewhere whan in & cuettilery. Maton manufacturers are jequired to keep their Looks open for inspection, ind to mark on the box or package the number wf matches contained therein, the neglect so to do yabjecting them to penalties, State banks are to pay a tax of ten per cent on their circulating aotes. Also any person, firm or ussoctation wo ‘Bsues notes, other than those of natioual banks, pay tlie same rate of tax. The bill abolishes yroprietury stamps upon all medicines prepared | Maccordance with the standard formula or phy- ‘clans’ prescription. Apy farmer or planter may ‘ell at the place of production tobacco of his own fowth at retail directly to consumers to an smount not exceeding $100 annually, Auchovics ind sardines in o1] in boxes 18 cents per whole »0x, 734 Cents per halfbox, 4 cents per quarter sox; and in any other form sixty per cent ad valo- tem. Bags, other than of American manufacwure, nm which aon Shall have been actually exported rom the United States, may be returned to the Jnited States free of duty, under regulations to be mescribed by the Secretary of the [reasury. All wachinery adapted exclusively to the manu.acture wf the Ramte jute or ax may be admitted into the Inited States, {yee of duty, for two years from the ato! July next. Amendments to the Internal Revenue laws are wpended to the Tarif billi—among them the ollowing :— Each spllestet is to appoint as many deputies as Ww loay think proper, under certatu regulations, frovigion is made for the redemption of revenue jocumentary stamps, the use of which were ren- ered unnecessary by the repeal of the tax for tre vayment of which such stamps were pa Ge fey are to be redeemed belore the 1st of October yext. Testimony of a Daughter of Mormonism Against Delegate Cannon—A Congress- man with Four Wives. The House Committee on Elections to-day mamined Belle Kimball, daughter of Elder Kim- all, of the Mormon Caurch. She testified that fr. Cannon, Delegate in Congress, married his ‘purth wife in 1865, Cannon at that time set out @ & combined preaching and wedding trip, ac- ompanied by his wife No. 1 and wife No. 4; but Othe latter he devoted most of his attentions, Witness does not know whether the other wives We living or not. The object of the investigation #to establish the fact of polygamy on the part of jannon, the charge having been preferred as endering him ineligible under the Anti-polygamy aw to @ seat ip the House as Delegate from Utab. The Case of Judge Durell—Ne Impeach- ment Expected=The Majority of the Jadiclary Committee Changed. There is the best authority for the Btatement | hat Judge Durell wili not be impeached. Tne | ote of the committge fas been changed so as to | pake it 5 for find 6 against impeachment, 'm the original proposition, “Ougat Judge Durell | © Be impeached?” the vote was 6 for and 4 @ainst. Judge Jewett, the eleventh Jaemoer of he committee and a@ (lemocrat, has not been mesent at any session of the committee | fnce the question was brought directiy | © a vote, and should he be at the neeting of the committee to-morrow General | sutler may not be able to attend, and, whether he toes or not, the iriends of Judge Durell are con- | ident to-night that six votes can be relied upon © prevent the report being made. Inasmuch as be eviaence o! the sub-committee has practically yeen in possession of the committee for nearly ive months the purpose of deferring con- ideration until the close of the session joes not enliven unsophisticated Congressmen vith the nighest entousiasm for judicial integrity. wall probability the House will never hear of the ubject until the committee asks to be discharged fom its jurther consideration. One of the argu- gents used with the members of the committee tas been the great service rendered the repub- ycan party by Judge Durell in securing to the ‘arty the State of Louisiana, At this juncture in volitical Matters the argument has had great | veight and jiiustrates most conspicuously that, | rhatever republics may be, republican Congresa- Sen are not uugratefui, Brooks’ Ringleaders tn Washington king Another Basis of Settlement. The Brooks’ Arkansas offictais, with Chief Jus- ice McClure at their head, are here to lay siege to | he President and to endeavor to have tne troops nithdrawn so that the settiement of the case will e leit between the parties contestant. They re- | ort a horrible condition of affairs as prevailing eLittle Rock, They will lay al! the facts before be President, and if they do not obtain redress, hey say a bitter confict may be expected and se- ere results ensue therefrom. the Civil Service Commission and the Hei of Departments, ‘The President transmitted to the Senate to-aay ‘letter received by him from Mr. D, B, Eaton, | airman of the Civil Service Commission in geponse to a resolution of the Senate calling for the tuil answers received by the said commis. jon in reply to their circular addressed to the rious beads of departments and bureaus re- othe | of the | section, 80 service rules in thetr several departments and omces,” The chairman, Mr. Eaton, states that no circular or other writings Were addressed to any head of department, but that in the report already published the views of the heads of departments are set forth as they were understood by the Com- mission, and that the views of these officers are also referred to in the President's message of the 18th ult. The answers of the heads of Bureaus are transmitted in print, having been published as an appendix to the report of the Civil Service Commission. Recovery of General Butler. General Butler, who has been sick, left hiv bed tocome to the House to-day in order to vove on the Civil Rights bill, DOINGS IN CONGRESS. SENATE, National Control of the Comm:n School System—A Sixteenth Amendment—Man- ipulation of the Pending Deficiency Bill. WASHINGTON, May 25, 1874. Mr, ALCORN, (rep.) of Miss., presented a memo- rial of the citizens of that State asking Congress vo take charge of the levees of the Mississippi River. Relerred to a spectal Committee on Levees, Mr. SARGENT, (rep.) of Cal., introduced a bill to prevent hazing at the Naval Academy. Reierred to the Committee on Naval Affairs, NATIONAL CONTROL OF THE COMMON SCHOOLS. Mr. SrBwaktT introduced a joint resolution pro- posing the following as an amendment to the con- stitution :— Articte 16.—It any State shall fail to maintain a com- mon school system, under which all persons between the ages of five and eighteen years, not incapacitated for the same, slall receive, freé of charge, such elementary education as Congress may the Congress resoribe, shall have power to estabiish therein such @ system and cause the same to be maintained at the expense of such tate, Kelerred to the Committee on the Judiciary. TRANSPORTATION 80H) Mr. CAMBRON, (rep.) Of Pa., introduced a pill di- recting the Secretary of War to cause to be exe- cuted @ survey of the Susquehanna River from Chesapeake Bay tu the New York State line and from-that line through Seneca Lake to the New York Canal and to Lake Ontario, with a view to ascertaining the practicability of sceampoat navi- gation between those points by dams, locks and Canals; also to make @ similar report as to the racticability of establishing communication be- ween the Chesapeake and Delaware bays via Sas- safras River. Reterred to the Committee on Transportation, Mr, BUCKINGHAM, (rep.) of Conn., introduced a bill authorizing the Secretary of tne Treasury to transfer certain funds belonging to the Peoria, Kaskaskia, Piankeshaw and Wea Indians to the United States, Relserred to the Committee on Indian Affairs. Also a bill authorizing the Secretary of the In- terior to expend $100,000 1rom the proceeds of the sales of lands belonging to the Great and Little Osage Indians for their support and civilization, Same re.erenge, Mr. SarcEnrt [ntroduced a bill to prevent hazing at the Naval Academy, which provides for the trial by court martial of any cadet, midshipman or engineer accused of hazing, and their dismissal by the Superintendent of the Academy if found guilty, providing he approves the finding. In case of such dismissal the cadet shall forever be ineligie ble to re-appointment. Mr. PRatr called up the House bill to revise, con- solidate and amend the laws relating to pensions, approved March 3, 1873, which provides that all persons who have lost an arm at or above the elbow shall be rated in the second class and re- ceive a penal of $24 per month, ‘assed. ‘r. SARGENT. from the Committee of Conference on the Naval Appropriation bill, called up the re- port of that committee made last week, and it was agreed to, EXCLUSION OF LoBBYfrs. Mr. EDMUNDS submitted an order directing the Sergeant-at-Arms to exclude from the marble room and adjacent corridora in the Capitol all per- sons not entitied to admission upon the floor of the Senate, during the balance of the session. greed to, THE CHARGES AGAINST THE PUBLIC PRINTER. Mr. Hows, (rep.) of Wis., called attention to a letter addressed tv him by Messrs. Rives and Bailey, of the late Congressional Globe, complain- ing that the Committee on Printing had ‘ated to take action in regard to the charges against Con- gressional printer Clapp. Mr. ANTHONY, \rep.) of R. L, said he had great respect ior Messrs. Rives and Bailey, but he did not recognize their right to dictate to the commit- tee. The Committee on Printing had investigated the charges brought against Mr. Clapp and had submitted the result in the report to the senate. THE DEFICIENCY BILL. The Senate then proceeded to consider the De- ficiency Appropriation bill. Mr. SARGENT said vhe deficiency bill last year appropriated $11,000,000, and several years ago $20,000,000 were appropriated by a similar bill. The present bill appropriated les3 than $4,000,000. The committee had made very few changes in tt as passed by the House. Ag it came from that body the bil! appropriated $3,372,155. agreed upon by the Senate committee increased the amount to $3,850,863, the principal item of In- crease being for the care of the Apacne Indians, which amounted to $300,000. The various amend- ments proposed by the committee were concurred In. Among phen were the following:—For the incidental ai contingent expenses of th> mint at San Fransleeo, a the fiscal year ending June 30, 1873, 1,168; for furni- ture, carpets, aerate &c., in the Treasury Department and buildings under its control, },000 instead of $10,000 allowed by for the salary of two Commissioners on the Mili- tary Prison Board; $460 travelling expenses of the Commissioners; and the Secretary ot War, in con- nection with such prison, $1,500; for the subsist- ence of the Kickapoo Indians, up to July 1, 1874, they having been removed irom the borders of Mexico and Texas to the indian Territory, $25,000, The committee have reported in favor of increas- ing the Sprropriaacn to subsist and take proper care of the yee Indians in Arizona and New Mexico, who have been or may be collected on Frew Nao! in New Mexico, from $200,000 to the House CHEAPER TO FEED THAN TO FIGHT THE INDIANS, Mr. SARGENT said the policy of the government now was to take these Indians and put them on four reservations in Arizona and New Mexico, Tne government must elther feed or fight them, and it was much cheaper to feed them, Some years ago there was war with the Sioux Indians, when forty-five Indians were killed at an expense Of $45,000,000, These Apache Indians were now all upon their ee Mr. eee} pau i€ ost $5,000,000 during the 's to ke pagt yo yea ep them there. Mr. SARGENT replied that was much cheaper than fighting them, ‘The amendment proposed by the committee was Ggreed to. The proviso that none of the moneys hereby ap- ropriated for the payment of deficiencies in the indian service shall be paid until the necessi- ties for the expenditures shall have been examined into by the Secretary of the Intertur and Board of Peace Commiseioners and approved by them, and the vouchers therefor approyed by the Secretary of the Interior, and requiring said Board of Com- missioners to ae juch examinations, was stricken oak such duty having already been im- by eXisting law. r amendments of the committee were agreed to, as follows :— . Appropriating $957 for the rent and incidental expenses of the office of the Surveyor General of Caltiornia; $701 lor the office of the Surveyor Gen- eral of Washington Territory, and $2,000 ior the oflice of the Surveyor General of Louisiana ; $31,510 for defraying the expenses of the Board of Health istrict of Columbia; $8,000 for clerks to committees, pages, horses and wagons of the Sen- ate for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1873; $75 to ay Rev. E. D. Owen for services as Acting Uhap- fain of the Senate Bf2 00° for flere i) committees and pages in thé Sénate for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874; $13,000 for labor ; $4,000 for furniture and repairs; $1,156 for mileage of Senators who took their seats after the passage of the act of January 20, 1874; $36,000 for reporting the proceed. ings and debates of the Senate for the Forty-third Congregs ; $31,772 to reimburse the fund of the Re- form school of the District of Columbia for the erection of buildings for the same, and $10,000 for @ pedestal for the bronze statue of Jefferson inthe National Statuary Hall at the Capitol, ANTICIPATING APPROPRIATIONS, The committee reported to strike out the second section of the bill, making it unlawful for any de- partment of the government to spend, in any tiscai year, any sum in excess of appropriations made by Congress for that al year, or to involve the government in any contract for future payment of money in excess of such appro- priation, any violation of the act to be deemed a misdemeanor and be punished as proviaed for in the third section of the act of July 25, 1868, THE PRESIDENT HEARD FROM, The CHare laid beiore she Senate a message from the President of the United States transmitting a jetter from the Prestdent of the Civil Service Com- mission enclosing full answers from the heads of departments in regard to the workings of the Civil Service rules therein, Ordered to be printed and iatd on the table, Also a message from the President transmitting the troubles in Arkansas, Ordered to be printed and laid on the table. Un motion of Mr. SARGENT it was ordered that | the debate on the amendments to the Deficiency Appropriation bill be limited to five minutes for each Senator. The Senate then resumed consiceration of the Deficiency bill, After some discussion Mr, SHER- The amendments | | all the papers and correspondence in relation to | MAN, (rep.) of Ohio, Moved to amend the second * to provide that any violation of its provisions 8! id be deemed a high misdemeanor, and to strike out that portion of the section pro- viding that punishment should be as provided in section 3 of the act of July 25, 1863. Agreed to—yeas 21, nays 17. ‘A Vote was then taken upon recommendation of the committee to strike out that section as amended, and it was 0. M : Vermont, submitted an Peating revoris as to the overatiow® of the civil Mr. MORRILL, (rep.) of amendment appropriating bafta jor the pur- Chase of lot No, 1, square 683, for site for an engine house and stables for mail wagons and horses for the Senate. Agreed to. THR DECRASE OF MR. MELLISH. Pending the discussion the Cain laid before the Senate a resolution of the House announcing the death of the Hon. David B. Meillish, of New York, and inviting the Senate to attend the funeral in the hail of the House at four o'clock to-morrow afternoon. Mr. CONKLING, (rep.) Of N. Y., made a few appro- priate remarks, saying that the time and occa- sion were not suitable to notice the life and character of him whose faneral the Senate had been invited to attend, In conclusion he offered a resolution in respect to the memory of the de- ceased, accepting the invitation of the House to attend his funeral to-morrow and declaring the Senate adjourned. sped to, and the Senate, at ten minutes to five P. M., adjourned, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, WASHINGTON, May 25, 1874. Under the call of States bills were iutrodueea and referred, including the following :— By Mr. SpgeR, (dem.) of Pa,—Providing that a residence of three years shall be suMicient to en- title an alien, being a free white person, to become @citizen; declaration to be made one year before admission, By Mr. SHELDON, (rep.) of La.—To refund the cotton tax. By Mr. CROSSLAND, (dem.) of Ky.—To repeal the law which suspended payments to loyal masters for the slaves drafted and received as volunteers in the military service, By Mr. CLEMENTS, (rep.) of Il,—Declaring all corporations doing business in any State sub- ices to the jurisdiction of the State courts of that e. By Mr. Hovonton, (rep.) of California—To an- thorize the purchase of harbor privileges and lands for the establishment of a naval and coaling station in the Samoan Islands. . By Mr. PHILLIPS, (rep.) of Kansas—To provide for the appraisement and sale o/ certain Cherokee jJands in the Indian Territory. By Mr. Harris, (dem.) of Va,—Restoring to the pension rol fi a hala of the Mexican war struck of tor disioyalty. THE TREATY WITH BELGIUM. Mr. ORTH, (rep.) of Ind., Chairman of the Com- mittee on Foreign Affairs, offered a resolution in- | structing that committee to inquire into the expe- diency of authorizing the President to give the requisite notice for the termination of the treaty Of the 20th of May, 1863, between the United States and the King of the Belgians, with leave to report at any time, ‘Adopted, AMENDMENT OP THE REVENUB LAWS. Mr. Dawes, (rep.) of Mass., irom the Committee on Ways and Means, reported a bill to amend the existing Customs and Internal Revenue laws, ~ Referred to the Committee of the Whole, with phe understanding that is will be taken up to-mor- Mr. CopvRN, (rep.) of Ind., moved to suspend the ; ules ana discharge the Committee of tne Whole | from the bill for the gradual reduction of the army gna to aay RAGE Oneay for consideration in tne jouse on ursday next, and irom day ‘0 da; until disposed of, ” , 3 ‘Agreed to, SUBSTITUTE FOR THE FINANCE BILL. Mr. MAYNARD, (rep.) of fenn,, Chairman of the Committee on Banking and Currency, reported back @ substitnte for tne Senate Currency bill tor present consideration, Alter the reading 01 the bill Mr. BEcg, (dem.) of Ky., moved to suspend the rules and take up for consideration the bill authorizing the payment of | one-third of all duties on imports in legal tenders or national bank notes Instead of gold. (Norz.—Motions to suspend the rules take pre- cedence on Mondays of other motions. The House refused to second the demand for the previous question—79 to 109, Mr, MAYNARD then moved to suspend the rules anne ap his an for eau one le motion was lost—yeas 132, nays 101—not two- thirds in the anirmative, ae Mr. MAYNARD Ad notice that he would call up the bill to-morrow, Mr. BUTLER, (rep.) of Mass., moved to suspend the rules and take up the Senate Supplementary Civil Rights o1ll and refer it tothe Judiciary Com- mittee, with leave to report at any time. Logt—yeas 183, nays 8i—not two-thirds in the affirmative, The republicans who voted “No” were Messrs, Banning, of Ohio; Bromberg, of Alabama; Butler, of Tennessee; Lowndes, of Maryland; Smith, of Virginia; Smith, of Norta Carolina; Strait, of Min- nesota, and Thornburg, of Tennessee, DEATH OF MR, MELLISH. Mr. TREMAIN, rep.) of N. Y., rose to announce the death of nis colleague (Mr. Mellish) and to re- quest that the usual and proper action be taken by the House ip connection with that event. In the course of his remarks he intimated his belief that the death of Mr. Mellish was the result of a malady springing from over work. He concluded | by offering resolutions forthe appointment of a committee of five to take orders jor superintend- ing the iuneral of Mr, Mellish, at four o’clock to- morrow; that the remains be removed to Auburn, Mass., in charge of the Sergeant-at-Arms and at- tended by the committee, and that the House do now adjourn. Remarks appropriate to the occasion were made by Messrs. Wvod, (dem.) of N. Y.; Kelley, (rep.) of Pa, ; Lawrence, (rep.) of Ohio; G. F. Hoar, (rep.) of Mass., and Cox, (dem.) of N. Y. Mr. KELUY referred to Mr, Mellish having learned the printing trade in the office of the Wor- cester Spy, & journal which, he said, had sent so many representatives to the House, and he spoke in eulogy of his simplicity and honesty of charac- ter, as shown by the fact that, while he had gathered Knowle age and had sought spheres of usefulness, he had not Eyre about him the good things of this world. He chafactérizéd him 88 8 Worthy man in every sense of the word. Mr. Hoak also commented on Mr. Mellish’s con- tentment with honorable peng l and said that his public career was brief, but jong enough for dim who had ripened and matured such a truitage. Mr. Cox spoke of the event as one of double sad- ness, tor Mr, Mellish’s mind was gone before his body. ‘It was, thereiore, a double death which the House deplored to-day, God had “Put out the lignt and then put out the light,” The resolutions were adopted, and the Speaker appointed ag the committee wo suverintend the | Suneral Messrs. Smart and Cox, of New York; | ements, of Illinois; Harris, of Massachusetts, and Magee, of Pennsylvania. Mr. Woop referred to Mr. Mellish’s brief public | eareer as more productive of personal sacrifices | than had ever fallen on this or any other delibera- tive body within ms recollection, He trusted that the lesson taught by the event would impress mem- | bers with the folly and wickedness of personal | controversy, and the obligation which rested upon them of ‘Charity and good wiil to all men.” The House then, at twenty minutes to four P. M., adjourned, THE STATE FUNDS SECURE. A Conference with State Treasurer RainesAn Examination Made in Ac- cordance with His Directions—Securi- ties for Canal Deposits Found—All the State Funds Safe. ALBANY, N. Y., May 25, 1874, | The Evening Journal, alluding to the canal con- tract trust fund held by the State Treasurer, says the books of the Auditor show he holds $98,150. The Journal adds :— On Saturday the Deputy Treasurer proceeded to | Utica and, in connection with Dr. Gray, had a con- | ference with Mr. Raines. This subject was referred to and Mr. Raines was able to give directions as to where tne securities for these canal deposits could be found in his ofice, This morning, upon the re- turn of the Deputy Treasurer, an examination was made in accordance with r. Raines’ directions, and securities to amount of $66,000 were found just a8 he had described in his private drawer of the safe, Besides thit fund are deposited in thy Rochester with which Mr. Raines ts connected. This would leave but little over $20,000 of the whole fund—suppos- ing it to reach $98,160—to be accounted for, and, as sip, have indicated, it 18 possible that there may hot be so large an aggregate to be accounted for. | If there be any more It will, doubtless, be found, as all the places pointed out by Mr. Raines have no! been searched. The examination has proceeds jar enough to show that the fung pas not been misappropriated, and ay ke all the several State iunds in the giice, it {8 Safe and secure. The contractors’ drafts are mainly redeposited in banks, as the contractors airected, and are represented by dralts or certificates of de- posits We may add that among other securities lound this morning were $49,000 of escheat tunds in United States bonds belonging to an es- tate escheated to the State. These uonds were exclusively in the custody of the Treasurer aud | scarcely known rin ogee | else. Had there been | any purpose to convert the funds of tne oftice to | improper uses these securities, which could so | easily have been diverted with an almost certain prospect that the Treasurer could not have been called to account at east until the sesston of the Legisiature, would naturally have been seized. But they are intact. Weare glad that, under Mr. Raines’ deep misfortunes, we are abie to furnish such assurance to the public that the affairs of his | oMice are corres! 1m, $10,000 of the same Urica, N. ¥., May 25, 1874. There Is no material change in the condition of State Treasurer Raines. He is quite comfortable. INSPECTION OF THE THIRTY-FIRST BRIGADE. Burrao, N, Y., May 25, 1874. stat; Major General R. L. Howard, and Brigadier General W. F. Rogers, inspected to-day the Thirty- first brigade, N.Y.S.N.G., consisting of the Sixty: | difth regiment, Coronel shard Flack ; the Seventy- fourth regiment, Colonel Lewis M. Evans, and Company D, of the Buifalo City Guard. The streets are alive with the military and citizens viewing rade. HEALTH OF TREASUBER RAINES, | | people, i sp | All along the whole dam, in fact, there were many | | | then jumped on @ horse and drove towards Wil- Major General William A. Morris, Inspector Gen- | and he guessed those who had been there were eral of the State, with 4 number of Governor Dix’s | NEW YORK HERALD, TUESDAY, MAY 26, 1874.-TRIPLE SHEET, THE VALLEY DELUGE. —_+__ The Coroner’s Inquest Into the Cause of the Disaster. TESTIMONY OF THE GATEKEEPER. Carelessness in the Construction and Preservation of the Reservoir. A VERY FLIMSY STRUCTURE. NORTHAMPTON, Mass., May 25, 1874. Now that the community has partially recovered | from the shock of the great calamity occasioned | by the breaking away of the Williamsburg reser- voir, the authorities are very properly investigat- ing the cause, and tracing the responsibility of the sad and memorable disaster. There is a notable absence of curious visitors now, and the melan- choly inhabitants of tne desolated valley are for the first time within a week permitted to enjoy | the peace and tranquillity which the affliction and | excitement of the past few days go earnestly de- mands. The inquest was commenced by Coroner Ansel Wright this forenoon, in the Hampshire county Court House in this town, and it will probably be | nearly, if not quite, a week before the investiga. | tion is concluded and a verdict rendered. The evi- | dence thus far elicited is painfully suggestive of a verdict of extraordinary severity, and unless such @ one {8 rendered and the guiity parties punished the public will be sadly disappointed. Among those present to-day were many of tne leading citizens, Manufacturers and engineers of the neighborhood, and the evidence given in was listened to with a degree of melancholy interest and surprise which it is utterly impossible to describe. _.,_THE BOARD OF INQUIRY. The jury of {quest summoned by Coroner Wright consists of George W. Hubbard, an old farmer, and the lately chosen President of the | Smith Female College in this town; Stlas G, Hub- bard, also an old Hatfleld farmer; Captain Enos Parsons, an opulent Northamptonian; Dr. William M. Trow, the village physician of Haydensville; Hiram Nash, one of the Selectmen of Williamsburg, a director in the town bank and a prominent citi- zen generally, and John Mayher, a native of Ireland and Treasurer of the Easthamptun Pump Com- | pany. Coroner Wright is a Northampton grocery merchant, and one of the deputy sheritfs of Hamp- shire county. Mr. Charles Delano, formerly mem- ber of Congress from this district, conducted the examination in behalf ot tne Coroner, and Coun sellor D. W. Bond, of this town, was present ag the representative of the reservoir proprietors, THE BEGINNING OF THE INQUEST. The jury having been sworn in by the Cor- oner, the examination of witnesses was at once commenced. The first witness called was Mr. Abner Miller, of Williamsburg, a brother-in- law of the late John Atkinson, upon whose body the inquest was held. Mr. Miller simply testified to the fact of the death of Mr. Atkinson, and two or three other witnesses followed with supporting testimony to show that his death was caused by the food. THE STORY OF THE RESERVOIR GATEKEEPER. George Cheney, the gatekeeper of the {ill-fated reservoir, was the first important witness called, ing. } ¥ D, Gleason, the butcher who wag at Spellman’s + YOu she saw the dam give way, and when it wens oth the earth and water seemed to rise up im the air, and its appearance resembled @ cloud of smoke; there was an awiul rear, louder than any thunder she ever heard; it was about twenty mibutes from the time the first leaks were seen betore everything gave way, and in an hour all the water had run out. She described the leaks spoken of by her husband, and agreed with him, that they were mostly near the bottom ofthe dam. When the structure gave way It took with it at the start about a quarter of the whole dam, The elder Mrs, Cheney, the mother of the gatekeeper, was also examined, bat her story wad very brief. She said she could not look at it be- cause it made her sick to her stomach, She con- firmed the statements of the other witnesses con- cerning the existence of leaks tn thé reservoir for @ long time before the calamity. THE BREAK FROM A DISTANCE. Mr. Robert Loud, who lives about a mile from the fata) reservoir, said that he heard a loud noise about seven o’clock in the morning and looked over toward {he reservoir and saw that it was giv- ing away at the top. He then started tor the vil- lage to re the alarm; but the deluge overtook him, and he took to high ground to save his own life, but not untilaiter he had notified several of the coming danger. Mr. Loud said he had never examined the reservoir, but he had always heard oe of as & flimsy Structure. ', O. H. Everett, who also lives about a mile distant from the dam, said that the noise sounded like @ heavy train of cars, but as there was no raile road in the direction from which the roar came he thought that it might be a whirlwind, When he Jooked in the direction of the reservoir he saw What was the matter and started for the village. He had about three-quarters of a mile start of the food, but was soon overtaken by it, and was obliged to go on a hill to save himself from drown- house when Cheney drove into the yard, said that when he arrived he was terribly pale and excited ; he immediately heard the roar of the coming flood, and went up the road tasee if he couid see apytbing of it; he soon met the water, and his horse became trightene: and he tried to get home, but the water got ahead of him. Lewis H. Porter, @ Wilamsburg storekeeper, explained how he heard that the reservoir was breaking away through Mr. Cheney, He started | first for the grist mill to notily the men there, but it was carried away before he could reach it. There seemed to him to be two waves of the flood—the first taking away the mill and the second carrying off several houses in the immediate vicinity, in- cluding those of Mr. Warner and Mrs. Phelps and Mrs. Parker. He was only four or five rods from the grist mill when i$ was taken Way, and whe water came very nearly overtaking hint, COLLINS GRAVES, THE MILKMAN, about whose usefulness and heroism on the occa- sion of the calamity there 1s considerable dispute, | was the next witness called. He said that he saw | Cheney when he drove up to Mr. Spellman’s and Mr. Belcher’s slvery stable; he thought that Cheney looked frightened, and as he was running his horse he thought be would go in and find out what was the matter; Cheney told him the reser- jad broken away, and then he started down the river with ys eam, and gave tne alarm to the operatives In James’ woollen mull; then he run his horse down to Skinnersville and gave the alarm there, but he did not meet anybody until he arrived there. He told them to get out of the mill, that the water was right upon them, aad un- | less they got away all of them would be drowned. He then went to Haydensvilie und notified the peo- ple in the brass factory and otner parts of the vil- | lage. Soon after the flood came upon him and he | went up on the hills back of the depot to save him- | sell. Mr. Graves then gave an account of the | deluge ag he viewed it, remarking that the whole village of Haydensville seemed to have been swept away in five or six minutes. The eflorts which have been made to rob yoarg Graves of his degerved credit for his promptness in giving the alarm are all in vain. There is no doubt but his presence of mind and rapid move- ments saved hundreds ol lives, and none who are familiar with the circumstances attempt to deny this. He is an intelligent yoang nian and tells the story of his movements on the morning of the flood in such a modest and unpretentious man ner as to at once impress one with tts entire trathtul- ness. So let the poets and song writers keep ou with their praises. SECRETARY SPELLMAN’S STORY. Mr. Spellman, formerly the secretary and treas- urer of the Reservoir Corporation, was next called, Alter having told the story of having been notified of the break by the gatekeeper, he said that he directed him to ride on to Leeda. Cheney | Said that his horse could not go, and then he told him to go to Belcher’s and get another horse and goon to Leeds, He don’t remember whether he told him to alarm the people or not, but that was what he sent him for, He then told Mr. Bodman He said that when he first went to look over the dam, about six o’clock in the morning, he noticed nothing wrong. About an hour later, when he had finished his breakiast, he saw the earth mov- ing away trom the bottom of the dam to a point | about two-thirds up and for about forty feet in length and some two rods from the cen- | tral gate. As goon as he saw the breach | he immediatly let the water out as fast as ue | could by raising the galt, and then went and got | cna horse ana drove to Williamsburg. There seemed to be abet half a dozen streams all going away at once, and while he was away the whole | dam was destroyed. Mr. Cheney could not re- member how near the jets of the water were to each other, be was so much frightened. In going to Wiluamsburg about ten minutes’ time was consumed. He first ¢alled at Mr. Spellman’s and stopped about three minutes, and told him that the reservoir was breaking away. Mr. Speliman said, “No, it can’t be possible,’ and re- eated the remark three or four times, Mr. Cheney insisted that it was a fact and thay some: thing must be done. Then he took another horse and drove down to Mr. Belcher’s, in Williamsburg, pnd old nim the reservoir was breaking away. r. Belcher didn’t believe it at first, but fually be- came persuaded and gave him a horse, and he rode onto Haydensville to notify the but was cut off by the water beiore reaching Haydenaville. Collins Graves, the muk- man, started about a minute ahead of him, with his milk wagon, and in the samé direction. Mr. Cheney then went back to the reservoir and lound that all the water had gone out and also that his family was safe, He thinks that not more than five minutes could have intervened from his discovery of the break before he was off tor Wil- | Mamsburg, that he was about ten minutes in | reaching Spellman's, that he remained there about two minutes, and was then about four minutes in going to Beicher’s, where he remained a minute or two and then started as tast as his horse could go | for Haydensville. Mr. Cheney has been gatekeeper about two years and a ball, and ever since he has been there the | DAM HAS ALWAYS LEAKED, | and the leaks have extended its whole lengtn, the largest stream oetng near the centre of the reser- voir and only @ rod or two from the gatehouse, One | of these streams, he said, Was as large as a man’s | arm, and it was in the immediate vicinity of the centre of the reservoir, This stream, Mr. Cheney saic, had been there ever since he has had the care of thedam. Last summer he spoke to Mr. Dimmock, one of the reservoir committee, about the leak and he went and looked at it, but said that it was nothing but a spring. ‘3, some of them large and some of them small. the dam was lower than the ie streams were small and in ed altogether. Mr. Cheney said he had also often spoken to Mr. Spellman, one of the reservoir proprietors, about these leaks, and about a year Sgo some earth fell off trom the dam, near the gatehouse, and it was never replaced and the break was never repaired. The overflow of the dam, be said, was made entirely of earth and no stone whatever was used in 1ts construction, Mr. Cheney testified that he hada | oiten said that if even the dam broke away it would be Pe tex atthe point where it did break away, and his reason for this fear was that there was such a great strain and pressure of water at that point. This spring the dam had been full of water ior three weeks prior to the sccident, and previous to that time it had been gradually filling all the spring, or since the snow and tce com- menced to thaw. He was employed by Mr. Spell. man, he raid, as the agent of the Reservoir Com- pany, and besides his duties there he worked out at jarming around the country, and when he was away his wife looked out for the dam. His princi- al Dusiness was to open and close the gate, and fle never had any special directions about looking after the dam or reporting its condition, His pay was The Cheney Jea! When the water point of the leaks some cases dlsappt TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS A YEAR. late Lieutenant Governor Hayden, Mr, said, had never given him any special instructions about lookin fe aiter the dam, as had been reported. When the dam commenced to give | Way the water seemed to come first from the bottom rather than the upper portion of the | reservoir. THE STORY OF ANOTHER RYE WITNESS. Elias Cheney, the father of the gatekeeper and an inmate ot his family, said he was the first to see the dam giving way and he at once notified his son, Who Was eating his breakfast at the time. ‘The first slide was from the bottom of the dam to within about two-thirds of the top. He went down to the slide, bat went back again quickly, thinking that he could see better I! he was “a little nigner off.” His son then went and opened the gate and neighoor Hemingways im <0 100! coe for some cattle he had on the flata, He had gone about three-quarters ofa mile, and he didn’t let much grass grow under bis feet either, When he heard the roar, and then he knew the dam had Siven way. He came back home as | soon as he could, and aiter he got pack there was some of the dam then giving Way, ‘That portion ‘of the wall which fell was calied @ stone wall, but | he thought “it was @ pretty sumpsy thing.” It was nearly an hour, he thought, before ali the water was out of tue dam. Aoouta year ago Mr. Dimmock and Mr. Stone looked the dam over and found a place where the water was rushing out | pretty merrily. In fact, there were a good many more jeaks in the dam lust spring than there was | this spring. He had often heard his son say that ti the dam ever gave way it would break where it did. There was nO more foundation for the da he said, than there was when the world was made, Namsburg, retty well satisfied that he knew as much about it aa any One who didn’t Know more than he did. stuck a crowbar down, and there wasn’t the shadow of a foundation of any kind. Mr. Cheney’s rustic and frank manner of rendering his testimony was such as to frequently provoke ter among the spectators, a8 well as the fe and solemn jurymen. WHAT THR GATEKBEPER’S WIFE SAW. | ©, Greppo Cheney Brothers. to go and ring the charch bells, and soon after the deluge came upon them. During his testimony Mr. Spellman produced the records of the corporation meetings, but there Was nothing contained in them to show that any one connected with the company ever had any supervision over the work of constructing the reservoir. If there was any one who looked after the matter it wag the Board of Directors, so far | known authority on ORE | Will have the management o} 3 VICTORIA'S BIRTHDAY, Celebrations in the United States and the British Provinces, SERMONS AND EANQUETs. Virginia Loyalty to Great Britain. RICHMOND, May 25, 1874, The gathering of the clans for the celebration of Queen Victoria’s birthday commenced last week, and in the streets of the city we now meet every- where the ruddy faces and bucolic “toggery” of our British cousins. By every train more John Bulls have arrived, and the celebration of Queen Victorta’s birthday to-day has proved a “red letter day” among all our citizens of British birth. BRITISH IMMIGRANTS IN VIRGINIA. The State of Virginia has bidden high for the bet» ter class of British settlers, The lawa have been framed with the most liberal bias as to the rignta of aliens, The Legisiature has repeatedly ex- Pressed its sympathy with British immigration, and during the last session actually passed in both houses @ warm resolution of ‘congratulation and welcome” with reference to the forthcoming cele- bration, Already we have a large body of British settlers engaged in every department of com merce, trade ana agricuiture, TH PROCEBDINGS OF THE CELEBRATION will lazy @ week. They commenced yesterday with a special sermon to the settlers in the Monu- mental church. To-day a business convention for the purpose of organizing 9 permanent organiza- tion has been held in the hall of the House of Delegates, Mr. St. Andrew, an English journalist, who owns two newspapers in this State, delivered’ an address, and measures of practical utality were adopted, THE GRAND BANQUET. This evening, at jour o'clock, there was & grand banquet at the Exchange Hotel, and it was followed by a ball which was the most brill- fant of the season. F.R. Scott, President of the Petersburg Raiiroad, who is an Irishman, preside and tne speakers include the British Coneul and Messrs. Potts, Balnor, McCabe, Hebditch, Bowler, Bagg, and other prominent settlers, The distinguished guests include Governor Kemper, ex-Governor Walker, Mayor elle, the Right Bishop Gibbons, Hon. KR. 7. M. Hunter, General Bradiey, T. Johnson, R. B. Berkeley and others, The vice presidents at tue banquet included Major General Barton, late of the British Army; John Stewart and Henry Duncan; while the list of stewards embraced the most tnfuential British residents throughout tne State. RACES THIS WEEK. » For three days following the banquet of to-day there are to be races under the auspices of the Vir- ginia Riding Club, among the stakes being a “Vic- toria Plate” and ‘Queen's Cup.” The gentlemen riders will be recognized as old habitués of New- market and Goodwood. Captain Doole, a well matters in England, these races, and they are sure to go of with ¢clat, NO SECTIONALISM, This morning hh ped telegram was sent con. gratulating Queen Victoria on tae attaimment of her filty-fifth birthday. On receipt of Her Majes- ty’s reply, per cable, salvyoes of artillery in the Capitol square announced the fact. It will be seen that the British celebration 1s altogether a grand affair, In connection with the proceedings itis gratliying to notice that no sectional feelings have arisen, bus that Englishmen, Irishmen, Scotchmen Ce ee are of one heart and mind in the matter. Details of the Celebration. RIcHMOND, Va., May 25, 1874, The celebration of Queen Victoria’s birthday by the British settlers in Virginia was inaugurated last evening by speclai religious services at Mon- umental church, which was densely crowded with representatives of all the churches in the city. The pews in the main aisle were occupied by ladies and gentlemen of British descent. The Rev. far as Mr. Spellman knew. The contractors were Emery Wells, of Northampton, and Joel Bassett, of Easthampton. At no time, ‘not to my recollec- tion,” said Mr, Spellman, “was there ever any complaint about improper work or faulty constrac- tion of the reservoir.” Pending the testimony of Mr. Spellman, the inquest was adjourned until to- morrow morning, when his examination will be resumed, | PRACTICAL SYMPATHY. The following donations have been forwarded to the HERALD jor the sufferers by the Louisiana flood and the Mill River disaster :— O, Sidenberg & Co., collar manufacturt cer street, for the Southern suflerers, A Southerner, Pelham, tor Louisian A Southeruer, Pelham, for Mill River sufferer: No. 41 Me! Aid for the Mill River Victims. New YorE, May 25, 1874, To THE Epiror OF THE HERALD:— ‘The sum of $865 88 has been added to our collec- | tions in aid of the Massachusetts sufferers since the report in your Sunday edition, which amounted to....... ‘ sescees «$11, 784 18 From employés of J. 8. Ford & Co., by Victor Schmitt. 56 25 E, 0, Brinkerhoff. +: 50 00 Collection in Classon avenue Presby- terlan church, Brooklyn, by A. G. Wal- brid a 162 63 J. HS... 600 X. (through Eve: 5 00 George H. Clark. + 25 00 Sympathetic (Tom Collins) . 20 00 Bowie Dash 100 00 Hazen, Whi Pa 50 00 | Clark & Waite (Brevoor' 100 00 | Butler, Broome & Clapp. 100 00 Collection in Second RK | Tarrytown, by Sanford Cobb 81 00 | Frotningham & Baylis. 560 00 Collection in| Luthera: beck, by William D, Stobel 11 00; G. Sidenberg & Co. 25 00 Employés of G, Sid 1 0 Total... teeseeeees $12,650 06 Sympathy (T.), one packag We have received the foliowing:— Nonrmamrron, May 23, 1874. Messrs. C. H. & F, D. Buaxr:— GENTLEMEN—I have received, through Mr, H. L. Jai of Williamsburg, the iarge contributions which ha been secured through your generous labors in New Yor! tn all amounting to the Large sum of $10,U89 18, in aid of the sufferers by the late fl of Mill Riw rer. Permit me, gentlemen, to tender to the donors in their behalf our sincere thaiiks, I am, sire, yours very re- LUTHER’ BODMAN, spectfuliy, are Chairman Relief Commitree. On Saturday last we eras the additional sum Of $1,596. Yours ffuly, C. H. & F. D. BLAKE, Nog, 79 and 81 Worth st. The empioyés, male and female, o/ the frm of G. Sidenberg & Co., linen collar manufacturers, have contributed $75 to thelr suffering fellow workmen and women rendered homeless and penniless by the recent calamity on Mill River, and also have thai like sum to the sufferers by the Mississippi overflow. Help from the Silk Trade. To THE Epiror oF THE HERALD:— | Please acknowledge the receipt of the following contributions, sent in to me in behalf of the silk operatives rendered destitute by the recent disaster at Mill River, Mass., in addition to the amount heretofore reported m the HERALD :— Total..... Previowiy Grand total. Yours, respectfully, — FRANKL Secretary of the Silk Association of 83 Duane street. New York, May 24, 1874, bids FRIGHIFUL AOOIDENT IN NEWARK, In Newark yesterday aiternoon Elias Haase, a German about forty years of age, residing at No. 223 Springfield avenue, started for a ride with Mr. Solomon Strauss, 4 wholesale liquor dealer doing business at No, 46 New York avenue, in the latter's wagon. On Market street the horse took fright at ALL! America, No, | forth, The Committee on j whic! something and starved of ata breakneck pace. When near Plane street there was a crash, Haase was dashed out and aiot of heavy iiqaor jars on top of him, ‘Those struck him on the head, crusn- ing in hie skali so that the vrajns oozed out. Ho lived a lew minutes only, in the greatest agony, The frightiully disfigured remains were removed first vo the Morgue and aiterwards to deceased's home. He leaves a wile and two children. No in- quest will be held, as the cause of death is appa- rent. The horse was ceey hurt and the wagon and its contents demolished, CONVENTION OF TURNERS, ROCHESTER, May 25, 1874, The sixth biennial convention of the German Turners in session here designavea New Ulm, Min- nesota, as the place ior the next biennial conven- tion, and New York for the next biennial Turner Mrs, Cheney, the wife o! the gatekeeper, said | iestival. | Henry Wall, D. D., rector of St, John’s Episcopal church, delivered an eloquent feeling, and appro- priate discourse from the text—'Love the brother- hood, fear God, honor the King.” In addition to the usual prayer for the President of the United States, the Rev. Dr. Woodbridge, rector of the Monumental church, offered a prayer | for the royal family of England, The conciuding hymn was sung w the tuue o: “God Save the | Queen,” the whole congregation joining in. Atanearly hour this morning tne Richmond Howitzer Battalion honored the Queen’s birthday With @ royal salute of twenty-one guns, fired in Capitol Park. CONGRATULATORY TELEGRAM TO THE QUEEN, At nine o’clock the following telegram was dev spatched :— Ricwmonn, Va., May 25, 1876. To Her Masesty Queen Victoria oF BNGLAND, greet- ing = ‘The British settlers are assembled at a banquet in Richmond. A royal salute has just been fired. Many happy returns of your birthday. ®REVERICK R, 8COT?, President. BUSINESS MEETING, At noon 4 large meeting of British settlers was held in tne hall of the House of Delegates to organize a permanent basis tor & British Association in Virginia for promotiug in- tercourse and the encouragement and advance- ply ol Britons intending to make their homes tn irginia. Captain T. Jackson was elected to preside, and made the opening address. A Business Committee was appoloted, alter which J. A. H. St, Andrew, of Chase City, Va, delivered a fine address, reviewirg British immigration, its history, prog- Tess, difficulties and causes of success and iailure, and making a strong appeal to the settlers to ‘unite in forming @ society in Virginia and to work to promote their social relations, He expressed the hope that loyalty to Queen Victoria, the Boblest trait in the British character, would unite all clagses of the British settiers, and that Queen Victoria would be honored in the lives of her for- mer suvjects. At the conclusion of Mr. St. Andrew address, & resolution was adopted unanimously concurrin, in the views and indorsing the facts therein se! jusiness made a report amending the constitution and providing a fult list of oMicers to serve one year, with Mr. Joho Stewart, of Henrico, as President, and fourteen vice pee nel from various sections of the State, was adopted. Richmond was selected ag the place, and Victoria’s birthday as the time, of the next meeting of the Association. THE AFTERNOON FESTIVITIES. The banquet this afternoon was one of the andest affairs of the Kind ever witnessed in ichmond. Speeches were made by United States Senator Johnston and Governor rT, of Vir. nia; Mayor Keiley, of Richmond; Major Kweil jarton, of Norfolk, and others, Many of the leaa- ing citizens of Richmond were present, Eotters acknowledging the receipt of invitations and regretting inability to attend were read irom piel firey a fh Ie pi ye inister to the United States, ana Meyer Myers, Britigh Vice Coneul at Norfolk. THE GRAND BALIy The festivities of the day wound up with a grand bail at the Exchange Hotel, Visiting Celebrants in Buffalo. BUFFALO, N. Y., May 26, 1874, Ateleven o'clock this morning 600 members of ; St. George’s Benevolent Society, of Hamilton, Canada, accompanied by the iuli band of the Ham- Nton Battery, arrived in this city for the purpose of celebrating Queen Victorta’s Birthday. They were met at the Erie Street depot by the St. George’s Society, of Buffalo, whose guests they are, and marched w Washington Park, where un address of welcome was delivered by George J. Bryan, editor of the Evening Post, and responded to by the President of the Hamilton Society. The day has been cele- brated by singing, games, &c., after which the society were escorted W the depot on their return to the Dominion. The Celebration in Canada. TORONTO, Ont., May 25, 1874, To-day 1s being observed as a general holiday fous Lgl the Dominion, in honor of the Queen's jay. The Holiday at St. John. St. Joun, B., May 26, 1874 To-day te celebrated ae the Queen’s Birthday, and business is generally suspended. Rejoicing and Display at Halifax. Hauirax, May 25, 1874, ‘The Queen’s birthday was duly observed here. ‘There was a royai salute from the Citadel, a re~ view of troops by Lieutenant General O'Grad: Haly, and bunting was very generaily di ec frou the abippingand public and private oardingee THE LATE GENERAL DYER. Fort MONROB, May 25, 1874. The fag was displayed at half mast, the band playea a dirge and minute guns were fred from the fort at noon as funeral honors to General Dyer, jer of Ordnance, United States Army. Major Iieigr Commandant of the Arsenai here, did not | nave the means to pay these honors, and General | Barry, Commandant of the Artillery School, kindly | volunteered to pay them for Dim,