The New York Herald Newspaper, December 15, 1874, Page 3

’ WASHINGTON. A Committee Appointed to Investigate the Vicksburg Troubles. OUR KINGLY VISITOR. Pacific Mail Personalities in the House, EXPECTED DEVELOPMENTS. The Insurance Claimants of the Geneva Award, Wasutnaton, Dec. 14} 1874, Lively Times in the House—Effort to Repeal the “Gag Law” Postponed— “Side Meat Charlie,” of Alabama—Tho Democrats Asking Disagrecable Ques- tions, The House bad a lively though prief day, which began witn the rejection of Mr. Pheips’ motion to suspend the rales in order to consider the Tepea) of the “Gag law.” Only four republicans Voted with Mr. Phelps, and his bill waa afterward Bent to the Judiciary Committee. Then the democrats began to worry the repnbll- cans. First Mr. Caldwell, of Alabama, offered a Fesolution calling on the War Department for in- ormation concerning the manner in which United States troops were used on election day in Ala- Dama, and concerning the distribution of provi- sions to the sufferers py the Noods on the Alabama, Tombigbee and Warrior rivera under a joint reao- Jution for their relief adopted at the last session. ‘The Joint resolution provided that the supplies should be distributed by army officers to actual suf- Serers, but it is charged, and apparently on good evidence, that the whole supply, which consisted of bacon, was shipped to republican members of Congress, the Governor having made out a list of these gentlemen beforehand, with their ad- dresses. They are naturally supposed to have Put the bacon “where it would do the most good,” and the comical part of the story is that in the first place there was no foo@*ol @ kind to cause suffering or loss, and, secondly, the district liable to be overflowed, being democratic, received no Bupplies, Bacon is called “side meat” in the South, and they say that Congressman Hayes, who engineered the distribution of supplies, and at the same time furnished General Hawley with interesting Soutbern outrages, is now known in Alabama as ‘Side Meat Charley.” Unfortunately the republican side of the House either did not see the joke or was not curious to know what had become of the $100,000 worth of Dacon, for when the resolution of inquiry came to & vote it was lost. Next, Mr. Beck offered a ¥esolution for @ special inquiry into the «gafe burglary” affair, but the repablicans did Dot care to know any more sbout that affair either, Mr, Beck’s resolution was lost also, Some of the republicans were not well pleased with the day's work and thought that the party Dught not to be placed in the false position of Avoiding exposure. Others, too, were really turtous to know something about the ‘safe burg- lary” case and about the relations of distinguished sons to the principal actors in it; but the ma- rity begin to act more as a aolid mass than when Vongress first met and there is a strong disposi- t.on to harmonize. The Western inflationists are fess outs.oken, and Mr. Kelley, whose bill may come up for further debate to-morrow, does not any longer threaten to leave the party. ‘ In the course of the morning Mr. Randall, demo- erat, of Pennsylvania, asked Mr. Richard C, Par- pons, republican, of the Cleveland district in Ohio, whether he could say to the House that he had pever been employed by the Pacific Mail Company. Mr. Paraona replied that he nad ‘been so employed, but it was when he ‘was not a member of Congress, The new pro- ensity of democrats to ask questions is disayree- Ne to the other side. Mr. Parsons’ acknowledg- ment that he had been employed by the Pacific Mail wil] be apt to decrease any influence he may Dave had im Congress, for there is a disposition to Tegard with suspicion members who have had oficial relations with corporations like the Pacific ‘Mail, the Texas Pacific, or the Northern Pacific, which come here seeking subsidies, Loafing Day in the Senate—The District of Columbia Scheme. The Senate spent the greater part of the day in quiet conversation orletter writing, while the Clerk ‘Was reading aloud the 150 or more pages in which the proposed government for the District of Colum- ‘Pia is described. Whoever prepared this scheme is likely to get rapped over the knuckles before it becomes a law, unless it should set all the Sena- tors asicep. Whe Proposition to Raise the Tax on Whiskey—Its Unpleasant Effect Pre- dicted. The proposition to raise the taxon whiskey ten cents a gallon ts found to be about as good a ‘means of increasing the revenue as Mr. Kelley’s Anfation bill is of resuming specie payments. The ‘@ommittee of Ways and Means have discovered {gnat the country has now on hand about 41,000,000 ‘gallons of whiskey—3,000,000 In bond and 36,000,000 ‘4m private hands—mostly held for speculation. ‘whe excise on all this is already paid, and to raise the duty now would simply stop the manufacture wntil the stock on hand is largely reduced, Thus At would actually decrease tne revenue from whis- key for the frst year at least, while it woula put @ver $4,000,000 into the pockets of those lucky or provident people who own the < on hand, Under these circumstances it ts not provable that the whiskey tax will be raised. Ly Astronomical Observatory To Be Established in California with the Lick Fund=A Gigantic Telescope To Be Constructed. Professor Simoa Newcomb has been requested Dy the trustees of the Lick Fund to make investi- tions necessary to determine where and for hat price the great equatorial telescope may be gonstructed, which is to be the pride of tne new California Observatory. He will sail for Europe in ® few days, on duty for the Naval Observatory, nd will visit Lora Ross’ observatory in Ireland na the Paris, Berlin and other noted observa- tories in Europe. The Lick Fund for building an observatory amounts to $700,000, Of this it is be- Meved $130,000 will go for the telescope alone, ‘which will probably have an object glass of thirty- four or tuirty-six inches diameter, eight or ten {uches greater than that now in place at the Wash- ington Observatory, which is the largest refracting telescope in the world. Professor Newcomb will visit the glass factories at Birmingnam and Paris to see where the giass canbe procured of the requisite quaiity for so large a lens. Glass Of the best quality for auch purposes has not yet ‘been produced in this country, Whe Herald’s Transit of V is News in Washington—The Expected Accounts by Mail, The astronomers here are greatly delighted and @urprised with the telegraphic news which the HERALD gave them irom the transit stations. Some time will elapse vefore they expect news by mail from the different expeattions, The author- ‘ties in the Observatory here have been, since tho spring of 1872, in communication witn consuls and other government officers residing in those parts of the earth where the transit of Venus could be observed in order to obtain at least two years’ accurate record of the weather st the different points during the months of November and De- cember, and to this extraordinary care is due the Jact that our observing stations were so much Detter chosen than those of other nations, Amendment of the Genova Award Act Proposed. hs . Mr. Conkling to-day introduced into the Senate @ bill to amend tho act for the distribution of the Geneva award. It proposes to repeal that partion NEW YORK HERALD, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1874.—TRIPLE SHEET. OF the twelfth sectlomg which bars the ciaims of in- surance companies, except for the excess of losses over premiums or other gains or war risks, and Provides that apy insurance claimants excluded by this prohibition, shall have the like period of time within which to present and prove their claim a8 they would have had if not so excluded, The Silver and Gold Product—Demand for the Trade Dollar. Dr, Linderman, Director of the Mint, has been Making inquiries as to the probable amount of gold and silver which will be mined this year with @ view of regulating coinage at the mints, Mr. L. A. Garnett, manager of the refining works in San Franctaco, telegraphs to hita December 12 that the recent discoveries on the Comstock Lode are said to exceed all former developments. The Production of bullion being limited only by the Milling capacity will provabiy be $40,000,000 an- nually from April oext, averaging forty per cent goid, and the production of portable gold will be JrOM $15,000,000 to $18,000,000, depending upon the rainfall, ‘nis was @ response to the question, What amounts of portable bullion containing gold ‘Will be produced per annum from the mines of the Pacific coast during the next two years? A por- tion of the mixed bullion from Nevada will have to be refined at the Assay: Mice in New York, the refining capacity of the Pacific coast not being sufficient, and therefore arrangements will be Made for that purpose, The operations of the San Francisco Mint were interrupted for nearly @ month by the transfer of business from the old to the new buildings, but operations have been recommenced with such in- creased facilities as to meet all demands for gold and silver coin, The present demand for the trade dollar is 500,000 a month and is constantly increasing. The Mexican allver dollar continues at a discount, Prospects of the Cotton Crop, The cotton product of 1874, as estimated by the cotton growers in their returns to the Department of Agriculture, somewhat exceeds 3,500,000 bales, The yield per acre i reported leas than in 1873, In most of the States the weather for mpening ana gathering the top crop has been very favorabie. The reports are nearly unanimous in stating that the proportion of lint to seed is large. The per- centages Of last year’s aggregate of bales in the principal cotton States are as follows:—Virginia, 89; North Carolina, 89; South Carolina, 92; Georgia, 93; Florida, 100; Alabama, 95; Mississippi, 90; Louisiana, 89; Texas, 90; Arkansas, 60; Ten- nessee, 57, Ths reault corresponds very closely with the indications of the monthly statements of the condition made by the department during the season, whica have been printed, and show a larger crop than the reports of the cotton ex- changes, Health of the President. President Grant is in his usual health and at. tended to oficial business to-day. A large num- ber of callers were received, including many mem- bers of both houses of Congress, The Pacific Mail Inquiry—Irwin’s An- ticipated Developments — Suspicious Intimations of Facts. Richard Irwin to-day arrived here by the after- noon traip and will be examined to-morrow be- fore the Committee of Ways and Means. He Is well and seems full of courage and determina- tion, He says his testimony and proois will, unless Mr. Sage retraces some parts of his testimony, enable him to cause Sage to be im- | Prisoned, and that he means to have policemen ready to take him of, He says he will clear his own character and record, and does not care who suffers; that he has always been ready and anxious for a trial or investigation; that he has repeatedly received assurance from Sage and Hatch that they and the company had nothing against him; that the accounts have been badly Kept and misstated; that there is nobody in the company who knows how to manage a steamship, and that he is ready to be thoroughly examined as to all be has done for or in connection with the company, The company, however, mean also to ask bim what were his relations to individual Congress- men; whether be paid any money to members and to whom, and whether in any detatls he used cor- rupt or improper means to influence Congressmen in favor of the subsidy grant; aiso who were the persons through whom he worked and what infu- ences they used. There is a great deal of curiosity here as to how freely Irwin will answer. His examination will be conducted in private by the committee until they ascertain from bim the names of persons whom he used a8 attorneys oor helpers in his efforts to obtain the subsidy for the Pacific Mail Steamship Company. These persons it ig intended at once to subpena for examination. It ts understood that the names he will give will be of persons who were not at that time mem- bers of Vongress. Irwin 18 accompanied by his counsel, Mr. Chapman, of New York. General Butler will demand a full and thorough examina- tion of all persons concerned in Irwin's transac: tions, The Committee on Foreign Relations. The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations will hold their first meeting of tnis session to-morrow. Senator Cameron said to-day that the committee bad nothing of graver importance before it than a sick King. Matilation of the Congressional Record. To-day Mr. Speer, of Pennsylvania, offered a resolution, which was referrea to the Committee on Rules, calling attention to the fact that members were in the habit of mutilating the Record by withholding their speeches and changing the tenor of their remarks. ‘Yhe Speaker promptly referred the matter to the committee. It 1s said that several important speeches made in tne House have never appeared in the Record, Amount of Southern Claims to Be Paid. The report of the Southern Claims Commission to-day sent to Congress is in favor of paying $770,000 and rejects $4,440,000 of claims, Exclusion of Colored Children from the Common Schools in {ndiana—Appeal to the Supreme Court Through Con- gress. Senator Morton to-day presented a lengthy me- morial from the colored citizens of Indiana, pray- ing Congress to take cognizance of the late dect- sion of the Supreme Court of that State, exciud- ing colored children from the common schools, and followed this up with a resolution instructing the Attorney General to sue out a writ of error to the Supreme Court of the United States | 80 as 10 bring the case in review before that tri- bunal. Opinions vary among jurists as to whether this decision can properly come un- der the jurisdiction of the Supfeme Court, es it 1s contended by many that the grounds upon which it is based do not come under the recent amendments. The Judiciary Commit- tee, to whom the subject has been relerred, will take it up as soon as possible, and Senator Morton, who takes @ great interesi in the matter, if the Committee evince any hesitation, will probably ask to appear before them and submit his views in favor of his resolution, New Railroad Projects eking Subsi- dies from Congress. The Senate Committee on Katlroads were in ses- sion to-day and heard an argument from Colonel Thomas A. Scott in favor of the Texas Pacific Sub- sldy bill, recently introduced by Senator Scott. THE FREEDMEN’S SAVINGS BANK. Report of the Commies: rain Charge of the Property of the Institution—A Melancholy Exhibit of Affairs. Wasninaton. Dec. 14, 1674. ‘The Commissioners of the Freedmen's Savings Bank and Trust Company having prepared their report it will be presented to Congress to-morrow. It will show that on the lst of July last the trustees of the company se- lected John A. J, Creawell, Robert Purvis and Robert H. 5. Leipold as Commissioners, with the approvai of the Becretary of the Treasury, for the purpose of closing up ite affairs. They had a fall conference with the Secre- tary of the Treasury, the First Comptroller of the Treas- ‘ury and Comptroller of the Currency as to the several Provisions of the act of Congress of June 2, 1874, and their oaties and authority in the premises and to determine the pian of operations. With a few exceptions every dollar received by them has peen aeposited in the United States Treasury, and whatever expenses have been defrayed have been paid by aheak gpgo the same, Thosall their cash wansac- | | fon, tions pass through one and the sameaccount The withdrawal of the available tunds on hand at the several branches was attended with much delay and difficulty. In most of the cases where pro- ceedings had been commenced before the appointment and qualification of the Commissioners, and bad pro- Breased sufficiently to operate asa lien against the com pany’s property before it became vested in them, they have been or shail be compelled to agree to an adjustment by the payment of the claims, In some cases they bad to resort to the purchase of the company’s property which had been seized and offered for sale to prevent its disposal at ruinous rates. and in others they had to pay the claim and costs of suit. The proceedings instituted since their appointment have been nearly all set aside under the provisions of the act of Congress, but in one or two cases they have been compelied to re- plevin property seized and furnisn bonds to abide the ultimate decision; and at Nashville, Tenn., where the company holds real estate valued at about $3000, they have met with considerable embarrass ment through @ decision of the Chancery Court im some attachment cuits, Chaucetlor Cooper hold- ing, that the statutory assignment to the Commissioners of all the property of the Freedman’s Savilgs and Trust Company copte.npiated by the act of June 30, 1374, Is not suthicient to vest the title to said property in them, and that in the absence of a formal aangamenuhs. the corpo- ration to the Sommralesianare doin. Bipyed and registered in the Stavw before the fling of ills of thn the attaching creditors acquired by their & prior right to the property. From this decision omumissioners have lustruci their counsel to appeal, re: interests of all the aapoettors, complaints, ing, in view of fuore authoritative decision as to roperty, have been enjoined from paying over the ‘amount due, ad THR COMMISSIONERS ARE MELPLEBS to enforce the collection of certain loans that branch and now due, he from Nashville foreshadow the eb polninians ot with power sell the property ine.) ie, SpENDARY, at that e of the Chancery ‘vo be held subject to a pro rata Sisuribus The cush and cash items on band at the several branches, as called tor by the ks of (he company at the close of busi uly U1 last, amouated to $4%131. of had’ been receive made at Jatest advices ‘anch, payii the cash nf some of the branebes. A portion of amount the Comimissic will prove a total loss, Tne Commissioners, ater turther speaking of thelr transactions, refer to the difficulties with which they have had to contend. owing to the defective system of bookkeeping and the GENERAL CONFUSION OF THE ADCOUNTS, and say, considering the materia) they have had to rely on and the persons to deal with, it is somewhat doubtful wenaioer, they shall ever be abie to obtain an absolutely tement of the liapilities and te of the j at any rate it will be a slow ‘tedious pro- cose. he monthiy reperes, of the branches show that tnere are on @ ot the company positors’ careful examina- ee over seventy-two thousal accounts suill open, and each of them require: tion. For a long time it has been kuown that th sit ledger balances of several of the br. ig those ofthe Washington branch, ws unreliable, those of the Washington branch ai taining, at the time the Commissioners took possession, ciscrepancieg of over $70,00, The sum of i653 bas since been discovered to cousist of the duplication o! portion of the depositors’ Capri pad having be twice transierred from one of t the company, On account of precs jarities thus existing the Commissioners made the ° books themscives the basis of It soon became apparent that designing persons were engaged in exciting the suspicion of depositors and en- deavoring to prevent, them from presenting their pass- books. Many or the depositors themselves looked upon this action ‘0 attempt on the part of the Commission- ers to deprive them of the only evidence they had of the company’s indebtedness to them, and no amount or character of assurauce seemed to be sufficient to disabuse them of this belief. All the schedules, except those ot New Orleans and st. Louis, have been recei Most of them show the amount due cepositors to bi ater than the amount previously reported by the officers in charge of the several branches. soon, there! as all the schedules and records of the several branches shall have been received and properly arranged, it is the purpose of the Commissioners to Caretully examine the accounts and continue the verification of the passboo! ag tast ay they may be presented or forwarded to the Commiss) oners, as trom the errors already found they are convinced this plan is the only one by which ther can hope ta eprive ataciose approximation to the cor- rect amount o} THE COMPANY'S LIABILITIES. The, Commissioners accompany their report with elaborate tables of assets, ledger balances of liabilities, &c., but these, they say, cannot yet b2 relied upon with- out turther examination, At the time the Conmis jon- era assum'd control the running expenses of the branches of the institution amounted to ‘about $1 perannum. Theve hav. en cutdown to about $38. per annum. ‘Ihe appe: to the Commissioners aga! been of the most and decided character, and have been made principally on behalf of the er and more ignorant classes of the depositors, who by this action feel as if they would be debarred from any further communication with the Commissioners. Sympathizing ‘with them and knowing their anxieties and how readil: ind remonstrances add: closing the Branca ‘ose efforts, ef © of any representative of the pompany. whom they could consult, they would be Jed to sacrifice their interests, and at the.saine time ap- precisting the difficulties the Commissioners would counter in having the remaining passbooks torwarded, the Commissioners have been compelled as it were to listen to their appeals and provide temporary means of intercommuntcation by the appointment of an agent, whenever needed, ata nominal salary of rom 10 to $25 a month; and in two instances, at Beaulort, B. 0. anu Memphis, Tenn., where large ioans have been made and the imcerests of the depositors require it, agents are retained ata larger salary. These agencies tend to all wxieties, kuard the Interests of the depositors and n effectual aid in the process of winding up thé 1 of the institution. Mostof tHe LOANS HELD BY THE COMPANY are overdue, and on many of them the interest has been allowed to accumulate for two and in some cases three heats in ordinary times the real estate loans could loubtiess be collected without much trouble; but, under resent circumstances, their collection would be exceed- ingly slow and dificult. ‘ihe late financial panic and con- sequent exireme scarcity of funds, the uncer- Say: of the future character of the government of the District and nt rate of ns pil to the collection ‘To attempt to enforce their immediate payment would result in the greatest Per iiee and to throw any considerabie portion of the 1 estate held 3 security on the market at present would make it impossible to realize the‘indel 88 Bt, the Commissioners are Pressing, and shall continue wo reas, their collection as fast aa they can safely do 80; ut UP to this time they have been able to effects sale to Ind’parties In three. cass only of eleven pieces, of roperty offered for sale. In all the other cases they ave been compelied either to postpone the sale ot o1 buy inthe property to avoii sacrifice, Rage temer uae fences Se atte for 80) col no-calted” available loans, thor collection ig still more Micult, bout half of m were made in District of Columbia securities now below par. the security is inadequate; of and in some cases tl 8 ‘wheteyer. same may stantially be s-id of the branch loans. Asa class ti appear to be the worst In the possession of the com- pany, and the Commassioners doubt whether even sift; er cent of their amount will ever be collected. In a’ ema pung to realize upon the real estate property of the company the Commissioners hope to secure the co- operation ot Congress in making over some of the Wasn- ington and Jacksonville properties to the United States for the uses and purposes ‘or which they are admirably adapred, ASSIGNMENTS OF DErosITS. ‘The Commissioners say:—‘In our endeavors to as- simulate our course of ac ion to that of the receivers ‘under the National Career act, We recognize ff sets mutual indebtedness exivting at the time of penston of the company only, and we require all clai ‘which accrued against the company before our appoint ment and qualification, and which are not liens upon the property. of the company, to be filed subject to the prorata dividends. In the matter ot assigninents, how- ‘ver, finding that persistent efforts were being made to inpose upon depositors, we adopted a rule to recognize agsignments only so far as to deliver checks in payment of dividends ‘to the assignees, but to draw the checks, to order of the original deposit. ors. This rule, though severely criticised, and apparently harsh as against some of ihe most needy, has been found to operate beneficially on the masses of our depositors, keeping them from sacrificia tlieir interests fora mere trifle. The exhibit of ci transactions from July 13, 1874, to November 30, 1574, doth inclusive, shows a balance o1 cash and cash items on hand on November 90, of $98,384 ‘The Com say their coliections have, comparatively speaking, been small, rae the cagh on hand does not promise Mag arly dfVidend, uniess Cougress comes to our aid and authorizes the purchase for the use of the govern. ment of some of the real estate owned by the comp: Ume will elapse before we can hope to accumt sufficient funds to ma\ ayment ot twenty per cent; for it requires nearly $600,000 to make such a Le iermd and the amount of cash in the Treasui drat subject At the writing of this report, is $1,886: ihe present condition of the books and accounts of the company too, is such that even If we had the necessary funds pow to declare a dividend it would not only be impradent but unsate to do so. Hence, it is impossible for us to y how soon a dividend will pe declared. Time should Nowed us either to reconcile the existing discrep- ancies, or, at least, to arrive at some satisfactory ex- lanation them, #0 that we may not be of obligations al- to provide for those etl appear closed op the books ‘To guard against this it must be borne in mind that the accounts ot virtually thirty-tuue separate and distinct banking institutions must be thoroughly examined. ‘That this delay in * eerecn payment will cause bitter disappointment, and much suffering is evident, till are unavoidable, and patience, prudence an management will have to be exercised to make THE FINANCIAL WRECK ° which hes beon consigned to our custody. In the mean- time it would be Well if Congress should authorize us to invest the surplus nce to our creditin the Treasury ot the United States in United States bon be ke; deposit in the Treasury, so that the de; ors ma} by the interest which would accumulate on sai ‘until such time as th care! the most of ¢ to refer briefly to the man- ner of paying dividends and to submit certain amend ments to the act of June 1874, the option of which we deem absolutely necessary to a proper dis- charge of, gue duties. How are dividends to be paid and where? How are depositors to be identified! How aro assignments of dep: te recogn: Th account 088 are questions of the utmost importance to us and to the u army of creditors the company, and require a full and tree discussion and adequate legisiation. Betore a divi- dend can possibly be declared we hope. for the sake of a further reauchon of expenses, to dispenso with the ser- vices of most tlemen who now represent us, at Sr the depositors, Mowt'ot thea being. uDable to to lepositors. em up it will be impossible to notit, Fe jem of ymenot of dividends, and ‘se will find ita ‘ments are 10 be made ctran inne i of racticable to identify themse' ordinary man- i niess SKA ir yy the time our Srst dividend will be declared, ~ el attend properly to th jut Or the other hand, the expe! jescsuee Gore cea Pace vor' y Correspondingly diminish the to be, pal it gcours to us, Nirevore, that the Caed States sould be required (0 make payments through ita fecal agents and Sengies, as the safest and most econ- omical plan, upon our depositing ent funds for that pecvoes, and farnishi necessary dividend schedules, ie amendments to the act of June 20, 1874, which we submit, are:— we Authorize and require us to make periodical repo To give us express gompound and comproméss debts dus to. and fistilluce of ‘ne eon: [2 Aa ject to the approval of the secretary of the ive us express anthori bay in any Pronerty, Nabiceg by us for sale at suction. in sntoreiny cotlection of loans due the company, and to sell al public or private sal property, whether real or per- sonal, owned by this company and all eet, now ecome vested in us, and ested or that may herealter b to make a good suMcient conveyance to the pur Durchasers thereof, in whatever State, Dis- Sister Ter itory the be. ritor 4 To ‘raat “to the Treasury Department the pa fo provide tor @ specific form of assignment of nt of the lend depositors’ account JOHN A. J. CRESWELL, ROBBLT PURVIS, ROBERT H. T. LELPOLD, PROCSEDINGS IN CONGRESS. SENATE. WASHINGTON, Dec. 14, 1874. Senator Fenton, (1. rep.) of N, Y., having reached Washington yesterday, occupied his seat in the Benate to-day. Mr. Morton, (rep.) of Ind., presented a petition of the colored men of Indigna, protesting against the recent decision of the Sapreme vourt of that State, claimiug that, by the-force of that decision, they are deprived of the rights of citizenship and their children of the benefits of an education, and asking thst the proper law officer of the govern. Commissioners. preme Court of the United States. Referred to the Judiciary Committee, @uced to-day, and referrea to the proper com- mittees, XING KALAKAUA, Mr. CAMBRON (rep.), of Pa., submitted a resolae tion providing for tue appointment of a joint com- mittee, to consist of two members of the Senate and three members of the House of Representa tives, to take measures for the proper notice of the presence atthe national capital of His Maj- esty Kalefaua, King of the Hawaiian Isfands. Agreed to. SHERMAN'S REVENUE BILL. Mr. SHERMAN, (rep.) of Oh{o, called up the bill to amend the existing customs and internal revenue jaws and for otuer purposes, which was postponed last session till the first Monday in December. It will be remembered that the House of Representa- tives digagreed to the report of the conference committee on this billat the last session, and asked for @ furtuer conierence, peuding which re- quest @ Motion in the Senate to postpone the bill above Mentioned was agreed to. The bill paving been taken ap today, Mr. Sherman moved that the Seni insist upon ity amendments and agree to the conference asked for by the House, Agreed to and the Quair appointed Messrs. Sherman, Fre- Iinghuysen and Cooper members of the committee on the part of the Senate, THE GRASSHOPPER PLAGUE. Mr, Harvey, (rep.) of Kan., from the Committee on Public Lands, reported back sundry bills for the relief of sottiers on public jands, with a recom- Mmendation that they be indefinitely postponed, So ordered. He then reported from the same committee, as @ substitute lor the above bills, a bill for the relief of certain settlers on the public lands, which pro- vides that settlers who leit their lands on account of the ravages of grasshoppers shall not be de- am of their right to such land, and authorizes modily the Homestead law in their favor. The provisions of the bill are also made applicable to for the same cause next year, At his own request Mr. Boreman, (rep.) of West Va., was excused from further service on tne Committee on Claims, Mr. MORRILL, of Matoe, called up the bill, which Was reported from the Select Committeee to Frame a New Government for the District of Co- lumbia, and it was read at length. Mr. Morrill Said the demand for copies of the bill by those in- terested was very greai, and he moved that 300 extra copies be printed. Agreed to. He then yielded for a motion to adjourn, with the under- standiug that the bill retain its place on the calendar and be the unfinished pusiness to- morrow. Tne CHAIR appointed as members of the com. Mittee, on the part of the Senate, to take meaa- ures for the reception of King Kalakaua, Mesars. Cameron and Mcvreery. Tne Senate then, at thirty-five minutes past three o'clock P, M, adjourned till twelve o'clock M. to-morrow, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. WasuInaren, Dec. 14, 1874, Under the call of States bills were introduced in large number and reierred to committee, The call of States being completed, the call of States for bills and resolutions for action was pro- ceeded with, beginning at the State of Georgia, where the call was left off last session, Mr. Younc (dem.) of Ga., offered a bill for the settlement of the accounts for carrying the malls in the Southern States prior to 1861, the amount not exceeding $200,000. Ona point made by Mr. Willard (rep.)} of Vt, the bill was referred to the Committee of the Whole, Mr, HaRRis, (dem.) of Ga., offered a bili allow- jug payment of one-half of all import duties in legal tender notes or national bank notes. Ona like point by Mr. Garfield, of Obto, this bill was Also relerred to the Committee of the Whole, Mr. CALDWELL, (aem.) of Ala., offered a rego- lution calling on the Secretary of War for a tatled statement as to the number, location and use of troops in Alabama, and as to the distribu- tion of the provisioi thorized by Congress among the destitute pererd along the Tombigbee and Warrior rivers, ane. Mr. Cox, (dem.) of N. Y., presented a memortal ees of the American seaman’s Friend Society for the erection of @ marine hospital at the port of New York. ? Mr. wane (rep.) os J. rooye’ 02 ten up for consideration repeat nowa as the “Press tag’ law (fo achingtoh. The House refused to second the previous ques- tion on the Pheips motion. Mr. Cox, of N. ¥., then moved to suspend the ie Hodse Ri Wasa to second the previous question on this motion by @ vote of 68 to 110, The bill then, on motion of Mr. MAYNARD, (rep.) of Tenn., was referred to the Judiciary Commit- tee, with leave to report at any time. On motion of Mr. GARFIELD, (rep.) of Ohio, it was ordered that when the legislative bill is under consideration in the Committee of tie Whole various amendments indicated py nim may beinorder. Among them is the proposition to pay of committee clerks in the House aud OX st at $5 a day. (dem.) of Ky., moved to suspend the pat Mr. BECK, rules acd pase the resolution for the Sppointment of @ select committee to inquire whether anv official of the government or of the District of Columbia or other persons bave used any means to ovstruct the administration of the law in the district, especially with reference to the trial of the so-called ‘Safe Burglary Conspiracy,” with power to send for Retsons aud papers and to re- port at any time, jected. Yeas, 139; nays, 87— Hot two-thirds voting in the affirmative, Mr. MCKEE, (rep.) of Miss., offered a resolution for the appointment of a select committee of five to proceed to Vicksburg, Miss., and investigate and.report all the facts reiat to the recent troublesin that State, especially in Warren county. Mr. Morey, (rep.) Of La., suggested as a subdsti- gute for Mr. kicKee’s resolution one that the Select Committee on Outrages in the Southern States be guthorized to visit such points in the Sout, by sub-committees, as May be deemed proper. Mr. MORER opjected to that, bessuse the com- mittee to visit todo there, Mr, McKee’s resolution was then adopted. Mr. Woop, (dem.) of N. Y., from the Committee Jaw, to communicate to this House @ copy of the order or ruling under which the rate was so changed. THE KINGLY VISITOR. On motion of Mr. Orra, (rep.) of Ind., the con- current resolution for a committee on the recep- tion of King Kalakaua was eed to, and Messrs, Orta, E. R., Hoar, of Massachusetts, and Cox, of New York, were appointed on the part of the House. THE PACIFIC MALL, Mr, PARSONS, (rep.) of Ohio, referring tO an arti- cle ina New York paper, which refected on him in connection with the Pacific Mail subsidy, denied in the broadest manner the fnsinuation, and said he had no knowledge that any money or valuabie consideration wag paid to any member of Congress in that matter. He himself was not a member of the Congress that it, 0: Pa.—Were you paid id Mr. KANDALL, (dem.) any money in connection with it? ir, PaBsons—I was, Mc. K&LLoaa, of Connecticut, referring to a re- port of the remarks of Mr. Hale, of New York, made the other day on the Rollin Waite bill, and in which he charged that corrupt expenditure of money had been made by the bs Va wah of that measure, asked Mr. Hate whether he had made gach @ charge, Mr. HALE Was happy to reiterate every he had uttered on that occasion, bat di word that jd not pro- pose to be cross-examined by any member. Mr. KBLLOGG suggested that Mr. Hale ought to ask for a committee in tion and prove Seat Saving wade Teta cto wt us charge with- out any foundation in fact. st) MEMBER—Amen. (Laughter,} Mr. HALE neat at that what he had asserted ot my 0 7 havi he — take raving ‘oved, My, Houman, (dem.) of Ina. onerea & resolution adgment of the House in te of the financial affairs of thi Fore ment no subsidies in money, bonda, pupne or pledges of public credit should be ry Congress to associations or corporati waged in pablio or private enter and that all ap- propriations ought to be limited to such amounts 88 shall be imperatively required for the public service, Without action upon it, and leaving It to go over Ul next Monday, the House at twenty minutes | pam taree # M. hdiourned,” “* 'W°8 ment be directed to appeal the case to the Su- | A very large number of new bills were intro- | he Commissioner of the General Land Office to , settlers who may be compelied to leave their land | ‘icksburg would have quite enough | | discoverabie by the naked eye, tt lacks dramatic | passtonate emotion aud without his AMUSEMENTS. Booth’s Theatre. ‘The new piay trom the pen of Paul Féval, about Which 80 many brilliant tuings were prophesied, Was produced ut this house last night before a crowded audience, It is called “Phe Hero of the Hour,” and might have been calied anything else with equal propriety. Indeed, we are somewhat in doubt whether we are justified in calling the performance a play. It is rather a panorama of Paris in the early part of the eighteenth century. The life of the period is tilu: trated by an aggregation of improbable adven- | turea through which the hero is made to pass and which, through courtesy, we will call the play. We are told on the bills that the | plot upon which this superstructure ts built has something to do with the attempt of the filegitimate children of Louis XIV. to overthrow the regency, But we confess our inability to aiscover the connection between the conspiracy and the incidents of the play. If there be any dramatic plot it seems to hinge rather on the efforts of the Countess de Bourbon to induce her illegitimate son to kill his brother, the Ducde Richelieu. This model | type of womanhood confesses on the stage that | she was the mistress ofa former Duc de Richelieu and entered the house of Bourbons dishonored woman. Her peculiar idea of justice leads her to egg on the Cavalier Fortune to kill bis brotner, she first taking care to inform him of bis rejation- | ship. By some moral obliquity in the mind of the author tuis woman is put iorward claiming our sympathy as rather @ virtuous person, This is tne | ouly part of the play wiica can be regarded as having any dramatic or logical sequence, but it is in realty a mere incident occurring among tho numerous tableaux Which constitute the chief at- traction of “The Hero of the Hour.” The first scene opens in a bower iu the gardens of the Duchess of Maine, where a number of peopie aasemble to cry “Long ive the King and down with the Regent.’ We have here @ clew to the existence of a conspiracy; but we are transported im the next scene to the Place de ja Bastille as it existed in 1719, Here we are regaled with a very lively market acene, sull of vustie and picturesque- hess. There is a good deal of talk about @ Duc de Richelieu, woo te @ great favorite with the ladies, and we are at last gratified with a view of his faxen wig aud scariet coat; not, however, belore the Cavailer Fortune, the Duke's iliegit- imate brother, has been stabbed by @ jealous lover in mistake for the Duke. The second act shows us the wounded man, wonderfully recovered in the space of twenty-four hours, His mother informs him of their retation- ship, and, hke @ good, virtuous boy, he salues out with the tatention of winnmg a fortune for his aister Aldee—at the gaming table. This he ac- complishes, as a matter of course, by the aid of fos yortane, his lucky star and liberal potations ! loriousily drunk, he leaves the gambling | hell, When next discovered he ts found lying in a drunken slumber in the chamber of one Badin, who has been murdered in his sleep, How he could have got there is, of course, unexplained, but, being very druak, he ts Supposed to have penetrated into the apartment of the mur- dered man through the keyhole. ‘The gumbling scene, of which this murder is the | culmination, ts dndoubtediy the best scene in tne piay; but owing to its disconnection with any plot interest, It is a striking pOvaEes and that 18 all. The third act is devoted to the paronama of Paris from the Seine and the attempted murder of Ber- trand, the Chtetof Police. Toere isa boat race anda Struggle on a@ real bridge, which adds interest to the panurama, It is necessary for the cause of poetic justice that the Chief of Police should be saved by the Cavalier Fortune, and this he is enavled to do by the poet, floating up stream—u woul performance that be regarded as Wonderful anywhere of the stage. The fourth act passes im an fiiaminated garden, where all the characters are assembled to be dismissed for the night, Mr. Rockwell ts the only person hurt in this scene, though we are informea that tne Ducde Riche- leu’s bead will be cut of for his crimes, If we could only be assured that it was the autnor’s head, we should have leit the theatre witha feeling of relief, As a spectacle “Tne Hero o! the Hour? ive remarkable production. Most of the «scenes e picturesque and artistic toa high degree, but as a dramatic composition tt is the strangest mud- die it nas ever been our fortune to witness. Who | is the hero of the hour? The Duc de Richelieu or | the Cavalier Fortune? Alter patientiy awaiting till the curtain felt to have that mystery ex- as we contess our inability to decide. All we now 18 that Mr. Staart is the hero—but in which character? Rich costumes and clever scene painting ere poor compensation for weak dialogue and a total absence of logical construc- tion and dramatic interest. Itis difficuit to on- derstand why managers invest 80 much money and labor im putting on the stage @ play that does not deserve serious dis- cussion, Whatever merits it possesses it owes to the stage curpenters and the costumers. Mr, Henri Stuart plays the part assigned to him with passable skill He has many of the manuer- fame of Fechter, without his power of depicting ersonal mag- netism. Mr. Warde played the part of Bertrand with bis accastomed ability. He tad very little scope, however, but what he had to do he dia well, There was quite a crowd of ladies in very insignificant . If we write of them at all we must occupy ourselves with their toilets, which certainly were magaificent. There was @ weaith of pink and white beauty poured upon the stage, but not much dramatic ability. It would be difficult to decide which of tue ladies looked the prettiest or —— But we must be gal- lant and hang op our pe Fifth Avenue Theatre. The distinguished Senator from Missouri, the Jamented Thomas H, Benton, held the opinion that while Oliver Goidsmith, in bis Deserted Village,” had achieved an undying name as a poet, and while in his “Vicar of Wakefleid” he bad written a novel on Ways and Means, reported the following, which i was adopted :— Resolved, That the Secretary of the Treasury be di- rected to inform this House whether any, and uf 80 what, changes have 4 made or ered to | made in the ri gest of duties collecte at any po! nfted States. because of y provision the revision of the United states statutes as at the first session of the Forty third Congress: nmade, to re- port wna ence to the ion of the re o1 which such was mat and, if any such change of duties has been made or dered since the revision by @ new constructton of the | tle. which would be read with delight from generation to generation jor still @ thousand years to come, he had, in the charming comedy, “She Stoops to Conquer,” given us not only the beat picture that exists of Eaglish country life of the period repre- sented, but had produced a play which would hold its own upon the stage until the English speaking nation all have ceased to be. This never-falling play Was reproduced at this house last night, with he careiul attention to costumes, decorations and general dotails for waich Mr. Daly is 80 well known And justly recognized, and with a cast including Devere as Sir Charies Mariow, he as Mr. Hardcastie, James as Young Mariow, Parkes as Hastings, Lewis as Tony Lumpkin, Fawcett as Diggory, anu Mrs. Gilbert as Mrs. Hardcastie, Miss Sone as Miss Haracastie and Miss Varian as Miss eville, ‘The old Squire of Davidge is the genial, simple- hearted, bonest, bospitavie and independent “ane old English gentieman’ which “poor Goldy” in- tended him to be. The Young Marlow of Mr. James wa- evidentiy the result of a careiul study of the part. Mr. Lewis, as Tony Lumpkin, gave us a Tony which, though not the Lumpkin or the exquisite bu.npkin of the unapproachabls Burton, was yet 80 good as to meet the unqualified ap- roval Of the house throughout the periormance. iias Jeweit gave us a grace‘ul and acceptabie Miss Hardcastie, and Mrs. Gilbert, particularily in her consternation and rage over the stolen jewels, and in her complete breakdown before those terri- bie highWaymen, was an excellent Mrs, Hardcas- Tae play was smoothly performed in all its details, and to the perfect satisfaction of a large and intelligent audience, 11 will be repeated tms evening. T0-morrow “Man and Wife’ will be re- vived. Olympic Theatre. The fertile imagination of Manager John F. Poole could scarcely have dev.sed a more varied or be- | wilderipg bill than that which he presented last night at the Olympic. Tne house was crowded out to the coors, and Rickey and Barney, sterling favorites on the variety boards, were cheered to the echo when they appeared in the well known sketch, “Taking the Pledge.” Gus Wiliams tn- troduced a few fresh Dutch songs, in which he is unrivalied, and Sol Smith Russell gave some excel- Jens character sketches. “The Strike on the Boule- vard” and “!he Awkward Squad” by Rickey, Bar- ney, Canil were received with delight, and Poole’ esque on the “Black Crook," with 1t9 side splitung ballet, seems to rival in pe hed its prototype, eveD in its best days, then there were @ half dozen other features, “Musical Mokes,” @ contortionist, a concertinist, & serio-comic Dgrress, @ dusky delineator of Grecian statu nd a star song and dance man, The various acts passed off promptly and lost not @ point in the admirable manner to which they were presented. if talent, taste and liberal man- agement can make @ variety theatre a success they may be all jound tp this week’s bill. et the Olympic. Globe Theatre. This establishment was crowded last evening, the bill being full of novelties, Harry Keroell, who divides the honors with Rickey and Harrigan as @ most enjoyable Irish comedian, and Miss Adan Richmond, wno assists him in the very iaugnabie sketch, “The O'Shaughnessy Guards,” Miss Jennie Bugoes Mile. Cora adtian, an artistic and fin- ished danseuse of the French school, with @ bost of Otners, appeared Jast nigat in the new bill. Messrs, Mar + Campbell are fast achieving the suc- cess in this theatre which was denled to many of their predeccssors. Five Points Mission Concert. About two Bundred children of the Five Potats Mission gave s concert last cvening at Steinway Rall, onder the direction of Mrs, William P. Corbitt, who presided at the piano during the entire exercises. Right Rev. Bishop Simpson acted as president during the evening, and at the close of the frst part of the entertainment made a brie! address, in Which he took occasion to thank and game laws should be brought b; 3 congratulate the ladies under whose charge the’ mission was conducted with sach evidences of. success. The Right Rev. Bishop Janes was slso’ eo on the platiorm, and the hall waa wi ied with the friends of the orphans, The exer- cises, which consisted of a series of songs, f recitations and childish calisthenics, were gone through remarkably we)l. Miss Emma Price was the princtpal leader of the scbool, an ng solos with astonishing good taste and accuracy. Several others of the children—among whom were Misses V. we Amelia Hahn and Addie Price~ won much admiration from the audience. Gra- juila’s band was in attendance, and discoursed some favorite and amusing airs, which were greatly ded. The concert seemed in every Way & success, and great pains must bi bee eee ‘ preparing tne children for so pleasing a splay. PROTECTION OF GAME. Monthly Meeting of the New York Asso- ciation—action to Prevent Encroaeh- ment Upon the Game Laws. The regular monthly meeting of the New York Association for the Protection of Game was held at the residence of Mr. Charles £, Whitehead, No. 64 West Thirty-tiith street, last evening, the Presi- dent, Mr, Royal Phelps, in the chair, The Secre- tary, Mr. Wilam J. Hays, not betng present, Mr. Thomas N. Cuthbert was appointed secretary pro tempore. The minutes of the November meeting betng read and approved, several reports were made, among which waa that of the President and Vice President Roosevelt regarding the character of the Qsb fur the sale of which out of sea son the association had brought suit against Messrs. Chappell & Storer. While upon this subject Messrs. Penniman, Roosevelt and Whitehead referred to the sabject of the kil: ing of bay snipe and other bay birdson Long Island, and thought it would be beneficial if amend- ments were made to the game laws that would tn the future enable the officers of the association to prosecute apy person found shooting such birds in the spring. Mr. Whitehead advised that it was only @ matter of time fur the association to give expression to such views in the passage of new enactments, as it was their intention to ask the Legislature for greater power when the publiq mind was educated to that point as would enable them to move successiully, The President presented the resignation of the Secretary and Treasurer, Mr. W. J. Hays, mada Necessary by his serivusly impaired health, andy on motion of Mr. Whitehead, it was accepted, whereupon Mr. Clinton Glivert offered the jollow- jog, which was unanimously adopted :— ai Whereas Mr, William J. Hays, the Secretary and Treasurer of this association, has tendered his resigna- tion to the President, with the request that the same be accepted, for the reason that conunued tines has rei dered bs. unable to discharge the duties of the office; therefore be it : Resolved, That said resignation be and the same is hereby accepted. ation the Agsso- Resolved, That in accepting said real ciation 1s sensibie of the great loas that it will sustain in being deprived of 80 faithful and zealous an officer, ana that tts hearty thanks are hereby tendered to Mr. Hays for the valuable services which he bas rendered for 80 long a association and to the cauge which i¢ represents. ‘esolved, That the Presijent be requested to convey to Mr. Haye the sincere regrets of the members of this asso- ciation, that illness shoud have made it necessary ior him to withdraw temporarily trom among them and to Feaign the posts of secretary and treasurer, the duties of which he has so long and so satisfactorily discharged and to express their hope ot his speedy and entire recovery, Alter considerable minor business the aggoct- ation unanimousiy elected Thomas N. Cuthbert to the position o1 wy and treasurer. Sev- eral members were then elected, when Mr. Cuth- bert, with appropriate explanatory remarks, introduced the following, whica recelved unani- mous approval :— The attention of the New York Association for the Pro- fection of Game is invited to the probability that during the coming session ot the Legislature efforts will be made by marketmien and others who are now being prosecuted by the aysociation, to procure the siteration or repeal of some of the most the game laws of thi which is most obnoxious to th Deatedly deci fibite tne Tarposeisati y i he! “sy ny ty of proving where game was gitar gplecionabe Labbe ‘hast atcgnwteny searching suspect ces, Us = tors, who only supply thew regular customers, could never be detected. An attempt will also probably be made to reduce th penal imposed by the present statute or to secure thi usertion of a provision that but one penalty be for any ous violation of the statuce, 101 for each bird or fish, as now provided. have claimed that 7 tne. istrict Attorney Alone, and itis not improbable that sn attempt may be made'to have @ provision to thatend inserted. in that cave itis doubtul, to soy he least, whether the law could ever be entorced. Tne district attorneys in this State now have the power to bring these actions; but a have yet to learn of a single instance of their having jone £0. lo view of these facts, it would appear advisable to refer this matter to the committee appointed at the lass meeting on proposed: amendme the game A letter was read from Governor Dix, than! them for electing him an honorary member, an stating that it will afford him much pleasure to co-operate with the organization to put an end to the abuses for which they are associated to sup- 28. * Adjourned to meet in January at the residence of the Vice President, Robert B, Koosevelt, No. 26 East Twentieth street. NEW ENGLAND SOOLETY, Annual Meeting and Electton of Officers. The New England Society held their annual meeting last evening at Delmonico’s, corner of Fourteenth street and Fifth avenue. Mr. William H. Webd was elected chairman, and Mr, L. P. Habbard acted as secretary. After the minutes of the previous meeting had been read the President, Mr. Isaac H. Bailey, read the annual report, which stated, among other matters, that seventy-eight new members had been added to the society during tne past year, and that the organization at present numbered 876 life members and 209 annual members. The Treasurer's report was tojthe effect that the receipts from members for the year 1874 amounted to $3,969, and the interest on the society fund to $2,111, making @ total of $6,180, The amount ex: pended by the charity committee was $2,953 60, and was for the benefit of 250 persons. Both the President’a and Treasurer's report were adopted without dissent. The following gentiemen were then elected of- cers of the society for the year 1875:—President, Isaac B, Bailey; First Vice President, William Borden; Second Vice President, Daniel F. fApple- ton; Directors fier four years), Samuel 8, Con- stant, Henry M. Taber, William A. Camp. John T. Denny; Treasurer, Luther B. Wyman; etary, L. P. Huvbard, Alter the election of some forty new members | Mr. Elliot CO. Cowdin read a glowing eulogy, aS ren character of the late Charles Sumner. eloquent tribute of respect to the jamented stat Man, and a vote of tl ks was offered Db; society and a resolution passed that the ad be published in the sixty-ninth annual report, The President then announced that the anniver- sary dinner would be gtven at Delmonico’ 22d" inst., and that invitations had aire: sent to President Grant, Postmaster neral Jewell, Senator Conkling and Henry Ward Beecher. THE MEMPHIS COMMITTEE. The committee appointed oy the General Coun- cil of the city of Memphis, consisting of Messrs, E, M. Apperson, G. A. Hanson, P. OU. Bethel, A. J, Kellar and J. M, Keating, have arrived at the St. Nicholas Hotel, where a meeting will be held at noon to-day, to confer with the holders of the city bonds. The bonded indebtedness amounts to $4,000,000, and there are enough gasets to cover the floating debt, which is about the ey ep ots nds for several years Sused to call iu she old Jonas and to sae new ones at a lower rate of interest. The committee 19 authorized to receive any propcaen the bond- holders may submit for fanding the debt and to re- port to the Vity Coancil the action of the meeting. THE WEATHER YESTERDAY, ‘The following record wil show the changes in the temperature during the past twenty-four Er Tg ec of ina! HERALD abiding, Rew York: id ere, Tees, ste. 82 I 83 2 2 th THE OONGRESSIONAL WITNESS. Richard B, Tewtn, the witnesd Who was consids ered to be ao important in the Pacific Mail investi. gation, ieft yesterday for Washington in the 0:30 A.M. train in charge of the Sergeant-at-arms ot House satives, It is t0 be pomerrevelotiane inay, be elicited before iatbeay which shail be commenserate With the trou! taken to secare this oan gentioman, who old the ‘Griver Ad mUOUAtTOUDMa OF ALEBALGR ,