The New York Herald Newspaper, February 11, 1876, Page 3

CONGRESS. Speech of Mr. Blaine on the Financial Question, ARRAIGNMENT OF THE The Policy on Which the Republican | Party (oes. to the Country. DEMOCRATS. RESUMPTION ESSENTIAL TO PROSPERITY. | The, Advantages of the Na- tional Bank System. SENATE. Wasuiveror, Feb. 10, 18 A number of bills were introduced and referred to ap- Propriate committees, The Ona laid before the Senate a communication | from the Secretary of War in answer to the recent res olution of the Senate enclosing a statement of the ag- grogate number of the organized militia of the several States. Laid on the table and ordered to be printed, THE NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD, The Senate then resumed the consideration of the Dill to extend the time for the construction and com- pletion of the Northern Pacific Railroad, - Mr. SaxGeyr, (rep.) of Cal., moved to amend the sec- ‘ond section 80 as to read;— ‘That this extension is granted upon the express condition and understanding that where preemption and howestead ¢laims wore initiatory or private entries and locations were allowod upou lands eimbraced im the grant of said company | prior to the receipt of the orders spective district land offices, the la entry shall uot be held as within th pany, and shal! be patented tw the part under the provisions of the section, &e, withdrawal at the ré- 8 raced in snch rant of said com- 3 lawfully entered He said, along the line of the Central Pacific Raitroed, In California, men who went there before the grant was Made and settled, and subsequently sold their improve- ments, supposing they bad the right to do so, had lost all, Many setticrs had lost thousands of dollars on ac- count of their lands baying been taken up by the rail- Toad grant. Mr. Kuuiy, (dem.) of Oregon, said he saw no objec- tion to the amendment. it was in the interest of the settler. Tho amendment was agreed to. ‘The morning hour having expired the Chair laid be- fore the Senate the untimished business, being the | Houee bill appropriating $1,500,000 for the Centennial Celebration of American Inkependence. ‘The debate was continued, Mr. Norw opposing it on constitutional groun of Oregon, favormy it, Mr. Raxpourn, (dem.) of N. J., obtained the floor, Dut yielded to Mr, Wright, of Lowa, fora motion for an executive session. The Senate then, at twenty minutes io five, went into executive session. At nalf-past six the doors were reopened and the Chair announced Messrs, Morrill, of Maine; Sargent, of California, and Thurman, of Obio, as the Conierence Commitiee on the part of the Senate on the bill to pay the interest on the 3.65 District of Columbia bonds, The Senate then adjourned. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. WashixGron, Feb, 10, 1876. The Speaker presented a memorial from citivens NEW YORK HEKALD, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY ll, 1876--WITH SUPPLEMENT. lanl. Inngpe-caaninge, But this would prove totall; ee for no possible 4 entation of wages ba time of inflation will ever keep pace with the still greater increase of price in the commodities necessary to sustain iife, except—and mark the exception—under the condition witnessed during the war, when the number of laborers was continually reduced by the demand for men to serve in the army‘and navy, Aud those honest-minded people who recall the startling activity of trade and the large profts during the war, and attribute both to an inflated currency, commit the error of leaving out the most important element of the calculation, nat forget that the Was A CUSTOMER for nearly four years, at the rate of $2,000,000 to 2,000,000 per day, buying countless quantities of all they forget that the number of con- sumere was continually enlarging as our armed force grew to its gigantic proportions, and that the number of producers wae by the game cause continually grow- ing less, and that thus was presented, on a scale of un- precedented magnitude, that simple problem, familiar | alike to the political economist and the village trader of the demand being greater than the supply, and consequent rise in the price. Had the government been able to conduct the war on a gold bas’ provided the coin for its necessarily large and lavish expenditure, a rise in the price of labor and a rise in the value of commodities would have been in- evitable. in gold would have been for the time as marked as in And the rise of both labor and commodities | and the merchant marine of America, sailing into all zones and gathering gain from all continents, will bring back to our shores its golden profits and supply to us that coin which will steady our system and offset the drains that weaken us in ot! directions. Bat ships built on the paper basis cannot compete with the lower priced ones of the gold basis, and whoever advo & perpetuity of paper money in this country con-. fesses his readiness and willingness to sacrifice the navigation and commercial interest for ail time. Afver defending the course of the republican party on the financial question since the war and still for considering the berefits to the differeut sections of the country and the .various branches of industry which would acerue froma resumption of specie payments, Mr. Blaine proceeded :— We are toid, however, Mr. Chairman, in tones of most solemn warning, that this country ig not able to maintain its paper money at par with coin, Sir, I re- ject the suggestion with scorn, and it seems to me, if I could be persuaded of \ts truth, | should be ashamed to rise in the American Congress and prociaim it. Here is California, one of our youngest States (thirty mem- bers of the Union being senior to ber), with a vast ter- ritory and asparse population, able to maintain coin payment, and maintaining it through a financial storm | of terrific force, and by reason of it regaining a position of solvency and safety with a rapidity and a certainty to paper, adding, of course, the depreciation of the latter to sts scale of prices, While the delusion of creating wealth by the issue of irredeemable paper currency may lead to any number of absurd propositions the advocates of the heresy seem to have settled down on two measures, or, rather, oné measure composed of two parts, namely:—To abohsh the national banks and then have the govern- ment issue legal tenders-at once to the amount of the bank circulation and add to the volume from time to time thereafter ‘‘according to the wants Of trade.’? The two propositions are so inseparably connected | that I shall discuss them together. The Speaker then referred to the national bank system, describing the circumstances under which it arose and the safeguards to the people which were | thrown around them, and continued:— Ido not say the syatem 1s perfect. Ido not feel called upon to rush to its advocacy or its defence, Ido not doubt that ag we go forward we may find many | points in which the system can be improved. But this | Lam bold to maintain, that, contrasted with any other system of banking this country has ever bad, tt is im- | Meagurably superior; and whoever asks, as some demo- crais now do, for its abolition, with a view of getting | back any system of State banks, is a blind leader; and a very deep ditch of disorder and disaster awaits the fol- lowers, if the people should ever be so blinded as to take that fatal step, Tt is generally to be deplored, Mr. Chairman, that many candid men have conceived the notion that it would be a saving to the people if all banks could be dispensed with and the circulating medium be fur- nished by the government issuing legal tenders. 1 do not stop here to argue that this would be in violation of the government’s pledge not to issue more than $400,000,000 of “118 ewn notes. I merely remark that that pledge is binding in honor until legal tenders aro redeemable in coin on presentation, and when that point | will certainly be no necessity, for the government issu- | ing additional notes TUE CAPACITY OP CONGRESS, The grea' to this scheme is that it places the currency wholly in the power and under the direction of Congress. Now, Congress always has been and always will be governe | by &pariisnn majority, representing one of the political | Parties of the country; and the proposition therefore reduces itse:f to this—that the circulating medium, in- | stead of having a fixed, determinate character, shall be | shifted, and changed, and manipulated according to the | Chairman, to have some knowledge of the American | | picion, of Louisiana praying for relief against certain political | evils existing in that State, Reterred, The morning hour having been dispensed with the House, at twenty minutes past twelve, went into Committee of the Whole (Mr. Hoskins, of New York, in the chair), on the Consular and | Diplomatic Appropriation bill, and was addressed by Mr. Hale, of Maine, and Mr. Lynch, of Mississippi, 4n opposition to the bill, Mr. Buainx, (rep.) of Me., then rose and proceeded to address the committee, every seat in the House and gallertes being occupied, and the closest attextion being given to his remarks. He said:— MR. BLAINE’S SPEECH. Mr. Cnamman—The honor of the national govern- | ment and the prosperity of the American people arealike menaced by those who demand the per- petuation of an irredeemable paper currency. For More than two years the country has been sulfering from prostration in business; confluence returns but slowly; trade revives only partially, and to-day, with capital unproductive and labor tinemployed, we find ourselves in the midst of an agitation respecting the medium with which business transactions shall be carried on. Until this question is definitely adjusted a is idle to expect that full measure of prosperity to which the energics of our people and the resources of tne land entitle us. In the way of that adjustment one great section of the democratic pariy—possibly its controlling power—stubbornoly stands Latin @ The republicans, always true to the primal duty of supporting the na- tion’s credit, have now cast behind them al! minor dif- ferences and disseasions on the financial question, and have gradually consolidated their strength against in- | Mation, The currency, therefore, becomes of necessity | @ prominent political issue, and those democrats who are in favor ol honest dealing by the government and | honest money for the people. may be compelled to act ‘as they did in that still graver exigency woen the ex- ‘atence of the government itself was at stake. While this question shoald be approached in no spirit of partisan bitterness, it has yet become so en- tangled with party relations that no intelligent discus- sion of itcan be bad without giving its political bis- tory; and if that history bears severely on the demo- cratic party, its defenders must answer the facts and not quarrel with their presentation, Firmly attached to one political party myeelf, firnty believing that par- ties in a free government are as healthful as they are inevitable, 1 still think there are questions about which parties should agree never to disagreo—and of these 1s the essential nature and value of the eirca- lating medium, Aud it is a fact of especial weight and Signilicance that up to the paper money era—which was precipiiated upon us during the rebellion ag one ot war’s inexorable ever was a political party in this eountry that be Hieved in avy other than the specie standard for our currency. If there was any one principle that was rooted and grounded in the minds of our eariier states- men it was the evil of paper money, and no candid man of any party can read the constitution of the United States and not be convinced that its framers ‘tended to protect and dofend our people from the manifold perils of an irredeemabie currency, Nathan- fel Macon—one of the purest and best of American statesmen, himself a soidier of the Revolution and a member of Coneress continuously durng the adminis. tration of our first six Presidents, embracing in al! ‘a period of nearly forty years—expresaed the whole truth when he declared in the Senate that “this was supposed needs ot’ ‘the party.’ I profess, Mr. Congress, its general character, its personnel, its scope, its Immut, its power. 1 think, on the whole, that it isa far more patriotic, intelligent and upright body of men than it generally gets credit for in the'country ; but,at the same time, I can possibly conceive oi nu assemblage of respectable gentlemen in the United States more utterly untitted to determine, from time to time, the amount of circulation required by ‘‘the wants of trade.” But, indeed, no body of men could be intrusted with that power,’ Even if it were possible to trust their disere- lion, their integrity would be constantly under sus- Ifthey performed their duties with the purity of an angel of light they could not successtully repel those charges which always follow where the tempts tion to do wrong is powerful and the way easy,, Ex- perience would very soon demonstrate that no more corrupt or corrupting device, no wilder or more vision- ary project, ever entered the brain of the schemer ér the empiric, If the people of the United States were fully awake and aroused to their interests, and could se® things as they are, instead of increasing the power of Congress oyer the currency, they would by the ehortest prac- tcable process divorce the two completely and for- ever; and this can only be done finally, effectually, ir- reversibly by the resumption of specie payment. Why, Mr. Chairmua, it is hardly an exaggerattou to say that ever since the government was compelled to resort to irredeemable currency during the war, the assembling of Congress and its continuance in sessi have been THE MOST DISTURDING ELEMENTS in the business of the country. It is literally true that ho man cau tell what a day may bring forth. One large interest -Jooks hopefully to contraction and the “lowering of the gold premium; another is ruined unless there is such a movement to- ward pansion — as i send gold) up. Each side, of course, endeavors to iniiuence and cou- Vince Congre Both sides naturally have their sym- thizing advocates on this floor, and hence the sub- | stantial business interests of the country are kept in a feverist, doubtful, speculative state, eh’ minds are turned’ from honest indystry to schemes of finan- cial gambling, the public morals suffer, old-fashioned integrity is lorgotten, and solid, enduring prosperity, with honest gains and quiet contentment, is rendered impossible. We have suffered thus far in, | light a degree as could be expected under the eircum- necess'ties—there | ) for a long while nearly at par with gold. _whard money government, founded by hard money | men, who had themselves secn and felt the evil of re. money and meant to save their posterity from t.”” To this uniform adhereuce to a specie standard ‘the crisis of the rebellion forced an exception. Mr. Blaine then proceeded to sketch the condition of affairs which compelled the issue of legal tenders, which the ablest lawyers found no warrant for in the text of the constitution, and which was placed on the ground of “absolute overmbelming necessity.”” He then referred to the course Of the democratic party, which, he said, was irreconcilably hostile to the issue of legal tenders when that form of credit was neces- wary for the salvation of the country, and as soon as the country was saved conceived a violent love for | them. Continutng be said: THE FINANCIAL CONDITION, As I said at the outset of my remarks, Mr. Chairman, the country is suffering under one of those periodical Tevulsions in trade common to al! commercial nations, and which thus far no wisdom of legislation has been able to avert. The natural restiessness of a people so alive and alert as ours looks for an instant remedy, and ‘the danger in such acondition of the public mind is that something may be adopted that will altum: ty deepen the tecane rather than lay the groun for an effectual cure. Naturally enough, im such atime, the theories for relief are numerous, and we Marvellous recipes offered whereby the people Bhall be enabled to pay the dollar they owe with less than a hundred cents; while those who are caught with per delusion seemingly forget that, even if this be 80 cents the dollar that isduetbem. Whether the dollar that they owe to-day or the dollar that is due them to-morrow will have the greater or less number cel ‘San neither contro! nor foresee; and therefore al! cer- fain calculdtion in trade is set at defiance, and those branches of business which take on the form of gam- penne. fo by @ financial paradox, the most secure and Uncertainty as to the value of the currency from day to sad is injuy industry. And which is known as the debtor interest ld pe fairly and generously considered in the ing Of measures for specie resumption, there is no te the grat Hg taseen on its bebalf. Rather ravest | ; for you must remember there is a large most deserving ons, tinually and remorseiessly robbed by the labor of the country, sg 1e s) : fal must likewise receive less than a hundred | . equated with ts depends on the shifting of causes which they | been that at each euceessive juflation the parchasing | | down, till it reached that point of utt | | Fefleetion in calculating what th stances; but once adopt the insane idea that all cur- cy shall be issued directiy by the government, and i be the jadee of the amount d and you have this Sea of troubles, shore- country adrift, radderless, on less and soundiess. It is urged by the opponents of the banking system that the $820,000.000 of bank circulation ean be suppled by legal tenders and the in- terest on that amount of bonds stopped! How! Doas any gentieman suppose that the bouds owned by the banks and on deposit in the Treasnry will be exchanged for legal tenders of anew and inilated issue’ Those bonds payable, principal and interest, in gold, and, with the present amount of legal tender notes, they aro worth in the market trom $1 16 to $1 25. What will they be worth in paper money when you double the amount of legal tenders and postpone the day of specie resumption far beyond the ‘vision of prophet or seer? Aud this enormous igsue of legal tenders to take the place of bank notes is only the be- wnning of the policy to be inaugurated, he “wants of trade’? ‘would speedily demand another issue, for the essential nature of an irredeem- | able currency is that it has no limit tilla reaction is born of crashing disasier. A lesson might be learned (by those willing to be taught by fact and experience) from the course of events during the war, When we had $160,000,000 of legal tender in circulation it stood As the issue increased !n amount the depreciation was very rapid, andatthe time we fixed the $400,000,000 limit that whole yast sum bad less purebasing power in ex- change for lands or houses or merchandise than the $160,000,000 had two years before. In the spring of 1862 $150,000,000 of legal tender would buy in the market $147,000,000 in goid coin. $400,000,000 of legal tender $140,000, 000 in gold coin. And if we bad not fixea the $400,000, 000 limit, bat had gove on issumg additional amounts according to the “wants of trade,” as now argued and urged by the modern democratic financiers, the result would have would buy’ only been made wer of the aggregate mass would ha’ Rese, and the value of the whole would hi which so many like experiments bave reached before and the legal tender, with all its vast capacity for go in @ great national crisis, would have taken its place in history alongside of the French assignat and the Continental currency. The — $409,000,000 limit happily saved us that direful experience, apd at once caused the legal tender to appreciate, but, unwilling to learn by this striking fact, the inflationists insist upon a scheme of expansion which would tional debt by countless millions, and instead of making a saving forthe Treasury they would end by depriving it of the $8,000,000 of tax annually paid by the taoks and the people would have lost the addi- tiowal $8,000,000 of Jocal tax derived iyom the same source. Among the anomalies presented in the currency dis- cussion, Mr. Chairman, is that the West. and the South should have go large anelemeut clamorous for iutla- tion, Of all sections interested im the specie standard the West and the South stand first. The great staples Produced in those vast and fertile regions—wheat, corn, Hour, beef, pork, hides, tobacco, the gold standard when sold. The price of cotton sent to Lowell ig just as much determined by the gold standard as that which is exported to Manchester, and the breadstafis sold in New York are day the feed of the Liverpool Corn Exchange, And so ofall ‘we hear representatives of the great inter: thus complied to sell at gold prices resolute and de- termined in their demands that they shall be allowed to purchase all their supplies on the paper basis, When it is remembered that the whole of the annual crop in this country, reckoning all products, reaches the en- ormous amount of $3,000,000,000 on the gold basis, and that the surplus not consumed by the producers 1s many hondreds of millions of dollars, aud that the value of the whole is estimated by the gold standard, the farmers of the counti find profitable food for e agricultural interest loses every year by an irredcemable paper One great and leading interest of my ow! that ar currency. ‘mand other Staves has suffered, still suffers and will continue to suffer so long as the cut 1 of ble paper. 1 mean the shipbaiiding an CM ge interest-—one that does more for the country and asks less from it than any other except the agricultural; an interest that represent® our distimctive nationality in all climes and upon all seas; an interest more essentially intenseiy, america ties ao dovere that — —- iment, and whic’ to be left where the founders of the itabundred years ago, Give us the same basis of currency that our competitors: of the British Empire enjoy, and we will, within the lifetime of those now living, float a larger tonnage under the American flag than was ever enrolled by one be argued | nationality since the science of navigation bas been compensates pa known among mex, Aye, More, sir; giye us the specie is reached there will be no’ desire, as there | id, to my mind, unanswerable objection | rhaps, us | In June, 1864, | hemp, cotton, rico | and Sagar—are inevitably and peremptorily subjected to | the other commodities, And yet j which the paper basis affords no parallel but only a con- | wast, Here to the north of us lies the Dowinion of Canada, stretching from Newfoundland to the borders | of Alaska, with an inhospitable climate, a soil in great inferior to ours, commerce checked'and suspended | half the year by frozen rivers, manufactures seant, | erude and undeveloped, with a population throughout the whole territory not so large as that of New York, | and with wealth greatly inferior to that of the Empire | State; with a debt as large, in proportion to people and | product and property, 48 our own; and yet Canada finds no difficnity in maintaining specie payment, And at | Toronto, Montreal and Halifax the American tourist is | mocked and made ashamed by the sight of coin dollars and gold eagles Irom our own mint circulating freely as | currency among a people whose wealth and resources are but an inconsiderable fraction of our owp magnifl- cent inheritance and possessions, When the national government was organized in 1789 the most liberal estimate of the property of the entire thirteen States placed it at $600,000,000—less than the wealth of Boston or of Chicago to-day, The popu- lation was 4,000,000, showing a property of $150 to each inhabitant. By the cengug of 1870 our population had increased to 38,000,000 and our wealth to $30,000, 000,000, showing $800 per capita for the whole people.’ Our population had increased in the eighty in- tervéning years not quite ten fola, but our wealth had increased filty told. The _ pat- riots of 1790, with their slender — resources, did not hesitate to assume a national debt of $90,000,000, Deing more than one seveuth of their entire posses- | sions; and it never occurred to them that an abandon- | ment’ of the specie basis would make their burden lighter. They knew {rom their terrible experience | With Continental currency that ail their evils would be | pamfully increased by a resort to paper money. And in their poverty, with no accumulated capital, with | manufactures in feeblest infancy, with commerce un- developed, with low prices tor their agricultural prod- ucts, they maintained the gold and silver standard, they paid their great debt, they grew rich in the prop- | erty which we inherited, but far richér in that bright, | unsullied honor which they aiso bequeathed wo us, ONE GREAT TROUBLE. Mr. Chairman, one great trouble in this whole finan- | cial question has been the general and tor many years | the growing disposition of our people not to regard the legal tender note as a debt of the government, but rather as something which is never to be paid, ‘Such | was not the feeling among the people when the legal tenders first appeared, and 1 think this erroneous and injurious conception resulted from an act of Congress, | which in a most vital point changed the gharacigr of the notes, When the first thrae hundred millions of | legal tenders were issued they could be funded, at the option of the holder, in tive-twenty bonds in sums of | | $50 and any nhultiple thereof, This provision gave a fixed, determinate character to the legal tender, con- | nected it with other government issues by an equated value, made itan integral part of our whole system of | public credit, and established tt, Im short, as a sort of balance wheel to our somewhat com: | plicated financial machinery. So long as that provis- jon was in force the money of the people was precisely ag good and just the same as the money of the boud- holder. By a mistaken policy, as I venture to affirm, this section of the law, on the request of Secretary Chase, was repealed after due notice given, and tho | moment that was done the legal tender became a sort | Of Hnancial orphan among us; it had thenceforward no connection or relationship with any other issue by the | government; it measured nothing itself and was | measured by nothing, and ever since that day it bas | had to fight its own battle, not merely unaided by other | forms of public credit, but in a sense constantly hin- dered to them, To establish a fixed, steady value for | it under these circumstances were as impossible as to determine a pound avoirdupois without reference to | the law of gravitation, i Congress having taken away the provision for re- | demption, the public bave naturally come to regard | | the legal tender as perpetually irredeemable; and one | of the first steps toward resumption is to change that | impression by reviving the funding privilege in a bond of lower rate, with extended time and a limitation on | the.amount that could be funded in gny given period. | As an amelioration to the debtor class the suggestion has been made that the bonds into which the legal tenders should be thus converted might thems-ives be | made alegal tender tor alt dedts contracted prior to | | the passage of the act. This featur have merit, Wut I should desire to consider it’ very bearings befor eftect on the to its constitutions tain our public credit, | | { H tender note and also as have done much to main- | it I think we began at the | wrong end, when we tude special exertion to | raise the price of our bonds and iclt the legal tender to tuke caro of itself, Had wo | devoted our energies to bringing the legal tender to | par with coin the boud would have followed; but, un- | fortunately, we have found tbat the reverse is not the ease, For myself, I] confess | always fecl ashamed to see our bonds quoted ata large premium whe our | legal tenders are at a heavy discount, and, while there | has veen no little demagogery about the bondhoiding | Class getting their pay in coi as the law directs, | have | wondered that the mass of our people 80 quietly endure | being deprived of gold for their legal tenders as the law | in its spirit equally guarantees. But whether we shall succeed or shall fail in restor- ing to: the United States notes the tunding privilege with which they were originally endowed, 1 must here record my earnest protest against the policy of repeal- ing the legal tender clause which bas given to these notes their great strength as @ circulating medium. After showing the evil effects which would neces- sarily follow on such repeal, he concluded as follows ADDITIONAL LEGISLATION REQUIRED, ' ‘The act providing for resumption m 1879 requires, in the judgment of the Secretary of the Treasury, some | additional legisiation to make it practical and e/Tective, | As it stands, it fixes a date, but gives no adequate pro- cess; and the paramount duty of Congress is to pro- vide'a proc And in all legislation looking to that oad it must be borne in mind that unless we move in | harmony with the great business interests of the coun- | try we shall assuredly fail. Specie payment can oniy be brought about by wise and well considered leg: lation, based on the experience of other na- tions, embodying the matured wisdom of the country, healihially promoting all legitimate busi- ness and carefully uvoidiug everything that may tend to create fear and distrust among the ‘people. In other words, what we most need as the outgrowth of legis- lation is confidence, public and private, general and individual. To-day we are suffering from the timidity of capital, and go long as the era of doubt aud uncer- | tainty prevails that timidity will continue aud increase, | Steps toward inflation will make it chronic; unwise steps toward resumption will pot restore it, We will have discharged our {uli duty in Congress if we can mature a measure which will steadily advance our cur- rency to the specie standard and at the same time work | in harmony with the reviving imdusiries and great commercial wants of tbe country, In any event, Mr. Chairman, .whatever we may do, or whatever we may leave undone on this whole tinan- cial question, let us not delude ourselves with the be- | lief that we can escape the specie standard. It rules us to-day, and has fuled us throughout the whole jegal } tender period, just as absolutely as though we wero paying and receiving coin daily. Our work, our fabrics, our commodities are all measured by it, and £0 long as we cling to irredeemable paper we’ hi the burdens and disadvantages of the gold rd, with none of its aids and gains | profits. “The thing which hath been is that wh: | Shall be.” Tho great law giver of antiquity records in | the very opening chapters of Genesis that ‘thetold of | the land of Haviiah is good.’ And, with another pre- cious metal, it has maintained its rank to this day. No ation has ever succeeded in establishing any other standard of value; no nation has ever mado the experi- ment except at great cost and sorrow; and the advo- f of irredeemable money to-day are but asking us | to travel the worn and weary road travelled so many times before—a road that has always ended in disaster and often in disgrace. | Mr. Tanox, (dem.) of Mass., replied to Mr. Blaine, charging all the financial evils which lay upon the country to the republican party, which had ruled the | country since the war without let or hindrance. He | (Mr. Tarbox) fully admitted the necessity of a return to | speci®. payment, and asserted that the fact that the country was not safely there already was a mortfica- | tion to the people and a ghamve to the party end law. | givers that had controlled the policy of the government | ever since that fatal mistake was made which cut loose | from gold as the standard of value. Mr. Rayan, (dem.) of , Chairman of the Com- ane on Appropriations, followed in defence of the 1th, Various amendments were offered and rejected, | among them one by Mr. Banks to restore the miscion | to Greece. ¢ The committee then arose and the House, at fivo | o'clock, adjourned. MUNICIPAL NOTES. According to a report of the Brooklyn Bridge Com- pany, just sent in to Mayor Wickham, the receipts for the month of January have been $163 87, and the ex- penditures, $7,508 49. - ‘ Yesterday morning Messrs. John Farrell, Patrick Quinlan, Florence J. O'Callaghan, Patrick McCarty, Joseph Stack and Patrick Crav accompanied by several others, representing the James Daly Associa- tion, called upon Comptroller Green and presented bim ‘with a series of resolutions ex; ive of their appro- basi 3 “past acts and also their sincere thanks for his unswerving vigilance over the finances of this tax-burdened city.” A resolution will be presented at the next meeting of the Board of Aldermen to compel the Boston and Penn- sylvania Railroad to pay the city for the privilege of transferring their cars on ecows from Harlem to Jersey City, This transfor js Jooked upon as a ferty privilege, ' } | 1 i | Sinking BOARD OF ALDERMEN. CENTENNIAL, RESOLUTIONS—THE OBSERVANCE OF WASHINGTON’S BIRTHDAY—CONDEMNING THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE—ON THE TRAIL OF CITY RAILROAD COMPANIES — PASSAGE OF CROTON MAIN ORDINANCES— MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS. A regular meeting of the Board of Aldermen was held yesterday afternoon, Mr. Sumuel A. Lewis in the chair, CeLERRATING WASIHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY, Alderman Pixckxgy offered the following bigh- sounding resolutions relative to the celebration of the 221 of February, Washington's birthday :— Whereas the poople of the United States of America should ever sacredly foster and serapulously transmit to Postarity & just appréciution of the inestimable, ser rendered by the ininortal George Washington, the Fath his Country, and should ever zealously show the highest ad- miration for the pre-eminent private publie virtue which characterized that Godlike man—"the simple majesty of whose character, too sublime for elaborate eulogy, like the Uneaments of his extraordinary countenance, will never cease to be familiar to virtuous humanity until Pine close his records and the heavens shall’ pass aw: 4 scroll”’—to whose untiring energy, indomitable perseverance and military yenius our country ix inainly indebted tor national existence und our people for the liberties they now enjoy; and whereas, ta grateful recognition of ah’ these priceless blestingy conferred upon them by his inspiring efforts, the people of th of New York, the imperial city of the Western Hemisphere, through their corporate author. ities in Common Council couvened, deem it to be eminently fit and proper in this, the centennial year of American inde- pendence, to maniiest in some marked degree their extimation of his illustrious character and their acknowledgment of his patriotic services; therefore, be it solved, That in commemoration of the remarkable events with which the history of George Washington is #0 Strikingly replete yome extraordinary recognition of ihe i4ith anniversary of the day of bis birth, which will occur in this, the 100:h year of the declaration of’ American indepen- dence, on Tuesday, the 22d of February, 1576, shoul demonstrated by the citizens of the city of New York, and it is therefore recom- y as @ general boli. day, that they be requested to abstain us far as possible from all seeular CA lpr that the flags of all nations be dis- ed alike afloat and ashore, that the flags of the city be sted on all the public by uildings, that the reverend clergy be requested to open the ehurclies for morning sor- vices rs, and that a “Te Deum’ be sungin one of the principal churehes, attended hy the city, authorities, in ham- out thanks and reverence to Almighty God, who gave to our country so eminent a soldier and patriot, and whose omniscient power guided it safely through all the perils incident to its birth, growth and maturity for w cen- tury of years, Alderman Pernoy objected to specifying any partic- | ular church in which to hold the services, We tived in a community in which there was no state church and where he hoped there never would be, If any of tho gentlemen of the Board wished to pray particularly on that day they could do so at home or at any church which they choso to select, Alderman Pivckxxy said his regolution did not men- tion any church, He was willing to take St, Patrick's Cathedral or St. Paul’s, After the evacuation of the city by tho British General Washington and staff had | attended the latter edifice in order to give thanks for the victory, He thought it would be proper to have the Common Council and Mayor attend religious service in a body on the day mentioned, Alderman Pernoy offered an amendment striking se provision as toa specilic church, which was adopted. The balance of the preamble and resolution was then adopted, | | CONDEMNING THK BROOKLYN BRIDGE, Alderman McCarry offered the following resolution relative to the Brooklyn Bridge:— 0 this city, as it will attract 1 lower portion of this isiand to Brooklyn and the outlying towns and villages: and as one-third of the expense of the population of hi work is, per foree, under existing laws, to be puld by this city, in addition to the sum of $1,500,000 heretofore sub- scribed and paid to the stock of the original Bridge Com any, no greater outrage couid be inflicted upon our plundered tax: payers: them to pay enormously for depreciating f their own property, whi adding in’ @ corn ng ratio to the value reul estate outsid its of this city. It will also render vaiuel: the ferry’ franchise, at present oni 1 the franchises of ‘this city, which irrevoeably in this cor- poration, and which 1 it legally only by paying aa equivalen value. ‘Thus the strange and unnatural spectacle is presented of witnessing a roat city being compelled by taw to pay millions of dollars fn order to depreciate its real property to the extent of | millions of dollars more, and also, at the saino timo, assist | ing to destroy one of ihe most valuable of ity corporate Against the perpetration of such an outrage it of this Common Couneil to pro ity will bo Justified in resorting franchises. is tie imperative dat, and the authorities of thi pedient to prevent it, As the simplest and most means of xecomplishing this end be it Resolved, That the Leislature of this State be and hereby respectfully, yet in the most earnest manner, quested to repent ail laws heretofore passed relating to the roject of uniting the cities ot New York and Brooklyn by a | Fuige across the Hast River, particularly the seis, chapter 800 “ol the Laws of 1875 and ebapter 601 of the’ Laws of | 1874; and bo it further Resolved, That the Clerk of the Common Council be and he is hereby directed to cause a certified copy of this pre- amble and resolation to be transinitted to each of the mem- bers of the Siate Legislature now in session at Albany. On motion of Alderman Gross consideration of the matter was laid over for one week. AUTRE THE CITY RAILROAD COMPANIES. Alderman Suie.s offered the following resolution :— Resolved, That the Counsel 'to th is heey respectfully requested enrliest convenience. how far, 1 Corporation be an inform this Board, at bis at all, the agreements made ie, city, wad, the several city railroad companies been affected by the operation of State laws: whether ¢ loqally in the power of the city authorities to eom- pel such companies to provide sexts for all whom they per- wit toenter their cars or forfeit the right to collet fares, Also if it is not in the power of the Common Couneil wo con pei such companies to reduce their rates of fare froin five to three cents frow six toe . M. and from five toreven P. M. exch and-every day, in interest of working people, who are compelied to ui go! to their work in tho morning wnd returning in the evening, Alderman Joux Reuuy moved to refer the resolu- tov to the Committee 6n Railroads. The motion was Jost, and the resolution was adopted by a unanimous vote, COMPTROLLER GREEN'S RETRENCHMENT, Alderman Morris presented a resolution calling apon Comptroller Green to send in a statement of the ex- penses of his department for the year 1875, and also the proposed expenses for 1876, with reasons for in- crease or decrease for the latter term. Alderman Pernoy made a sarcastic speech in opposi- tion to the resolution. He did not see any necessity for its passage. % The resolution was placed on file, REGULATING THEATRICAL POSTERS. Alderman Hxss proposed an amendinént to the or- dinance reguiating the location of street stands, &c., so as to allow the erection of theatrical posters in'front of premises where the permission of owners had been ob- tained. The amendment was adopted. ROOMS FOR THE COURT OF GENERAL SESSIONS, Alderman Bayan Reimty submitted a resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Works to give the rooms now occupied by the Tax Commissioners to the Court of General Sessions, i view of the increased accommodation made absolutely necessary by the elec- tion of an additional city judge. Mr. Reilly spoke in | advocacy of his resolution and showed conctusivel; that such accommodations should be furnished at once, A motion of Alderman Joho Reilly to reter the reso- lution to the Committee on County Affairs was adopted, | KAILROAD NUISANCY IN FRONT OF THR RERALD oPrice. Alderwan HOWLAND presented a resolution calling upon the Legislature to pass a law which would pro- hibit the transier of horses on railroad cars at street crossings Mr, Howland cited as a necessity for pass- ing this Jaw the nuisance created in front of the Henao office by the stoppage of railroad cars and the transtor of horses in that vicinity. A resolution had | been passed some time since by the Board, authorizing the Commissioner of Public Works to’ take up the tracks im front of the Henaip office, Tho railroad counpanies applied to Judge Bar- rest, of the Supreme - Court, for an in- Junction to restrain the tearing up of the tracks, which ‘was refused, Judge ‘Westbrook was then applied to, who granted an order to show cause why a permanent injunction should not issue, Corporation Counsel Smith neglected to attend to this matter and a perma- nent injnuction was granted, sixty days being given to make a motion to dissolve. These sixty days expired and the Corpdration Counsel again neglected his duty. ‘The only remedy that now existed was to go betore the Legislature and ask for the passage of such a law as suggested. The resolution was adopted. ir THE OUTDOOR PvOn. A report from the Committee on County Affairs was sent in requesting the Commissioners of Charities au Correction to expend $80,000 for support of the out door poor in accordance with the appropriation for 1876 given by the Board of Kstimate und Apportion- ment. The report was adopted. PURCHASING PIER 44, The hag 1s of the Finance Comuittee directing the ‘und Commissioners to vote against the pur- chase by the city for $250,000 of pier 44 from the Inman Steamship Company was also aaopted. SUPPORT OF PRISONERS IN COUNTY JAI. ‘The resolution allowing Sheriff Conner seventy-five | cents per day forthe support of prisoners in County | i 1 Jail was called up and passed. THR CROTON MAIN ORDINANCES. The deadtock as to of ordinance for ex- e passage tending © Wator in the city was broken in upoa yesterday by the passage of the following resolutions:— | issioner of Public Works be directed to lay a main down Church end ts, from Pulton street to Battery place, the id in Church street south of Canal, with 3 and be it further | directed to Ixy mains north from | aval and throngh Canal to Wooster stree to Houston street, with large pipes an low, in the dry goods district; and be it all these hydrants, also all the large hy- MS prey seep ero , se" ‘rovidlows of section 2, chapter 477, Laws created some debate. Alderman Pur- edge UO discretionary with the Com- Public Works as to such work The amendment was afterward the original resolution adopted by the Gont- Bryan | member of the committee '¢ | Talmage, Voorbees, Weiant, Weasel, Whitson, W iy | _ of | caucus that the policy of the minority was to delay, | | after the THE STATE CAPITAL. neem Passage of the Resolution Increasing Me it Wickham’s Power. REPUBLICANS SOLID IN FAVOR. | The Adjournment Fixed for | the 12th of April. A CONSPIRACY AGAINST CONKLING. AuBany, Feb. 10, 1876. There was a lively time of it for a whilein the As- sembly to-day when Mr. Peabody, backed up by his friend ‘‘Feesche,” called from the table his resolution, offered on Monday night, calling upon the Committee on Cities to consider the advisability of reporting a bill giving the Mayor of New York power to appoint heads of departments and other commissioners, independent ofthe Aldermen. The resolution had been scarcely read through by the Clerk before there was a general move- ment among the New Yorkers toward the doorway leading to the lobby. Somehow they all yery suddenly seemed to have important business with somebody outeide the Chamber; but the Speaker saw through their little game and used his gavel 80 sav- agely to preserve order and to compel persons moving about to take their seats that not one of the dodgers was able to reach thedoors. Peabody, after the read- ing of the resolution, rose in his place and said that he deemed it high time that the Legislature should seridusly consider the question whether the Board of to the Mayor, even when ho endeavored to do some- thing that was of benefit to the interests of the city. He did not pretend to know what was the proper solu- tion of the difficult problem which the question pre- sented, but he hoped the Committee on Cities would consider the matter in a spirit of fairness and justice, and givo the House an opportunity to take some doti- nite action upon a bill which would put an end In some way to the evils which sprang from tho Aldermen’s present power of confirmation. Galvin next took the floor and dectared that the | Mayor, in his opinion, did not desire the power which it was proposed to confer upon him, nor did he believe the people m New York were avail desirous of conter- was, He for one had not lost confidence in the Mayor, | ments of a majority of the people in New York, Mr. | Strahan was of the opinion that, as the resolution re- bility of reporting, and did not ‘nstruct them absolutely to report a bill the resolution ought to pass. These re- marks of Mr. Strahan were simply meant to deceive the democrats and republicans who Were anxious to dodge the issue, that after ail it mattered very little in a party sonse how they were recorded; but the strategem was unsuccessful. The Speaker finally put the resolution to a vote, when Galvin called the yeas and nays, and &@ suflicient pumber of members supporting him on the standing cal tho vote was taken, resulting in 70 yeas to 45 pays The Speaker had to call several members’ names two or three times even dur- ing the cail for the absenteos, before they plucked up courage enough to toe the’ mark, Schieflelin and O'Hare, democrats, bemg of the number, The repub- licans voted solidiy for the resolution, Mr. Le Roy, ef Conoes, being the only exception. But one New York Fifteenth district. The country democrats who sided with the republicans were Becker, of Jefferson county; Crosby, * of Lewis; Muxtield, ot’ Ontario; Morse, of Greene; Payne of Queens, and Whitney of Chautau- qua, indeed, for the reason that it was really inspired by a who by the way was not one of the Assemblymen who dinea with Mr. Wickham last Saturday evening), and a bill giving the Mayor full power of appointment is already prepared, Tt will, im all probability, be introduced some day next week. Titk VOTE, ‘The resolution was adopted by the following vot Messrs, Baldwin, Beekor, Betts, Billings, 1. Brown, J. W. Brown, Bur M. Campbell, Caso, Chene: w. h, Catking, A.J. | . Cock, ere, oI ond,” Hepburn, Higgins, Hogeboom, — Killi if, Lawson, M don, O'Neill, eston. Russell, Shite McFalls, | Mei be, r, Pr | Worth. | Nays—Mensrs, Ballou, Carty, Chaffee, Cleary, Coffey, | | Coleman, Cruice, Davenport, Palen, Faulkner, Planag | Ford, Galvin, Halts Hamilton, Hanson, King, Le Rov, | Lyoi ¥, Maher, Maynard, Miller, Mulier, y jeJroart: | Murphy. Nelson, O'Hare, Patten, Post, Reevo, ki | Ruggles, Schietelin, Soratmlin i Sherman, Siev bor, inne and urts, THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS. ‘The republicans of the Assembly did very little at | their secret caucus, and the proceedings partook nore | of the character of an than of a meeting at which each member was expected to take asolemn pledge, In fact, no pledge as to legis- lation was made at all that was binding on any one. | The question of the adjournment was the | most taken iuto consideration, and | the generai opinion of the majority of those who were present was that the final adjournment should be taken within the hundred days It was shown that the business of the House had been carr: rapidly thus far that the Clerk’s desk was ) cleared every day, giving each new day a fuir start on its own hook, unencumbered by the proceedings of the preceding one, Mr. Husted, who spoke at some length, mentioned one year as an iilustration of how usiness can be done when a day has been finally fixed for the final adjournment. n the | bundredth day of the seesion a regolation was passed extending the session fourteen days, Up to the hundredth day but one-third of the business of the House bad been accomplisued; during the fourtcen the House got through with the other two-thirds. The | Speaker advised that the committees should work hard every day to get everything referred to them off their hands, so that the House could take speedy action on all the bills of importance. There should 4 nO need- less delay, and postponements of hearings should not be allowed unless under the most urgent circumstances, The New York bills were touched upon by Mr, Fish and others, and a general expression was elicited favorable to giving them fair treatment, to admit of no recommitting dodges on the part of the New York democrats, yet at the same time to afford them full op- | the floor. It was the unanimous opinion the sixty members who attended tho caucus that, while no legisiation should be adopted that would create a general change in the governinent personnel of New York, yet that bills should be passed reducing salaries ali round and, 80 lar a8 could be without detriment to the puplic service, the number of officials decreases, this to be accomplished by consolidating bureaus and dopartinénts and the abolishment of officers | | deemed useless, Nothing was done as to the stand that should be taken on the Governor's canal policy or any of bis other policies, all claiming to go hand in hand with him to accomplish administrative reform, provided he did not agitate re- forms for a party purpose or to further bis own ambi- | tion—of course they (the republicans) to be the judges of the Governor's motives. It was stated during tho by motions to recommit and by every device they | could, measures which they knew the republicans de- sired to pass. This policy, it was given out, if allowed full bent, would give the Governor all the opportunity he might want to use his veto power ata time when the Legisiatare, even if they bad a two-thirds voto, | could be of Iit opposition to him. So the minority ‘will find that they will be hustled about in lively syle from this time forward if agi * attomps to gain time by recommittal of bills or long talks, It is the beliet of but few here the final adjournment will take place as early as the 12th of April. However, a resolution will next week be intro. | duced in the House fixing it to take place on that day, In 1871 Tweed offered a resolution in the Senate that the final adjournment should take place on the 15th of | March, The session of 1871 did not end until May, Albany legislative history often repeats itself, THR “RNGISTER Bitte The Judiciary Committee to-day reported a bill ag a substitute for the original bill introduced relative to the | Daily Register, which provides that within ten days of the act the presiding Justice of Aldermen should be allowed to remain an obstruction | | ring the power on any one man, no matter who he | and he was convinced that be represented the senti- | | quested the committee to simply consider the advisa- | democrat voted in the affirmative, Mr. Killian, of the | It t# understood that the consideration of this | | resolution by the Committee on Cities will be very brief | informal interchange of views | 3 for the first folio and something less for successive yublication, would debar every newspaper of any standing and cireulation from ing @ proposal. Under the bill of course the | Kegister cab send in a proposal agreeing to publish rtisements a few cents below the legal rates, andi ag it has probably, {rom the necessities of the case matters stand vow, a greater circulation than ap: other obscure * paper’ (hat could afford to bid Jow a8 it can, it will be almost certain to have its pro- sal accepted. This is just the little nigger in the ill, an the result which brought about if the bill in its present shape a law. It is doubtless the very result intended by framers of the bill. tis in order, then, for shi man of the Judiciary Committee, Straban, to nse and explain why he pot in bis pocket an ameodmen@ pro; to this bill 10 bis committee giving the award to the paper having the largest circulation, which we agree to publish the calendars for $6,000 a year, why, after his visit to New York last week, the DUR made its appearance in the committee framed so ingens ously as it pow is, CONSPIRING AGAINST CONKIING, A movement has already begun bere to kill off the chances of Roscoe Conkling obiaining the vote of thé New York delogation im the National Republican Con= vention, Governor B. D. Morgan is supposed to de ad the bottom of the scheme, and bis agents are bus) Placing the machinery in order, which, 1 is hopedg will bowt Couklipg Of the track as cleanwas a sno’ Plough and leave the course open for Morgan, The Singular feature of the movement is the an- | nouncement that Colonel Frederick A. Conkling \ \ has linked forces with Morgan to run Roscog out of the race, The Colonel is at present in ya! taking a calm survey of tne whole political field. (I thinks stiil that the liberal republicans held the ance of power, and that it will be for the interest both the great parties to present such nommauons as offer the most salient points ot attraction for men in this Ceniennia! yoar, are prepared to sacrifice for country; in short, he wantsa nomination forthe Presidency of a tman who knows neither North or South, East or West, and who will drop his party gar= ments when he stands in the White House, , AUDITOR SCHUYLER AGAIN, Another debate on the status of Schuyler as Auditor arose on the motion of Woodin to cail up bis resolutio asking the Governor to signify his inteutious in reg to the nomination of Schuyler tor Canoi Auditors Bradley, democrat, opposed it and said he would not consent to @ preamble which spoke of Mr. Schuyler as ausurper, Rogers asked, if Schuyler Was appointed for the balance of Thayer's term, why did the" Governor send his name to the Senate? Starbuck replied that when the Governor appointed Mr. Sebuyier all the functions of Mr. Thayer as Auditor ceased. Rogers in- sisted that Schuyler had no more right to discharge the duties of the oilice than he (Starbuck). Starbuck re- torted that the minority were satisfied to rest upon the position that Sckuyler is properly m office and entilled | to hold is Rogers answered that he thought (he peo- pie would look differently at the matter. Aller some further talk the resolution, with a slight verbal ameude ment, was adopted, SCHOOLS AND SECTARIANISM. The Assembly Committee on Education, of which | Carrol E. Smith is chairman, have had quite a long consultation over the concurrent resolutions proposing anamendment to the constitution, providing that | neither the money of the State, of any county or of any | munieipality in the State, should ever be loaned or given toany school or institution under denomina- | ional or sectarian control. In the committee, on moe tion of Mr. Tabor, of Evie -(demovrat), an amendmen€ | has been added to the resolutions previding that tha | prohibition shall not extend to the schools wheré the Bible is read as part of the exercises. O’Neil, of Schenectady, and Brown, of Niagara (republicant voted for the amondment, and Smith treabhions) ae } | Halliday (democrat) against. Whether Mr. Sinith wil consent to report the resolution thus amended 18,yel a matter of doubt, but at the next meeting of the com~ | mittee it will be decided definitely whether they shall be reported as changed. | It is beheved that Mr. ‘Tabor, | asa democrat, succeed din tacking on to the resolas tions a flyer that will’ seriously embarrass, possibly die vide, the republicaus on the resolutions when they comd to be voted on, RIFLE PRACTICE. The report of the Inspector General of Rife Practica was received and made public to-day by Adjutant G | eral Townsend. The most important parts of it were | published exclusively in the Hkracy on Monday last, LBGISLATIVE NOTES, Senator Gerard felt as if a thunderbolt had hit hint when Woodin this morning reported back adversely the bill to make employés of the government of New | York reside within the limits of the city, Gerard pleaded a respite for the bill, which was graciously | Sranted, and it was tenderly Inid on the (dissecting) | table. | To meet such cases of inhumanity to children aa that of “Prince Leo’’ and the ever recurring instances: of Italian children who ard literally sola or apprem« | toed out to gymnasts ane strolling players the benevo~ | lent Booth introduced a bill making it a penalty of fing | or imprisonment for parents to dispose of their chil. dren who are under sixteen years of age in the man- ner indicated. To enable persons who are jointly indicted for trial to become witnesses for each other is the novel purposé vf a bill mtroduced by Senator Starbuck. | _ Future generations of travellers within the limits o New York State will bless the name of Senator Cole, who fearlessly came to the front to-day with a bill | Making 1t a’ pgnalty of $20 or imprisonment for raile road porters who treat Saratoga trunks with the sain@ reckless disregard of consequences that they would a | bate of hay. ‘The Nemesis of baggage smasners is af length at band, | Prince's bill, amending the law of last year prohibit. ing the throwing of ashes and garbage in the waters of Long Island Sound, and taking the offenders amenable to trial in the Supreme Court of the district, in plac of the County Courts of Westchester aud Queens, | passed the Senate, | _ The bill appointing a commission to investigate tha State prisons, with an amendment including the El. mira Reformatory, was ordered to a third reading. In an informal caucus of republican Senators last evening, though nothing was doue, enough was said ta indicate that there are avuflicient namber of republicam Senators in favor of Southworth to jusure his confirma. Hon as Jadge of the Supreme Court, NEW JWRSEY LEGISLATURE. A GENERAL BILL FOR RAILROAD TAXATION—K PUBLIC PARK FOR NEW JERSEY. Trextox, Feb, 10, 1876. | Im the Senate to-day the bill appropriating $55,000 to the Jamesburg Keform School was ordered to a third reading. TAXATION OP RAILROADS. In the House of Assembly a general bill on railroad | taxation was, introduced by Mr. Scovel, from the Joint Committee on Public Bills. It provides that all rails road companies occupying or using railroads in the State, whether as lessees or otherwise, liable to be taxed as such by @ general law taxing railroads for State purposes, shall pay an anuual State tax upon the cost of their equipment and appendages at the rate of one-half of one per cent upon such cost. On the lstot January in each year all railroad companies mast make returns to the State Comptrelier of the cost of their roads, specifying the ttems and locality thereot. On the Ist of February following the State tax, with interest thereon, shall be due and payable, and said tax shalt remain’ a lien on the franchises and property, real, personal and mixed, of said company. Io casa. railroad companies sball fail to make proper returns in the manner and at the time provided the State Com- missioner of Railroad Yaxation shall forthwith proceed | vo estimate the cost, which he shall certify under oath, | In case any raiiroad company -feels aggrieved by the | portunity to ventilate their views in committee andon | action of the Commissioner it shall bave the mgbt, within ten days alter the filing of the estimate, to | appeal-therefrom to a Justice of the’ Supreme Court, | whose duty it shail be to sammarily hear and decide | said appeal upon evidence taken by himself; when any | railroad company tails to pay the tax the Attorney” General of the State shall enter proceedings for the re« | covery of the amount before the Supreme Court: and | apply for an order that execution may forthwith issu | against the delinquent company. This act shall not apply to or affect any county, municipsl or local taxa- tion whatever. A PARK VOR JERSRY crry, Mr. Brown introduced a bill to provide for foo ‘k in Jersey City. A preamble sets forth that jersey: present time io need of a park commen« The tract proposed is in the Thirteenth, Fourteenth and Fifteenth wards of Jersey: City, bounded by Cornelison avenue, Mill Creek, Mont gomery and Colgate streets, the property of the Morris Canal and Banking Company aud pont street, con- taining in all sixty-seven acres, THE DOMINION PARLIAMENT. RAILWAY UNDERTAKINGS—THE FISHERIES QUES® TIONS ~INDIAN ENFRANCHISEMENT. Ortawa, Ont, Feb. 10, 1876, At threo o’clock this afternoon the Governor Gens eral, attended by a brilliant staff, proceeded to the Par- Mament House, and, after the usual ceremonies, deliv- ered the opening address from the throne, Referring | brie@y to the business depression in other countrics, which bad been (elt later in the Dominion, he said that the great bulk of the people continued to enjoy a con~ dition of reasonable prosperity. The great railway undertaking connecting (he former provinee of Canada with the maritime provinces was approaching: completion and would add materially to the prosperity of the people, Every effort bad been made to obtain an early settioment of the claims ot for compensation for the use of her fisheries by United as provided by the Treaty of Washi A British commission been appointed, ie United States government had not yet appointed » the Indians would be gubmitted. er Conger 4 the condition of the government of Manitoba te the construction of a Pacific ratlroad would be laid be« fore the Legiglatare, with propositions for its considera, — Judge of the Superior Court, shall have’ lished for Heation of the daily calendars of the various courts Justice the publishers will print the calendars, &c., and the The average charge for publishing the must be given for the thirt: preceding the tim: or them shall t Jadges THR CROTON TO RANDALL'S ISLAND, " Alderman Jorris’ resolution the Supreme Coart of the First dey at, the Chief | 81x consecutive Gays, in the & notice tn- sof record, as well as notices and advertiseme: of the Supreme twenty days terms per {oho for notices and advertisements in legal jeondars must not be over $6,000, and im the pro- be made, seen tot to the Daily Judge of the Court of Common Pleas and’ tho Chief | City viting pl is from the daily newspapers for the pub- 8 which aro to hoy after the advertisement.muzt state the terms on'which (ings, which must not be more than the present rate, posals the circulation of the re that send in bids at a glance, is nal retention as @ law organ, draw. the city Ln ay ait the ive upon the ‘ould be accepted to ‘publish hich bene ericired to be pet in and that they oi cs reat service with only which is soventy-live conta won.. WARDEN QUINN'S JUSTIFICATION, In reply to cortain reports that William Ree, thy Convicted forger, was allowed to leave the Tombs in company of an officer at different times and that he was afforded other improper privileges net the Tales of the prison, Warden mone Guise ay etl cated to the Commissioners of Charities and Correctioa @ sworn statement of the facts. In this he says he allowed Ree no liberties not ted to the Prisoners. He knew when and wi Ree was confined Waar eked tae to leave the prison except om writs of corpus or on the order of District Ab torney Phelps. :