The New York Herald Newspaper, March 14, 1876, Page 4

4 CONGRESS. ————-—__— Che Counting of Votes for President and Vice President. THE STATES AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. 4 Gentleman from Buncombe on the Floor of the House, Report of the Conference Committee on the 3.65 District Bonds. SENATE. Wasumaton, March 13, 1876. A number of petitions were presented and appro- priately referred, On motion of Mr, Morrow, (rep.) of Ind., the Senate took up the bill to provide for and regulate tho count- ing of votes for President and Vice President. Mr. Bayarp, (dem.) of Del, briefly addre: Senate in opposition to the bill the Mr. Monit, (rep.) of Vt., obtained leave to intro. | duce a bill toremove trom the streets of Washington the tracks of all railroads using steam power, anda memorial of citizens accompany the bill, Referred to the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds. Mr. Momrow said the bill providing for the counting of votes for President and Vico President, now before tho Senate, presented three important changes from the old method, which he proposed to potnt ou, The bill provides for debate or explanation while the vote was being counted. It provides against the disfran- ehisement of any of the States, and it provides that the vote of every State shall be counted. Mr. Eatow, (dem.) of Conn. said that the second section of the bill provided that the returns from such State shall be counted which the two houses, acting separately, shall decide to be the true and valid return, and asked what would be the effect if the House de- cided that one set of returns were correct and the Senate decided that another set was correct in a case where there were two sets of returns from one State. Mr. MorvoN replied that in such acese as that the vote of the State would fall to the ground and the state would lose its vote, tor there was no outsice ivibunal constitutionally qualified to decide the matter. Mr, Bovrwktt, of Massachusetts, said he had not the faith in the wisdom of the bill that the Chairman (Mr, Morton) bad, although he should probably vote for the bi Hie did not assume that the Vice President had any other duty to periorm than simply to open the returos, For nearly a century the old method had been in use under the constitution, and it was not pos- sible for Congress t6 delegate it toa court or anybody else, Mr. Turrax, (dem.) of Obio, said it was time that some such measure as tbat should be adopted, for he could easily foresee that the oles of States mht some time be thrown out to such anextent as to plunge the country into anarchy and rebellion. It could not happen once in a Mhousand times that the Vice President would not know just what package of returns contains the votes oi his particular party, and he could pick that up and open it. It was through his (Mr, Thurman's) soleita- ou that the Senator from Indiana imtroduced the second section of the bill. and he considered it neces- sary. If auy Senator could devise any better plan he would be glad to rit, Mr. Wityrk, (dem.) of Md., said he would have it left just where our fathers and the constitution lett it. He eld that the Vice President had the right to decide Which was the correct set of returns, The two Houses Were present as witnesses of the transaction. He would not allow anybody to meddle with this mutter, but he would much rather the House would do it than the Senate. The House represented the people and came from the people every two years, while the Beu- ate did not; and he would preter to let them decide the matier if it was to be changed at all. Mr. Coorsr, (dem.) of Tenn., entertained the samo opinion, and moved to amend by adding after the words “the two houses acting separately shall decide to be the true and valid return,” the following words :—*Aud if the two houses cannot agree, then the House of Repre- fentatives, voting by States in tho manner provided by the constitution, when the election devolves upon = House, shall decide to be the true and valid re- urp.?? Mr. Kerwax, (dem.) of N. Y¥., dissented from the Benator trom MaryMod (Mr. Wh He did not think the President pro tempore had the right to decide which were the true and valid returns, and he did pot think Ube constitution warranted such conclusion. It said be should open all the returns and they should be sounted, Ifany question should ever arise as bas been woken of, then he would preier to ve the House Iecide the matter, as they more clearly represented the people. Mr. Morton said—Then if the House voted on the jection by States, the State which had but one epresentative would uve just as much yoice in the matter as the Stute of New York, which had thirty- three representatives. He said Le had once made a computation of the matter and had dscertained that forty-five members of the House voting by States, and Tepresenting 8,000,000 of people, could outvote the other 247 members representing 85,000,000 of people. Could anything be conceived of that would come turther from the will of the people ? The principle in- volved in this bill is precisely the same as that upon ‘Which all legislation of the country depends. If the two houses cannot agree upon a bill before Congress, it tails, of course, and there is no power to refer it to & \hird party as arbiter or reteree. If power can be del sate to the House to decide upon valid returns, it can be delegated to the Senate, it can be delegated to the Vice President or the President, and the entire will of tae people be set aside; and the idea of selecti referee or umpire to decide a question of this character was an absura one. Mr. FRRLINcHUYSEN, (rep.) of N.J., said that as absurd as the idea was, there Were several precedents for it; and he instanced the case of lowa, wherein a Governor bad been declared elected and a question arising the Court of Claims was delegated as umpire. Mr. ALtisox, (rep.) of Towa, introduced a bill pro- viding for an agreement with the Sioux nation in re- gard to 4 portion of their reservation, and for other purp Reterred to the Committee on Indian Affairs, At ten minutes past four the Senate went into execu- Hive session and at ten minutes to five adjourned. REPRESENTATIVES. Wasmixarox, March 13, 1876, Mr. Camrpart, (ind.) of LiL, presented the petition of 713 citizens of Iiinow, asking for the repeal of the Resumption act, Keterred. Mr. Cuitrenpey, (ind.) of N. Y., presented a resolu- tion of the Importers aud Grocers’ Board of Trade, of New York, in favor of the resumption of specie pay- ments. Reterred. The Speake then proceeded to call the States tor pilis, under which call the following bills were intro- duced and referred :— By Mr. Hewitt, (dem.) of Ala, prohibiting coutribu- tons from officers and employés of the government for Political purposes, By Mr. Laxoens, (dem.) of Ind., to allow twenty days vacation, with pay, to all government employés to attend the Centennial celebration. MORE INFORMATION WANTED. Mr. Sovrmarn (dem.)@f Ohio, offered a resolution calling on the Secretary of tife Treasury for informa- tion as to defaulting internal revenue collectors. Adopted. Also, a resolution calling on the Secretary of War for information as to whether promotions in the army ¥ince the 22d of June, 1874, have been im accordance With section 1,204 vi the Revised Statutes, and if not why not. Adopted. TUK MEMBER FROM BCNCOMNE, Mr. Baxen, (rep.) of Indiana, ofered Tesolution, Resolved, That the people of the United States constitute one nation, HOUSE OF e toilowing sd by the people actine individual eapacity torougn constituted: that the govern: f the people, in ie. i peop sphere the governim supreme ; that in its except by the wction hole people ; bo State has any right ot thority to judge of the consti ality of laws enacted by Congress, or to nullify the ex ecution of the same; and toat ail overt by any the people thereof of secession t . tof the Union was jess and indeteusible on aay theory of right or of com stifutional law. He moved that the rules be suspended and the resolution adopted, and he called for the yeas and hays, which were ordered, Mr. Stoxe, dem.) of Mo, moved that the House adjourn, Rejected. Mr. Cox, (dem.) of N. Y., asked if the resolution was divisible. The SPKAKER responded that a motion to suspend the rules and adopt a resolution was not divisible, Mr. Cox asked whether 1t was in order to read from the constitution these words:—Done in convention by the unaninous consent of the States.” GEORGE WASHINGTON, The Sreakex replied that that would be in the bature of debate and was not in order. The motion to suspend the rales and adopt the re- solution w rejected—yeas 91, nays 72—two-thirds not having voted in the alfirmative, Very few dewocrais voted it, Among them were Mess , of at Hardenberg, of New of New, of Indiana; Pheips, of Connectica ter, of Michigan; Vance, of Obio, and A. 8. Withams, of Michigan, All the republicans voted for it, all the Southern democrats against it, and most of the Northern demo- frats retrained from Voting. Beture the vote was announced Mr. Baker called the Mention of the Chair to the jact that many members _ | were present who were not voting, and be made the point of order that they bo compelled to vote, ‘The Srkakee overruled the point of order, Mr. Ranpatt, (dem.) of Pa, remarked that there was ‘a good deal of truth in the resolution, and also a good deal of talse principle. | The result of the vote was then announced. The following is the NEGATIVE VOTE, Messrs. Ashe, Atkins, Beebe, Blackburn, Bi Bright, Browa of Ky.. Cabell Caldwell of Téun., Candier, Gate, ¢ Cowan, Culberson, De Bolt, Debrell, Douglass, ner, Felton, Forney. Franklin, Glover. Goode, Guuter, Ha. Bland, Blount, | cock, Murtridge Hiewitt of Ale, § | Hooker, House, i Hurd, Jones of Ky., Kuott, | iene ays: Miltike a teller, Odell, Pi ayne, of Mo, Piper, . Reagon, Kice, Bi \R Rblus of a ©., Robbing of Pa, Kors, Sentes, Shoukle: } Singleton, Smitiy of Gy. Stone, VTerry, | Furockmorton, Tucker, Vance of N.C. Waddell,’ Walker. of N.¥., Ward, | Willian of Aia., Williams of Ind, Willi, Yeates and | ung: ol | _ Resolved, That the people of the United States constitute | @ nation, in the sense, to the exteat aud lor purposes defined in the federal'constitution. atthe xovernmeut of the United Btates is a ud was formed be ple of the | mn capac the ri, United States xoverminent are defined and federal constitution, and these rights and be enlarged of diuiulshed except by an ainendmeut to the constisution, Kesolved, That the rights of States have the same sane tion of security in the constitution ay the rights aud powers of the ledoral governinent, and that local domestic govern- ment by the several States, within the limits of the consti- tution, is absolutely necessary fur the preservation of the liberties of the citizen and the contiuuance of our republican doctrine that any St to secede from the Union is in confit with Perpetual union as contemplated by the loud be regarded us being forever extinguished by sult of the recent civil conflict. Mr. Hora, (dem,) of Ind., called forthe yeas and Bays, and they were ordered. Mr. Biaing, (rep.) of Me, expressed the bope that has the right the idea of » and the resolution, ‘Tho motion to suspend the rules and adopt the reso- lution was adopted—yeas 150, $42 All the demo- crats aud a few of the republica ted for the resoly tion. Among the republicans voting yea were Messrs. Kelley, Leavenworth, McDill, Vhiliips, of Ka: -as; Platt, Townsend, of l'ennsylvania; Willard and W. B. Wilhams, of Michigan, and Wilson. ‘The rest of the republicans voted no. THK THRER-SIXTY-PIVE DISTRICT BONDR, Mr. Bockysr (dem.) of Mo., trom the conference committee on the bill to provide for the payment of the interest on the 3.65 bonds of the District of Colum- bia, made a report and proceeded to explain it, He stated that the amount of these bonds issued up to the 26th of January was $18,598,700, and trom that time up to the Sdo! February the additional amount of $184,350 bad been issued, but that since that time po bouds bad been issued. After discussion the report was agreed upon—yeas 108, nays 78. Mr, Buatxg, of Maine, presented the memorial of citizens of Texas protesting against tho unjust and illiveral manner in which the State of Texas 1s appor- tioned into Congressional districts, which was properly reterred. Mr. Keuusy, (rep.) of Pa., offered a resolution de- claring it to be the sense of the House that the issuo of gold interest bearing bonds for the purchase of sil- ver and its manufacture into coin is an unwise and wasteful expenditure of the public money and ought to be discontinued, 1t was referred to the Commitice on Appropriations. Mr. Horxins, (dem.) of Pa., offered a resolution call- ing for information in regard to alleged irregularities in the Custom House at Pittsburg, which was adopted. Mr. Concer, of Michigan, offered a resolution calling for information as to life saving stations on the ocean and lake coasts, which was adoptea, COTTON CLAIMS. 18, (dem.) of N, Y., offered a resolution eall- niormation as to cotton claims presented and paid by the Treasury Department since January, 1865, requiring the names and residences of the original owners and of the attorneys, also as to the manner of paying tees in such cases, and whether there bas been any combination to de/raud the government in respect of such claims, This was adopted. Mr. Wi..is also offered a resolution directing the Committee on Civil Service Reform to inquire into the alleged conspiracy on the part of John W. Wright and others to deiraud the government tm connection with Indian claims, which was adopted. ‘The House then, at half-past four, adjourned. UTILIZING SALT WATER. ANOTHER MEETING OF THE ALDERMANIC COM- MITTEE—REMARKS OF COMMISSIONER CAMP- BELL AND PROFESSOR CHANDLER. The Committee of the Board of Aldermen, of which Mr. W. H. McCarthy és chairman, who have in charge the proposition to utilize salt water in this city for fire extinguishing and sanitary purposes, met again at the City Hall yesterday afternoon, Mr. Thomas Miller submitted a plan for the erection of seven towers or reservoirs between the Battery and Fourteenth street, with two engines on either side of the city to pump the salt water. Ho considered the cost of these works would probably reach some $2,500,000, and that they would prove perfectly com- petent to protect this portion of the city from the ray- ages of fire. Professor C. F. Chandler, of the Health Department, appeared before the committee, He said there was no Sanitary objection to the introduction of salt water ito the city. This water, when used to extinguish fires, would no doubt very much injure a certain class of dry goods. It also corrodes pipes faster than fresh water, There is caough water, he said, in the reservoirs of the city for all purposes if sufficient pipes and anains are tur- uished. It appeared to him, as # taxpayer, rather un- necessary to spend such a large amount of mouey tor the intreduction of salt water when we have plenty of Croton at our disposal. Ata large fire which occurred in this city some years ago thirty-three engines were at work, They could pot consume more than 600,000 gallons in an hour. In case of fire water is required rapidly. By putting aown the proper additional pipes and mains for Croton water the city could be fully supplied. He (Dr. Chand- dier) was of opimion that ibe sewers are ip bad condi- tion, but did not think there would be any special benefit derived trom sending salt water through them, and he thought 1 Would be w great pity, under the circumstances, to spend a single dollar jor such a pur- pose, The principal question was as to accomplish- ing the greatest amount of good for the least amount of movey. In Putnam county we bave a reservoir of 8,000,000,000 gallons; in the Central Park one ot 1,000,000, 000; and in the Fifth avenue one of 20,000,000. This great volume of water, he maintained, was amply sufficient for all purposes. Commissioner of Public Works Campbell again ap- peared before the committee and decided opin- Jon against the proposition to utilize salt wi He thought it would be a useless expense. There are, he said, now about 410 miles of pipe laid im the erty, to- gether with 4,000 hydrants, sewers and gas pipes.’ It 18 suggested to put down 300 milés of pipes tor salt water use. This would cost about $9,000,000, Mr. Campbell agreed with Professor Chandler ‘as to the statement that we have an ample supply of Croton water for ali purposes if additional pipes and mains are wd throughout the city. Mr. Millers plan, he said, would prove enormously expensive. The | tower High Bridge had cost nearly $100,000, and contained 7 56,000 gallous. r, Caleb Richardson again explained the Holly system, Another meeting of the committee will be held om Monday alternoon next. BROOKLYN CITY GOVERNMENT. A regular weekly meeting of the Common Council of Brooklyn was held yesterday, President French in the chair. A series of petitions for and against the pro- posed introduction of steam on Atlantic avenue were presented, read and placed on file, The Board of Guy Works were authorized to advertise for proposals for dredging at piers Nos. Land 2, Washington avenue dock, at an expense not to exceed $5,000 The mittee on Public Buildings reported that they were of the opiniva that more euitable lands than those on Adams street could be obtained, and that an act of t! Legislature on the sulyect would factiiiate the eng ia view. The committee were authorized to secure further Wanster of lands which judgment of the coumitice Would be suitable for the purpose of crect- ing public butidings and to secure the aecessary legis- lation therefor. The Law Committee reported that the power of the appointment of city employes beionged to the Board of Aldermen and not to the Board of City Works, as the latier claimed, From the Ratiroad Committee Alderman Shepherd presented a lengthy and exbaustive minority repo opposition to the rapid tronait scheme on Atlantic # ue. A resvlation was offered by the Alderman of tne Seventh ward jn relation to the alleged dedicrencies ia the offices of ex-Comptrotier Johnson and ex Tax Col- lector isaac Badeau. The Corporation Count structed to “commence legal proceedings forthwith M. Johoson aud his sureties for » deticiency alleged amounted to $41,110 in the sewer bond wccoaut aod $55,060 tn the assessment bond account, This alleged deticreney Was Lroucht tw the attention of the Com- mon Council in 1872 by Mayor Schroeder, who was at that time Comptrolicr, and the matier Was exammed by the Finance Committee, who reported that they ound LO matter in the communication requiring their on, The present Board is republican, however, view matters and ing upow their op- The resolution was ht the Common Council, by a vote of 21 to 3, pas 0 granting to the At- lantic Avenue Railroad Company or auy of its lessees the privilege Ww use steam moutors on Atlantic avenue east of Flatbush aveaue PRISON AFFAIRS. Bernard Clark was yesterday appotated by the Com. missioners of Charities and Correction keeper of the City Prison (the Tombs) in the place of George Ferris. Daring the week ending Febraary 11 twenty-four males and four females wero received into the Peni- teutiary. | Mr. Cox, of New York, then offered the following res- ution every Union man in the ilouse would vole agaist ihe | + antl about pine o’clock,, when he was « } NEW YORK HERALD, TUESDAY, MARCH 1 GAMBETTA'S SPEECH AT LYONS. | THE FRENCH BADICAL REFORMER ATTACKS THE | CLERICAL PARTY BITTERLY—THE POLICY OF TRS EXPEDITION TO MEXICO, (Paris (March 1) correspondence of London Standard.) The Lyons papers publish the text of M. Gam- betta’s speech at Lyons. The Moniteur of this evening considers it calculated to reassure the conservatives as to the cousequences of the elections and to familiarize ‘hem with the acclimatization of the Republic. This is, perhaps, rather an overstrained construction to put on M. Gambetta’s speech ; for, although its general tone 4s moderate enough, he attacks THE CLEKICAL PARTY with extreme violence, For instance:—“The key note of the elections 18 to be found in the anti-clerical feel” ing ef the country. France from north to south has expressed her adhesion to the republican principle, aud her determination to put down olerialism at home and abroad. During the last five years, owing to our disasters and also to our fainthearted- ness, we have witnessed the growth of a party which, under the pretext ofa moparchical res- \oration, would bave involved us in war with Italy, and which formed @ kind of league worthy of the Dark Ages, associations for the manufacture of mira cles, for pilgrimages and for tho anuihilution of the principles of 1789. The administration tolerated all Nines galegs on in defiance of the law, Thus wo wit. nessed the growth in our midst of ‘the chilaren of th Lord’ to such an extent that France seemed th tuge of all the Christians in Christendom, This was carried so lar that France revolted against the theocratic spirit which takes kateaf Loon, when it is denied its shave, Thus it was that Franco voted for the Republic in order to protect tho civil immunities she owes to the Revolution, The encroachments of ultramontan- ism had already exeted the apprehensions of Europe, They might have become the Starting point of @ general war. It was sought to divide the world into two cam supporters of the Vaticau and the champions o! ought, and, therefore, great was the rejoicing at the elections, which convivced the worlé that France meant to resume her place as the toremost champion of free inquiry and free thought" When he passed from the religious to the political question M. Gam- betta was relatively moderate. The tollowing passage deserves the praise bestowed upon tt by the Momteur: “Tt 1s as wise and statesmanlike as il 18 necessary that the Republic should be considered as @ republic of peace, orfer and morality, lt ts necessary that tho world should be inpressed With the fact that the Ko- pudlic’s existence can give no umbrage to the Powers on our froutiers, We have often sinned through a spirit of excessive propaganda Let us begin by looking at home. Let us heal our own wounds and leave the rest of the world to mind its own busivess without obtruding our interfer- ence. Moreover, for a long time past we have had nothing to te:ch to foreign nations, but, on the con- trary, inuch to learn and borrow trom them—trom Eugiand, the freedom of the press and the right of meeting, and trom our adversary of yesterday its mili- Ary organization and its feally universal compulsory service. Of these conditions we may rely on the co- operation and sympathy of our neighbors. We must repudiate proselytism. We must repudiate that sinister policy of the Second Empire which involved as in the Mexican expedition, which betrayed Deutmark, which allowed Austria to be crushed, and which dug under our own fect a gulf into which we all but disup- | peared. That doctrine of nationalities we must em- | phatically, heartily and sincerely repudiate.” | REPUBLICAN RELATIONS TOWARDS MACMANON, 1 Further on the speaker expressed himself as follows | | \ respecting the constitution and the chief of the Stal ‘he man at the head of the State, the President of the bo ae) may be assured that it 18 not the republi- cans that will ever question his powors. Whatever may have been our attitude on the 24th of May, we can honestly say that it was no fault of ours that the chief of the State was not placed beyond the turmou! of party strife.” He also added that be would not insist on ahecatomb of prefect. All he was anxious for was careiul weeding, and in conclusion he bade the liberals. who still, it seem bog 4 the democrats with distrast to conv themselves Within the four years’ grace lett them. “Provided they are only sincere, loyal and hon- est, they will be welcomed with open arms.” FORGERY ON A_ KING, THR FORGERY OF KING VICTOR EMMANUEL'S NAME—HOW IT WAS DETECTED. The London 7imes of the 1st inst. publishes a state ment from its correspondent in Rome announcing that a remarkable forgery of the name of King Victor Em- manuel bas been detected, He writes:— Considerable excitement has been caused by the dis- covery that bills of exchange to the amount of 200,000L, have been negotiated under the pretence that they were drawn for the accommodation of His Majesty the King of Italy, by means of a forgery of the King’s name to a kind of guarantee that His Majesty was responsible for them—these bills, two in number, for a 100,001. each, were discounted with the Banco Popoiare + Bologna. ‘The fact of the bills being in the market ing come to the knowledge of the administration of the King’s Civil List, inquiries Were made, and several persons were placed under arrest whose bates were found to ‘ve connected with thom. These persons have nuw been set at liberty on its having been ascertained that the sole author of the forgery is the MANCHESE MANTRGAZZA, of Milan, who bas made a full confession. It appears that, baving skillully laid his plans, be obtained access to the King’s private apartments pow sume excuse, and when coming out from thence be met the Marchese Bagnasco, aide-de-camp to Hie Majesty, and anothor eutleman ip Waiting im the ante-chamber, Taking Bagnasco, with whom he was acquainted, he told him that ne bad a matter of some d y. confide to bim—that he bad just beon imstructed by Hi Majesty to raise money for him, and, drawing from his ocket the guarantee, bearing What purported to be (he ng’s st re, said that it would be necessary for him to have an attestation that it was the King’s handwriting, and asked Bagnasco to give it he Marchese Bagnasco having seen him come out direct from the King’s private apartment, knowing bim to be a mab whe had todo with Guanclal operations on a ge scale and deceived as to the authenticity of the abiy iinitated signature, gave the attestation required, On being asked why he did not tirst make inquiries of His M. ty direct, he replicd that the circum- stances as they were being such a to preclude the, ossib'lity of suspicion, to have goue to the King would’ Eive had the appearance of a desire to obtrude him- self upon His Majesty's private business. The M: chese Mantegazza is aman who, as far as 1 am in- formed, has hiterto always been looked upon as a gen- tleman worthy of all contidence. He was one of DIRECTOKS OF TUR MODENA-MANTUA line of railway. ‘There are rumors of othor bills being 1p circulation to which forgeries of the Royal signature are attached, and on @ perquisition being made im the Murehese Man: tegazza’s house, several bearing the King’s vame were found ready for negotiation. [tis asserted by some that the Marchese bas beon employed by the King 10 financtal operations, and that he bas taken advantage of the contidence pi him to put these forgeries into circulation. I may add thatin the mouth of March last the Marchese Muntegazza negotiated a loan of 6,000,000 francs for the twunicipaliy of Naples, which was conducted with the Louse of Oppenheim, of Paris, and those bunkers, 1 am toid, bad sufllcient con- fidence in him to place the deposit money iw bis bands. ‘This ts the PIRST ATTEMrT made to forge the writing of Victor Emmanuel. The name of Chi Albert was once forged by a student to an order for payment of asum of money, bus tt was immediately detected on presentation, INVENTORY OF ERIE’S PROPERTY, An inventory of all the property belonging to or Jeased by the Eric Ratlroud has been making for some time past. The value of tho property being classified is tn round numbers $100,000,000, and this ts divided under four heads—namoly, the lines owned by the company, the lines leased by the company, the lines operated by the company and the property indirectly appertaining to the service of the company, such, for instance, as the Grand Opera House and the present offives on West street. ‘The document when completed will spread over 6,300 quarto pages. It ts intended for the counsol im the cases now pending against Erie. LIGHINING AT WORK, atceeanlll During the prevalence of a thunder storm at Blue Potnt, Long Island, on Sunday night, the house of Minor M Russell was atrock by liebinine and all the Timates rendered insensivic tor a time Une young 1) Was severely burhed about the arms and chest, and @ young lady was badly burned om the fect Tho house was damaged but little, ATTEMPTED SUICIDE. A Frenchman living at Woodhaven, L. L, who was ewployed as watebman in the Grosjean Manufactory at the time it was barned, just atter breakfast yesterday morning went out to the water closet in the rear of bis residence and shot himself, He was oot discovered 111 alive, tho will doubt there though badly woanded and very weak. lees doe. The cause of the act isa mystery, a& was bo suspicion of incendiarists against bim. FIRE AT OYS Early yesterday morning the dwelling house of Mr. Samuel Kneeland, at Bedeiltown, town of Oyster Bay, was discovered to be on fire, and in spite of every effort it was destroyed, with considerable of ts contents, The fire communicated to the barn and other outouildings, and they also were destroyed with a large quantity of material, The loss is estimated at fron: $6,000 to $8,000, DID NOT CONTRACT. TER BAY. To sa Epiror or THe HeRaip:— Be kind enough to correct the statement which rep- resents me as the contractor for the Bay Ridge Rail- road. J beg leave to say that I have not entered into any contract for the consiruction of that rowd. WILLIAM BEARD, Baooxirs, March 13, 1976, 4, 1876.—TRIPLE SHEET. : DREW’S BANKRUPTCY. WHAT I8 THOUGHT IN WALL STREET OF DAN DREW'S VAILURE—SCHEDULE OF HIS ASSETS AND LIABILITIES. Although the faflure of the venerable operator fa miliarly knowa as ‘Uncle Dan’! has been a matter | well known in Wall street forsome months and freely discagsed, the formal petition in bankruptcy of the old loader was the subject of much comment yesterday, His principal creditors on the street, named tn the schedule, are Messrs. 8. V. White, William B. Travers: J. D. Prince, the assignee of the late firm of Kenyon, Cox & Co.; Azariah Boody, Johu Hunter and D. E. V: Emburgh. These gentlemen were convérsed with by the Hekatp reporter, but they had but little to say of general interest bearing on the dividend to be expected from the assets Said one creditor, “You perceive the real€stato of Mr. Drew is nearly all mortgaged for its full value, and the reversionary interests mentioned fm the schedule of property as ‘choses in action’ af- ford but little ground for the hope of @ large dividend, My Inte partner has long since charged his portion of Mr. Drow’s indebtedness to profit and loss account. The famous sealskin coat which figures 1m the list of | Personal property was the subject of considerable mer- riment at the time of its presentation to Uncle Dan’! by Mr. Eugene Robinson, in whose office the old gen- tleman was at that time operating largely in gold, It {9 @ pity,” added tho gentleman, “that such institutions asthe Drew Theological Seminary and the Wesleyan University, the forme: lattor with $100,000, in Wabash, caused by the real or pretended ilicess of | Mr. Drew a few months since, at the time be hud calls of thousands of shares on the street, will not be torgos- | twn suddenly by the operators who lost thousands of | | THE owed with $250,000 aud the | e both unsccured, The flurry | dollars by ‘THE OLD GENTLEMAN'S SCIATICA, Nor will the speculators fail to remember the day that Jucle Dan’i flooded the street with nearly 60,000 | shares of stock—he being ‘zhort’ of it—when it came down, like the stick of a rocket, from ninety to dity; his subsequent flight to New Jersey and the laws! ‘that grew out of that memorable day are a part of Wall street history.” The schedule in bankruptcy gives the following figures:— Cash on hand one, Personal pro} $150 One sealskin coat... 100 Ordinary wearing app 00 Family books and Bible. 30 Horses and carriages... None. Shipping and shares in veas Nove. Debts cue petitivuer—s. V, White, $50,069, | with interest from June 26, 1872, ‘subject to a lien and undetermined amount thereof, given to Alvin Burt..,....... . 969 | Stocks—9,200 shares of the capital stock of the New Jersey Steamboat Company; par value, $100 each; deposited in and held: by the Farmers’ Loan and Security Company as scourity for investments under the pro- Visions of the last will of Robert W. Kelly, in the pnames of Georgiana Everott, Josephine Cozzens, Louise R’ Edy and Aa toinette Cozzens ug 000 775 shares Louisville, and New Albany aud Chicago Rajlroud Company, $100 each par; 500 shares Canton Land Company, of Bul: tumore, par $100 cach; 74 first mortgage bonds ‘of the Toledo, Canada Southera and Detroit Railway Company, $1,000 exch, esti- mated @t. 4... Policies of insurance . 80,000 None, Unliquidated claims—Claims against Kenyon Cox, William H. Hutchinson and Horace Manuel. ... Interest in lands—90 county ot Westchester, N. Y., known as the 160,000 ‘acres town of Ossing. Ryder Farm. Other real es mortgages :— 179 acres, Carmel, Putnam county.. 79 acres, Southeast, Putnam county 280 acres, Carmel, Putuam county. 16 acres, Courtlandt, Westchester count, (mortgage, $19,300)... Be 43 acres, Carmel, Putnam count 120 acres, Cuatham, Morris county, + 75,000 lue over the tee Total assets, estimated $673,499 Lal ES. To creditors who are to be paid in full, or to whom priority is secured—City and county of New York, taxes on personal property $7,884 Creditors holding securities—Trust funds in name of Geurgiapa Everett, Josephine Coz- zens, Louise K, Edy, Antoinette Cozzeus (secured by mortgages on property at Seven- teenth street and Union square)... William L, Seott, Co, Creditors . or vouchers reterring to the: Drow Theological Seminary, an Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn. Vernon H. B: y George A. Baker & Co. avers & Hunter... +s hve Simonds Manufacturing Company. Joba D. Prince David E. Van Philbin & Quinn. J.C. Quinn & Co Wyllis H. Naraer . H. Jackson & © SD. Hatch Eihs Parsells iu 3 A. F. Hastiogs, Receiver of Security “insur- ance Company Appleton Sturges, Administ Executor George W. Coster. Total Wabilities.... 6.6. 666 cee eres een ee $1,093, 759 Yesterday ulternoon the counsel ior Mr. Drew tiled the proper aflidavis in bankruptcy betoré Register Wilhains, who issued @ certivcate of protection and set down the first meeting of creditors tor the purpose of iit an assignee on April 6, 1870, at one o'clock STRIKE. Yesterday the printers employed in several of the Job offices in this city turned out on strike, not being willing toaccept the proposed reduction in their wages of ten to filteen per cent proposed by the employers. The men, about (wo hundred in number, tlocked to the rootns of ‘Typographical Union No, 6, in Chatham street, of which they are members, and there discussed the situation. The organization is said to be very strong, and will uot allow the men to resume work unless old rates are paid them. Those who have been ordered to quit work will be allowed twelve dollars per week until the strike shuli be ended. The typos are confident of gaining their ends and of forcing the bosses to come to terms. The employers struck against are Messrs, Trow, Polhemus, Douglas Taylor, Gildersiceve and the Bvening Post book and job vilice. The compositors employed by Francis Hart & Co, will, it is expected, quit work (0-day unless the firm agrees to pay old rates. No attempt has beew made by other houses in the trade to reduce wages abd none ts expécted. There were no disturbance’ atany of the offices hamed above, although the Union ten were picketed around the entrances to endeavor to persua wot to go to) work, but offered when argument. failed. The Orms referred to have been obliged to employ a number of non-Union men and boys in order to work off their most pressing contracts, but the supply of such bands ts said to be totally inadequate to carry on the business for any lengthened time. Many of |hese non-Union men, to Will be induced to join tho soci diMeulty. A conterence was held between the men lately employed in the Avening Jost Job olice and the manager, vut no satistactory result Was reached. STARVATION WAGES, ‘The 800 laborers who threw down their picks and shovels on the work of excavating for the Bay Ridgo and Jataica Ratiroad, om Saturday Jast, being unable to support themselves with the: pittance of ninety cents per day paid by the contractor, are still out on strike. Mr. Beard, the contractor, says that the poor fellows will return to work in a day or two, The men gay that they will not do anything of the sort. The strikers are peaceable and bave been guilty af no vio- lence, though they claim that ten days’ pay is due them by their employer, They dewand $1 50 per day. THE BROOKLYN MYSTERY. - Charlies ©. Schnauper, the German grocer, who was arrested in Brookiyn on Saturday last on suspicion of having forged the name of bis missing wife to a certain deed tor the sule of real estate, was yesterday taken be- fore Justice Walsh on a motion for admittance to bail. Tho motion, however, was denied and the prisoner was remanded to Raymond Street Jai The money which was taken from him when he was arrested was returned to bim at Lis own request. and it is now reported that the prison son au daughter are also missing. The notary before whom the couveyancy deed was signed has given ription of the woman Who signed 't aud this does vot tally with the appearance of Annie Schnauper, the prisoner's wite, The detectives are now seeking for this woman. THE HEMPSTEAD RESERVOIR. The question is still boing agitated, “Will thestorage reservoir at Hompstead hold water, a8 promiged by the projectors of the work?" It ts propdsed, should it upon trial prove not to be leaky, to complete the dam, but before doing so the Aldermen have ordered the Engineer of the Board of City Works to close the gates “‘until such time ae it sball contain at Jeast twelve feet of water.” The gates were uo) closed as promptly as was desired, and yea- jay Mayor Schroeder scout a communication to t Commissioners of City Works telling those ie ae to instruct Kagiuecr Adiums to attend to the matter and cause ‘reports to be made daily of the gain, if auy, of water 1 the roservour,”” | bor, without pecuniary compensation, this Indian | true thus all the officers and clerks 1 the Interior De- , Wat have hitherto euvironed it, The Indian King is | spurucy against the government to relicve it of surplus . fidence that they w INDIANS. | Mr. Welsh’s Letter on the Transfer of Authority. Rapid Inerease of Expenditure in the {n- dian Service. ENCOURAGING RESULTS IN CIVILIZATION. The War Department Réc- ommended. To Tum Epiron ov tae Heratp:— Very many of the best friends of Indian civilization are deeply troubled by the evident determination of the House of Representatives to reiuse to make appro- Priations for Indian service unless the care of the In- dians is transferred from the Department of the Inte- tior tothe War Department. This want of confidence tn the Department of the Interior is well founded, as it 1s adepartment of the government that will ever be looked to for the money needful to conduct political campaigns, Messrs, Brunot, Stuart, Dodge, Bishop, Farwell, Campbell and Tobey were appointea by the President with (ull authority of law to check abuses fm the Indian service After years of self-uenying la- Commission found itself anabie to check th 1 inilu- ence taut the Indian Ring had acquired over the offi. cers of the Loterior Department. Whea vouchers toa large amouat, that the commission had pronounced illegal or fraudulent, @ paid by the Secretary of the Interior, they roported the facts to the President of the United States, but as he did not Sustain them they resigned. On surrendering to the Prosident their commissions there was no expres- sion of regret, although such expressions had been made on the resignation of Indian Commissioner Par- ker, and Jatteriy at the resiguationa of Secretaries Del- ano and Belknap, At thas time informers of wrongs by government officials were considered the guilty parties and (heir retirement was not regretied It 18 partment who assisted in or connived at these traud- ulent transactions bave beon removed, yet this does not take the department out of the political influences rich, and will probably, as hitherto, be assessed to ald iu defraying the expenses of the next political cam Dagn. Such an assessment, according to party usage, Sanctions a protit beyond the gains usual in commercial trangactions of ten times the sum paid, Although the heads of the Indinu Office dad of the Interior Department, with which it 1@ connected, have been changed, yet the India King, that has so long been in the ascendant, remains unchanged in power ‘aud in practice, as is shown by tho following extracts from a report jast published by the existing Board of Indian Commissioners. The purchasing commattce, comprising K, A. Hoyt, chairman, and E. M. Kingsley oud Clinton B, Fisk, certify that the all-powerful Indian Ring still comprises J. W. Bosler, A. H. Wilder, Do Witt Cliaton Wheeler, J. 1. Buldwin, General Dodge, J. B. Beard and others, and that they entered into a con- cash J..W; Bosler and A. 11. Wilder, in bargaining for beet needed beyoud the former eoutract, demanded $3 80 for 10) ounds of cattle gross, on the hoot, wlleying that they had ‘at the contract price of 2 40 por ewt,, altuough J. W. Bosler vestitied to the Ked Cloud Commission that there was no occasion for him to over the weight of cut- te, as the contract had ylelded a protit of $117,010 18, The committee will her» add that these same contractors afterward were Interested in # bid that offered to Ging to the sbsance of competition the purchasing eom- mittee "was obliged to pay Buster & Wilder $3 per cwt. for the additional supply, although this same ring paid €98,0U0 fow weeks afterward to buy out # successiul bidder at $2 4634 per ewt, ‘This mode of dealing in part accounts for the rapid increase of expenditure for Indian service under the present administration, reaching nearly $9,000,000 during the year ending July 1, 1875. In addition to this, about $40,000,000 were expended through the Interior Department. The House of Representatives will not be severely censured by @ heavily taxed community for reiusing wppropriatvious until it bas guarantee that the money will bo honestly and imvolligyntiy exponded. Surely tuis could be reached, so far as tt relutes te Indian ser- vice, by the lorinatiou of an independeat bureau lke ‘that for the promotion of agriculture, Such a measure seems called Jor a8 a duty to the aboriginal inhabitants of this land, whose civilization and Christianization are not only a goverumental obligation, but should be the | pride oi a Christian people, After u tree conference | With influential members of Congress 1 became satistied | that nv such measure could be carried into effect | during the present session of Congress. To allow the | | Indians wo remain with & department that has been | under the control of an Indian King and is of neces- sity sulgect to political infuences is unwarrantable. [t only remains for the iriends of Indian civilization to treo thoir minds trom prejudice and to look carefully | into the probable eifect of Wansterring Indians to the | War Departinent, and, if it promises to be an improve- Mest over the present system, then to assist in pro- curing such jegisiation as will tend to promote the cause they Lave at heart, The members of the committees of the House of Representatives on military aflars and Indian affairs | expressed to ine a strong desire to co-operate with the missionary associations charged with the sapervision of Indian reservations in procurmg the legisiation requisite to carry forward every suitable civilizing and jabizing ageney. The vill reported by the military jtiwe hug in it many excellent provisions, obliging the commanders of the departments in which In. dians are located to appoint ageuts, with the coaca rence of the Secretary of War, and the inspectors r- ‘the army to have supervision over them. A clause hot been or 18 to be inserted, at the instance of the {rienas of Christian civilization, obliging the olficers in chards to exclude overy inworal acd ivjurious person iroge euch reservation ; to encourage and promote approprm ate efforts to civilize and Christianize Indians, and ti- carry Out such regulations theretor as may be preo seribed by the President of the United States, Unde- the last provision protection and eucouragement wilt be given to all that is now being well done for thel benefit, of the Indians, as the President of the United States is known to be favorable to Indian civilization. If the various reiigivus bodies agree upon a fixed system, such as withholding gratuitous rations from children who te- fase to attend sehvol, and anything beyond the barest necessaries of lite 1 iudiaus Who deciine to work or to acquire civilized habits, &, the President of the L d States will, beyond doubt, prescribe ‘such « rule, and the oflicer who has charge of the resorvavon will be obliged to put ft into pracuce. The four expressed by prejudiced persons that if the Indians come under the War Departinent they will be brougtt into still closer coutact with soldiers is ground- Jess, lor ariny oiticers using trained to command, In- dians will readily obey them, ubder the beliot that Wey Will be sustained by military power, often render- ing the prescoce of troops unnecessary. Knowing, as lao, most of the division commanders, | express con- select io¢ Indian ts olticors of established moral character and of special fitness for the duty, and men with families. Such a type of maa cun rarely be had at $1,500 4 year to Hill an office likely to entail a permanent disgrace upoo him, and where ‘the cust of ort | ts often very high, A captain in the army receives 4 higher salary, obtains most of the arti- cles needed jo Nis tamily at their first cust in the great ities, Without freight or amy other charges, and ue is hopefal yf promouon, Such a military agent repre- senting the government will be a terror Lo ev! 5 Witboul, as 4t present, bringing odium on the Church. With the presence of Christian ministers and teachers On the reservation, it is unikely that a profane or dis- solute officer will be allowed to retnain as agent, for that would bring disgrace upon the army, This fear, expressed by timid people, may ve allayed by their looking back to the ‘ume = when tho officers. = of) tho. army @ such efficient protection and countenance to the ers of the freedmen. Many of the religious bodies having the care of wild Indiaus are even now depend- ‘ut in whole or in part upon army ollicers for the pro- Weetion that schvols 4, and without which it Would Le impossible to conduct them, A large majority of the officers of high grade in the army are the best and the most intelligent friends of Indian civilization Vhat 1 ever met with, The Secretary of War, who is entitled to the coulidence of every citizen, will un- doubtedly detail an oificer to supervise the Lidian De- ent who is in every way fittea Jor this work, and who wil have the contidence of the Christian commu nity, Indian wars canuot be conducted under toa Tules usually governing civilized wartare; thereiure the officers who are most successiul in fighting Indians are usually unduly censured by oversensitive eivilians, Generals Sheriaan and Custer are prominent types of this class of soldiers, 1 append a letter written by ‘the latter to show another phase of bis character, and in the onty oilicial interview I ever bad with General jheridan he manifested a stronger horror of wrougs | ly whites and of sympathy for eable Indians than are usuwily met with im civilians I also ap- pend @ letter, just received irom a missionary doing efficient service with a tribe of Sioux Indians, to now that this proposed transier is not very objcc- Henabie to him, and also to reveal to the sceptical the present condition of a tribe of Sioux Indians who, six years ayo, when I first visited them, wero lazy, degraded heathen. The facts stated im that letter lean verity from personal observation, and the ad- vance In their civilization bas mo Maat 1 know expressed to visit the ludian Territory rom the fact that even white farmers can hardly in the region into whieh these and other Sioux Tudias have been by tho advances of civiliza- tion. The ase of the Commissary and Quartermasver's Dopariment of the army will undoubtedly be economi- cal anu beneficial, and if it t# foand that the civiliza- tion of the Indians 1s retarded by @ transter to the War ‘unent, surely there Ié power enough beld by tho | merciful Joe right-thinking eyed of this ie bile te Procure the establishment of an in e Pata, March 13, 1876. WILLIAM Wi LETTER FROM GENERAL CUSTER. Heavguaxrexs Miovix Disraicr, ui Davayrenet o' bei our ABRAUAM Ta . Hiwwan, Cntte Iudich Commissioner :~ Ss sco! St the services of the Sat they hy Le Ii connee: ee ihey are about vation. {desire to oval of their eon under my shetr we their 2 os rf arty the Brief *pettod They have expr toy couduet dufing command. As soldiers I have found them faithful, obedient aud trustworthy, always ready to perform theirduty. Ut si au eater bloasure te tonity to. heir deport: rm ad Delanging ta’ the white race could ee atloet manity of the same if equal, that of the 3 the Black Hills ex from the prevail oe young von, ¥ seem to be generally treo views usually found smong young neither indulge in profanity nor lousant incldens among tho vised to the Black . AS & class, they strong — drink, many which Hills 1 characte recall. my visit wa (tring ome one Thy or more of manly voices. ‘Then lollowed th ecquatly fguiliar fyi Shtock of Aue pomered she Cavalrymen are not noted for thet were oe ee I now men, and 3 roup of | T shail long remember the pleasing sifest genet by Nearing those yood old yymus sung, as 1 thea heard them, by men, or the sons of men, who bat afew years azo roamed over ‘his country in a state of barbarous wildness, So much for the labors of ‘Christhanity and eiviliaation ; to you, and ths you to the Bantees under your 4 express my feation that so uel has been achieved, May the good work go on Is the sineere wish of thi Brevet Major General United States Army, Commanding District. ‘ MISSIONARY COOK'S vIKWS. Yasxrox AGENCY, Dakoisy Feb, 28.1879. n' Inst. caine duly The discussion at Washington about to the War Department has not at all in the papers that have reach a, Fel My Dear Mr. Wetsit:—Yours of the 19th Inst. to hand lust week. turning pver the Indi appenre ci w into the Obureh by king forward to th Jo for a long tin derinsiruction since last fall, T have kept bln waiting good while, to. uy and to be sure that was no more temporary fancy. "Heh thug Mimeclf to read Dukots, aud studied the baptismal service faithfully beforehand, ree snowstwrat began be scarcely rd A ani Saturday night, and I thought there would hy one wrclufeht but to my surprise there was large (a ‘congregation as, nual.” 1 had sant word t9 the would be glad if be former warr.or, Black Eagle, now Ree, that itit acalm, nice day qoutld come up to be one of Medicine Co eri oy a find been very. sick aud had not yet been out, To my riding fiveen anites amazement he made his arin ce, craatatn the storm, “Ho saldhe. wished. #0 mush ¢0 Ds pres. ent on the important oecasion that, although it was @ very bad day, he could not remain at home. “Kefore the sere vice was over, bowever, he was to the vestry room and le down, [ the chiel, Henry Swan, who lives five or six mil the other direction in thé woods, and he also came.” At the baptism the three chiets took their places at the font to- gether. Sacred Cow received the name of Joseph, which hig son, William Selwyn, tian youth, Tong ‘aio, tn “an- ticipation of baptism, selected for him, Yn honor of the oc- easton we sang two byzns from oun, Hymnal, composed by his son, William Selwyn, After the second service | invited three chiefs to dine with us, and that was followed by exhortations w Joseph Selwyn ‘by the chiefs, Jolin Reo and Heary Swan, and by myself. Thus we have tow received into the Chureh five out of the eight chiets of this tribe of Yankton Sioux Indians, also the Chiet Mad Bull, who dled in the communion of the Churen three years Johan Kee. is lief In his place, ‘Three chtels "still Stand aloof, aud not only #0, but are more or lest the ‘enemies of civilization aud Christianity. Mut the five “wid. aro Christlans ‘do honor to” thelr” pro. fession, and are very {withtul in thelt wttendance ae ehureh And in laboring to extend Christianity among thelr people, which, of course, is @ great Joy to T kept John Ree hero last night, and, as he heard that Tam writing to you, he Wishes fo say somewhat, which L will ‘My friend, for fuur weeks {have heen sick, and I have always continue praying to God, aud He has heard me aud rescued me again fo ille. From this time I think f shall always bave greater faith in Him and trast His chureh more fully than ever. ‘Aluhough Lhave been sick In body I always bear you in remembrance. ‘Twice I fainted and the people said Twas If # man hay many children, and he is badly off for food to give them, he Jowds his gun and searches the country for gan I think you are like that man, You ure one of God's peacemakers and helpers, and through your efforts the Yauktons have been fed and thei Children have been spared to them.” 1 say this because ou have secured the Tooding of the Yanktons, Aly friend, ‘want you to help us in one thing—viz., that ve chiefs, towether with the Rey, Mr. Cook, may ‘be permitted td 0 and see the Indian Territory, the proposed permnent Home for ludians, and from thence to qu and see ‘the Presi dent, What you think about it f wish you would inform i ‘and, if you can, E wish you would confer with the President about it and let me know. we, this winter, have hud 4 grout discussion about « former i $10,000 fu mt using up our fund of e think ho ought to muke that agent of his return that money. I shake bands with you, your wite and children, * I devoutly wish what Jolin says abou seeing the Indian Territory might be accomplished. Jobn is very earnest abont the mutcer, as well fs some others, Luke, our Indian deacon, sends his love tv yourseit aud tainily and says he is still alive. Last Friday twenty-five wazous passed through he Binek Hills—the first drops ot the shower! Alas, that Inaluns have such an exaniple of lawlessness irom out it egards to your tamily. corel roars Oe enh SO Ce THE BURNED ASYLUM. . OFFICIAL INVESTIGATION INTO THE CAUSE OB THE FIRE—THE VERDICT OF THE CORONER'& JURY—THE SISTERS COMPLIMENTED. Shortly after ten o’clock yesterday forenoon the im ‘vestigation as to the causes which led to the late fatal fire at the Home for the Aged, under the charge of the Little Sisters of the Poor, was commenced in the hall of the Brooklyn Morgue, before Coroners Nolan aud Simms. The victims of the fire, eighteen in number, were:—Michael Riely, Theodore Chagot, James Ryan, George Donnelly, Herman Englehardt, James Con- elly, Daniel Gorman, John Cavanagh, Pewr Kelly, Edward Farrell, Patrick Healy, Conrad Landerman, Michael Cummins, Jobn Bardon, Nicholas Pater, Joba Conroy, James Moran ana Matthew Breen, THE TESTIMONY, The deposition of the two Sisters who had been sub- Ponaed as witnesses was taken in an antechamber at the Morgue before the opening of the investigation, Sister Mary of the Apostles was the first witness called before the jury, apd Coroner Simms read hes written deposition, She said:—l am the Assistant Mother in charge of the Home for the Aged of the Little Sisters of the Poor in this city; about twent, . minates to four o'clock on the mornimg ot March 7 heard the cries of an old man; I arose from my bed, looked im the direction of the men’s department aud there | saw fire; at this time Sister Augustine Joseph gave the alarin by ringing the bell; directly 1, in eom- pany with other Sisters, went to the infirmary depart ment to rescue the sick'and infirm; the Infrinary wus located on the second floor of that portion of the burid- ing that was burned; no portion of the Sisters went on the top floor; it was tov late alter we had taken o1 all we could in the infirmary; when I first saw the dames they were issuing from the first floor; there were eight persons on this floor in the rear, who were all saved; there were two doors to the intirmary depart: ment; they were not kept locked; the doors leading ta the stuirs are always leit unlocked; there wag but one stairway in the male department; there are four sets of stairways in the female department; the male de- partment was aniinisbed, which accounted lor there being but one staircase; there were seventy-three m: in the building that Was destroyed; seventeen wera kitled from the effects of the smoke and tre and one by jumping from tho window; fifty-uve were saved. Sister Augustine Joseph, bemg sworn, testified that she retired to bed on the night of March 6 about nine o'clock, after carefully inspecting all the wards of the male department; was not called up during the night, the cries of the old men, about four o'clock A, M., tirst attracted her attention to the fire; witnest then opened tue door leading to the yard and rang alarin bell, calling for assistance; she went to the in- firmary and helped to carry out the men; the building was heated by a furnace in the basement; where tho fire was lirst discovered there had been no fire for three duys betore; there was a Baltimore beater in the din- ing room and on the first floor where the men slept; ali but two whose lives were lost were on the fourth floor; the fire had not made much headway when wit. noss first discovered it; witness never saw the men sinoking in violation of the rules im the wards, Patrick F. O’Brien, who bart the Home tor the Aged, was next called and described the building and padi tion of the staircase; he considered it a sale buildin; and adapted to the uge to which it had been put; there were no tire escapes; he did not deem them necessary thore; witness did not think that the fourth story could have been made safer for egress, on account of ite height; he did not think people should have been put ‘on that floor, ‘THR FIREMAN’S NARRATIVE, Joho W, Smith, Assistant Engineer of the Fire De- partment, being duly sworn, says that the alarm tot the tire was received at four A. M. precisely; Kugin Nos. 13 and 16 were already at work on tny arrival Hook and Ladder Company No. 4 raising their ladd I noticed several firemen on the roof and a number at the windows of the northern portion of Engiveer Frost at this time had gone through the in- terior of the batlding and gaided the roof and suc+ ceeded in inducing many Of the immates to make their way out by the stairway; after remoy- ing the persons from the ' roof by the ladders 8 second = alarm = was gent’ out; 1 also ordered No. 9 Evgine and Track No 2; many of the inmates of (he northern portion of the Home, after being removed, made their way back again; vy halfpast fve A. M., the progress of the fire was stopped, and at baif-past six A. M., I ordered such comp nies ax could be spared back to their qaar- tors; a body was found in the ruins by Engineer June mngham and was removed to the deadroom in the basement; the witness then detailed at jength the labors p-rlormed by the various companies of treme among the ruins and the dnding of the bodtes. Janiel Sierey, an inmate of the Home; Thomas Me Cormick, a policeman, and John Connelly were exam ied, and, no new facts beng developed, the case wat — to the jury, who returned the lollowing ver ic ‘We, the jury, find that seventeen persons came te their death from asphyxia, at the Home for the Aged, under tho charge of the Little Ststors of the Poor, Bu: wiek avenue and Chestnut street, and we the jury, em. panelied to foquire into tae death and circumstance attending this calamity, recommend that, owing to the peculiar construction of the building, the fourtt oor in future should not be used asa sleeping de partment, and that said building be connected by tele graph with the nearest station thereto; and also that a private watchinan be emptoyed during the night to pa trol the barlding; and we further, from the evidence given, accord great credit to the Sisters in control of the Lehane nt also fad that Michael Cummings cnime vo his deat ¥ injuries received by jumping fr a third story window.”” piesa