The New York Herald Newspaper, April 21, 1876, Page 4

4 j Mr. SuerMay, went into executive session, and, wh O N G R E S Ne) 4 ip doors were reopened, adjourned until Monday. | HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wasutxetox, April 20, 1876. A bill was introduced by Mr, Lawrence to limit the power of courts to punish for contempt; also to en- | large the privtleges of the writ of habeas corpus, Mr. SINGLETON, (dem.) of Miss, from the Committee on Appropriations, reported back the Senate amend- | ments to the Consular and Diplomatic Appropriation | bill and moved that they be non-concurred in. Agreed to. Mr. Youxa, (dem.) of Tenn., offered a resolution re- ateattaen Discussion of the Legal Tender Bill | in the Senate. MRS. FITCH'S DIAMONDS. in the The Proposed Change Indian Policy. Ur. Morrison’s Bill to Regulate the Collection of Revenue, THE citing the unsettled condition of the Mexican Republic aud the many outrages committed on the persons and property of American citizens living in the netghvor- hood of the Rio Grande, and requosting the President of the United States to order such military force to rendezvous at some suitable point on the Rio Grande as will be able to enforce existing neutrality laws, to prevent hostilities om the border, and to preserve the peaceful relations between the two countries; and also requesting the President to direct tne General of the Army to proceed i person to the scene of the threat- ened outbreak, and to take such measures as may be neces¢ary to maintain peace and protect the honor and | dignity of this government, Referred to the Vommit- SENATE, tee on Foreign Affairs, ? pe PEN, Mr, Care, (detm.) of Wis, offered a resolution, reciting asuimarox, April 20, 1870, | charges made in a newspaper report, ullecting the Mr, Axtnoxy, (rep.) of R, L., from the Committee on | omeias conduct of B, H. Bristow, Secretary of the Printing, reported favorably on the revolution to print | nrequry, in regard to tho remission of forfeiture in 10,000 copies of the annual report of the Smithsonian | 144 case of the bark Mary Merritt, scized in Mil- Institution, Passed. waukee in June, 1869, for a violation of the Customs He also reported fay y in ttee | Jaws. re: “2 mepergeserioy an ecehreep eyes irre | Mr. Haus, (rop.) of Me, suggested that the charge e resolution to print 4,500 coples of the annual re- | siouid be made more definite and speciti. He knew port of Hayden's Geological and Geographical Survey | that Mr. Bristow desired and courted investigation on of the Territories, every subject with which his name was connected, < | and he (Mr. Hale) believed that such investigation Mr. Beexsie, (rep.) of R. I, said there was much | Would bring bim out brighter. injustice in this compulsory pilotage, as in the case ot | f trod Mr. Gate to ihe : Yt Y | in his resolution a provision that the investigation pilotage through Hell Gate, New York harbor, there | In his resolution A pene ie aaa oors, but Mn Cate was a-digcrimisation nade in favor of citizens of New | Geelined to so modify it, York, There were many coasting vessels which did | ‘The resolution was then adopted. 1 THR INDIAN POLICY. Rot need any pilot in passing throagh those waters and | 94, rouse then took up the bill to transfer the Indian he hoped the subject would soon receive the considera- | Bureau to the War Department, tion of Congress. Mr. Cosuun, (rep.) uf ich., opposed the itl iio the a & . | name of the churenes oi the country of all religious Mr Donsxy, of Arkansas, submitted a resolution dl- ) ter migatione, which would look with amazement at Tecting the Commitice on the District of Colnmbia to | ghig offurt wo substitute the sword for the Bible, Inquire into the necessity of adopting proper measure: Mr Situs (dem) of Texas, advocaiod the bill in {he EM a nterest of the white men of the frontier. He said that to repair and maintain the conercte pavements in the bel Aldea ch dec District, to ascertain the cost to be paid by the United | yuu 1871, aud that France had only” abandoned the States and the District of Columbia respectively, and | exercise Sh mitre genet ie sue had cpeeesraied _ o sree: by force that her liws had to be respected by her con- Pept Ue Milt or otherwise Agron ho; | quered subjects, and that still in the interior the wild Mr. Pappock, of Nebraska, called up the Senate bill | {Gmadic tribes were under control of the sword of gor the reliof of Albert Towle, Postmaster at Beatrice, | Frauce. al. 7 Piaee Mr. Donuixs, (rep.) of N. J., opposed the bill asa Par tte ae freebies elemretal | representative of the Society of Friends, by whom one i i | of the counties in his district was largely suhabited, Mr. Monit, (rep.) of Vt, introduced a bill author- | ang whom be eulogized for their active Christian v izing the Secretary of the Treasury to allow Mrs, Min- | tues, os diaplayed toward the Tudians, He Brescnted a She: rite: y ved. | Diemoriat against the rom the Society of Friends. hye Sherman Fiteti to receive, free from duty, a wed- | MSIPOC Me ind.) Of N. Yi, inferred. irom the ding present from the Khedive of Egypt. Mr. Morrill | tone of the gentleman from Texus (Mr. Mills) aud from satd the resolution of May 18, 1875, permitted the re- o ee (par eae Atay fecdied of fed be ‘a te 4 | the Indians hell.” (Laughter. e gentleman might ception of this present by Lieutenant Fitch, but is did | berright, but he (Mfr. Coltteuden) thougit. that ihe hot provide that it should be admitted free of duty. | country was not quile prepared to adopt that policy. He (Mr. Mormli) had drawn that resolution and inad- | By continuing the present sysiem neither prayors nor vertently omitted the words “to admit the present free ; 0% Were to be excluded. He was contident thut the of duty.” He had the permission of the Finance Com. | would be deferred. He was not prepared to say that it Mittee to introduce this bill, and he hoped it would | bts) not be heli Aer LR ad he was certain oe oF » The asont | that it wus very unwise at presen! be passed unanimously, The duties on this present | YL MECN “dem,) of ston., advoeatod the bill, would amount to much more than all the property of | There were but two kinds ot Indian battles—one whero Mr. Fiteh, the troops surprised and killed the Indians and tho Seas " . other where the Indians surprised and killed the Mr. Epwwxps, (rep.) of Vt, said he must insist that | troops it an army officer lailed in au expedition he this bill go to the Committee on Finance in the regular | was ridiculed and sneered at, and if he succoeded he way, and he hoped there would be a written report of er Ne ier as held ay ocean Jn ataeei Os | should army officers wan 5 y gar It, so that whatever Congress could do it should do | jy credit and ho giory?, Or why should settlers Want a }Foperly, and not have the bill made a precedent for | war in which they might have their cabins burued yomethiug hereatter, 3 | down and their wives and children slaughtered? The ¥., said the suggestion | only people who wanted war were these corrupt thiev- made by the Sen: mont Was upon the pre- | ing Indian agents, sumption that the subject had not been canvassed by the | Mr, Cook, (dem.) of Ga., advocated the bill, and Committee on Finance. The matter bad been acted) gave some instances of the extrayaganco of the present apon by the whole committee, save only the ebairman, | Indian system. ’ who, being a kinsman of those concerned, was not in | Mr. Houwax, (dem.) of Ind., suggested an amend- the coufercnes, and the joint resolution of 1875 was | ment authorizing the President to detall army officers passed in pursuance of that conference. He (Mr. | to perform the duties of Indian mspectors, commis- Conkling) could not see how this bill could be made a | sioners, superintendents, agents and special agents, precedent of a dangerous character. It was the pur- | and argued that while this would be an economical pose of Congress, the joint resolution now on the | reform it wouid help to break up the system of Indian Hatute books, to do the very thing proposed by this | frauds, bill, The draughtsman of that resoiution madvertently | omitied words allowing the presentin freeofduty. He | said that the whole question was, in what manner the could not believe apy correct principle would bo vio- | wild Indian tribes could be best and most justly cor lated by what would be a miggardly proceeding on the / trolled and governed, He believed that the only way to part of Congress in retusing to pass the bill. He | save the Indians from extermination was to break up thought the earliest time that the bill could be passed Was the best time to pass i He hoped the Senator | uneducated ciasses are governed—by the demonstration m Vermont (Eainunds) would withdraw bis objection | of force. That was the only thing that the uneducated ud lot the bili pass wbanitn * | Fecoguized und respected. Under that show of force Mr. Epaexps said be had pot objected to the bill | all those advantages which might lewd to edu- He only wanted it to take the usual course of all bills. | cating the Indians to a higher point could come tn. It He bad no doubt that be would vote for it cheer.ully | he believed that the bfil would. im avy way interfere when reported to the Senate by the committce; but | with sound, genuine, Carwstianizing, civilizing agencies rich and poor, high and low should ail be treated ulike | he would not vote for it, But it did not do anyihing of WP’ bo saction of the business of the Senate. | the kmd. He disclaimed any desire on the part of the tr, Mornin, ported this bill Jong ago, but he could not obtain the | knew that the duty would be inglorious and would sub. consent of the chairman of the Committee on Finance | ject them to abuse by the public press. If Cong (Mr. Sherman); every other member of the Finance | east the burden on them they would accept it ag they would uccept any other nip Mr. Coxcex argued that the passage of the bill would Conmmittee had consented to it ‘The necessity tor pass- | be a reitection ond reproach on the Christian denomi- ing the vill now urose trom the fact that the present had | been in the Custom House nearly two years and the $s should be sold at auction, withdrew his objection and the bill was | passed unanimously. BouTwewt, (rep.), of Masa, called up the House Committee of Internal Revenue to e und fix the points at whieh the collectors and f the internal revenue sball hold their He submitted an amendment to strike out rvisors,”’ so that the bili should apply to col- | would leave the matter fh & worse condition than it nal revenue only. Agreed to. He then ' now is. The transfer had been recommended by the dan additional section abotishing the office of | gentleman's own committee—(Appropriations|—by the or of the Internal Revenue trom and after the July next, and providing that the powers and | Committee. He re supervisors, except the power to suspend | cost of the Indians under the War Deyartment was and other officers, shall be conferred upon | La | $874,000, le last year it was $6,188,000, T. Homan advocated his amendment, and said that | he now offered st as w substitute for the whole bill. Mr. Sancunt, (rep.) of an im. | | Mr, Baxsixa asserted that Mr. Holman’s amenament, portant matter, aud he must object to its copsideration | which merely substituted army officers for civil agents, y | would only save the amount of pay of the Indian em: } ployés, about $180,000 a yenr, while the bill would government to undertake the work of Christiamzing and civilizing the Indians. ‘The common bistory of the ‘world was that the missionary who wants to succeed in his work among savage and barbarous peo:.le must be unaccompanied by the army and unaccompanied by the canteen. Mr. BanninG, (dem.) of Ohio, opposed the amend- ubmitted the following:— ed, Thatthe Senate recommend to the President ered upon with the who had been heretofore | opposed to the transfer, were now in lavor of | at, because the present indian system was all wickedness, corruption and death. It lad been said by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Cox) that this was a republican measure, Ho (Banning) did not care Ordered to be printed and he on the table. whether it was a republican or democratic measure. It He gave notice that he would ask the indulgence of | was a measure of economy and one that was demanded the ici submit some retnurks on the resolution at | py every Delegate from the Territories, who knew most an carly day about {t, and was only opposed by gentlemen from the Mr. Goptuwarre, (dem) of Ala, introduced a bill to | Bast who had not sulfered ag those had. sullered who authorize a survey for ascertaining the feasibility of | were contending here for the rights of the frontiersman cutting a deop channel trom the lower bay ot Mobile to | and the rights of the Indians, the city of Mobile. Referred to the Committee on Com- | merce, | men of the country, whuliy fon of restrictions upon the great influx Mr. Holman’s substitute was rejected. Mr. Lawrxner, (rep.) of Ohio, opposed the bill and declared that during the period that the Iudian Bureau was under the War Department the Indian service was untinished business, being the bill to amend the laws | a total fuilure. So atter a failure had it been that in Telating to legal tender of silver coin. | 1849 the Indian Bureau had been transferred to the In- Mr. of Missouri, moved to amend go as to | terior Department, Since then there had been no In- make the silver dollar authorized by the bill to be | dian wars, He was for the Quaker policy inaugurated coined a Joga! tender jor any amount and also receiva- | yy President Grant, because 1t was a policy of peace ble for customs duties, and’ providing that the relative | and beeause tt bad been successful. value between gold and silver of lawful standard be | dir, Rainey, (rep.) of S. C., opposed the bill, and fixed at tifteen apd a halt (159) to one. He sand he | asserted that the real source of Indian discontent was proposed tbat silver should be a legal tender | that the goverument disregarded its treaty stipulations Jor ali amounts and for all contracts, both public | with them. and private, and also receivable in payment | sir. Hunton, (dem.) of Va, moved an amendment of duties at the Qustom House. He was aware | allowing oilicers on the retired list to be employed as of the feeling im one section of the country against | Indiau agents, and spoke in advocacy of the amend- this plan, and he knew he would subject himself to very | ment. unkind remarks im some patie of the land on account | Mr, Ranaut, (dem.) of Pa. of his views. He argued that silver was a logal tender | as 4 measure of economy, in accordance with the constitution, and that itsintro- | He had no doubt that the discontent of the Indians duction into the money system of this country would | arose trom the fact that they wero unjustly and dis- be beneficial. The question of what should be a legal | honestly dealt with by the presont management, He tender Was of more importance in this than in wny | dofended the army officers from any reflections made country im the world. All over the country there was | on them, and asserted that a more intelligent, upright a shrinkage of values. The scarcity of money was felt lass of men than army officers he had never met. Dis- by every class except one. Labor was unemployed, | honesty in an army oilicer was the exception, and it and uny proposition to infuse hfe into the present con- | would never do to besmirch such men with the intima- dition of ailuirs might be considered of importance. ‘The rapid coiuaze vf silver and making it a legal tender he believed would soon have the effect of iniusing new lile and activity into the business of the entire country, Gnd unless it was done the business of the country | would go ov from bad to worse. Silver had been a | LEGAL TENDER OF COIN. The Senate then resumed the consideration of the Mate snaee would be an annual saving of millions of doilars. Mr. Hunton’s amendment waa adopted. Mr. Ganrignp, of Ohio, admitied that there was a measure of value from the earliest history of | great deal to be said on both sides of the question, and civilization, He argued wt length that silver | said that while he had been in favor of the transter, he was one of the precious metals, and that | thought now that the peace policy should not be aba Congress had no power under the constitution to | doned until after it had been fairly tried. If it should Prevent its being a legal tender. The public debt | prove a failure then he would favor the transfer of the ‘was legally payable tn gold and stiver, and all our obhiga- | pureat the War Department, but he believed that a tous Contracted prior to 1873 were legally payable in | fair, honest trial of the peace policy of the government gold and silver, Allacts prior to that year provided | should be bad belore the vill paying our obligations in coin, and up to that year | Mr, Cuounax (rep.), Of Neb., said that while he was coin was composed of the two well known metals, gold | pound by the instructions of his State Convention to and silver, All legislation of Congress depriving yote forthe bill, he believed that its effect would be giver of its legal toader right was unconstitutional, as most pernicious, and he warned gentlemen who sup- Congress had no right under the constitation t say | ported it that they would repent their action before age alone shall be a legal tender. He referred at many years ler to the Bnancial history of England, Germany, Mr. Spans, (dem.) of IM., offered an additional see- : France and other countries, and quoted from vario admission to United States citi- Mnancial works in support of his views. He argued th ol any Indian who may prove to the sa gfeat comme! nations of Europe had fixed the | tion of the Court nearest to the reservation of his Telative value between gold and silver at fiftee: or nation that be is sufficiently intelligent . | te conduct his own affaires and interests, and that be This it be inade the great silver nation of th; — sacumiace Gia Wises asaceue ts | has adopted the habits of civilization and bas for five years at least been able to support himself and family. obta but new fields of silver were being constantly | But such In: ined, i dian Il not on that aecou! rfeit his country. r | imterest in the property of the tribe. As Besding discussion, oo liae Lb epee = | ee motion of Mr. box, (dem.) of N. the words notice that on Monday ould nate higious denominations” pean eh om os oe open " 8” were substituted for the Christian chiurehoe.”" 2 portion of the proceeds of the public Ot nee ek ide nes ee g to | Snal ition of the bill the House twenty minutes past five P. M. A CONSULAR WAR. Consul General of Hayti, Van Bokkelen, has been sam- q a moned by Mr. Adolph Hirsch Lazare to surrender to 698 of the Revised pn kN ety ony cc pension | him the archives of the Cousulate, ashe holds both Tee ee eee sce menih oom allowed, commission at a on The the Committee on Pen- Fiaced calendar. and a lively time be expected, ‘ ‘Sonate theo, at 4 quarter past four, on motion of fa algo reported to be ia the deld. Mr. Kassox, (rep.) of Iowa, desired Mr. Cate to insert | Mr. Humuucr, rep.) of 10, advocated the bit! and | ‘the tribal organization and to govern them as ull other | of Vermont, said be would have re- | officers of the army to have the bill passed, They all H tall articles remaining im the Custom { pations of America which had been invited by tho | ment offered by Mr. ey ae of Indiana, as ove that | tion that dishonesty had recently been discovered | among them, He believed that it this transfer were | \d prudent | i | proposed transter was premature, and he hoped that it | | afilitary Commities and by a majority of the Indian | ed to the tact that in 1848 the | | Oflect a saving of over $5,000,000 a year. The best ) i i | fore the assembling of the Republican National Conven- | ! could not control a delegution from Rhode Island or | for an Emperor, the people desire to transform the You say tne opposition raised against the jaw is merely a maiter of sentiment. But now that the idea of divine right is extiuct among HAYES, OF OHIO, PROBABLY THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE. {From the New York Sun.) Now that Grant and his third term scheme are buried under a load of public execration there isa sharp and angry contest going on at Washington among the candidates for the nomination at Cincin- nati. It is really difieait to tell who leads the way, on account of the exaggerated and fanciful reports made by the various aspirants or their next friends. Mr. Blaine, who treats the Presidency as if it were an election tor Aldermaa, has habitually claimed the greatest numerical strength among the machine dele- gatos and sent out the most absurd roports through | his organs, is fast dechning and will soon be on the ro- | tired list, His failure to ask an investigation of the | Arkansas bond matter has finished him with all re- spectable people, Mr. Morton, who bas been the most direct antago- nist of Mr. Blaine, since both belong to the same school of politics, though Morton 19 vastly the perior of the two in intellectual force and capacity, has not gained ground. Inthe present temper of the public mind there is no sympathy, outside of a lim- ited class, for his extreme views and pulley. There- fore he may be regarded as outside the ility of being named at Cincinnati, Though Grant affects neutrality as a mask for his de- signs, he is known to favor Mr, Conkling, and will exert all his waning influence to secure the nomination of one whom he regards im the light of a taithful friend and an ardent supporter of his adinimstration. | With the capital of New York and Pennsylvania to bank on, Mr, Conkling’s chances, under inary cir- camstances, would be more than good. But his fol- lowing elsowhere is timited, and he encounters strong prejudice in quarters that reatly owe him geerous sup- rl. Pere, Bristow is the favorite of what might be called | the sentimental class of republican politicians, This school of patriots write fine essays, indulge in exulted theories, preach reform, mount themselves on high | platforms, and generally end by subscribing to a Grant | fund and voting the regulation tickot. Thoy had Charles Francis Adams on the bram for @ serics of yeurs, and now they have a im of Bristow. Their ‘united force, with the editorial syndicate astached, Delaware. ‘The bitter war waged in bebalf of these four rival which daily mtensifies into personal crimination, taken a form that is likely to exclude them all from 1) object of their ambition, The few prudent men who usually control conventions will, when the time comes, see the necessity of discarding every candidate in this category. They will allow cheap compliments to be wasted up to the moment when a compromise can be pfered aud adopted, amid the prepared enthusiasm of & manipulated body. Who will be the compromise man? All the indica- tions point to Governor Hayes, of Ohio, and for various conclusive reasons. He possesses the negative quali- ties, which in our system of polities are sources of strength. « has been a respectable Governor and a van-haudes representative in Congress. He defeated Governor Alien last fall and now modestly wears the laurels of that victory. His war record, hke himself, is fair and creditable, without being in any way brilliant. On all the living es he is cons IVE and not open | toany exception asan extremist, He is not aggressive in ambition, and therefore has made ho enemies. Less prominent than the principal candidates, they could all yield to him without being wounded by the success of & personal competitor. Altogether, Governor Hayes is the very strongest candidate the republicans couid set set up, and the ono of all others most likely to give their opponents serious concern and to compel the abandonment of every as- pirant tainted with Bourbonism or suspected of boing unsound in any way. Ohio will lead the Presidential race in October and Governor Hayes would undoubtedly carry it and gain that prestige for his purty aguinst any of the regular candidates now’ pressed on the democracy. 3 POLITICAL NOTES. Michigan is for Bristow. The Hartford Courant is tor Bristow. The West Point (Va,) Star is for, Jeff Davis for Presi- dent. Baltimore Gazette :—‘It is a fixed fact, we think, that the next Presidential election will be defintely settled | in a few woeks at Cincinnati and 3t Louis. The talo | which these two cities will tell will positively indicate | the result in November, | i | ‘The Oakland (Cal.) News makes ita bow to say:—“We are proud in having been the first journal on the Pacific coust to present the name of Charles Francis Adaws as @ possible candidate for the Presidency, and feel conil- dent that he embraces all the qualities of honesty, firm- ness and patriotism necessary to bring order out of the | chaos into which Grantism has plunged us. Manly, straighforward and independent, with tho quality of honesty added, what more could we ask ia our Presi- dent? Let us choose on the occasion of our centennial year a man who will be a fair prototype of our great Washington, and we will have done much to retrieve our almost ruined reputation at home and abroad."’ The Utica Observer’ praises the democratic party, by saying:—We are willing that the party of our love and commemoration should stand or fall on its own | record, Bat we ask, in common fairness, that it be al- lowed a reasonable time in which to make a record Nobody who is not wilfully biind has failed to notice the steady growth during the past year ofa healthy sentiment among democrats in relation to this flnan- cial question, Mo: general and genuine is this growth ‘that it seems to be settled now beyond all reasonable doubt that the St. Louis Convention will nominate a hard money candidate on a hard moncy platform.” ‘The Cairo (Ul) Bulletin says:—“Our choice tor the man ‘whose nomination will epike the guns of Morton and Blaine’ is David Davis, but, if the St. Lows con- vention nominates General Hancock he will be a good enough candidate for us. We will heave a vigorous sigh over the perversity of the Convention in not taking Davis, and will then take off our hat, give three | cheers tor Hancock, and go in witha vim to labor for his election, We consider General Hancock as one of the best men in the country, A military man, he has { all the instincts of a civilian, and would bring to the Presidential oflice those qualities of mind and character | which the proper administration of the government, just out of the hands of Grant, will so eminently re- quiro,”” Of the coming conference of independent voters the Boston Transcript teils us that it will be observed that the conferonee at New York wili meet one month be- tion at Cincinnati. This was not an accident, but @ premeditated circumstance, designed so that the Re_ publican Nominating Convention may have before it all the elements for a wise decision as regards candidates. Tho signatures to the circular aro those of men of weight and influence with the faaependent voters com- prising the strength of the republican party. The Denver (Cel.) 7'ribune, in a burst of old-tashioned writing, lets us know that during the administration of ‘Washington there was no such thing as party polities. He assoc:atead men of opposing political belicfs in his Cabinet. And from Jefferson's time there was no change of administration till Jackson's inauguration. Each of the Presidents, from Madison to John Quincy Adams inclusive, was the regular designated political successor of the immediately preceding ove, The Presidency auring that period was transmitted in regu- Jar legitimate political succession, with all the certainty of an English janded estate descending, through the generations, from father to sou. Hence there arose no occasion for removals for political reasons. John Quincy Adains is, indeed, said to have re- fused to remove men from Office because they were working for Jackson’s election. And John Adams might not have regarded politics or the claims and | intereats of party in making appointments to office, j | But the Adams family have always, as now, constituted an excéption to the rest of the human race; and no | general rule can be inferred {rom she acts of two of its members, A. FRENCH VIEW OF ENGLAND'S “EMPRESS.” The Journal des Débats of April 6, commenting on the assumption of the title of Empress of India, uses unanswerable logic:—‘Can it be considered assuring for the English monarchy,” says this journal, “when | such men ad Lord Shaftesbury might say in opon Parlia | ment:—'The people want to know what it all means; they are suspicious If they’ say this in rows tines what will they say in time of trouble, when work is scarce and wages reduced? And when you shail have broken through the traditions of 1,000 years, will you bo surprised that afver having changed your King Emperor into a President? | advisable for the public good. to NO SEAT NO FARE. THE CORPORATION COUNSEL'S REMARKABLE SI- LENCE—POWER OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OVER THE HORSE CARS—THE BILL BRYORE THE LEGISLATUBE. On the 9th of Fepruary last the following resolution was adopted by the Board of Aldermen:— Resolved, That the Counsel to the Corporation be, and he is hereby respectfully requested to inform this Board at his earliest convenience, how far, if at all, the agreements made between the city and the several city railroad companies have been atlected by the operation of State laws, whether it is not legally in the power of the city authorities to compel such companies to pro vide seats for all whom they permit to enter their cars, or forfeit the right to collect fares; also, if it 16 not within the power of the Co:amon Counell to compel such companies to reduce their fares from five to three cents from six to eight A. M. and from five to seven P, M. on each and every day, in the interest of the poorer or working people, who are compelicd to ride on such cars in going to their work in the morning and return- ing in the evening. ‘This resolution reached Mr. Whitney in the ordinary official routime and at a time when the almost intoler” able sys:em of “overcrowding,’’ which has since con- tinued, occupied a large share of public attention, It was then, ag itis now, an easy tusk to furnish the desired information, but the light that could have been | thrown on the subject m February by the very liberally paid legal adviser of the Corporation would have aceom- plished much to enavle members of tho Lezislatare to act understandingly on the bill introduced by Mr, Kil- ian, and watch was so suspiciously strangled when reported back by the Assembly Committe on Railroads, to whom it was referred, Mr. Whitney, however, up to this date has not, as he is in duty bound, yet responded to the resolution of the Board of Aldermen, though it is now approaching three months since 1 Was passed; but in the meantime Mr, Kiilian has Ueen in the city, and while here stated that he was in consultation with the Corporation Counsel | op the general subject of the oppression endured by the community by the remorseless greed of the ear com- panies, It was after Kiliian’s exploit in allowing the “no seat no Jare’’ meusure to be killed that he made ‘this statement. A few weeks since a reporter of the Hrrap waited on Mr, Whitney i order to learu the cause why he neglected to auswer the inquiry of the Aldermen. No Teason ut all Of a s.tisluctory nature was given by the genutieman for his singular silence. He did, however, way that be bad fully examimed the subjest, and tbat the oply important matter he discovered was that tho Aldermen, uccording to a decision of the Court of Appeals, bud no authority ty collect license fees ior the privilege of rupuing cars, but it so happens that on ‘this pomt no inormation was desired. The Corpora- tion Counsel stated that be was ready at apy moment to furnish bis opinion as requested, and that it would be sent in at the next meeting of the Board. He tuiled | to keep bis promise, aud hus not yet, very strange to say, redecmed it, f ‘The fact is, according to the agreements between the city und the car companies, the latter are bound to run their vehicles as often ug: public convenience may require, uuder such conditions as the Common Council nay, from time t time, prescribe, The same body is eniitlod to establish the rates ot fares and to regulate all other matters connected with operating the rouds, In tue uxreements with the Second, the Third, the Sixth and ihe Eighth avenue vided that = they should, before. permission allowing them to lay down rvils took effect, “enter iuto a good and suflicient agreement with tne Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty of New York, to be drawn up aud approved of by the Counsel tu the Corporation, binding themsotyes to avide by and per- fori the anne ond provisions therein contained, ang also all other such regulations and ordinances as may be passed by the Common Council relating to the city railroads.” “Inevery subsequent act of the Legis lature aflecting car companies those conditions are contrjned tn specilic terms, as Mr, Whitney very well knows, and there should, theretore, be little difliculty iu answering “how far, if at all, the agreements made between the ony and the several city railroad com. panies have beea allected ye the operation of State lawa."”. As to the power of the Board of Aldermen to | regulate fares, the foilowing extract from an opinion 8 predecessor 18 In polnt:—"So fur as in the legis- @ wisdom of the Common Council it may be deemed jescribe regulations differing from and unauthorized by the agreement in regard vither to the time of departure, the rates of fare or the motive power, it Common Council vo do so. Suc binding ou the railroad compani bemy required to take up and remove per time the Common Couneil see tit,” jad Mr. Whitney made these facts or opinions known in ifsc & last members of the Legislature would bave becn able to perceive the exact reuons existing between the Corporation and the railroad com- nics. The importance of this matter could hardly Rave been unknown to the Corporation Counsel, That gentioman, bowever, tnstituted a pamber of actions for the recovery of delinquent license charges for pave | cars, When, according to his own statement, they coul not be recovered. But .the matter tuat now requires explanation 13 why a resolution passed by the Bourd of Aldermen February 9 has not yet been auswered, and there is the Jurther consideration that sufficient timo remains before the adjournment of tho Legislature to procure the enactmeut of some measure to reieve 4he public of the evil of *sovercrowding”’ in the cara, ‘CHEAP CABS. of Tegulations would be under the penalty of the rails and at PROGRESS OF THE WAR AGAINST THE SYSTEM— 4 NEW METHOD PROPOSED. The readers of the Hexaty are aware that a very wordy contention has been going on between the privi- leged license holders and the Public Hack Owners’ As- sociation for the last two weeks as to how extortionate cab rates could be reduced, and on what basis the hack- ing system of this city could be reconstructed 80 as to atferd relief to a much-abased travelling people. Promises, nay threats, of a Submission of the whole subject to the Corporation Counsel and Mayor have been made by both parties, and each has liberally ven- tiated its opinions im the press as to how the vexed question might be settled; but nothing hus como in the shape of practical reform. Indced, none of the promises have been fullilicd, ‘and the quarrel would almost seem to have died out altogether wore it not for the earncstuess of the citizens in general, who are mined that the abuses of which they have so long com- plained shall cease. To this end private endeavors tending, and citizons are laboring hard to induce capi- talists to start a line of cheap caps to supersede the expensive livery gtables and stands ndw controlling the business m this city. Much is expected trom the New cabs to be maugurated by the American District ‘Telegraph Company, and it is hoped that they will soon be in operation. But Mr. Andrews, the President of the company, who has charge of the preparation and completion of the arrangements for their estublish- ment, has been il! fora shurt time; wherefore matters havo ‘been sowewhut. ret He ts much better, however, and it is hoped that the new project will speedily be in operation. Meanwhile present monopolists of the hack business m New York aro flautermg themseives with the idea that, as in all former agitations of the question, they wiil be able to stave of new enterprises and doter energetic competitors from entering the fieid against them. They have thought that by meeting the objection of the people ball way and suggesting the in- crease of inspectors or the ereation of a cab commis. jou they would nave been able to satisty the majority and still continue mm control of the business. But the great mase of the business men of New York thor- oughly understand their object, and are not atall hkely | to agree to any such imefficient measures of rehef as those proj In the first place, it is the general be. liet that no good whatever would result from the in. crease of police inspectors, because the cab owners would contrr tthe men under their thumbs by s gel ; an unfair exercise of political influence or by bribery, and in the second the appointment of a commission would ouly put in the hands of a few persons the man- agement of a machine that could be pee im any direction by f wished, euther for or evi It is true that many individ firmly believe that one of the readiest remedies to be used in the present condition of affairs would be the creation of a new ana effectiye corps of inspectors, whose duties should be to see to proper condition of pubite vebicles and the rention of extortion They should be stationed at ‘every public place of call im the city and be chosen from respectabie classes, But this mode of reform would not in any way tend to lessen the rates allowed by city ordinance por much affect the system as it now exists. [t is and bas been controlled by wealthy and politically influential persons tor many years, who, ‘as was seen last month, cun get rates established by the Board of Aldermen to sait thomseives. The Com- mission thus far only been advocated v the “kings of the livery,” iike Van because hope either to be pointed on or to engineer it Honesty of ig not bel #0 that each at this moment is we had anything to do asgegciils He ule NEW YORK HERALD, FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 1876—TRIPLK lives it is pro- | entirely competent tor the | deter- | iast hoard SHEET. | nuisances to put up with in sores er et ‘his senses and dirty church orthestre if jadgment there is a fortune for the com- pany tbat wil cateliah 2 ibe ot you hke to call them, that will Seicecae ‘ents each, say below Twent street. Fares night be dio tifty cents above that Vint. You seo, sir,’ each of shete gould bold eight wo shut each trip we Twenty-third street invariably secure $2 oP and an equal sum down. Say, thon, that a team ol | horses made three ‘ips a day they would earn lady would ride inacar ‘step into a comtortable con- veyance aud be tuken straight to ber destination!” tt is evident that a strong endeavor is being made to beat the present system of backs. A 1 ys will develop a very importaut movement in thas direction, THE PARIS CAB SYSTEM. To tux Epitor ov tas Hexarp:— The report of an iuterviow in yesterday's HxraLp with a prominent livery stable keeper leads me to think that the ‘cheap cab’ question is not entirely un- derstood by thoge gentlemen and is my excuse for this letter. In the frst place, cheap cabs would interfere little, if any, with their business as at present con- ducted, and by their adopting the plan of the ‘General Paris Cub Company’? a desirable addition would be made to it, Such turnouts as they now furnish afe ' nearly, If not quite, as reasonable in price as similar esiablishments in London and Paris, and for calling, shopping, &c., would continue to be used by those who now use them. The great of the cheap cabs would come from those who now use the cars and stages, who would not think of paying $2 to ride dowr pape but would readily pay fifty cents. { bave seon no allusion to the Paris Cab Company above ulluded to, which, 1 think, furnishes the bost model for ux to ome wae after, This company bas 1,000 num mow streets of Paris, besiles which they furnish handsome, turnouts by the year, week or day. When these turnouts become shabby the vehicles are numbered and placed on the street stands. In this way they continue the two | branches of the business to advantage, and | think the i same plin could be adopted by our Jarge stuble keepers: ‘here. “The cheap cabs should be numbered conspicu- ously, and the silly pretence now often made here that they are not cabs, by concealing the numbers as much as possible, should be done away with. In regard to the style of vehicle T think the London ‘four wheeled”? would not be a success, being cramped and uncom! die, ‘The hausoms might be, from their comparative | povelty, but I think the tastes of our people ure more | French than English, and that the coupés and Victo- rias of Paris would be preicrred in the end. bie igs traly, Naw York, April 20, 1876, RAPID TRANSIT ON LONG ISLAND. ‘The rapid transit question is attracting considerable attention om Long Island. The want of direct commu- nication between the city of Brooklyn and the town of Huntington, which is commonly known as ‘the garden spot of Long Island,” has long been experi- enced. To meet this ever growing want, ax the popu- lation on that side ts rapidly increusing, a company has been tormed to vuild a marrow gauge rail The line, which will commence at tho toot of North Thir- teenth street, Eastern district, will run through Mas- peth, Winfield, Newtown, hing, Bayside, Hemp- stead, Glen Cove, ter Bay end Cold Spring Harbor to Huntington, A ferry wil connect the terminus of the route with the foot of Twenty-third street, Fulton ferry and Wall street, Now York. Tho estimated cost of the road is $800,000, aud it 1s expected to be im run- ning order by the close of the summer. It is not true. that either George Law or Commodore Vanderbilt has auything todo with the project. pith sch ca SR “OUR LOST CLIENT.” A CHAPTER OUT OF THE HISTORY OF RALSTON, THE IMPRISONED BOND FORGER. News was received in this city yesterday that the great bond forger, Walter A. Stuart, alias Walter Ral- ston, alias Walter Sheridan, now a prisoner in the Tombs, hus been guilty of great frauds in Colorado. The information comes trom Rucker Brothors, of Kau- sas City, who write as follows to Detective Pinkerton :— ‘Last October Walter A. Stuart arrived in this city from Rosita, Col, where he had been engaged in the bank- ing business with Colonel J. R- Boyd, now of this city, While here he represented that he owned an interest in the Pocahontas mine at Rosita, and that a mob of miners had ordered him to leave Colorado. He em- ployed us to look after his interest in a suit pending at Canyon City, Col. We have been doing tho best we could for him ii’ his wbgence. ‘When he left here he ‘went to Omahs, and wrote to us that he was then going to sell some property in Michigan, After that we received a letter trom Baltimore, directing us to address letters to Smith K. Bunting, care of W. E. Wood E Co., southwest corner of Battimore and Eutaw | ttreets, Baltimore. We wrote repeatedly till last Feb- | him ‘was his arrest, Im Denver he sailed under the | Bame of Walter A. Stuart — It is very lLkely he Rect ‘under the name of Smith K. Bunting ut Baltimore, Colonel Boyd, of this city, who was in partnership with to you for the photograph of ouriomt atest to v of our ni ii “RUCKER BROTHERS,” The Rocky Mountain News, pablished at Denver, Col, states in a recent number that Walter C. Sheridan, alias Wulter a he letters of introduction were doubtless He hada wife, a very stylish, aweet man- Bered woman, aud a son named Walter, They were received by the best tamiles ho.e as welcome guests, Stuart bought some laud from H. ©. Brown, on Sher. man avenge, and built s house there ata cost of about 12,000, His carly yarden truck found its way into hotels and restaarant« ail rouod the country, Stuart attonding to the huckstering, and peddling vegetables about in a wagon. He was fidgety and nervous, and never looked a man long in the eye. Lateran he be- came a director in the Germun Bank at Denver. His | 109 shares in that institution are aow covered by attach- ments, He then opencd a small bank at Rosita, of which he was President. It wasn’ta very heavy m- j stitution, and it didn’t last long. Stuart and Boyd engaged m a rascalily scheme to | “jump” the Pocahontas M ‘aud the ] Upstot of that was a mob and & riot, which the no- | torious Major Grabam was killed, and which was fol- | lowed by Stuart's and Boyd’s forced flight trom the locality, and shortly from the Territory. rd was of m Kansas. Stuart, after the rumpus ut | Rostta, quietly sold out bis home and garden, and, | without saying *‘good by”’ to his most mtimate friends, skipped out of the country, of at Kansas City, where, it is said, employed a man to get $10,000 ‘of acertificate of deposit on the Rosita Bank, his own name boing signed to the paper as Pres- ideat, This tittle game dida’t work well and he went on ‘This was last Call, A CENTENNIAL JOKE, Superintendent Walling was somewhat startled yes- terday morning by receiving the following despatch from No. 243 West Twenty-ninth street:— 4 To G. W. Wattixe, Supermtendent of Police :-— I want protection. A mob at my place. ao P. LOWENTHAL “This is extraordinary,"’ muttered the Saperintend- ent, as he telegraphed to the Twentieth precinct to gct oMcial information, Soon the answer came that some had inserted an advertisement in a morning paper fenevemcynve m ind ten women to go mone Cen- teunial at $1 75 day. Several hundred applicants had thronged toe store of Mr. Lowenthal, whose signa- ture was appended to the advertisement, and he pee. hoarse in proclaiming that he did not want apy jp. Males and females of all sizes and bs flocked about bis ud allanxious to go to the tennial, and despite ail he could say they still lingered around ‘until, in despair, ho telegraphed for the police. Low- enthal says he is not naturally bloodthirsty, but if he ever meets the joker some und er will have a job. MR. O'CONOR'S CASE, ‘To Tze Eviror ov rhe Hexaup:— To all who remember the course of events in the Forrest divorce case there is nothing surprising in Mrs. Sinclair's querulousness toward her faithful counsel. She owes to Mr. O’Conor the public belief in her untarnished reputation, But it was against his ad- ‘vice that she again went on the stage, and from that rebellion Mr, O'Conor was no doubt led to believe that ‘Mrs. Sinclair did not look upon him as she ought at all times to have done as her trusted adviser and benefactor, and that she treated him as if bo were only ler hired counsel, Nevertheless, the publication of Mr, O'Conor’s yiews and his appeal to tho Bar Association to sustain him as absolavely right, brings before the public two very important questions :— irst—Is the position of counsel only that of a hired help? The Barin England, France and Germany re- Pudiate such a degradation of the profession to the Vere of a trade. Fancy Socrates, thenes, Cicero, Scarlett, and all the other heroes of the Bar, charging interest on counsel fees, or admitting speculation tor pay out of what can be made on the other side. Ad- mitting that under decisions of our courts there is a legal right to recover, is it honorable to stand on a legal right, if it tends to publish to the world matters whieh intrade upon the confidential relations of the parties? Second—Is the Bar Association the proper body to re- dress Mr. O’Conor’s grievance, or, if the publications ed of affected him in the estimation ol the ruary, but got no answer. The next thing we knew of | He was alterward heard i | abodt a ‘corrupt combination? POD Pare APPRAISER KETCHUM'S INVESTIGATION CON- ‘RESULT—RXPERIENCE OF 4. T. a ‘Yesterday the examination was continued in the Gen- eral Appraiser’s offices, corner of Hubert and Washing. ton streets, Of the merchants whose invoices of Ger- man woven corsets have lately been undergoing a re valuation by experts in the trade, Messrs. Dieckerhoff, Raifloer & Co., of No, 481 Broome street, 8. Wormser & Co. and L. Sebiele & Co. were the three firms repre- sented, and they made @.final argument in favor of the liberation of their seized goods und agamst some of the statements of the experta, General Ketchum, head of the Appraiser’s department, told tho Hxgaxp reporter that the inquiry might be considered concluded as faras his department was concerned, and that the report would be at once made and submitted to Collector Arthur for bis decision. : ‘The General would uot stato what were the conclu- sions reached by himself, and Morchant Appraiser Constable and everybody seen by the reporter at the Custom House pleaded ignorance, - Yet some of the evi. the examination was procured dence tice ond i ooriaiuiy. seems, tor mdieato, Chak combination of German manufacturers of woven cor- sets with American 11, rs did exist. But it also svems to show that some of the manufacturers proved Tocreunt to the trust reposed im them by the importora, It was believed when the corsets now in the ewes store were seized and held for rappraisement ae basis for their valuation could be procured here, within a few days A. T. Stewart & Co, have furni estimates of the value of the various grades, ich will, it iA Te trime 88 tana ‘outside of tho YT r accepted ne true by the customs officials, Stewart & Co purchased, through one of the frat’s European houses, Woven corsets from oue of tho manufacturers in Ger. many, alleged to be pledged to sell goods only to Ameri. can ring unporters. This might prove that the talk ‘was bosh, if it wero not for the fact that A. T. Stewart & Co: baving purchased and imported the corséts at the lowest cost possibie to them, were afterward informed by certain firms, exclu- sively engaged in the corset Importation, that they could sell them here at a much lower figure than'that at which Messrs, A. T. Stewart & eould: im- port them. An investigation proved this assertion to be true; and then, it seems, the gentlemen con- nected with A. T. Stewart & C6. learned tor (ho first time that a certain fow importing houses controlied the trade in foreign corsets, and were driving all other firms from it, Piqued at this, A. Stewart & Co, began another investigation to ascertain how it cume about. It was discovered that firms con- trolling the busimess entered at the Custom House, at a valuation of less than $6, goods which they subae- quently sold for from $12 to $16 per dozen; at lesa han $12 corsets which they sold for from $20 to The descrepancies between the imvoiced and selling values were tou great not to excite suspicion. Very soun it was announced that none but the prosperous corset sellers here could purchase the woven corsets in Germany and import them direct, Then arose the idea that a combination had been formed for the cor. rupt purpose of defrauding the customs duties of the United States and of thus getting control of the me ket here. A. I. Stewart & Co, had discovered ing thetr investigations that they had been strangely favored in that they bad been rmitted to purchase and import coracts; mut they kept the fact to themselves. When the invoices of corsets for Messrs. Dieckerhoff, Ratlloer & Co., S. Wormser & Co, and L, Schiele & Go. ‘were stopped at the Custom House and detained for appraisoment by exports Mezsrs. A. T. Stewart & Co, procured samples of cach grade of the goods and com- fared them with Werman woven corsets imported by ‘The result of these comparisons were éx- Several grades of corsets invoiced to the importers at 22 marks ($5 24) were declared by the buyers for Messrs. Stewart & Co. to be worth 31 marka($7 89), 27 marks ($6 44) and 33: marks ($7 Ss.) Others, inyoiced at 25 marks ($6 96), were declared to be worth to importers 40 marks ($954), and in one caso o sample invoiced at ke mar! eu 88) was uppraised at 120 marks ($28 62). Thus it was determined by the experts of A. T. Stewart & Co, thgt the imports had been undervalued in cath grade at an average of about 10 marks ($2.38). When ‘report of this was made to Mr, Stewart he ordered his experts to reauce their valuations at an average of § per cent, saying that some importing houses can . chase to better advantage than others, and that’ fact should be taken into consideration. i tas reported that nothing was known of this action ‘on the part of Stewart & Co. until the schedule of in- voice valuations, appraiscments and reduced appratso- ments was Prrgosr to General Ketchum, pea praisor, and his coadjytor, Mr. James M. Coi 3 the Merchant Appraiser, ‘1t is also said that the achéed- ule caused the greatest astonishment and chagria among the so-called ring importers. The announcement of the conclusions of General Keteham and Mr. Constable are awaited with anxiety. 11 they should declare that the corsets now in the public storesare invoiced at an undervaluation ings ‘will be begun to compel the paymevt of proper duties not oaly upon them but upon numerous other lots that have beéh imported during the past five or six years, BOARD OF ALDERMEN. BROOKLYN BRIDGE—THE TOMPKINE SQUARE NUISANCE. At the regular meoting of the Board of Aldermen esterday a petition, offered by Mr. Morris, from South street merchants asking for a hearing as to the Brooklyn Bridge construction, was referred to the Committee on Roads and Bridges, The petitioners objected: to the construction of the bridge, which ig not high enough to admit the passage of a sparred vessel of auy consider- ablo size, and they declare tnat they are now raising a fund to legally contest tho right of the Secretary of War to give permission for the construction of the work. Among the signers are W. D. Morgan, Charles H. Marshal & Co, R, P. Buck & Co, and B. Metcalf & Co. A numerously signed petition from the members of he Taxpayers’ Association of the Tenth, Eleventh aud Seventeenth wards, asking the Board to force the Department of Parks to abate the nuisance in Tomp- king square, was referred to the Committee on Lands and Places, The ordinance relative to tho sprinkling of sand on the street car tracks was um2nded go as to enable tho companies to uso sand all the yoar, ani permit the Omopibuses to use sand trom November 1 to April 1 of each year, A petition from residents of the Fourth Senatorial district, protesting inst the use of the Battery by the New York Elevated road Company, was presented by Alderman Bryan Reilly, who moved that the Board disagree wits the report of the committee which some weeks ago reported against any action being take the premises. The motion to disagree was lost, and the further consideration of tho suvject was laid over. A resolution was offered and adopted calling apon the Park Department for all the papers and information they had ou the subject. A resolution asking the Comptroller to pay C. 8. Grafulla $206 for music furnished at the reception of King Kalakaua wis adopted. The Mayor sent a meseage, accompanied by a resolu- tion permitting the Atiantic and Pacific and Franklin ‘Telegraph companies to lay four tubes three feet below ‘the pavement from their main ofllce, corner of Broad- way and Liberty, and No. 8 Broad street, through Broadway and Wall street, thence to No. 68 Beaver, near Wall street, and thence to the corner of Pearl and Whiteball streets. Referre 1 to the Committee on Fire 4 Belen The Board adjourned to meet on Mon. nex! WKEAG’S JUDGMENT. The Comptroller yesterday notified tho Corporation Counsel to take an appeal to the General Term, with a view of reversing the judgment obtained Jobn H. Star, Jr., pape ae, the excise latte “oC McKeag for $380,000, . MUNICIPAL NOTES. The book of annual assessment for real and personal property will remain opoa for revision and correction until the 30th just. After that date parties cannot secure reductions on their assessmonts, - At the Exchange salesrooms to-day at eleven o'clock, by order of the Dock Department, the right to collect wharfage on vessels lying at certain piers will be sold. The list of piers includes eight on the North River, eight on the Fast River and two on the Harlem River. The Fire Department call for bids until Wednesda: bar Prec es apse vines py ing Mees a wood. On Saturday of next week the Department of Chari- ties and Correction will open bids a Vast quantity of groceries, ADMIRERS OF MR. GREEN, A memorial to the Legislature, begging that body to enact such laws as may be necessary to retain Comp- troller Green in office for five years, has been signed by the foliowing well known gontlemen:—Charles H. Rassell, George 8. Coe, E. D. Mor J. D. Ver Wiltam E. Dodge, James Emo Thomas Hitboue! Moses Taylor, William L. Jenkins, George W. Lane, Benjamin B, st Robert Lenox Kennedy, Theo- dore Roosevelt, John A. Stewart, Henry F. Vou, Wil- Nam H. Macy, D. H. Arnold, J. Pierpont Samuel D. Royal Phel Henry F. William A. Booth, Gustav Schwab, Thomas J, Ml. Morrison, Henry Parish, TRINITY ORGAN RECITAL, ‘The usual Thursday afternoon organ recital at Trim ity church, at half-past three o'clock P. M. yesterday, was largely attended. These recitals are free to all, and applause is prohibited. ‘The grand organ only | used, At evening Prayer, three P, be yer fs Henry Cart ‘he seen Houry Carter, the 4 and aie