The New York Herald Newspaper, March 13, 1877, Page 3

WASHINGTON. A Dream of Arcadia Realized at the National Capital. THE DEVIL REPORTED DEAD. _ The President Leading the Radieal Lion and the Liberal Lamb, THE CARPET-BAG ELEMENT DISCORDANT. Significance of Senator Came- ron’s Resignation. INTERVIEW WITH 'THE VETERAN POLITICIAN. How He Got Even with John Sherman and Carl Schurz. NSE a tad FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT, Wasuinatoy, March 12, 1877, THE ERA OF GOOD FEELINY IN WASHINGTON— EVERYBODY CONTENT EXCEPT THE CARPET- BAGGERS—PROSPECTS OF THE KELLOGG CASE. Thore is a general impression in Washington this evening that the devil is dead, -Indeed, some sanguine People have even proposed to hold a funeral service over him. Nothing was ever lovelier thun the coming in of the new Wabinet. Mr, Chandler made a little complimentary oration to Secretary Schurz on giving Op his portfolio. Postmaster Goneral Key, having first manly resolved to remove no postmasters except tmcompetent and dishonest ones, kindly of- fered tho placo of assistant, with charge of the appointments, to Mr. Tyner. Senator Cameron, as chairman ofthe Committee on Foreign Relations, mado his call of ceremony on Secretary Evarts, but tho mgbt of that “literary feller” was ovidently too much tor the old gontieman, for he went home and resigned his seat in the Senate—a great pieco of good luck for Mr. Don Cameron, who, according to reports here, falls heir to his place. Secretary of the Navy Thomp- son has not yet arrived. The Secretary of War found Mr. Don Cameron absent, and took possession without ceremony. Attorney General Devens also found a cold seat, Mr. Taft having gone to Cincinnati somo days ago, Everybody, including Mr, Blaine, has made up with everybody eise, anu an unprecedented era of vir- tue and good feeling appears to have set in. General Banks and General Butler, rumur says, alone stand out and refuse to be comforted. General Logan has Paid his respects at the White House, and 16 said to be booked tor a foreign mission. So lovely 1s everything, indeed, that nothing ap- Pears loss probable now than the wild reports sent out from here last weok by injudicious newspaper men of Opposition in the party to either the Prosident’s policy or his Cabinet. These reports are now gonerally laughed to scorn by the Senators who were said to have been belligerent, and there 1s thia evening the best of reason to believe that the whole republican party here bas been for months past longing and im- patiently waiting for the new policy, has been @nxious for nothing so much as tho over- throw of the carpet-bag governments, a re- fora of tho civil rvice and just such a Cabinet as the President has selected. So far from the nomination of Mr, Schurz having been unpopular, as some malignant persons reported, he seems to be the greatest favorite in the Cabinot; and as for Mr. Key, he could not be better reveived.or more heartily wel- comed by fhe republican politicians, if, like Solon Bhiny ‘qr, he had ‘*fit into tho Kevolution.” Mr. Keilogg and Mr, Corbin are the only people who remain unbappy in this general time of rejoicing; but even they are not without hope, There was no ses- sion of the Senate to-day, but the Committee on Privileges and Elections met, and the majority agreed to report that Mr. Kellogg ought to be admitted on a primi facie case. This decision, made tolerably carly In the day, has been followed by avery adroit intrigue. Friends of Kellogg and Packara have gone around privately to republican Senators with the assurance that the President is extremely anxious that Kellogg and Corbin shall be seated by the Senate. They as- serted positively that the President had told them that ‘bo wished all his friends to vote im these two persons without fail, as by this means the Senate, the only part of Congress now here, would recogniz¢ Chamberlain and Packard, and thus relieve the President from a difll- cult and embarrassing position, as he could then be able to tell Governors Nicholls and Hampton that the action of the Senate bad concluded tho matter and left At out of bis power to recognize them, This false report of the President’s wishes has been \ndustriously and very secretly spread about among ihose republican Senators who are supposed to be hesi- jating about their vote, but to be desirous to please she President, Of course it is false, Indeed, the con- trary is true. Tho President means to deal with these matters himself, and has said to his friends that he hopes ne:ther the Kellogg nor Corbin cases wiil come Op at this session of the Senate, ‘The report giving Mr. Kellogg his seat will be mado to the Senate to-morrow. It will, however, not come up tor discussion at once, but will go to the printer, and there is more than an even chance that it will not be heard from again this session. At present three re- publican Senutors are absent—M Ferry, Sharon Edmands—and Mr. Sherman’s seat is vacant, so that the friends of Mr. Kellogg would hardly venture to push his case to a vote, Meantime Mr. Kellogg is getting desperate and {hreatens that if the Senate does not let him in at once he will go to New Orleans, join the Nicholls’ forces, and help to send up two democratic senators, Ho ad that, Mr. Corbin willdo the same thing in South Caro- lina, and that thus they can add three democratic Sen. ators to a body already nearly tied. He says he will have no Pinchback game played on him, ULAR CORRESPONDENT, Wasuixotox, March 12, 1877, BRENATOR CAMERON'S RESIGNATION, AND WHAT BROUGHT IT ABOUT. ‘The resignation of Simon Cameron as one of the Sen- ators from Pennsylvania, created a good deal of a sen- sation bere to-night, und hos been a chief topic of FROM OUR REG Conversation. Ten days ago the idea of giving up bis | Place in the Senate is thought to have been as far re- moved from the mind of the veteran politician as any idea could well be. To appreciate the motives that have prompted him to take so unexpected a step, as well as the meaning of his action, it is necessary to understand some of the inside history of the Cameron effort of the last two weeks to retain Mr. Don Cameron in the Cabinet, As svon as it became certain that the decision of the Electoral count would be in favor of Mr. Hayes, the Cameron party, 1t is said, went to work to hold the Cabinet fort they had captured. ‘The story 13, that betore Governor Hayes lett Ohio be was ap- proached on the subject, and when be arrived here delegation alter delegation called upon him in Don Cameron’s interest, while he was pired with letters and | telegrams from all parts of Pennaytvanta, and that, in tddition to all, a powerful social influence was brought yo bear tu induce him tochange his determination to remove all the members of tho old Cabinet, aud to keep at least one in his councils, Tho pressuro thus brought to bear on tho President was tremendous, and 1t was not until avout last Sunday week that the Cam. | eron faction are said to have abandoned the hope of veing able to achieve their ends, To Mr. Benjamin H. Brewster, of Philadelphia, and half a dozen other feading politicians of Pennsylvania, who calied apon him to request Mr. Cameron’s retention, the President is said te have declared that bis purpose to retain no ono of General Grant’s Cabinet was unaiter- qble; that his policy was laid down and could not bo changed, This ended the Cameron struggle for tho place. She Senator was, of courso, disappointed, but it od wod 1 became Chairman of the commit not known that he thought of throwing up the Se: torship, deep as was his chagrin at Don‘s defeat, until the names of the new Cabinet were announced, with Mr, Evarts in the van, For some reason Mr. Cameron dishkes the new Secretary of State, The friends of Mr, Cameron account for his animosity toward Mr. Evarts by saying that he does not believe bim to bea good enough party man, but the spirithe exhibits is very bitter. When the names of the new Cabinet were read in executive ses- made to immediately con- firm them, it was Mr. Cameron who made the first ob- jection to Mr, Evarts. When the nomination of Mr. Evarts was taken up in Mr. Cameron’s committee, to which it was referred, he is said to have fought it bit- terly and voted against it. A majority of the com- mittee, however, was against Mr. Cameron and he was directed to report the aomination back to the Senate favorably, Inthe Senate he voted tor the confirmation, but said he did so in deference to the wishes of the committee. It was then that the Lochiel chief is credited with forming tne resolution toresign, Tho story runs that his pride haa been wounded by the rejection of his son and the instal- ment at the head of the Cabinet of a man he disliked, and with whom as chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee it would be incumbent upon him to hold the closest official relatiors. ‘To have kept bis place as chairman of the Foreign: Relations Committee, would be simply to placo bimself toward the Secretary of State in precisely the same position his predecessor, Mr. Sumner, found himself in as re. gards Mr, Fisb, and that he was resolved not to do. This is the account told of the purely personal part of the affair, ‘ The polgicians who profess to know the rest of bis | motives say that he saw behing him in Penn- sylvania @ possible rupture in the republican organization, which be was determined at all hazards to prevent, The ono way out of the difficulty was to reform the party lines in bis Stato, to throw the mantle of leadership on tho shoulders of his son while he bad the power to placo it there aud nominally retire from the politicai fleld himself. Tho federal offices and patronage were to be saved at any sacrifice. Tho information received here to-night by Senator Wallace and others is that Mr, Don Cameron will receive to-morrow the caucus nomination to suc. coed bis father, and that he will bo elected for two ycars, the remainder of the Senator’s term. It fs alao reported that the same caucus will adopt reso- lutions indorsing the policy ot President Hayes so far as announced. The effect of this procedure on the part of the Cameron faction will be to place Don ina Position where he can support the administration of Governor Hayes, and will hopo to control for the bene- fit of the family and its followers the Pennsylvania Patronage and offices, The above is the gossip about the matter which is current here to-night. Naturally Mr. Cameron’s own version of bis resignation and thé reasons inducing it ‘would bp most interesting to know, and ho was accor- dingly waited upon this tvening by the Hrkatp re- presentative. desirous of learning them. ‘The voteran statesman was found quietly enjoying a conversation with a friend and recliaing on a sufn im the hbrary of the Cameron mansion, He was asked what was the meaning of the report of his resignation, and it thero was any foundation for it. He answered quite frankly :— “Yes, I am going to resign, I have resigned, to take effect upon the election of my successor. It comes about because 1 am tired of public life. I need rest. All the stories about my greut dissatisfaction and being exasperatod are all humbug, especially as re- gards Presivent Hayes, I bave not called upon him yet, but 1 will do so to-morrow, Il have none,but the kindliest feelings for President Hayes, I voted for him and will earnestly support with all my energy and influence the present efforts ot his administration. I wish him success, and will do all in my power to aid him tn that direction, I wisi this distinctly under. stood, because I have been very much misrepresented and people have taken great pleasure in sneering at me, But 1 don’t care anything about that. Though I do not pretend to be a great speaker, I think I can discuss intelligently any subject connected with the history of our country and ite public affairs. True, I am not what you call an educated man according to professional parlance, but the fact is that since I have been in public life I have read as much, if not more, L will venturo to say, than any other one of my brother Senators in regard to the history and literature of our country, and have, perhaps, ‘hed as“ aried and usetul experience.” Pausing a moment he went on—“There are, how- over, some things in President Hayos’ policy which I do not approve of, and I propose to frankly and honestly vell him so to-morrow, when I hope to have the pleasure of seeing him, I for one do not think that he is right in placing an ex-Coufederate in his | Cabinet; but, as I said before, I intend to support his Policy, and I think as President he is entitled to choose his own course and advisers, He certainly should have a fair chance and trial in what be intends to do, and therefore he should not be condemned beforeband, I hope he will succeed, and that good resuits will come {ro-n the experiments he (a trying, though 1 confess I nave my doubts about them, Stil Tam not going to place any obstacles in his way, Allof the statements about my ill humor aod intemperate expressions in regard to President Hayes are mado out of whole cioth, and there is not a scintilla of truth in them. I trust I am too old and have had too much experience to behave myself in that way. In regard to my retirement and the succession of my son to my place, I cau only say that | hope ho will beclected to it, It certainly woald be very gratilying tome, There will be a caucus of the Legislature at Harrisburg to-night, and he left the city yesterday to attend it, Should he be selected there would be in my old days an additional gratification to feel that, as I cannot live long, he will ha jucceoded me in both of the two important positions I have held under the government us Secretary of War and Senator ny trying times. He has already called on President Hayes in the most frienaly spirit atter having sent in his resignation us Secretary of War, and given him his most hearty as- surances of satiafaction with bis administration und of future support, which I know he will carry out, if elected tothe Scnate Although he is not much more of a speaker than Lam, he isan cducated man, being A graduate of Princeton, and is, besides, a business man, and I am sure he will acquit himself with credit, and show bis ability and worth io apy place ho is called to fill, Astor myself I have not determined what I shall do, Ihave thought I would go travelling for pleasuro | and take atripto Europe, but os 1 bave always be- come seasick on the ocean I am somewhat appreben- sive about it, However, I bought the farm of my grandiather the other day, and if nothing better can be done I can go and enjoy mysell there for the rest of my days, He came there one hundred years ago from Scotland with a Presbyterian clergy- man and settled down. I shall be glad to receive my friends in the old stove house which 18 still woll preserved on it, 1 can say this on retiring from public life, having been engaged in {tt here for thirty-two years, that I have never made a dollar by it in any way, though, from my position, 1 could very often, by speculation and my influence, have | made thousands of dollars, Butl shali ve able to get along and take cure of myself, One word aa to Secretary Sherman and his confirma tion in the Senate the other day. I of course voted against him, and did it, 1 ao not hesitate to say, because some sixteen years ago, when I was nominated as Minister to Russia by Mr, Lincoln while IT waa Secretary of War, be said he would name my successor, To this I objected, and said t wanted 10 name him, and said I wanted Me, Stanton. To this Mr Lincoln acceded finally, and Mr. Stanton became my successor as Secretary of War, When my name cate up in the Senate tor confirmation Mr, Sherman said it should go over for three or four days for consideration, He has forgotten this, but I have not, and the other day in my objection | | 1 took occasion to remind him of it, but Lf have no | unkind fecting against John Sherman or avy other of | my brother Senators, They have always treated me kindly, and I foel grateful vo them all, Again, when the nomination of Mr Schurz for See retary of the Interior came up, 1 do not disguise it that I voted against lis coulirmation, and this was the reason :~ When President Grant insisted upon a change in tho chuirmauship of the Senate Committeo un Kore eign Relations, while Mr. Sumner was at the head of it, Om account of tho unpleasant relations between them, I became eligible by reason of being the next senior member, I went to President Grant and be- sought him not to require this, as it would place mo in a very embarrassing avtitude; but he woald not ytold, which I hee have held since, Then Mr. Schurz, in a speech he made in the Senate, took occasion to sneer at me, and otbers berated be soundly for being iustremental in the change, 1 did not forget this either, and in my Vote against Mr, Schurz’s confirmation I tried to re- mind him of it. That is all there ts in my voting against the nominations of President Hayes for Cab- 4, and it was from these facts it arose not from any uvtriendliness to his adminis- tration, because no matter what he did in trying to discharge his duties honestly as Chief Executive of the nation I felt bound to support him, In fact he could not have been nominated at the Cincinnati Con- vention except for me and my son’s help, And just here i will tell youn political secret, Be- fore that uomination was made Mr, Sherman, then Senator, and Mr, Hale telegraphed to the father-in-law of the latter for $1,000 in order to meet some penses there, and Secretary Chandler would not send the money until I said it should be paid and became responsible for it. Shortly after this President Hay was nominated, d no one rejoiced more ip itthan I did, So you sce I cannot be numbered among those who are opposed to or dis- satisfed with President Mayes and his acts, 1 wish him success, but think the offices of the republican party should be kept witbin the members of that party. Tcan take care of inyself and shall get along, I guess, as comfortably as I have heretofore done.” So saying, and renewing an invitation to come and visit him at the old stone house on his grandfather's which he says he 1s going to ‘ix up,” the aged Senator—he ts In his seventy-ninth year—politely ac. companied the Hexap representative to the door and bade him goodby, PINCHBACK ON PACKARD’S RECORD AND POW- ERS FOR GOOD AND EVIL, Mr. P. B.S. Pinchback, who 1s here and has bad an interview lately with the President, was asked to-day concerning a card” which Mr, Packard recently pub- lished in New Orleans about him, in which he said that he attached no importance to Mr, Pinchback’s at- titudo toward him, ol "said the Hxkaxo reporter, ‘that Mr, Pack- ard is very severe on you,” Mr. Pincutack—Packard’s statemont is gratuitously false, as be knows, Neither { nor the gentlemen namod in connection with me have abandoned the re- publican party. We have simply declined to be parts ners to the fraud by which Packard bus attempted to foist himself tuto executive position, Revonter—Was it through Packard's influence, as he insinuates, that Messrs. Hunt, Williamson and other native Louisianians wero brought into co-opera- Mion with the republican party? Mr. Pixcunack,—Messra, Hunt, Williamson and others are respectable citizens, They came into the republican party not through Mr. Packard’s agency or solicitation, but in accordance with the policy I have been advocating ever since reconstructiou—to wit, that intelligent resident white men should be put into prominent offices. This policy would have been much more fully developed had tt not been for the opposi- tion ot hr, Packard and bis followera, who aimed to monopolize the offices for themselves, Not Packard’s suggestions or preference, but the confidence and votes of colored citizens gave these men their posi- tons and secured their political co-operation, Rerorter—What 18 Mr. Packard’s history in your State politics? Mr. Pixcupack—He mado his advent in Louisiana as a bounty broker and claim agent for colored soldiers, and bis conduct jn this connection has been both sus- pected and criticized, In the Constitutional Conven- tion of 1868 ho is recorded as voting ugainst the civil rights clause. Beforo the drst reconstructed Legisla- ture he appeared as a lobbyist for the Nicolson Pave- ment Company and initiated the corrupt 3; legislative jobbery that subsequently dii State. Finally, as chairman of the Republican Stato Coimmittee and United States Marshal, exercising the double functions of a federal official and a political partisan, whether manipulating a ward club or a State convention, whether controlling delegates by money or office, he bas exhibited the sume selfish unscru- pulousness and the same political imbectlity which have lost him the confidence and support of the 1stel- ligent republicans ot Louisiana, und he stands to-day betore the people a political and incompetent marplot, With no considerable following of the respectable and Intelligent classes of our citizens, he is, with or without national recognition, powerless for good and potent only evil, By the reckless misuse of his official poe iin States Marshal he forced his leader- ship on the party—a leadership uever yet marked by the successful conduct of a campaign, He hus never been able to keop the party together, and bas managed to drive out of it almost all of its respectable members, Reronter—Do you think Packard could maintain himself if the federal troops were withdrawn to their barracks, and acted in Louisiana as they doin New York? Mr. Pixcusack—It is a positive fact, which not even he himselt would deny, that if the federal troops were withdrawn to their barracks, and had orders not to interfere, his organization would tumble to pieces Jike a house of cards, Rrporten—What would bo the eflect upon the secu- rity and prosperity of the colored people, whose in- terests you have at heart and represent, of an imme. diate recognition of the Nicholls goverament; would they be securo in their lives, property and rights uader Governor Nicholisy Mr. Pixcunack—I believe that in such a case the nuinber of colored office-holders will be much less than now, but the State would secure # government com- Petent to execute and enforce the laws, and thus pre- servo the peace and protect all ciasses of citizens in their lives, their rights and their property. Whacover influence I may exercise in the final determination of the Louisiana difficulties, events will demonstrate that justice toall the people of the State, no less than mercy to the colored people, forbids the recognition of Mr. Puckard as Governor.of Louisiana, whatever may be said by anybody to tho contrary notwithstanding. AN EXTRA SESSION OF CONGRESS NOT LIKELY TO BE CALLED-—-HOW THE ARMY EXPENSES CAN BE MET WITHOUT AN APPROPRIATION | FOR THE PRESENT. It Is now quite probable that no extra session of Con- gress wili be called by President Hayes, who has con- sulted with numerous advisers as to its necessity. Neither political party seems anxious to have Congress assemble dering the warm weather, and the fact has been represented to the President that It 1s possible to bridge over the interval from the close of the present fiscal year on ihe 1st of July to the Ist of October or November next without an appropriation for the sup- port of the = army. This can be affected as follows:—There will be on the first of July supply of clothing and subsistence enough on hand, either by ordinary surpius or by lawful contract, to clothe and feed the army until December. As to tho matter of pay the first mstaiment would nut reach the rank and file betore the first of September, even if the money were already appropriated tor the next fiscal year, becauso It 18 customary to pay the army only every two months, During the war ic was often four and Fix months before the pay- master came around, and the army then num ered 1,000,000 meu, and had fully as urgent need of receiving its pay as it has now, when its facilities for local credit with satlers and shopkeepers are so abundant, For these several reasons it has been made quite manifest that If the only reason for au extra ses- sion is the failure of the Army bill, Congress aeed not be convened before October of November at the ear- Hest, and possibly not before the regular day in De- comber, SENATOR CAMERON'S RESIGNATION. THE OLD WINNEBAGO CHIEF PUTS OFF HI8 WAR * PAINT—-HIS TOMAHAWK TO BE WIELDED BY YOUNG DON, {bY TELEGRAPH TO THY HERALD. | Hannisnura, Pa,, March 12, 1877, A political sensation was created in this eity to-day by the announcement that Hon. Simon Cameron bad transmitted his resignation to the Governor of Penn- sylvania as United States Senator, with a view, it is hinted, of Laving his son, the late Secretary of War, elected to the oflice. The propriety of such a move- ment had been dizcussed among the members of the Legislature since it became known that President Hayes would not retain the War Minister, Novhing was developed until to-day, when it was rumored that an arrangement had been entered into between the father and gon that the latter should succeed the former in the United States Senate. The news ceived with distavur by the few republicans of the Legislature who are opposed tu the Cameron dy- hasty, but a large majority rejoiced over It, The dem- Ocrats coustruud the prospectivo election of the younger Cameron posing the Cabinet Minister, and generally expressed indifference as to the programme, DON CAMERON aT HOMR. The Iate Secretary of War arrived at his palatial mansion in this city yesterday, and to-day he eater- tained the republican members of the Legislature, ex- tending to all in the city an invitation to call on him and enjoy bis hospitality, They were cordially ro- ceived and frankly informea that Mr. Cameron was a candidate for the seat of his father, Some of the legislative callers who wished to be relicved of a suspicton that he intended to antagonize the policy of the President, were informed that be was not only in accord with the policy of Mr, Hayes, but that be would give it and his whole administration his warmest sup- port, He expressed no regrets at not being retained as Secretary of War, but it is geuerally believed that he sensibly feels the unexpected treatment he received, and his aspirations for a place in the Senate have their origin in a desire to regain sume of his lost ground, His friends im the Legislature and elsewhere in the State are free to say that Hayes has been guilty of ine gratitude in not retaining a man who had doneso much to elect him to the Presidency; but they also express themselves satisfied that, taken as a whole, the forma- tion of an entirely new Cabinet will be for the general good, ‘THR MATTER FIXED, The resignation of Senator Cameron (which was read iu both branches of the Legislature to-night) would not bave left the Governor's hands if it had not been ascer- tained that Don Cameron was certain of obtaining suf- ficient support trom the republicans to ensure success, The presentation of the resignation was conditioned on receiving assurance of such a result, Alter personal interviews with a large majority of the republican members of tho Legislature, aud finding no substantial opposition to him, the communication of Senator Cameron was authorized to be read to the two houses, THE KLECTION, As the Legislature has fixed the day of adjournment on the 23d iust, the resignation had to be submitted to-night or an extension of the session would have beou made necessary, the constitution requiring the election to be held un the second Tuesday after official notice is received of the resignation of a United States Senator, NO OPPOSITION IN THE PARTY Caves, The republicans will hold a caucus to-morrow to place iu nomination young Cameron, when it is ex- pected be will receive a unanimous indorsement for the position, There ig some opposition to bis selection in his party, but it will uot find expression in votes against him in the caucus or at the election on Tuesday of next week, EMPTY HONORS, As the republicans havea majority of forty-tive in the Legislature the democrats bave no show of suc- cess, It has novyet been decided for whom they will vote, but the names of Judge Black and Congressmen Clymer and Randall are meatione: THE STATE CAPITA , A LIVELY DISCUSSION IN BOTH HOUSES ABOUT INSURANCE—THE JOINT COMMITTEE'S BILL— GAS FOR NEW YORK ClTY ON THE PHILADEI- PHIA PLAN, (BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD. 1 Avuayy, March 12, 1877, Both houses were involved iu a discussion of insur- ance matters to-night, the only important item of business transactod iu the Senate being the ordering to a third reading of Hammond’s bill permitting the taxation of shares of life, tre and marine insurance companies, In the Assembly a long-winded debute en- sued overa regolution offered by Mr. O'Hare reciting the evils to which policy holdors bave been so long subjected to, aud calling the attention of the Insur- ance Committee to the subject, Mr. Purdy offered a substitute, which was accepted by Mr. O'Hare, calling upon the companies in New York city which retused to answer the Senate demand for information relative to the salaries paid to their officers and the manner in which the tunds of the companies wero alsbursed, to furnish the same to the House. This was looked upon asa shght to the Insurance Committee, and was re- sented by Mr. Graham, the chairman, and by Mr, Alvord in their behalf, An amended resolution was finally passed, which was the joint production of Measra, Purdy, Weint and Straban. Mr, Weint, who 18 & member of the Insurance Committee, wanted thee House to instruct the committee to report a bill by the coming Friday. but Ma, Purdy did not press this point, as the committee expressed themselves as willing aud anxious to do so at the earliest possible moment. GAS FOR NEW YORK, Mr. Pardy introduced a bill which provides for the construction of the New York City Gas Works on the same basis as that of the city of Philadelphia, Jt provides for the appointment of four trustees, to be selected by the Mayor, who, with the Commissioner of Public Works, will act asa board of trustees, and refers ail appropriations necessary for the con- gtruction and maintenance to the approval of the Board of Apportionment. It empowers the ‘Trusteas to take any waste lands belonging to the city and to manufucture gas trom bitumimous coal or other Inaterials to light the city streets and parks, to supply private consumers, at a rate not exceeding $2 25 per 1,000 cubic feot, The bill bas been prepared by Major Noab, Assistant Corporation Attorney, who ia here urging us passage. It being deemed necessary to guard against any future com- Dinations of the compantes, such as was envered into last fall when the price of hghting the street lamps was raised to $36. Mayor Ely’s Message called attention to this fact. The Philadelphia g: works pay in $600,000 unnuaily to the city treasury as protits and light 12,500 street inmps tree. A DANK PROMINITION, 1n the Senate the bill preventing banks from taking Dames of cities Was ordered to a third reading. BILLS INTRODUCED, The following bills were introduced this evento By Mr, Steruexson— To provide for the creatiun of a Board of Caarities in Kings county. By Mr. SuypaM—Amending the charter ot Brooklyn; | also to establish high schoui in Brooklyn, By SHKLDON—Amendiug the act relative to Rail- nm isstoners. By Mr, Haminrox—o protect persons purchasing sewing machines, By Mr. Tighe—To regulate pilotage in the port of New York. Hy Mr. Cowdin—To provide for the construction and repair of docks, wharves and piers in_ the city of New York and mmupagement of the sam He said this bul was the product of several commitiees of commercial bodies in New York. It provides tha the Siayor shall appoint a Commi. sioner of Docks at a salary of $5,000, who shall have tho power of the Departinent of Docks and tke its place in the mapagement of ail piers, wharves, &c, RAPID TRANSIT, ‘The Senate Commitive on Kallroads will, on Wedaes- day alternoon next, give a hearing on the bills relative to rapid transit now betore them, THK JOINT COMMITTEE BILL, The forthcoming week tust necessarily be fall of interest to the taxpayers of New York, tor the reason that the vil of the Joimt Commitica wili be reported to-morrow morning, and that bill is the absorbing one, and the ove that wilt draw the line ot tween ihe two elements of | the legislature; tue one that is in favor of Louest members Who Vole aguiust tHe bill may make ther minds up to being politically damned and 1 don’t think there are many of them prepared to risk the equences; su that the prospect lor the joint cou | mittee bul is all the more encouraging. WHAT THE LEGINLATORE HASH The legislation of (he past Week amounted to very litte, The bill Oxing and regulating the salary aud davies of the Saperintendent of Public Works 3 ed Ly the Senate only requires the concur rence of tho House to seud ib On its way to the Gove ernor, Numerous bills were introduced more or loss affecting New York city; but it is waste of time and pa once for the metropolis what over oae hundred bills in their aggregate capacity contemplates. THE VISH HILL ON ITS TRAVELS But, yes, there was a great bill in its way, which 1s still On Lbe stock, about the administration of alluirs im New York city and A tor which Mr. Fish assumes the sponsorsh ntomplutes regulating the method of doing the work of the city governine: and it ineans to have most of it dono by contract, ‘Th member trom the Nineteenth district, Mr. Keciosine, and G Opposition 1s too plain not to be Uuderstood. Spinola, cousidermg the fact that he was here belore jn the capacity of both senator and Assemblyman, should know better and not give himself “away,” vo use the language of the “vang.'' With Keclesine it is dillerent, Decatse Lis experience 18 extremely limited and his mouth is too frequently apt to betray him, It would be a great and guod thing tor New York city if the democrats io this Legislature could be made to realize their opportunity and could be made to hang — togethe Their republi- can opponents are divided jong themselves, and all that is needed for the demucrats to go betore the peopic With a record that will «weep the State next fall 18 to unite now on a fow measures of relorm and retrenchment, ‘The democrats of tho New York dele- gation who neglect this opportunity of their lives are simply asses, The republicans can afford to be foolish for a littic while, but there 18 bo getting over the con- Viction that the Lav which acts actively and honestly on the people's Debalf this session will be the dominant party lor years to come, aA giving them any notice ¢ long as the great jot | committee bill is pending, which promises Lo do wil at | sl Spinola don’t want it that way, and their | NEW YORK HERALD, TUESDAY,‘ MARCH 13, 1877—TRIPLE SHEET. RAPID TRANSIT. Meeting of Property Owners in Opposi- tion to the Gilbert Road. cite THE SIXTH AVENUE JEREMIAHS, Horse Car Obstructionists—An Al- dermanic Hearing, EET FIGURES ON THE PEOPLE'S SIDE. pee RECUR aera ‘A meeting of “Sixth avenue property owners’? was held last evening at Masonic Hall, corner of Twenty- third street and Sixth avenue, for the purpore of pro- testing against the Gilbert Elevated Railroad bemg run through Sixth avenue, About 200 people were present, many of them, no doubt, being property owners on the avenue, but a considerable number appeared to be mere cu- riosity seekers, while not a few had the appear- auce of being car conductors and drivers off duty. ‘There was uo enthusiasin manifested, and the applause was of a slightly perfunctory character. The indig- nution expressed by the speakers, If genuine, conveyed the impression that some care had been taken to force it, and altogether the proceedings were very tame and uninteresting. The speakers showed a wonderful unanimity on two points—admiration for rapid transit, theoretically considered, and a deter- mination to oppose tho tirst practical effurt to bring {t into operation. All conceded the Tight of the Stato to nse the avenuo for the public benefit, but all were equally unanimous in insisting on @ handsome compensation to the property owners for the depreciation in the value of ther property, which would, they said, follow the construction of the Ele- vated railroad in Sixth avenue, The chair was taken by Mr. K. A, Morrison, and five or six gentlemen occu- pied seats on the platiorm. A KNOCK DOWN ARGUMENT, Mr. Morrison said it was unnocessary to explain the objects of the mecting, as those present were well ad- vised of 1 Still, in order that they might go to work understandingly, it was just as well that he should givethem a motto, and that was, “If you possess anything worth having you have to fight for in’? As the association had been placed in a false light, how. ever, it was just as well, he said, to state that it was not identified with the Sixth Avenue Railroad Company. ‘The association was not opposed to rapid trausit, but to a particular scheme which would destroy their prop- erty. Things were done in this so-callod free country, he sald, which would not be tolerated in any of the monarchies ot Europe, and among them was invading the righta of property owners in the shameful manner under discussion, He told the story of a foreigner who came to this country and, entering an orchard, helped himself to trait, and when the /armer remonstrated, remarked that it wasa free country, ‘Yes,’’ said the Jarmer, go it is free for me to knock you down,’’ and he did it, In like manner, said Mr. Morrison doughtily, if the Elevated road was going to steal their property, they hoped to knock it down before it got through, (Laughter.) In conclusion the speaker made a sug- gestion “to gentiemen who wished rapid transit roads.’? They ebould either build on solid ground or else buy the mgut of way through the street and com- pensate the owners of adjoining houses, MK. FITCH'S SPEECH. Mr. J. P. Fitch was then introduced, He sald bis property would not be affected in any way by the pro. posod road, as he owned none on the avenue, Conso- quently he did not come there to guard his real estate, and wight be said to bave no seliish motive. He was present because he was interested in everything that pertained to the welfare and honor ol the city, As citizen of New York he blusbed every time he looked at one of thoso structures (the elevated roads) in ite streets, It was a disgrace to the city. The friends of the, road had not treated its opponents fairly, They represented them as being opposed to rapid trapsit in any form, That was not so. They were not opposed to a proper form of rapid transit, as all were alike tnterested in having it and knew how necessary it was for the development ot the city and the convenience of the community, Busl- hess man are as much interested in it as the working men, who wanted a comfortable home within easy reach of his place of work, Property owners conceded the right of the State to use their property tor | the public good, if a public necessity required the sac- | ritlee, but they did not acknowledge the right of the | Stateto rob, Ifthe authorities of the State or city by constructing @ steam railroad through an avenue of the erty depreciatea the value of the property on that avenue the owners were entitled to adequate compen- sation, It would not be enough to give them the more value of the amount of ground used, when the value of the whole property was thereby considerably depreciated or — perhaps rendered useless, ‘The property owners of Sixth avenue did not come to that meeting to opposo rapid transit, but to raise their voices against tho avenues of the city bei used for any other purpose than that of a public tig way. | sentiment U againat obstructing a public highway, er tho British or any European yovern- ment the rights of tho imdividual were better protected than in this free country, where a dosire ior the public go@d often induces people to trample upon the most sacred personal rights, Zhe Gilbert vated Railroad, he said, was cuverea up with fraud from its very inception, and, it we were to have rapid transit, let us have a system not open to such serious objection, GENERAL VIELR'S REMARKS, General Viele was then introduced, an were three factors to be considered im the discussion. The question of rapid transit was au engineering | problem vf the most difficult description, wud had occupied the profession in both bemispheres for fifteen years. They had discussed it from View, but with that profession, which claimed to be tke pioneer of civilization of this continent, the bogus fraudulent, ridicc ious structure now being erected in the streets and avenues of this city had noting to do, (Applause.) It was the conceit of an idiot and brought up for the destrucuon of lunatics, A pill | Vender dreamed tbat ono night and took it to the Leg- islature, and they, thi said:—There 1t—passed it with the aid of ong of thoe individuals who had teft lis country for his country’s gc and lis name was Thomas C. | tho legislative father of the Rastroad, ‘Through his personal influen was obtained, ‘The speaker pronounced itgan on- gineering traud from beginning to end The citizens: ot New York had not attempted to solve the rapid trausit provlom, he said, ana had left 1 to speculators aud adveowurers, and they were reaping ihe conse. quences, ‘The New York Klevated Railroad Compa he said, bonght tor 000 a lot of old won which nad encumbered Greenwich street, aud with | that as sole asset of concern put upou the market $10,000,000 and $12,000,000 of stocks. (Laughter). plan of road they bad met to oppose was conceived in I street, und it wo after all tie money that could be got out of ith } made, ‘The struc berg erected in Amity st and South Fitth « was ridiculed by the speaker. He said there was not in the 149,000 miles of railroud in piry aod Lurope anything resembling it. It would not bear the weight of & locomotive necessary wears lurge enough for the public accommoda and in faet it was simply an impediment to rapid | transit generally would lave upon aajacent property, the speaker said he had caretully examined — the t aud | inquiries. He found that in a New J ey | on an avenue through which w ro | passed were ase: t $12000 while similar | plots on au adjomngs free trom the puisunce sold tor $17,000 cae A person claiming tw own $10,000 in the Gilbert road tried to sell it, wod, as an inducement to the purchaser, told him that the con- tract for the building of that road bud been taken by a fort of crédit mobiher company, and they had sub- lot it for $300 per mile. Tho Crédit Mobiler | proposed to issue for each uf these miles to be built Jor $300 about $2,500,000 of securiti $1,000,000 of | first mortgage bou ts, $1,000,000 of second’ murtyage | bonds and O00 of stock. So that it they col structed ten of that road at a cost of $3,000,000 they would recerve $25,000,000 of securities, aud thus par $24,000,000 in their pockets. ‘The speaker said ‘hat if such w structure were put in troat of his windows he would biow it up in tweuty-four hours, and no judge would dare ww punish | bim tor it, The citizens of San Francisco bad strung the speculators in question, and the time might come when it wouid be necessary to use physical force in thik city, The speaker concluded by ridiculing the ransit Commissioners who had come b and Lin sixty days a question which the eng ring sion hud been discussing for fiileen years with- Out arriving at & satisfacwory solution, The following jeremiad of resolutions were then read and passed :— THK CRY OF THE JEREMIALS, Whereas an organization ot 9) the wathority of legal enactments, hav of leading str avenues of this city, and are erecting thereon structure: wood nn With the ostensible Pitrpore of ‘uffording Fapidt communiention between ower part of the city and Westchester county, and Whereas said structures are unsightly, ‘insecure and utterly inadequate fur the prewwnded purpose, besides de- possession ‘They camo thers to endeavor to arouse public | every point of | king to get rid of him, passca | | when the officer stoppe As to the ‘dire effects the rattroud | bad | up to the lampposts peoplo eqauily respeciabie with | dc struywg vast amounts of property, intereourse, obstructing local tra Mf comp will become per fo re, Resolved, As the sense of this meetin resenting the ownership of mili property on the tise or the pres oned steam Ii Way. ail many more millionsof asiness luterests imperilled, that we enter our solemn pror tent agalust the Vandalism that is being perpetrated inthe ame of « public necessity, bus, in reality, in the Interests eulution Phat the entire property interests of the eity of b ork is called upon unite in doteuge Uf t! iis wzainat this outeaxe upom private riches aud ests, and to urge upon the islature ot the >t thei claims to protection against the wholesale confiscation of nroperty without compenansion, and the abrogation of pele= lies s heretolore held imviolabl ved. That the only tree, practionb! quick transic for the city of New York ou sound engineering principles, ring road bed, one that presen 1 the eity tor toeir tewitimate uy thut gives ® just compensation for any by sustained by property in its construction. pmmittee of One Huard ral property-owhors’ asaocbations, ve requested the true state of facts im ion, and wo and protece i perpetrated under cover this lmpor tote wycainnt the wrongs mow t of law, Before the meeting dispersed the chairman ane nounced that the Committee of One Hundred would start jor Aibany on Thursday morning uext, yo lay their grievances betore the Legislature. KAVID TRANSIT OBSTKUCTIONS, While the people of this city are calling loudly for relic{ from the present inconvenient modes of reach- ing ther pomes in the uptown districts, foquiry 1 naturally directed to what 1s being doue to secure Fay transit,” The delay in the building of the Gilbert Ele- vated Railroad bas caused many people to ask why the work, which was Commenced Bo earnestly, is mot con- toued with the same degree of vigor. A portion of the structure is aiready up, but the work ts suspended, and Ho signs at present are to be seen of its turther continuance, HOKSE CAK OPPOSITION TO RAPID TRANSIT, The obstructions placed in the way of erecting the Giibert Kievated Railroad have been mainly caused by the Sixth Avenue Horse Railroad. This company has au injunction against the Gilbert Company restraining it from going ou with the Work on Sixth avenue. 1 history Gf the whole allair is simply this, and the public can form its own judgment concerning the matter. The Court belore which the case against the Gill directed judguy building the road o proved by the Rapid ust Comin joners. An sa poal lies from the ent to the general term of t Superior court, aud irom that Court to the Court ot Appeals. This procedure, however, would occupy &o much ume, and believing that rapid transit was pres sent want which the community desired to have supplied the Gilbert Company made ashortcut, if itm ie so termed, by comme % proceedings in the eral Term of the supreme Court, where a favorable decision was rendered by Judge Brady in December last Au appeal from this decision bas been taken by the oppo- nents of tho rapid tral seneme ilrectly to the Court ot Appeals, where it is now pending and where it will bo argued ‘during the present month. WHY THE WORK Ia STOPPED, In case the Court of Appeals should confirm the Judgment of the supreme Court, und thus retieve the | company trom the legal embarraesments now operate ing against it, the construciion of tue road will ve tin- ingdiately resumed and pushed forward to a success. ful termioation. One of the great, uf not the princt objection made by tho horse railroad opposition is that tbe road being erectod, 18 In some respeets not im com= phance with the requirements of the charter, It wstrue that some tnipor alterations und improvements we made tn the constraction of the road. Fur \ustanee, t doing away with Lae immeuse headgear, whicu ‘was neither oruamental nor uselul, aud which tended to give the whole structure a heavy appearance, Even if those Who have this question of rapid transit In had this or any other of the le lor thy wake Of improvemnents they @: press a determination tu go ou immediately with the work and supply (ue want the public so aaxiously dee sire, ‘This is the Cause of the dey at present, and the delay can continue but a very suort time longer. INJURIKY—-PANCIED OR REAL, A number of owners of property on Sixth avenue e also hostile to the Elevated road on the ground that it “involves an actual contiscation of property uloog is route without tho payment of a single doliar in compensation,’ In answer to this the Gilbert Kievated Ratiroad Company maintains that the public streets and thorougulures of this city beioug to tbe people; that the people, through Tepresentatives 10 tho Legisiature, bave granteu the right to carry through this andertakiog. No private rights aro intringed ou, uo injury to property periormed or contemplated, an wherever any eucroachinents Were made on the prem> ises of any person an honest and fair remuneration was forthcoming, srt Railroad Company was broagus { probibiung the Company from Sixth avenue op the plap ap. A COMPARISON, The argument also has been uscd that the building of this road wiil seriously damago busivess along the line of the route. it has hot proven so ou Greenwich Ninthavenuue, as was contended by the ponents of the elevaied road on tuut side of when it fires came into Evidence of this fact may from the following statistics. An examination of the number of bouses, dwellings and stores unoccupied oF having bills oo them on the days of tbe 13th, 14th and 16th November, 1876, trom the Battery to Central Park, eeuwich street aud Niuth avenue, showed that there were 327, while on the same days irom Bowhng Green to tue Contral Park along Broadway, the number was 339, DETERMINED TO GO Ox, The Gilbert Elevated Kuilroad Company have made every preparation to complete the work commenced and to finwb the road (0 the Central Park within #1 mouths from the time work 18 renewed, The long sum. ‘mer daye will allurd the opportunity to work almost continuously to complete au undertaking which will give relief in city travel toa great proportion of the people, RAPID TRANSIT AND THE ALDERMEN, ‘The resolutions passed at a meeting of uptown elt zens in aavocacy of rapid transit was yesterday calied up at a meeting Of the Ratlroad Committee of the Board ot Aldermen, “These resolutions allude to the tactiout opposition of the Sixth aveoue horse car company ta to the Gilbert Elevated Rajiroau, and petition for the Inauguration of sume mewsures by which those impedi> ments to its completion can be withdrawn, Mr. James Gaiway, one of the property owne y Sixth avenue, requested that (he matter should be ade jJourned in order to give others an opportunity of ap- pouring before the committee. Only two of the prop orty owners were then present, ‘They were not op- posed to rapid transit, but did not wish the erection of the Gilbert Elevated Road, as it would destroy theie rty upon Sixth avenue, Hartman appeared on behalf of the committee of uptown citizens, and reinarked that the association which he represented was not in favor of any pur- ticular plan, ‘They wished tosecure rapid transit, and 1 any proposition which might cure that necessary boon to the travelling public, Farther ation of the matter was postponed until two o'clock on Monday next, when the Sixtt aveuue property owners aud others will be invited te attend. THR GREXNWICH ROAD—SAPECUARDS WANTED. | Two resvlutions have been before the Bourd of Ale dermen relative to the Greenwich Street Elevated Rail. road—one suggesting that suitable protection should | be given to passengers getting on and off the cars, so | us to prevent accidents, and the other prohibiting the company from propelling their cars with exgines the rear. owing, secretary of the company, wi AL the meeting of the Alder:nanic ittee, to which body these resolutions w | mitted, He stated that no a | sulting from the placing of the engines as specitied, | The brakemen bad just as ruck coutrol over the cara running in this manner as im any other way, AS Ww Safeguards jor getting on and off bo he stated thay it now took twenty-eight minutes to get from the Battery to Central Park, There were | fourteen stations on the route, aud if passeng layed by the opening and shutting of gates, th trip would take an hour, nis had taken place from persons jump while the cars were | in notion, ana ers should guard against thie practice. It was'only one man in a thougaud that Might attempt ik ‘The committee agreed to report a resolution request- | ing Mayor Ely to direct the Commissioner ot Publie | Works or some of his engineers to examine into thie matter aud report as to What action should be taken, AN ACTIVE OFFICER. Oveg $2,500 worth of English blue flannel was dis covered by Oilicer Weinberg in an oxpress wagon | driven by Patrick Stewart, who could not givea very | satisiactory account of big load or Limeel, The man wasdriving through Grand street yesterday morning, and questioned him, He said that he had received tue property from a man on the bulkhead, between piers 46 and 46 North River, and | he was to tke them to some place im Essex streey | Tue officer took the fellow to the Fourteent® | precinet statton house, Where his gouds were overs | haut Stewart was taken to Court, and remande@ the station house for further evidence. 1 1 house ana ideniitied the property as part of the t eds of a burglary committed at Uber store on | Wednesday might or Thursdvy inorning last. The tma- | terial was opera iaonel of the best quality, and very | valuable. Patrolman Weinberg tas also” arrested | Richard Gleister, aged twenty-seven years, of No, 810 Weat street, on suspicion, MAIL DE | Advices from Toledo, Ohio, reached Postmaster | James yesterday, Informing bim that apward of 20,000 | ordinury and wbout 500 registered lewters were des | stroyed by the burning of the postal car attached to train No, 4, on the Baffulo and Chicago Railroad, leave ing Chicago at ten minutes to nine’. M. on the Sth {ist This train collided with a treight train, near Sedan, Ind, the shock upsetting the stove and burning | up the car and contents. Mr. James expresses the t the registered mail lost must bave been | very valual as (his train usually brings the bankers? | remittances of bonds and other collaterals, besides | many costly articles sent registered, and for which n@ Tefund can be obtained. LARGE TROYED, THE SOUTH BROOKLYN FIRE, The total loss by the fire which destroyed Taylor's Chemical Works, on Sackett street, South Brooklya, on Sanday morning last, is estimated to be $140,000," The establishment was insured for $98,000, distributed, On building, $28,000 jachi $45,000. v