The New York Herald Newspaper, November 8, 1877, Page 3

“WASHINGTON How Tuesday's Elections Are Re- garded at the Capital, WHO DEFEATED REPUBLICANS ? Senatorial Views of the Silver Question. BLAND’S BILL DISSECTED Secretary Sherman Ordered to Report His Bullion Account. THE MEXICAN CLAIMS. Exciting Debate on the Resump- tion Repeal Bill. FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT. Wasaixatox, Nov, 7, 1877, GENERAL BEVIEW OF TUESDAY'S ELECTIONS— HOW THE ADMINISTRATION MEN TALK— WHERE THE BLAME OF REPUBLICAN DE- FEAT 18 THROWN. The election news is received bere with mixed feel- Ings, everybody boing disappointed except the admin- istration, 1t is reluctantly admitted by democratic as well as Pepublican politicians that the result is a complete vic- tory only for the President and his policy. In admin- Wtration circles, of courso, thero is quiet rejoicing bvor the result, which the Presidont’s friends clam as entirely justifying him, and as showing to the repub- Ucan leaders'that when, as in Now York, New Jersey and Pounsylvania, they oppose tho President’s policy Mey only court defeat, They point out that In Massachusetts, where the republican party heartily indorsed tho President and his policy, it has gained votes, while in New York, where tho President and Secretary of State were Brossly attacked, where the Conkling and Platt anti- administration machine carried tne Convention, made tho platform, nominated the ticket ana controlled tho fanvass, they aro beaten. In New Jersey, whero Robeson was allowed to ‘boss’? tae Convention and put the party in opposition to the Prosident, even Goveral McClellan, who neyor carried anything beforc, was enough to beat thom; while in Pennsylvania, whero the Camerons and other antt-admistration men con- trotled, thoy were also defeated, * “Tho plain truth is,” said an administration Yepublican to-day, “the republican party last March was very sick, The President gave it by is policy the only chance to rocovei and she sorebeads will bogin to see by and by ‘hat their opposition to the President only brings thom and the party to defeat. If the party leaders bad at once and heartily embraced the Presi- fent’s policy ana supported nim in everything they would not have been defeated in Obio, New York and the other States, But they have an idea that sheir fore heads are of more importance than the most vital Interests of the country and so they murch to defeat. hey have their own folly to blame,” “ Yue democrats are not greatly olated, for their vic- tories are more slender than they hoped and looked for. Thoy see that it 1s not a democratic tidal wave, and that they owo their succoss more to tho folly of Ahe machine republicans than to their own strength fwith the people. The passage of tho’ Silver bill and the acrimonious discusmons over the Ewing bill have ‘discouraged the shrowder democratic leaders, who seo that the broach between Eastern and Western demo- rats widens coutinually and that no hope of healing Atnow appears. These men see that tho fall elections do not show much democratic thunder, Their joy is ‘of a modest kind, As to the anti-Hayes republicans, they aro very ‘Ditter and full of disgust. Mr, Conkling, whon asked the other day whetbor he was going to Indiana to at- fend Mr. Morton’s (uneral, replied— “No; Iam going to New York, to my own.”” It is @ somewbat solemn time with all the anti. Hayes men. Some of them tried to say this morning ‘that Massachusetts saved by the exertions of Uol- lector Simmons, but this pretence caused so much Jnughter and ridicule that it is no longer heard of, They feel that they are beaten, and their only hope is that they may yet ‘take itout of Hayes.” Some of them biame Mr. Conkling severely for what they call his blundering management of the Rochester Convon- tion, and point to Mr, Biaine’s course in Maine as far more judicious and effect! On the whole to-day bas been a solemn day for the politicians of both sides, The anti-Hayes republicans treo much less hopeful than they were of breaking down the administration. Tho democrats begin to think that it ts “time to stop fooling,” as one of them remarked; time to make an effort to get questions out of the way on which the party can never hope to agree, such as those now before the Houso, and to frame a policy on which ajl parts of it are or can be united. BENATOR MATTHEWS’ ALLEGED STATEMENT THAT THE BLAND BILV8R BILL WILL BE- COME LAW. It is reported here that Senator Matthowe bas as- sorted that the Bland Silver bill will pass the Senate @nd that the President will sign it, Itis not probable that Mr. Matthews has said anything of the kind. ‘Tho President certainly has not told him what he will ‘do if the bill sbould pass, and 1 is on highly probable, indeed almost certain, that would veto i it camo before him its presont shape, The Sccretary of the Treasury is Opposed to tt, apkt hts opinion would naturally have greut weight with the President. No momber ot tho Cavinct is known to tavor it, and while the Prestdent has doubtless been careful not to express himself in Fegard to this particular bill, all that is known of his general opinions on currency questions shows that he ‘would oppose it if he were in Congress. Nor is it so certain as many think that the bill can pass the Senate. A silver billin somo shape will un- doubtedly pass; bat it wili bo an entirely different measure from this which bas passed the House. It is known that soveral members of the Finance Com- mitlee, to whom it wili be referred, will oifor amend- ments which will greatly change it, Two or three Senators not on the committoe aro also preparing amendments, Tho biil may be ro, ported us it stands by the committee, but it will be debated bofore it is passed in avy shape, and whilo the opinion that siver ought to be remonotizod 4s undoubtedly strong inthe Senate, thore ts good reason to believe thas @ majority of Senators favor, fostead of this Bland bill, something hike the repiace- ment of the one and two dollar legal tenders with giver. Ifthe Bland bill had not been crammed down the throats o/ the Houso under parliamentary rules, and if amendments had been allowed, the bili as it stands would not have paseed even then. PROBABLE RESULT OF THE SPOFFORD-KELLOGG INVESTIGATION. It is doubtful whether tho Senate Committee on Blections will go very deeply into the case of Spofford against Kellogg. The anti-edministration republicans have quietly felt their ground to see if they could hope bo carry Mr. Kellogg in on « prima’ facie case, #0 as to accure not only his voto'in the Senate during a long Juvestigation, but also tho advantage of forcing the democratic sido t make tho contost and reopen tho Louisiana case. 1t is, howover, doubtful whother this plan can be carried through, It is more than likely that, even if Mr. Kellogg was favorably reported by the committee, the Scuate would reject him, NEW YORK HERALD, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1877.—TR IPT.2 = =e SHEET. acy lobby, encouraged by the embarrassment of Mr, Potter’s declining to serve, are makiog efforts to secure as chairman a member favorable to subsiaies and grants. This would entirely change the complexion of the committee as it originally stood, But it is impossible that Mr. Randall should consent to such @ change, as it would, as is plainly seon here already, expose him to the suspicion of having meekly submitted to the demands of the sub- sidy men, The gossip of the lobby here, that the Speaker appointed Mr, Yotter knowing, or guessing, that he would decline the place, is of course utterly fal and itis potatall likely that Mr. Randall will walk into the trap which bas been opened for him. een FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT, Wasmixorow, Nov. 7, 1877. AN IMPORTANT RESOLUTION—IMPERATIVE OR- DERS FOR SECRETARY SHERMAN, ‘A resolution passed the House yesterday which Appears to have been lost sight of in the hurry of ad- journment _1t was offored by Sir, Rice, of Obio, and cails upou tho Secretary of tho Treasury In a man- datory manuer lor snformation which it was designod should be got in timo for the use of the House during the fuancial debate. 14 emphatically directs the Secretary of the Treasury to report to the House within ten days from the passago of the resoiution tho exact amount in detail of actual gold coin and gold bullion now in tho Treasury; the kind and amount in detail of all outstandiug obligations payable on demand in gold; the kind, character and amount in detail of ali items counted as com in the Treasury as published tn the public debt statement for November 1, 1877, with the amount of actual gold owned by the government available for the resumption of specio pay- ments alter deducting all such demand ob- ligations, together with the accrued interest on the public debs up to and including the date on which such report is made to the House, By a mistake of the author the word was inserted in the resolution as passed, A TRAP FOR SPEAKER BANDALIA The condition of the Pacific Railroads Committe, owing to Mr, Potter's determination to resign the chairmanship, attracts atteotion, and if the Speaker 1 mot. careful may docome # scandal, The sub hitherto been tho custom to respectfully request bends of departments to furnish information, but as the Secretary of the Treasury 14 not considerod par- tial to tho repealers, especially to those from Unio, the democratic members of the delegation from that State thougnt it best.» make their rosolution impora- tive, THE SENATE COMMITIEE AND BLAND’S SILVER BILL, Senator Joncs said to-day that five members, a majority of tue Finance Commition, were in favor of reporting the Silver bill passed by the House to the Sonate without amendment, leaving tho meinbers to amend in the Senate, The objoct of doing 80 is to take it out of the bands of the committee as soon as possible und give the Senate time to debate the sub- ject before tho Appropriation bills aro passed by the House, Senator Kernan, of the Finance Committes, says that there ought to be some limit to sliver coinage, Perbaps it would be well vo withdraw the one and two dollar legal tenders and national bank notes, and substitute an equal amount in silvor which would remain in circulation as freely as tne subsidiary coin- ago bas since the withdrawal of fractional currency, But ho docs not think it wise to put out silver coin in large amounts while these simall bills are in circu- lation, He will certainly vote to amend the bill, if he does not ofter the amendment himeclf, Senator Allison, of the same committee, while he has not fully made up nis mind about the manner in which the bill should pass, is of opinion’ that it will pass the Senate substantially as it camo from the House, Senator Wallace will vote for tho bill as it came from the House, or in any form that embodies tho de- mands of the country as generally understuod by the democracy. Senator Bayard, the other democratic member of the committec, will volo to amend by limiting the amount and its use, Senators Ferry and Howe are reported as in favor of tho bill as it 18, whileSenator Morrill, the chairman, and Senator Dawes, will put down tho hmit to sub- sidiary coinage as provided at present. Senator Jones, ot Nevada, will vote against the bill if amended, This gives the complexion of the Sonate Finance Committees on the subject, puty as they do not control the Dill an amondmeit will certainly bo, mado before it caa Piss that body, On its roturnto the House it will be referred to the Banking and Currency Committee, and before it can again be reached the House will be in full business trim and the Silver bill will bave to take its courso-4n the regular business of the session, sup- Ject to all tt delays which af liigonious minority can always subject it to, igione CONCENTRATING INDIAN ‘AND PENSION BUSINESS IN THE WAR DEPARTMENT. Mr. Scates, chairman of the House Committee on Indian Affairs, says {bat ho will call a meeting of bis committee 1m a fow days for the purpose ot consider. ing tho bill referred to it transforring the Indian Bu- reau to the War Department. He is of the opinion ‘that the bill will be unanimously reported by the com- mitteo to the House, every momber but ono having ex- amined the subject. Most of the members are on record as jn favor of the transfer. Mr. Rico, Chairman ot the Committeo cn Pensions, Js preparing a bill for the transter of the pension busi- ness to the War Department, where it was prior to the war. Ho says that the businoss of this bureau js such as to mako it Imperative that it should be transacted in the War Department, There is not @ pension granted that does not first have to undergo the scrutiny and secure the approval of tho War Department, whero noarly all the clerical labor isdone, The bill will also provide for the payment of pensions by checkson the United States Treasury in the same manner that the Interest on registerea bonds is semi-annually and quartorly paid by the Treasury, These checks are only payable to order of the parties in whose n: the bonds aro registerod, and thus far tho Treasury Department knows of no instance when one has been lost, stolen or misused. This system, if applied to the payment of pensions, would reduce the expense of tho disbursemont of pension moneys, an idea which both Congress and the administration cor. dially approve, NONE OF THE MEXICAN CLAIMS TO BE PAID WITHOUT THE AUTHORITY OF AN ACT OF CONGRESS. Considerable fecling was manifested to-day over the announcement from the State Departincnt that none of tho successful Claimants undor the decision of the Mexican Claims Commission would be paid their awards until the government was authorized by act of Congross to disburse the money. Tne ainount now on hand is nearly $360,000, equivalent to about seven per cent of the whole of the awards ‘Tho digappointment ot tho claimants was all the keonor as it had been understood last week that the money would be paid out this woek, It turns out, however, that Mr, Evarts submitted the matter to the action of the Cabinet whero a decision was reacned that it wouid be tho wiser course to have the sanction of an act of Congress for the disbursement of the money. This step was prompted, it is velieved, by the objec. tions which were raised in the Senate iast year to the payment of certain of tho clams alloged to bo fraudulent. A bill authorizing the disbursement had beon framed vy Secrotary Fish and transmitted to tho House, which passed it and sent {tto the Senato, Here it encoun- tered tho opposition of the agents of tho Mexican governmont, who filed objections with the Judiciary Committee against its passage, claiming that: tho awards to Weil snd to the La Abra Mining Company wore fraudulent, and asking an investigation of them. Tho bill nover parsed the Sonate, Iv ls now understood that Mr, Kvarts has propared a bill Lo cover tho situation, which wiil be offered in the Flouse at the earliest opportunity aod a suspension of the rulos asked to allow of its immediato passage, It will confer on him the right to distribute the money under proper safeguards and without a recourse to the processes of the Trevsury Department. In fur- therance of the movement to have the claims of Weil and the La Abra Company invostigated, Mr, Forney, of Alabama, offered joint resolution in the Houso to-day to forbid their payment until a now inquiry has been iustituted, Tho history of the Weil case was given originally and at length in the Henato of the 19th of February Jast. The other claim is for the cost, with Interest, of certain mines, works and ores in Durango, from which the I Abra Company allege they were driven by tho Mexican authorities 1a March, 1863, In sts general fea- tures it resembles the famous Gardner case of 1850, For Maxico it is asserted that tho stockholders never “proved American citizenship, and that tho invest- ment was mado inthe middie of the war with the French; that tho failure of tne enterprise as an invest- ment was the real reason of its abandonment, and not the hostility of the Mexican troops and local autho- nities”? PATENTS. The Chairman of the House Committee on Patents, Mr. Vanee, is preparing a bill, which will be pressed to @ vote carly in the regular session, tor the revision of the laws relating to patents, providing for a limita- tlon of time in which to collect amounts for intringe- ment of patents. Tho existing code is imperfect, and the intention of the cheirman is to simplity the laws and introduce some other important amendments yet to be agreed upon in committee, GENERAL WASHINGTON DESPATCHES, Wasnixctoy, Nov. 7, 1577, THE UNITED STATES SENATORSHIPS OF NEW YORK, CONNECTICUT AND WISCONSIN, In correction of a general misapprehension it may ; be stuted that the elections yesterday tu New York, Connecticut and Wiscousin do not affect the United States Senatorships, except so far as the holding over Senators may control them, A majority in both houses, howevor, is !mportant in thin respeet, as a re- districting of the States may have great bearing on the complexion of the lower houses to be elected ‘next y 1n Connecticut and Wisconsin one-halt of the Senate and the whole of the Asxembly are elected apauaily, io New York, although tbe Assembly 1s elected annually, the total number of Senators ore chosen every alternate year, The Senatorial elections in the throe States above named will not take placo before January, 1879, as tne act of July 25, 1866 (of which the late Senator Morton was the author), pro vides that the Legislature of each State which is chosen next preceding the expiration of the time for which any Senator was elected to represent such Stato in Congress shal), on the second Tuesday after the mecting and organization thereof, proceed toclect ® Senator in Congress. BLOUNT'S DEFICIENCY BILL. The Deficieacy bill reported from the House Com- mittee om Appropriations to-day by Mr. Blount, of Georgia, provides that tho following sums bo ap- Propriated out of any money in the Treasury not Otherwise appropriated for the purposes heroin cx- preased :— For pay of the Navy.—For amount due officers and men of the United States Navy for the quar- ter ending June 7, 1877, $1,446;688 16; for amount due Seligman Brothers, Loudon, $811,953 63; for miscellaneous claims arising upon arrears of pay, $250,000; for amount duo the Naval Hospital Fund, $50,000; for the pay of officers and Marine corps for the quarter ending June 30, 1877, $4,826 65; for the pay of enlistod men for the samo period, $40,392 93, Judicial—For the salaries of Ove United States dis- trict judges for the second quarter, ending June 30, 1877, $4,230 89, For defraying the expenses of the Supreme Court, Circuit and District courts of the United States, including tho District of Columbia, and also jurors and witnesses and expenses of suits in which the United States are concerned, of prosecutions for offences committed against tho United States and far the sale keeping of prisoners, boing a deticioncy, for the year ending Juno 30, 1877, $208,057 50, For the support and maintenance of convicts trans- ferred from the District of Columbia, being a de. ficiency, $2,304 33, * For the salaries of twelve additional watchmen in the Interior Department, from October 1, 1876, to June 30, 1877, $6,480, For repairs to the Interior Department, $1 1, The totat amount recom- mended by the bill is $2,240,664 99. Tho bill author- izes the Secretary of the Interior Department to rent any fireproof building for the purposes ot his depa: ment ava rent not exceeding $600 per month, until repairs and restorations in the Interior Department shall have been mado, PRESENT DIFFICULTIES CONCERNING THE PAY- MENT OF CLAIMS—HOW MEXICO WILL PAY. Under the treaty the balance of claims against Mex- ico, amounting to nearly $4,000,000, is to be paid in annual instalments of $330,000, or about elght per cent. The first instaiment and a part of tne second, which will be duo in January, aro hore, It will be Femembered that a dill for their distribution passed tbe inst House and was reportou by the Sonato Judiciary Committee, but failed to pass the Senute be- cause evidence was laid before tho commit- teo tending to show that ono of the pris- cipal claims was based entirely upon traud and perjury, Tho counsel for Mexico had mado this charge against two of tho cluims, aggre. gating nearly a million anda quarter of dollars, and in January, 1876, had asked the umpire of the lute Joint Commission, Sir Edward Thornton, for a re- hearing on account of the insufficiency, inconsistency and fraudulent character of the testimony. The mo- tions were returned by the umpire, with the state- ment that he must decide all the claims before rohear- ing any. In September, 1876, the proot of fraud alludod to had been sustained, and was presented to the umpire with a second request for a re- hearing. In his declaration of October 20, alter deciding all the claims, the umpire stated that he bad no right to take into consideration testimony whieh had not been before tho Commissioners, but ex. Pressed the hope that the award ho had made might be reversed by an agreement of the two governments, The counsel lor Mexico at tho final meeting of the Commission moved to enter on its record a declara- tion that Mexico, while recognizing the binding eflect of the awards, would reservo the right to demonstrato tho fradulent character of the claims to the proper authorities of the United States, Tho Amertcan coun- sel and secretary declined to assent to this, The Mexican Minister then addressed a noie to tho State Department, enclosing this motion of the Mex- jean Counsel, in the expectation that the department would suspend payment of tho two claims, as pay- ment of the Venezuela awards bad been suspended in 1 on similar charg: Mr. Fish replied that the subject was closed by the awards cf tho umpire and could not be reopened diplomatically. To this Mr. Mariscal rejoined that the Mexican government fclt equally bound by the treaty, and woald pay, if re- quired to do so, the entire amount awarded in favor of the United States, but that it reserved the right to make public the facts with regard totbese claims, It has accordingly printed in Mexico nnd sont to its in- ister here copies of the arguments of its counsel on the motion for a rehearing, and has se. cured further evidence of the’ frauds and for. 4 geries committed, «which. is being prepared tor usé when réfoired, It is expected that Congress will institute an investigation and eaill upon tho department for the papers in those claims, The Mexican government docs not desire the payment of the otber claimants to be delayed, but if Congress will allow the distribution of the nucontested awards and suspend the payment of those two claims, it is confident that they wil ap- Congress decide to re.case Mexico fromthe payment of these two claims tho annual instalments will amount to about eleven por cent of the romaining awaras. REPORT — SALTS LANDS, Tho Commissioner of the Genoral Land Office, in his annual reports for the fiscal year ending June 30 says:—‘‘The sales of public lands for cash aro avout one hundred thousand acres more than tho sales for tho fiscal year next preceding, while the number of acres entered under the homostead and timber cul- tro laws is 735,123 acres jess. During the fiscal yoar there were cortifed for railway purposes 700,791 ac showing a decrease as compared with the previous year of 300,985 acres, During the last fiscal your 14,103 acres of land were entered under the provisions of the mining laws and 13,244 acres were patented. Tho total disposals of pablic ands under existing laws for the past fiscal year amount to 4,788,224 acres, less by 1,796,101 meres than tho disposal in 1876, Upto Juvo 30,1877, the pablic surveys have been extended over 7)3,572,737 acres, 10,847,082 acres having been surveyed the past fiscal year, leaving a total of un. surveved lands of 1,101,197, DEPARTMENT OF = PUBLIC REPORT OF THE SUPERVISING ARCHITECT. Mr. James G. Hill, Supervising Architect of the Treasury, yesterday afternoon submitted his annual Teport to the Secretary of tho Treasury, ‘flo report says that owing to the depreciation in real extate the sales of government property recommended in the Jast report may well be deferred until a more javor- ablotime, Itrenews the recommendation contained ip the Inst report that a suitable building be erected for tho accommodation of the Bureau of Engraving pear upon Investigation utterly fraudulent, Shouid | and Printing, and that somo provision outside the Treasury building be made for the rapidly accumulating Miles, Tho granite contracts known as the fifteen per cont contracts have been careiully considered and modifi. cations havo beon mado for the government buildings at Philadelphia, Cincinnati and St. Louis. The changes wil: result in a iIarge saving to the government. The only remaining contracts of this nature are those for the stonework of the Custom House at Martiord, Conn, aud the extension of tho Post Office and Sub-Trensury at Boston, and the ad- visabiitty of changes in theso should be considered when further appropriations shall be made for these buildings, considering the Imited appropriations availablo for work on public buildings. During the Year good progress has been made, and a comparison of results, with amounts expended, will show that tho various works have been judiciously and economically Prosecutcd. The ‘ollowing are the balances credited to the approprintions (September 30) in the Treasury for the different works under the direction of tho offic Albany Custom House, $107,125 22. Atianta Custom House and Post Oftice, Bostan Sub-Treasury extension, $19,2 Charleston (8. C.) Custom House, Chicago Custom House, $109,284 71. Cincinnati Custom House, $239,155. Covington Court House, $144,030 05, Dover (Dei.) Post Office; appropriation expended, Evansville Custom House, $40,574 74. Fall River (Mars,) Custom House, $10,185 57. Grand Rapids (Mich.) Custom House, $36,810 $9, Hartlord Custom House, $2,738 48. Helena (M. 1.) Assay’ Vilice; pended, recy City Post OMece, $11,192 39. incoln (Nebv.) Custom House, $49,740 49, Little Rock (Ark.) Custom House, $39,501 38, Momphis Custom House, $101,859 59, Nashvrile Custom House, $6 ‘ew Orloan< Gustom House, New York Court House and Most Office, $49,055 20, Parkersburg (W. Va.) Court House, $2,010 27. Philadelphia Court House, $188,967 7 Port Huron (Mich.) Custom House, $12, Raleigh Court House, &c., 469 KRockiand (Me,) Custom House, $845 30, San Francisco Sub-Treasury, $5,220 16, San Francisco Appraiger’s stores, $40,306, St. Louis Custom House, $2: lL 82. ‘Trenton (N. J.) Post Ollce, $1,262 44. Utica Court House, $75,319 53, In addition to the ordinary current repairs to the various public buildings extensive alteratious have beon completed on the custom houses at Alexandria, Va.; Bangor, Me,, Louisville and Pittsburg; ou the Assay Office, Now York; Custom House and Apprais- era’ stores, Philadelphia, and Custom House at San Francisco, and are in progress on the Custom House, Sub-Treasury, Court House and Post Ofice at New York; Custom House, New Orleans; Custom House, Pensacola, Fila., and the Custom House and Post Ollico at Philadelphia, Tho estimates for the ensuing yoar will be submitted to Congress along with and imcluded in the roport.ot the Secrotary of the Troasury. The House Committee on the District of Columbia at their meeting to-day unantmously ugreod to ask Lo be discharged trom the consideration of the joint and concurrent resolution of the Missouri Legislature re- lating totho romoval of the United States Capitol The committee thought thero was no necessity for such legislation, RULES FOR LABORERS IN NAVY YARDS, Tho Secretary of tho Navy, in his recent reply toa resolution of the House of Kepresentatives making In- quiry in relation to the hours of labor at navy yards, soys:— “Desiring to utilize the government navy yards by Placing them, so far as tho price of labor is concerned, as near as possible upon an equality with private ship- yards, the department caused all who desired to be employed as laborers to bo notified before their em, ployment of tho rates of wages it had fixed and their preciee relation to tho hours of work each day. They wero intormed that they would not be required to work more than eight hours a day, but would be pere mitted to work ten if they preferred it, and that they would be paid according to tho rates fixed for each number of hours, Such is the rule in all the navy yarae,; and ult tho’ laborers ongaged in them have been employed upon this express condition. If any buvo been otherwiso engaged it has been without the knowledge and consent of the department, Thero has been no difficulty in finding laborers ready and willing to occupy all the positions in the navy yards upon these conditions, and scarcely a day passos but others express a desire to do so, ‘Yhere are so many of the latter as to give assurance that if those alrenuy engaged are dissatisfied and shall decide to givo up their present employment their places cam be oasily and immediately filled. Under the circumstances tho department has deomed it ex- pedient toadhcro tothe rule herein stated, especially as Lt {s calculated to secure economy and is considered not only not in derogation of tho existing statute, but in precise conformity to it, as interpreted by the Su- preme Court of the United States.’”’ EXAMINING NAVY DEPARTMENT ACCOUNTS, The tession of the Committeo on Appropriations was devoted to navy deficiency estimates, Fourth Auditor Tabor and several of his ussistants wero inter- rogated by the committee concerning the manner in which the transfers of funds from one bureau of the Navy Department to another were eftected, Tho bill to provide for the pay of navy oflicers will probably be reported to-morrow. REMOVING THE INDIANS TO NEW HOMES, Tho following telogram bas been recoived here:— Cmicaco, Noy, 7, 1877, General Towxsexp, Washington : General Crook telegraphs that the movements of tho Indians have been slightly impeded by the fall of six inches of snow. ed Cloud remained in camp yester- day, twenty miles from the old agency, Spotted Tail was to have started yesterday, The Arapanoes leava to-morrow, The Sioux are fully impressed with the importance of not allowing any to go North, P, H, SHUERIDAN, General, THE PARIS EXHIBITION, The House Committee on Foreign Affairs to-day hoard Mr. Henning, of New York, on tho subject of American representation at the Paris Exposition, No action was taken, MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE ON ELECTIONS. The Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections held another meeting to-day on tho Spoflora-Kellogg case, Alter some further discassion as to the proper scope of the proposed investigation the committee ad- Journed subject to the call of thochairman, ‘The post- ponoment of action to-day was owing to tho absence of Mosars. Hoag and Hill, togetuer with the fact that tho vacancy in the committes caused by the death of Senator Morton dias not yet been filled, . LAND SURVEYS. Upon the subject of surveys the Commissioner says:—During the fiscal year ending June 20, 1877, thore were expended in the suryoys of public lands tho sum of $215,942 42, for which there we veyed Ll, acres, including lund claims, &e. It 1g recommended that there be «consolidation of alt the offices of surveyors general into one, which stall bo located at Washington. Also the abolition of tho contract system and the appointment of a surveyor general of the United States, who shall bo authorized to appoint as Many assistants as may be required to | personally make (he surveys, as fast as may be deemed appropriation ex- ear. necessary, It 18 mentioned in tho report that a largo namber of grants for railroad pur. poses have expired by limitation, the roads lor whoso benefit (oy were made not baving beon constructed within the period prescribed by law, In such cases It fs regarded as important that some ac- tion should be taken by Congress tooking either to tre entorcement of tho forleiture of the grants or extending the time for tho completion of the: roads, It the latter course should be pursued the claims ot lond fide settlers who have gone upon the lapsed Jands in large numbers, and whose entries thercof have, in Many instances, been permittod by district oflicers, should bo recognized, protected and con- firmed. STEALING GOVERNMENT TIMDER Regarding timber deprodations and timber lands, st is rocommended—first, that Congress should, by proper legislation, withdraw ail lauds chietly valuable for pine timber from tue operation of the Homestoi and Pre-emption laws, and from all manner of sale or disposition except for cash at a fair appraised vaiuc, to be ascertained in such manner as Congross may provide, under the direction of the Secro- tary of tho Interior; second, that the Sec. ttary Of the Interior bo authorized by Jaw to sell at just and fair valoation, as Congross may direct, timber from tho public Jands in mining dis. tricts, where It would be contrary to oxisting laws to sell tho Jands by Jogal subdivisions or in any manner except as provided in the mining laws now in force; also, that be bo authorized to sell the timber upon any unsurveyed land, not mineral, whon needed for actual settioment before the public surveys aro extended over sueh Innds—this legisia tion 48 necessury pending any other that may bo deomed best by Congros#; thitd, that Congress be ree auosted to enact alaw providing for the care aud custody | period of extr ws such timber lands as are unfit for agriculture, and for the gradual sale of tho timber growing thereon, aud for the perpetuation of the growth of timber on such Jands by such needful rules ard reguila- tions as may bo required to that em that Congress be requested to enact such lw as may be necessary for the appraisement and sale of such tiinber lands as it may be best to sell; also pro- viding for the care anda custody of such lands until they be sold, The Commissioner also suggests legisia- tion authorizing seizures of timber eut from the pub- lic lands without a resort to the tedious process of the courts, Special Agent Carter telegraphs to the Commis- sioner of the General Land Ofico from Pascagoula, Miss. under date of November 6, that the United States Marshal for the Southern district of Mississippi has seized in the three southern counties bordering on the Gulf of Mexico, intho suit of the United States against John Manning et. al, a large amount of timber, principally pine logs, estimated at over 75,000 in number, Besides the large amount of lum- bor belonging to the United States and taken trom the Public lands thero will be seized under this process of the Court a large amount of charcoal and turpentine. This action, independent of the value of the property recovered, will stopatrado which has maintained a largo number of vessels in transporting the timber or lumber manufactured therefrom, which is unlawfully taken from the public lands to foreign und domestic markets, and has virtually suppressed depredations ou public lands in the Southorn district of Mississippi. COMMISSIONER WILLIAMSON'S RECOMMENDA- TIONS, Commissioner Willlamson recommends that ‘the Homestead and Pre-empt'on laws be expressly amended 80 as to bo applicabie only to arable agricultural land, and in no case to land chiefly valuable for the timber growing on it, He reports in regard to the Desert Land act of March 3, 1877, that it 1s a good law, from which most beneticia! results should and will pe ob- tained if 1t can be fully carried into effect; but that there are various difficulties in the way of its Proper administration, and that it should therefore be repealed und repiaced by the enactment of a law giving to persong or corporations all the truly and un- mistakably desert lands which they may thoroughly and fully reclaim by irrigation, The report also acts forth at length the evils and abuses which have re- sulted trom acts of Congress authorizing the issue of land scrip of various descriptions, and takes strong ground in favor of the abandonment of all such issues in future, THE MONEY DEBATE, REMARKABLE SPEECHES ON THE SUBJECT OF THE KEPEZAL OF THE RESUMPTION ACT—A NOVEL AMENDMENT—SPREAD-EAGLEISM, Wastinatox, Nov. 7, 1877, The Srxaxer laid before the House tho resignation of Rey, Dr, Poisal as chapiain, upon which Mr, Stern. NS, of Georgia, oflered a resolution, which was adopted, expressing the regret of the House at such resignation, ‘The regular order of business being domanded, Mr. ATkrINs, (dem) of Tonn,, sald tho Committees on Ap propriations did not desire the consideration of the Army bill to-day, and tho Sreaxnr declared that the regular order was the consideration of the bill for the ropeal of the resumption clause. BILL TO RKPEAL RESUMPTION, Mr. Gakvyen, (rep.) of Ohio, proceeded to address the House in favor of repealing tho Resumption act. In considering all the provisions of that act together he was led to the conclusicn that its object was to sub stitute for the oulstanding currency subsidiary ellver coi, national bank currency and such coin as should be put in circulation after the 1st of January, 1879, He claimed that tho tendency of tue act, if enforced, was rapid contraction of tho currency; that that meant Tapid depreciation of values, and that tho consequence of that must be @ general bankruptcy of the active business men of the country, Entertaining such views and believing that an attempt to enforce the Resump- tion act would result ina speedy contraction of the currency, and that ruinous consequences would neces. sarily foilow, ho was in duty bound to vote for tts re. peal, 1n doing so he did not mean to be understood a5 being opposed to resumption or as boing tm favor of inflation, Mr. Cox, (rep.) of Ohio, agreed with his colieaguo (Mr, Gardner) in many of his views, though notin his conclusions. He (Mr, Cox) concluded that, being a Tesumptioniat ip principle, 1t would be wiser to amend the jaw 80 as to react the conclusion which its friends were aiming at rather thao repoal it entirely, Ho proceeded to explain dnd advoeate the amendment oflered by i esterday. In discussing tho question whether there would be apy real resumption ol specie payments the public mind had constantly found this dilticulty—“How do we know (hat at the time this act 18 Lo take effect Congress will not totally overthrow all attempts in that direction’ How do we know that it will be adbered to? You have provided no interme. diate steps,’? The democratic party had made it a grave charge against the republican party’ that the latter had done nothing toward resumption—that the mere naming of # Lite accomplished nothing, He was free to admit that there was a certain degree of weight ia that objection, aud if it were urged in good faith by men who really meant to resume te would non the common ground of tak jueh in- © Stops as would lead toward thavend, They should reach it not by saying **We will resume tn 1479 or in 1881,'? butin providing the intermediate steps to resume, ‘It was Unat which his amendinent proposed todo, He had offered the amendment as a means of coming to an understanding about resumption, Party lines could not be drawn on such a question. Could not those who agreed upon a policy of resumption agree upon the methods of bringing tt about? If those proposed by him were not means, let the right moans ve shown. Tho tall text of Dr. lows :— Cox's amendment is fol- Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert ;— outitied n of specte payments,’ to wit:— ed Statues of the That section # of the act passed January 14, 187: “An act to provide for (he resumpt be so amended as to read ms to!low: >kC. —That section 5,177 of th United Staten, Huuting ‘the aggregate a ing notes of tho national banking assoc hereby repealed. and ch existing banking atsociation may increase its circulating nutes in accordance with ex ect to said aggre; weintions may be or; Ling Law, Without respect to said aggregate Il nna the provisions of law tor the withdrawal aud rea’ tribution of national bank currency among the several States And Tecritories are hereby repealed: and. on D. 1478, the Secretary tation Tor red ot the Treasury shad at the olive of the it the Yt day of the Tre Aimitaion, tu ike manner 974, conts on the doll muary, A.W. 187! wider tha ‘sine limiter notes at the rate st Us ° ‘ of sury shail civom es atthe rate of nd on and atver the Ist day crotary vf the Treasury shail nin w Int day of 1a, 6 retary of the Trensnry shall, wader Hinitations, in ike nia er redoeny satd notes at ninety-nine vin, and on and after (ho ay ol Janaary, A. D. 1641; the ‘secretary of the Irons under {he sante linitttttons, ip like manner re sald Jekal tender noes im of SIOP.0O0,0e shall, cuncelled and nal curreney and one-halfeeats on the Int which may be tnexcess of t 8 tho Kame inny be redeemed, halt also tue paper fracti but may be reissued under wy appropriation made by Co gross. And to enable the Se and provide etary ofthe Treasury to prepare v the redemotiva in this act authorized ot Fe United states July 14,4. D1 retonding-of the 1 An net an with like qnali Heges and exem extent necessary to enery {hia net inte tultelfect, and to use the proceeds thereof for | the peeposes aforesaid’ And ali provisions of law incon sistent wich the provisions 91 this act are hereby repeated, A SEW VIEW OF THE MATTER, Mr, Brain, (tep.) of N. HL, suggested to Mr, Cox that, 1f the redemp! of three, two ond per cent was proper Ps been dono whon legal tenaers were not worth fity conts on the dollar, Mr, Cox, in his reply, drew @ distinction between or- dinary aud extraordinary circumstances, Mr, Biain—Theo, if “the distnetion in regard to contracts is 4 dietinotion betWeon extraordinary aud ordinary sinstances, Would the gentieman have ap- pled his principle when legal tenders were worth | eighty cents on the dollar, whick was long aiter the yruiuary fvetuations? Mr, Cox—AS & practical matter of history I began to advocute the docsrine whi 1 bow state im 1 when gold was at a premium ot sixteen per cent, The inuendo 1s alten made that we are breaking a contract, I wish to bo distinctly understood a sayiog that [do not believe jn aby Buch logic in regard to the cur- reucy, [he currency 18 1p the form of @ joan by the people of the country to the government, [ain en- Urely freo to say, resuinplionistas L am, that if the poople ot the United Stater, who hola ihe whole of u cy, say through their representatives in Congress that they do Hot want the government to pay it i 1580 or 1590 oF AL any other time they have the absoluie right to say 80, Ibis a question between the people and the government. The legal tender Hote Is On its face A Contract to pay col; vut the question when coin ehall be paid for it has been aie- tnctly relegated to Congress, A GREAT LOS® TO THE COUNTRY, Mr, Ripon, (dem) of Tenn, addressed the House On (ho subject Of resumption In conbectioa with otner Unancial legislation, which he dec ared (0 be prejus Mieil wo the country and which bad imposed great | on of logul tenders at a discount losses on the peopl, He roviewed the ‘Puolic Credit act Of March 15, 1869,” which, bo alleged, bad il a qntailed a loss of $1,600,009,000 on the people, $1,000,000,000 of interest paid om the five-twenty ole should have Deen’paid five years utter ok 4 §600,000,000 in the Regoliation of the beads, He also revie the Silver Demonetization uct of February 12, which, ho alleged, nad cost the people at $500,000,000, Also the Resumption act, whieb, hr alleged, had entaiicd a toss on the people of at leas $1,000,000,000. He charged that the repabhican party Was responsible for ail tuese laws, and maintained that all the foanciat legisiation of the goverumeus since that of 1565 had beow in the mtsrest of to creditor class and against the devtor class. He argued that the irregularities of that leisia redressed by tue repeal of the ie Temouetization of silver and the n currency. He also presented au ecaruest ploa in 1avor of subsiautial equality in the imposition of the burdeng of the government and in the distribution of ity beny- fits in all future legisiation, AN IMPORTANT NATIONAL I89UK, r. Prick, (rep.) of lowa, suid tat he had yoted to take the bil out of the moraing hour, not because he believed in the doctrines of the bill, ‘but beciuse ho was opposed to anything like gag law or the suppreae si00 of discussion, und also because ho believed thas truth bad nothing to fear in the discu error, Ho did not mean by this last ren positively ou which side of this question all or allthe error tay. Tho question was one whicn agitated the whole country. [t needed discussion, It wanted some light shed ‘upon it, aud prodabiy some light would be shed upon it in this discussion. It bad been alleged yesterday by the gentieman from Kaosas (tr, Paillips) that the contraction of the currency aud the finuncial trouble of the country had Leen broughy about by the Resumption act, and that tho retire. ment of so many wALonal banks Would not huve taken lace except for the passage of the Resumption act Feta gouticman would examine the uiswry. ot the country for the lust two years ho would change his opinion in that respect. So many nauonal banks had retired their circulation and wound up their business simply and solely because the taxution of ational banks ts so burdensome, Two hundred and thirty. three national banks had voluntarily gone out ol exis Not because of the passage of the Resumption but because taxation of national bank property Was groator than tho taxation of avy other properly in ghe country. TAXATION OF NATIONAL BANKS. Mr. Kruiay, (rep.) of Pa.—l beg teave to say that the taxation of national banks bas not driven a single banking Institution out of existence, My attention was called this morning to the faot that the national banks of Philadelphia baye just declared their semi+ annual diviaends, ranging from five to ten per cont, and have beeu adding to their surplus, aud, asf toti- mated the otlfer day, one of our national banks r cently made, not an anpual, but an extra dividend 100 per cent, And | soy that the taxation which ailow: such profits is not uppreesive or calculated to drive capital cut of the business. The gentle.oan trom lowa must look elsewhere for the cause, dir. Prick—There are exceptions to all rules, and, indeed, exceptions prove the rute. There may be iw half dozen banks in ’biladeiphia and elsewhere able to declare such dividends; butl speak of the system ag itstands all over thecountry, and J chatlenge con- tradiction when I say that the navional bank property of the country pays more taxation than avy other Epecies of property, Mr. KeLtnyY—I desire to apply the gantieman’s own assertion that the exception proves the rule. It 230 national banks have retired for some cause or other they havo left a survivorship 000, The banke thai have retired are exceptio only prove the fact that the banking business is the most profitable Dusiness in the country, Mr. Pairs, (rep.) of Kansas, suggested that the reason why Western banks went out of business wag that they could not exact moro than twelve per cont interest, whereas outside of banks they could exace two por cont a month. NO REPUDIATION, Mr. Price replied to Mr, Phillips and criticised the statement made by the latter yesterday as to ti prosperity of France under its large circulation, conclusion he said nt the country to by its promises. I do pot want it to give out to the world that we caunot do anything. What have we evor tried todo which we could not do? We stand to-day on the highest pinnacle of honor. Woe stand tho peer of the proudest nation on the globo im point ot honor, im point, also, of financial abil. ity. In the lexicon of this young giant of tho West ‘There's no such word as fail?’ aro true to ourselves Wo will accomplish all we have promised, and we shall continue to bo what wa are to- day—tho admiration of the civilized world, (Ape plause} Mr. Kettey—Does tbe fact that the nation has ac- complished that which 13 possible prove it cau accom Pplish the impossible Mr. Prick—I should like to know what sort of a question that is? (Laughter). Mr. Kettey—It ys & very direct one, which can be answered categorically. Mr. Prick—When be ehows me anything which is impossible to this nation I shail be prepared to ane swer his question. Mr. Keuizy—Was it not the argument of Messrs, Pee! and Ricardo when the act of 1519 was passed that as gold and paper were thon at less than Live per cea diflerence, 1t wus a mero question of irom three to tive bor cent diff over four years? Ifthe gentleman cannot answer that question—(laughter)—1 shall answer itin the affirmative. What was the result of overcoming that from three to five per cent? Vaiuen were reduced sixty per cent, aud the elder Peel said to his son, “Robert, you have made the fortune of your ly, but you have ruined your country.” Threo per cent was enough to do that. . OPIOUS COMPARISONS, Mr. Paick—I do not know augthing about the clder Peel's opinion aud do not care rhuch about nrs son's, T live iu the afternoon of tbe nineteenth century and 4u legislating for the peoplo who live in the altaurnoon of the nineteenth ceniury, and while | have of experience to guide my feet im the path of Pam protty sale so long as | keep in it in England at that time may have got down sixty per coat valucs hero have gone up, because gold has gone down from 280 to 103, “Do not compare this country with apy other, There is no country Lo come pare jt with. There is no place to make « country to compare it with. (Laugbter.) In Eogiaud you may take a raliroad car in the moruing and start out in astraight line and before ‘the sun sews you will run over the edge. (Applause aud Jaugbter.} You cannot compare mole hitis with mountains, You may contrast them, but you cannot compare thom, Step out from yonder Kastern limit and see the King of Day shaking the water irom lus wings, He tak his course westward, not 600 miles only, ner 1,000 miles, nor 2,000, nor 3,000 miles only, but he has traversed nearly 4,000 miles when he sinks to ress behind the golden waves of the lacific. (Laughier and applause) Or take your stand upat tho irozen North. where the Ice King reigns aad follow down through all degrees of latitude autil you bave reached the land of the orange aud the pine, and then you nave country which for diversity of clime and products has no equal on the globe—(continuous laughter aud ap- and you cannot make such a country any- , for there is no oiher place to make tt in ‘This ts our country, It has one constitu flag und one destiny, and I purpose, so far y ability extends, to keep 1 in the pathway of duty until it shall arrive at the goal, aud the capsione shail be put upon it intime. (Shouts 1 1aughter aug applause. ) IT’S A Mr. Kenury (ironically ERAT IRD. Big as the country ts, the Americun eagle can flap its wings over every acre and Scream defiance to ailcreation, (Langhter.) it is great bird. I want to ask the geutieman (as he suys we havo raised values) how much the price of lows wheat has gone up in the last threo years? Me. Rick—ltis worth more thun it was three years ago, Lam happy to 6a got a better crop worth a good Mr. Keiiey—Me Mr. Prick—Measur Termonetizeu tho other day Mr. Keutey—Is it as measured by cotton, tron or any other product of 1udustry ¢ Me. Paick—My friends | ‘outh can answer the cotton partol the que the geptioman from Pennsyivania himseil can answer the iron pare (Laugater.) i] y—Has its price increased in British ercign: French frines? batt Barc We do not take British sovereigns or ‘wavs; we take American dollars, (Laught wNsEND, (rep) ot N. Y. (impetuousty)— wheat is worth moro than it was sixteen yearp ago, whether measuied in francs, eovereigus or in our own 01. M4 Mt, Kener (to Mr. Townsend)—Do you speak for Jowat (Laughter.) Mr. Towsskxp--Yos, | do; for I have wheat and builocks in Lowa to sell. Mr, KeLLKY—I never suspected from New York was a carpot Mr. Biain, of New Hampsuir Kelley’s historical allusion to EB that (he troubles of those tim unulafter the actual of specic payment, Mir, Kxtiey sust orrecthess of his own position, and rejerred to Allison's and Doubleduy’s Histories in support of it Mr. Hannison, (dem.) of LL, deprecated the tone of Mr. Price’s remarks in 80 far as they assumed that this country was not subject to the same genoral laws of othor countries, and advocated the pa As to the argument ot plightod faith to bond~ holders, he said that there was no respect for the faith the people, There was an imptied obliga. governinent to protect the laborer and thi e gentleman jughver. ) coutroverted Ar, gland, and asserted did not commence that th er, (1 If this thing Went on he prophesied tn of the West would never submit to the peo~ ple ot the Kast robbing them ior the sake of bonds holder: The subject then went over util to-morrow, THK NAVAL DRFICIENCY Bille Mr. Biownt, (dem) of & from the Committee oa Appropriations, reported tue Naval Deficiency vill, Qhd said that he Would ask action upon it as soon as the Army Appropriation Uill was passed, Mr, Pace, (rev.) of Cal, presented the address of tha people of Caljtoruia on the subject of Chin imint+ gration, felerrod to the Committee on Kducation, Mr. Wooo, (vem.) of N. ¥., offered a resolution calle ing for iniurmation as lo the expenses in the War Department. Reterred. ‘The House thea, at ten minutos past fodr, adjourned, A democratic caucus Was then annowuced tor toe morrow alter adjoarnment, WENDELL PHILLIPS ON SUMNER. A tecture on Charles Sumner will be delivered by Wendell ’hillips on Friday evening, November 9, at the Thirty-fourte Street Retormed Charch, Mr. Philips will d:scass Grant-Samncr-Motley-Fisa controversy in all its bearings, THE CASE OP JUSTICE DUFFY, in the caso of Police Justice Duffy, against whom proceedings have been institated looking to bis ims peachiment, Judge Davis yesterday sent the papera presented to him to Chiet Justice Daly, of the Gare ot Common Pieas, for action. [tis probable that pnarges again Wally will sova be tried, Soe