The New York Herald Newspaper, December 29, 1878, Page 5

i. WASHINGTON. Removal of the Financial Difficulties of the Teller Committee, A QUICK DECISION. The Department of Justice Decides in Favor of the Investigators. MR. BLAINY’S UTTER. Secretary Evarts’ Diplomatic Cor- respondence With Mexico. DEPARTMENTAL REDUCTIONS GENERAL WASHINGTON DESPATCHES, Wasuincton, Dec. 28, 1878, MEETING OF THE BLAINE COMMITTEE--—-FINANCIAL, DIFFICULTIES--CANNOT INVESTIGATE WITHOUT FUNDS. The ‘Teller committee met at a quarter past two o'clock this afternoon, under a call issued by the chairman, in the expectation that a communication would be received from Comptroller Porter, review- ing. and reversing his recent opinion as to the availability for the purpose of this com- mittee of the $20,000 appropriation of last session, There were present Senators Teller, Cameron, of Wisconsin; Kirkwood, Garland and Bailey. The chairman laid before the com- mittee a copy of a letter addressed by him to the Comptroller, yesterday, on the subject of the diffi- culty which has arisen from the use of the word “said,” in the second section of the act of June 19, 1878, which limits the use of the appropriation to “defraying the expenses of said investigations and in- quiries as have already been or may hereafter be directed by the Senate.” Mr. Teller says in this letter that the clause in question was reported by Mr. Fdmunds, from the Judiciary Committee, on the 4th of June, when no investigations of the description mentioned by the first section of the act (namely, the House investigation of alleged frauds in the Prosi- dential election) had been ordered by the Senate, and that the word printed ‘‘said” was, in Mr. Edmund's manuscript, ich.” He therefore argues that the printed word, taken in connertion with the word ‘‘as’’ which follows it must be construed as if it read “such.” The two words, he says, are frequently taken to mean, substantially, the same thing, and he concludes his letter as follows:-—‘In view of these circumstances, and in order to give any effect to tho section at all, it appears to me that there can be little difficulty in holding to this construction, voted for almost unanimously by both political parties in the Senate and one of great interest to the public, either as exposing wrongs committed against the whole people or as vindicating the people of several of the States from unjust suspicion.” Mr. Teller also laid before the committee the let- ter received by him from Senator Blaine in response to this recent resolution, and it was spread on file without action for the preseut. The chairman stated, in re- ply to an inquiry of a member of the committee, thet no reply has yet been received from Senator ‘Thurman, to whom a similar resolution (referring to his amendment) was communicated at the same time. Comptroller Porter's letter not being received up to three o'clock, the committee adjourned untit eleven A. M. next Monday. BENATOR BLAINE INDICATES WHERE THE FRAUD INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE MAY ACQUIRE VALUABLE INFORMATION. The following is the text of Mr. Blaine’s letter: — Wasutnaror, Dec, 23, 1878, Mr, H. M, Te.iEn, United States Senate, Chairmen Select Committee, &c.:— Dear Stn—I have this morning received your favor enclosing the following resolution adopted by your committee :— ‘ Resolved, That ths Hon. James G. Blaine, the mover of he requested to specify in writing the par. frauds, outrages and violence committed in committee ix expected to in- evidence as witnesses he purpose of your honor- able committee to limit the investigation to any par- ticular cluss of frauds, outrages and violence cc mitted in the recent elections that may be “‘specitied”’ by me. The resolution ix the action of the Senate, speaking almost unanimously, and it is not for me to say what your mittee is “expected” to investi- gute beyond what is expressed in the resolution it- selt in very explicit terms. It would be gross assump- tion in me to “specify’” where the Senate itself hus directed, $ But, anxious to indicate any details that may expe- dite the labors of the committee, I will call your at- tention specially to the tissue ballot frauds in South Carolina; v0 the laws of that State, which made free voting impossible in certain counties; to the prac- tice in that State of breaking up all meetings heid to vppose the democratic party unless democratic apeakers were allowed to take part in the discussions, and to all the methods by which in Sumpter and other counties a full and free election was prevented. In Louisiana I invite your attention to the murders in Tensas parish on election day, and to the frauds committed in the same: to the frauds and outrages upon the ballot in the city of New Orleans, and, even while I write, to the alleged assassination of two wit- nesses on their way to the United. States Court to testity against those who had robbed them of their rights on the day ot election. Icould make further specification in these two States and in other South- ern States, but I have not time. Tam just leaving tor New England and am compelled to postpone fuller details until after my return. Among the witnesses I would name are James B, Campbell, E. W. M. Mackey and C. G. Mimminyer, of South Carolina; Governor Nichols; his agent, Colonel Zachary; ex-Chief Justice Ludeling, ot Louisiana; Hon. Reuben Davis, of Mississippi; J. Cole Davis, of Helena, Ark., and the editor of the Aralanche, a demo- cratic paper published in Memphis, Tenu. But I beg expecially to refer yowto a lutye mas of valuable information in the office of the Attorney General of the United States, alread: M called tor by the Semite, and soon, [ presume, to be laid before your commit: tee. * This is official in its character, and in many cases has the weight and value of legal evidence not requiring further examination of witnesses to au- theuticate and contirm it, In offering the resolution in the Senate I did not assume the part of public prosecutor, but especially clined wuy such service. The invitation of your honorable committee, however, is one which I cannot disregard, aud on the reassembling of Congress I shall from time to time lay such facts before you and make such suggestions a8 may seem to constitute @ full and fair compliance with all the requirements of your resolution, With great respect, your obedient servant, J. G, BLAINE. FIRST COMPTROLLER PORTER'S LETTER TO SENA- TOR TELLER REFERRING THE QUESTION OF ‘THE TWENTY THUUSAND DOLLAR APPROPRIA- TION TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, The following is the letter of Comptroller Porter to Senator Teller, chairman of the Blaine Investt- gating Committee, in regard to referring to the At- torney General the question of using the $20,000 heretofore appropriated :— Taeasuny DevantMent, Finer Comprrou.en’s Orricr, Wasntneton, Dee, 28, 1878, Mr. H. M. Teirn, United States Senate : Su have by your request reconsidered the opinion heretofore yiven by me respecting the applicability tor the expenses of the aclect committee of the Senate, under the resolution introduced by Mr. J. G. Blaine, of the appropriation inade by the second wec- tion of the act passed at the last session of Congress, entitled “An act to provide for the expenses ot the select committee on alleged trauds in the late Presi- dental election.” wos necessarily ine ot the House of Repres tho resolution of May 17, ve ate alleged frands in the lute Presidential election. The second section enacts that alike sum be appro- rated, “which sum shall be placed to the credit of he vontingent find of the Senate and be applied toward detraying the expenses of said investigations sud inquiries ay have already buon or may hereatter be direvted by the during the period of tho Forty-fitth Congress The bill irs in the House of Representa- tives, and its object was to provide moneys to detray ‘the expanses of an investigation of alleged frauds in NEW YORK HERALD, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1878—QUADRUPLE SHEET. a the Presidential election by a conmunittee already se- lected for that purpose by the House. When the bill to the Senate it was amended by providing for an Fie mpeg of a precisely like sum t> be added in like manner to a contingent tuud and to be ap- plied, as I have interpreted the language of that act, toward Gotan the expenses of a like class of inves- tigations which in the language of the act had already ‘been ordered and it was contemplated would be con- ducted by the Senate, The clause “said investiga- tions and inquiries as have already been or may hereafter be directed by the Senate during the period the lives and property of its citizens, for assuredly if the gov. ent of Mexico cannot do it, that of the Uni eae 80 far as it can. The of’ a government is to life ‘This is a paramount obligation, For eruments are institutel, and yovernments neglecting or failing to perform it become worse than useless. This duty the government of the United States has determined to perform, to the ex- tent of its power, towurd its citizeus on the bor- der, It is not solicitous—it never has been— about the methods or ways in which that ot the Forty-fifth Congress” I could not help | protection shall be accomplished; whether by for- but perceive was awkward and ungram- | mal treaty stipulation or by informal convention; matical; but faults of style and grammar | whether by the action of judicial tribunals or that of do not vitiate a statute, and it was my | mititiary forees—protection, in fact, to American duty to give effect to the several words employed, i€ | lives and property is the sole point upon which Icould, in like manner as it the structure of the | the United States are tenacious. For securing clause had been faultless, ‘The circumstance that | it they have a right to ask the co-opera- words were used wiskilfully or ungrammatically | tions of their sister republic. So far, the could not authorize me to substitute other words in their place if a sensible construction could be given to them, It was now suggested that the clause above quoted ought not to receive the construction given to it, be- cause itis said that the investigation of alleged frauds in the Presidential election had been directed by the Senate during the Forty-fifth Congress. The suggestion when made appeared to me to pomens great force; but if I could consider it I find, upon examination of the journal of the Senate, that I should entertain’ grave doubt whether at the time to which the act would apply an investigation had not been directed which miglit be deemed an investigation and inquiry into that class of alleged frauds, On examination and flection, however, my opinion is that in constrnin; the section in squeationy I have not the right, cording to the rules governing the interpretation ut statutes, to refer in this instance to the journal of the bosowrdeg ascertain if such investigation had been ‘The House of Representatives, the concurrenceof which was necessary to pass the bill, and the p> ident, whose approval was necessary to give it etl cannot be supposed to be informed so as to om charged with knowledge of the particular investiga- tious which from time to time are pending in tne Senate. They must be regarded, I think, as having interpreted the meaning of the bill by its words. When they read in the first section the clause appropriating moneys to further an investigation of a committee of the House into alleged frauds in the Presidential election, and read the sec- ond section appropriating a like sum of money to be credited to a like fund “toward defraying the ex- penses of such investigations and inquiries as have already been or may hereatter be directed by the Senate,” &c., did they understand that the investiga- tions were to be miscellaneous in their character or limited to supposed frauds in the Presidential election? It seems to me that the words employed imparted that the appropriation in the authorities of _Mexico—military and civil—in the vicinity of the border appear not only to take no steps to effectively Check the: raids oF punish the raiders, but demur and object to steps taken by the United States.. Extradition of offenders under the treaty is delayed or refused upon grounds more or loss plausible, Amendments of the treaty are pro- nounced impracticable or sought to be eucumbered with conditions that would render them nugatory. Military force gives no effectual co-operation in the pursuit of the thieves, and in many instances con- tents itself with assuming the attitude of watching United States troops, as if they belonged to a hostile in of a friendly power. ou reported to the Department on the 24th April, , that up to that time there was uo record ot any whieh any Mexican has been punished by the authorities for these crimes. If any such case has since oceurred it has not been brought to the attention of this Depurtment. I am not unmindful of the fact that, as you have repeatedly reported, there is reason to believe that the Mexican government really desires to check ‘ders. According to the views you have 44s statesmen are believed to be sagacious and patriotic and well disposed to comply with all international obligations, but, as you represent, they encounter, or apprehend that they may encoun- ter, a hostile public feeling adverse to the United States, especially in these border localities, thwarting their best intentions and efforts. It is greatly to be regretted that such a state of perverted public feeling should exist. But its existence does not exempt the Mexican government from apy obli- gation under international law. Still less does it re- lieve this government: from its duties to guard the welfare of Americun people. The United States government cannot allow marauding bands to establish themselves upon its borders. with liberty to invade and plunder United States territory witn impunity, and then, when pur- nued, to take refuge across the Rio Grande under pro- tection of the plea of the integrity of the soil of the second section of the uct was to be applied tothe | Mexican Republic. You know, and the Mexican class of investigations mentioned in the first. government knows from your repeuted assur- confess to you frankly, however, that while such | ances, that neither the United States gov- is my opinion the case ix not entirely clear of doubt. | ernment nor the American people have ‘The third section of the act appropriates asum tobe | any design or desire of, conquest or used under the direction of the Attorney General to | annexation or forcible invasion of any part of Mex- by the De- | ico. The pretence that the United States are plotting defray any expenses that may be incur partment of Justice tor the detection of any crime committed against the United States in the amairs or in the course of the investigations mentioned in or instituting invasions for conquest in Mexico ix fallacious and absurd. ‘Invasions by United States troops” are spoken of in Mexican journals and tho act. If in the contse of the investigations | publio documents. There are no anch invasions. contemplated by your committee it shall be brought | Mexican cattle thieves invade Texas. Mexican to light that crimes have been perpetrated against the | revolutionists, in violation of our laws, in- United States, it will be incumbent upon him to con- | vade Mexico from this side of the | Rio strue this law by deciding whether he can apply the | Grande according to. the exigencies of their appropriation made by the third section toward tho expense of prosectting these crimes, they not being counected in any way with the Presidential election. It ix fit thut the decision of this office and of his should harmonious. He is at the head ot the tment of Justice, und it is made his duty by law to give opinions when requested, in cases of doubt, to the several departments. He has had large judicial experience. It is not so im- | Mexican force is found realy and willing to under- portant that the construction of this act shall be set- | take it, they are stigmatized as “invaders of Mexican iled in any particular way as that it shall be settled | soil.” speedily. if his opinion shall be adverse to mine I | ‘The suggestions of t shall, for the sake of a harmonious construction, | verted to in your despatch Ng. 7 yield withont reluctance to his interpretation of the | entertained.” In substance they 8 statute. Very respectfully, orders to General Ord should be reveed and the A. G. PORTER, First Comptroller. | border left to the mercies of the marauders, in the THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE DECIDES THAT | DOPE that at some tuture day or at some future seasion of the Mexican Congress laws may be enacted THE TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS MAY BE | Or treaties ratified which might offer a solution of the USED BY THE TELLER COMMITTEE. difficulties. The United States haye not sought the unpleasant duty forced upon them of pursuing ‘Acting Attorney General Phillips transmitted to the | offenders who, under ordinary usages of municipal Secretary of the Treasury the following opinion upon the question submitted to him this afternoon by First and international law, ought to be pursued and ar- rested or punished by Mexico, Whenever Mexico Comptreller Porter in regard to using the $2v,000:— DevantMext or Justick, | will assume and exercise that responsibility the United States will be very glad to be relieved from it. WasHINGTON, Dec. 28, 1878.) Tue SecRETARY OF THE TREASURY :— It is a source of constant regret to find that thix yoy: ernment does not receive the active or efficient help of that of Mexico in repressing disorders on the ry T submit tor your consideration the following ee eee with serious consequences to reply to yours, ¢ y, in reference to the en a mesning of the ecogad Motion of thesct spproved |. a a nists®, Foster. ins letter to Secretary Evarte, June 19, 1578, entitled, ‘Ap act to provide for the cx- penses ot the select committee on alleged frauds in the late Proxidential election,” ‘The act in question desultory warfare, But no American force ever goes over the Rio Grande except in pursuit of “invaders” who have already “invaded” the soil of the United States and are escaping with their booty, and when American troops are thus endeavoring to check both classes of marauders under strict orders to guard the territorial right of Mexico, to invite co-operation of Mexican troops and to make no pursuit when ai Mexican government, ad- XQ. 740, cannot now be dated September 7 last, gives a report of the inter- views with President Diaz and Minister Mata with a view to the punishment of the Indians raiding into ‘Texas, and notices their references to an expedition consists of three sections, By the mrst of | nade’ by Mexican trou é y Me ps and —-Kickapoos these $20,000 are added to | the | contingent | against the Lipans, and also to Indian raids und of the House of Representatives and | from the United States into Chihuahua, Minister appropriated to defray the expeuses of Foster says the fact of his interview and its object became known through Mexican sources, and *it wp- peared the government was impressed with the ne- cessity of justifying its conduct before its own people. In evidence of this Minister Foster encloses an. artédle “which appeared” in Monitor, which, “he has no «doubt, was substantially, if not entirely, prepared in the office of Foreign Affairs. An excmiuation of the oftl- cial documents makes it plain that the expedition was undertaken to punish the Lipans for recent raids aud depredations upon Mexican citizens on Mexican soil, aud not for raids into Texas, and for this expedi- tion the Mexican.authorities enlisted the Kickapoos, who area part of the Indians charged by American officials with raiding into Texas. PACIFIC RAILROAD CONTESTS—THE UNION PACI- FIC CHARGED WITH VIOLATING AGREEMENTS WITH THE KANSAS PACIFIC—IMPORTANT SUITS. ‘The hearing inthe Kansas Pacific Railroad cases was resumed to-day in the Supreme Court room be- fore Mr. Justice Miller, of the United States Supreme Court, and Judge C. G. Foster, sitting as in the select committee of that Hous resolution specitied therein and rected to invest wate frauds in the late Presidential election. By the second §20,000 are xl to the credit of the contingent fund of the and appropriated tor “detraying the expenses’ of said investigations and inquiries as have already been or may hereatter be directed by the Senate during the period of the Forty-fifth Congress," and by the third $10,000 are appropriated to’ be used under the direction of the Attorney General to defray expenses: “tor the detection aud punishment of crimes com- mitted against the United States in the affairs or in the course of the investigations mentioned in this act.” The question ppt by you. is whether the ‘in- ‘vestigations and jnquiries”’ spoken of in the second section are of the same class mentioned in the first section, &c., “investigation of alleged trands in the late Presidential election,” or are unlimited except as directed by the Senate heretofore or hereafter during the Forty-fitth Congress. i Iu my opinion the appropriation is intended for any investigation or inquiry whatever directed by the Senate ax above. The expression quoted above— “suid investigations and inquiries as have already been or may hereatter be dirceted by the Sena ppointed under a {a evidently a, woleciam. ‘The most natural method United States Circuit Court for the district of of getting rid ot the blunder is by reading “said” | Kansas. ad veaid * sucht, Ths phrese, ‘said investigations,” taken per se,| cate, -7oonding (> “sgreement the first Ineaus, of course, the very investigations by a | @westion considered this morning was ‘that vial committee ordered by the House. It will | of the traffic contract or running arrangement be udinitted that this i not the true meaning | Hetween the Union Pacific and Colorado Central of the section, because, among other reasons, that in- vestigation had already been provided for. It is sug- gested, then, that “said’’ is intended to refer to tho class of frauds mentioned in the rormer section, and thus to confine appropriation to investigation of trands in the late Presidential electic There is nothing to favor thi: Railroad companies on the one side and the Kansas Pacific Railroad and its receivers on the other. is a pooling contract, which was entered into last summer, and which placed the Kansas Pacific road under the management of the Union Pacific Railroad ‘interpretation coeene ry gee accounting {or the | Company. ‘The application to set aside this con- doubt, is a necessity of the case; but the solution of- | tract was made by Henry Villard, one of the fered does not remove the solecism which, as Ihave | receivers, and is supported by the bondhold- sugented, at once arrente the attention of the reader. | gry on the ground that the Union Pacific Att ame time it not more prob- d : ‘bie “than the explanation that I have above | Railroad Company, acting in connection with the submitted which does remove such j Colorado Central, has failed to carry out its part of solecin eceded by Qld? aud followed by suse? | thearrangement and has used the power thus ac- points to a ready solution of the difficulty; { mean | dtired by it to the injury of the Kansas Pacific Road, that which I have adopted and now submit for your consideration. Very respecttully, 8. L, PHILLIPs, Acting Attorney General. ‘The above decision will enable the committee to use the $20,000 heretofore appropriated, notwith- standing the doubts of the First Comptroller of the ‘Treasury. MEXICO AND THE UNITED STATES—A FIRM COMMUNICATION FROM THE STATE DEPART- MENT AT WASHINGTON. Alarge part of the diplomatic correspondence ac- companying the. President's annual message, and which is now being printed, is on the subject of Mexican affairs. The following letter addressed to Minister Foster gives the present position of the United States toward Mexico:— DEPARTMENT OF STATE, WASHINGTON, August 13, ints, | Sm—The administration of President Diaz came into power on the 29th November, 1876. Its recogni- tion as the established government of Mexico was delayed, ax you are aware, for the reason, amon; others, that some doubt existed whether it possesses the ability and the disposition to check the rat depredations upon American property in the vicinity of the Rio Grande, While you were assured, and so as well as to that of the public aud the government, in failing to provide through rates and convenient facilities between the Missouri River and the Pacific Ocean, Mr. James M. Woolworth, of Omaha, agued in favor of the motion on behalf of the petitioners and the bondholders, and contended that the present receiver ought not to be required to run the Kansas Pacific road in accordance with an agreement which ‘wad not only ‘vicious’ in itself, but “monstrous” in its provisions for the future. Mr. Justice Miller inquired what the views of the present receiver were with respect to the operation of the contract upon the business of the road, and said tha‘, as the receiver is the officer of the court, it was proper that his testimony should be had in that par- ticular, Mr. Wallace Pratt, of Kansas City, counsel for Mr. Smith, the present receiver, stated that Mr. Smith, having been charged with the custody of the prop- erty pending the petition of Mr. Villard, one of the two previous receivers, to set aside the contract, con- sidered it his duty to await the action of the Court in the matter before taking any steps himself concern- img it. Mr. Pratt said that if the Court desired he would state the receiver's views on the subject. Mr, Justice Miller replied that it was desirable that tho receiver's views should be placed before the advised the Cee ma that the new government heartily desired the maintenance of peuce and the preservation of order and would exert its powers for that purpose, you were also informed that the Mexican administration found itself — embar- raved in) making «any — arrangements for | Court over his own signatare, that purpose because of its non-recogni- | Mr. J. W. Noble, of St. Louis, arguod against the tion by the United States. Desirous to remove every impediment to an sdjustment of all disputed questions between the two governments, the Presi- cent, on the 24d of March, 187%, instructed you to in- form Mr, Vallorta that he deemed it no longer neces- sary or desirable todefer the resumption of diplomatic relations and the official recognition of the authori- ties with whom you had so long held unofficial inter- course, and that thenceforti your communications would be official and in the al form with recog: nized Powers. You wore also instruc to follow the act of recog- nition by inviting the Secretary of State for Foreign petition. During his argument, a question having arisen upon the introduction of depositions and affidavits, the Court ordered that the parties should take further testimony between now and the 1st of February, in order that the matter should be fully set forth and finally disposed of at the March term of the United States Cireuit Court in Kansas, Mr. J. R, Shepley, counsel for B, W. Lewis, trusteo in the mcome mortgage, moved to dissolve the in- oP Ww! junction heretofore allowed by the Court restraining aon ee ester Maoaaiites Toe the preuscration of | the prosecution of a suit instituted by Lewis against peace and punishment of outlawry upon the fron- {| the Kansas Pacific Railroad Company in the State tier, the better protection of American citizens and | Gourt of Kansas to foreclose that mortgage. At the its in Mexico and t) ott vi Soe suattorerce ‘complaint Sade try See govenanaecth conclusion of his argument the Court declined to hear counsel on the other side and refused to of the United States, nce that period the admin- dissolve tho injunction. Mr. Woolworth, with istration of President Diaz has been recognized See eter ican thc cdaaitinn et courertpoh | whom Mr, Artomus H. Holmes, of Now York, ap. Grande frontier r y the same. No | peared as associate counsel, presented a petition of env ae ee taken on the part of | jrenry @. Holmes to be admitted as a defendant in the suit of Lewis T. Burnham vs, the Kansas Pacific Railroad Company to foreclose the funding mort- ¢ Mexico to check the raids. The United States, stead of receiving redress, encounters delays, denials gage. Mr, James Taussig, of St. Louis, counsel for plaintiffs in that suit, resisted the application. The and postponements at the capital, while in ‘the dis- Court reserved its decision. turbed loculitios its oficers meet with active opposi- These cs ve ate tracted ninoh attention aud involved the Preqence of tion. The government of the United States have never Delieved, and do not now believe, that the gov- ermmont of Mexico approved or ‘desired to en- attacks, Yet as vourage these marandu they cht outinne to be miade they seem to show that the Mex. } uumenoris gounsel. 4 ican government is unable to repress t ‘This tie olatwrom 100: PERKS ADIIY may be pleaded as w reason for the failure to Daren Boyes aaa See) ‘Tho following reduction dn the foreo of omployés in the Guiftvid' Howse at Boston; Mass, as beew mado check the erintes complained of, but that only makes the strunger the duty of tho United States tu protect | This | to take effect January 1, 1879:—One clerk at $1,400 per annum, one at $1,200 per annum, one at $800 per annum, one clerk and storekeeper at $1,400 per annum, one laborer at $2 per diem. WHOLESALE REDUCTIONS IN THE RAILWAY MATL SERVICE—ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY EMPLOYES TO BE DISCHARGED. ‘The House of Representatives last session having eut down the estimates of the railway mail service appropriation for the present fiscal year $1,110,000, the department now finds it necessary to make a cor- responding reduction in force or salaries in order to bring the expenses for the remainder of the fiscal year within the total amount appropriated, It is estimated that 140 discharges among railway Post Office clerks, route agents and local agents must be made, aside from reductions in salaries of those re- tained. These discharges have begun to be made, and will continue as rapidly as reports of comparative efficiency, &c., come in from the division superin- tendents. Vacancies caused by resignations, deaths or the expiration of appointments by limitation will not be filled, Reductions in the pay of seventy em- ployés, in addition to the discharges, were made to- day. The work of reducing the force by dismissals all over the country will continue until the number of discharges is gradually swelled to the 140 required, TREASURY STATEMENT. The Treasury now holds $348,690,000 in United States bonds to secure bank circulation, and $13,957,300 in United States bonds to secure pub- lic deposits, United States bonds deposited on account of subscription to the four per cont loan, $4,413,400, United States bonds de- posited for circulation for the week ending to-day, $1,063,000; United States bonds held for circulation withdrawn during the week ending to-day, $1,313,000. National bank circulation outstanding—Currency notes, $32,287,960; gold notes, $1,468,820, The internal revenue receipts to-day wero $204,018 22, and the customs receipts $430,725 87. ‘The receipts of national bank notes for redemption for the week ending to-day, as compared with the | corresponding period last year, are as follows :—- New York Boston... Philadelp Miscellaneou: * Totals. . Receipts to-day Tho subscriptions to the four per cent loan to-day were $176,150. SILVER DOLLARS READY FOR DELIVERY. A number of banks not depository institutions, have sent orders for silver dollars to the Treasury Department, to be delivered under the provisions of the circular, which directs that standard dollars shall be sent free of transportation to anyont in sums of $1,000, or multiples thereof. This circular does not, however, go into effect unfil January 1 next, which is not generally understood. All such as those men- 4ioned are held by the department, and the persons or banks sending them are notitied that they will be promptly filled on the 1st prox. CONSULAR AND DIPLOMATIC APPOINTMENTS, The President to-day signed the following commis- sions:— William Thompson, of Washington, D.C., to be Consul for the United States at Southamptor John 8. Mosby, at Shanghai; Harris J, Heap, at Constan- tinople; George W. Fish, at Tunis; J, L. Frisbee, at Rio Grande; Andrew Cone, at Pernambuco; A. J. Cas. sett, ut Tampico; Eugene J. Ball, at Pesth, and S.C. White to be Secretary of Legation at Rio Janeiro. A COUNTERFEITER ARRESTED. The Secret Service Bureau is informed of the arrest at Yreka, Cal., yesterday, of William Bowman by an an officer of the government. Bowman is charged with manufacturing and passing counterfeit half dollars, THAT HOT SPRINGS CLAUSE—SENATOR CONOVER TO BE EXONERATED. The Senate Commission which has been investigat- ing the omission of the Hot Springs clause from the Appropriation bill of last session has closed the taking of testimony and will make a report imme- diately after the holiday recess. Senator Conover will’ be entirely exonerated from the imputations cast upon him by certain employés of the ‘Treasury Secret Service Committee. The real cause ofske. omission will probably be left a matter for conjectute, as no evidence was adduced which leads the committee to any positive conclusion on that point, although the almost universal impression is that the omission was an error of inadvertence in the usual hurry of business incident to the close of the session, " VANDERB 3, DEPARTURE, The news published in the Hrratp yesterday that acontract had been signed by the representative of Wiltiam H, Vanderbilt for the New York Central Rail- road and by Mr. Jobn ©. Seager, a ship broker of No. 19 William stre@t, whereby the latter was to furnish the railroad company with fourteen English built steamers to ply between the wharves of the New York Central road and th United Kingdom and the Continent, was hailed with delight by merchants and business men of all classes, who see in it renewed prosperity for the city an tthe placing of New York on a more advantage- ous footing as compared with her cities of Boston, Philadelpnia and Baltimore, A Henarp reporter visited two of the principal steamship offices to see what effect the establishment: of the nicorn line’ would have on their business. Mr. » of the Anchor line, said that it would not affect his company in the least, because the steamers of his line go to Glasgow and London. Mr. Coverly thought that his company’s arrange- ments with the New York Central Railroad would remain undisturbed, and that its business would re- main as heretofore, Mr. Cortix, of the White Star line, did not believe that it would affect, his company, as the new line would carry principally grain and cattle, and that kind of freight would not be taken on their steam- ships. He thought that bacon, butter and all h perishable yoods would be séut, us at present, the fast lines of steamers. A CASE OF MOTHER-IN-LAW, Judge Gedney, of the Eighth District Court, yes- terday disposed of a pecntiar case affecting two Ger- man families in affluent circumstances, Some months ago, it appeared on trial, a Miss Huber eloped with and subsequently married a young gentleman named ‘Chiebaut Specht, to the utter disgust of her parents, who became greatiy enraged at her unceremonious manucr of leaving the parental roof. The young wife, however, died soon after, when sorrow took the place of anger. The icted husband was in his room a few hours after his wife's death, when the mother-in-law made her ap- pearance and took a lot of personal property belong: img to the deceased. Specnt brought an action of replevin to recover the property, and Judge Gedney, inan elaborate opinion, atter quoting Scottish law and customs, decided in favor ot the husband. mother-in-law, having insisted upon providing “a good fune for her daughter, notwithstanding her secret marriage, and having claimed upon the trial that no title existed in the husband until letters of administration had been taken out or until he had satisfied the debt of the deceased, and particularly the tuneral expenses, which counsel regarded as a lien on such property, the Judge said:—“Lam reminded by this case, if I may be pardoned in digressing, of that curious penal law which obtained tor many gene tions in Scotland, and which was technically ‘vicious intromission.’ That law enacted that the slightest intermeddling, however trivial, by with the property of w deceased person, ¢ authority specifically red by the court: jected the unwary and culpable offender to pay the debts of the deceased, Judgment for plaintiff, with costs.” ANYWHERE BUT HOME! Richard Cesar, a colored man, of No. 93 Clinton street, was brought to the Essex Market Police Court yesterday by Officer Lundberg, of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, foes with hav- ing mo t brutally beaten his daughter, ida, aged sev- cuteen. His plea was that she kept bad company and would not remain in the house at night. The girl’s back proved the truth of the statement as to tue severity of the chaetisement she had received, The magistrate told her that she might go home, and that her father would be bound over to keep the peace. She cried, moaned and besought the Judge to send her anywhere rather, than to her home, and was turned over to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. PROMENADE arly two thousand persons attended the prom- enade concert at the Seventh regiment armory last evening. The rooms presented a brilliant sight as the ladies and gentlemen passed in and out in time to the lively music of Gratalla’s band. Full dress was not the o1 of the evening, altho there were a great many present in all the beanty ot silks, sating and velvet gowns. Flags and gteens decorated the walls and formed a gay background for the moving picture. Dancing was a ure of the evening at the concert, and the floors that usually resound to the grounding of arms and the tramping of soldierly tect were covered with a whirling throng of young people tripping “the light fantastic toe.” The entertainment was altogether successful aud will be repeated on the 18th of January, principal ports of the | sister | BLOWN TO ATOMS. THREE MEN KILLED BY AN EXPLOSION OF REND- ROCK NEAR PATERSON, N, J.—THE SHOCK FELT FOR MILES. About seven miles west from Paterson, N. J., in Weyne township, two miles from Pequannock Post Oftive, in the Preakness Valley, are located the rend- rock works of J. R. Rand & Co,, which have been in operation for several years past. Four explosions have octurred since the works were built—the first, February 9, 1875, the second January 7, 1876, the third July 1, 1878, the fourth yesterday, At none of the former explosions were there any serious casual- ties, except in January, 1876, when a workiman’s eyes were destroyed, But yesterday three workmen were instantly blown to atoms, ‘The explosion occurred about quarter past nine A. M. Windows rattled in their casements, doors were caused to shut or open, and a jar like that from an incipient earthquake was distinctly felt, not only in Paterson, but, at points much more distant from the scene of the explosion. In the Valley of the Rocks, at Passaic Falls, the con- cussion sent great masses of overhanging rocks tumbling down from the cliffs above, and at a dis- tance of two and three miles from the works window lights were broken, doors were slammed and other unwonted occurrences startled the inhabitants, SEARCHING YOR HUMAN REMAINS, Soon the news went over the wires to Paterson that the rendrock works had blown up, and in little more than an hour afterward a Henap reperter was on the spot where the disaster had occurred. Here a ghastly scene was witnessed, Gangs of men, under direction of a Paterson undertaker, were scouring the vicivity for the space of # quarter of # mile in search of the remains of the unfortunate workmen who had been killed, These were found scattered over hundreds of acres, in- cluding marshland, wood and pond, and in this oc- j.cupation about halt a dozen men were engaged from before noon until a late hour in the afternoon. The three men killed were Ferdinand Marks, of No. 70 Spring stieet, Paterson, who leaves a wife and five children; Charles Hensel, of No. 41 Madison street, Paterson, who leaves a wife and seven children, and John Manley, of No. 110 Mill street, Paterson, who had a large family. These workmen were en- gaged in the mixing house, a wooden structure about sixteen feet square, in which the materials form- ing the rendrock are amalgamated. Rendrock is a much more powerful explosive than gunpowder and is put up in cartridges chiefly used in blasting. It is not thought to be as dangerous to handle as nitro-glycerine, which is one of the ingredicnts used in its composition. Besides nitro-glycerine a mixed acid, nitric and sulphuric, is used, with other mate- als. THEORIFS OF THE ACCIDENT. ‘The workmen engaged in the hazardous business of mixing were all sober, steady men, experienced in their work. It is suspected that they were working the materials at too high a temperature and that it was thix that caused it to explode. Nothing of this kind has happened before at the worke, all former explosions having been caused by fires.” ‘The work- men were not permitted to use any metal tools in the more dangerous operations, and Superintendent George ler said that’ they had been re- peatedly warned not to strike the finished explosive violently, even with a wooden tool. ‘Tho long experience of the men at this work would seem to preclude the possibility of their having been clean or forgetful of these injunctions, and the The superintendent could not tell how f the material was finished, and therefore ex- plosive, but thinks there could not have been over two hundred pounds at the utmost. He also thinks that the men might have found unusual difficulty in working it, owing to the extreme cold, which ren- ders the glycerine hard and stubborn, The boiler which supplied the steam and hot water to the mix- ing house was placed at a distance of fifty feet or more, and no fire was permitted near the mixing house. DAMAGE TO PROPERTY. Besides the mixing house there were several other buildings, all within about 200 feet, A large storehouse just over the hill was badly wrecked; a composition house, 100 feet distant, was blown to atoms; a pack- ing house, about 200 feet away, on the bank of a poud which supplies water for the manutacture, was shat- tered but not destroyed, ‘Still further away than any ot these is a brick vault in the hillside, also on the shore of the pond, and in this vault was stored nearly: aton of the perilous stuff, sufficient to have blown the Preakness Hills from their foundations had it ex- ploded with the rest. Still further off, perhaps 600 feet, in a southerly direction, large frame buildings were being constructed for extending the esis te manufacture. Several carpenters at in barel; with Kives, the Dallas Semng tanibeed cain sbebt vackicae’ A workman named Charles Schultz was at the vault, but no damage was done there, At the superin- tendent’s house, a quarter of a mile distant, the win- dows were broken, the doors torn from their hinges and the house generally racked. No one was injured, however. The most remarkable excape was that of Friteus Jaga, who was in the composition house when the explosion occurred, and escaped with but a few bruises, although the house fell in ruins all about him aud he was knocked down and stunned by the force of the concussion. GENERAL HAVOC. Great iron tanks of acid, weighing, it was said, over a ton, were hurled from the vicinity of the mix- ing house, where they stood, across the pond and in other directions from fifty to one hundred and fifty feet distant. As for the building in which the explo- sion oce od it was annibilated in an instant. a piece, not a splinter is to be found. Nothing can be seen whore the building stood but an immense yawning pit. The rocks in the hillside against which it was standing are shattered, and great trees are torn out and: dismembered, their vranches being hurled hundreds of teet away. In the woods along the mountain side, at a great distance from the works, large limbs were lopped from the trees, and it looked as if a furious tornado had passed over the place, HUMAN FRAGMENTS. it Marks very little could be found. found had been blown in uth: ; but only a small piece of the cuticle | of the abdomen, a finger with a ring on it, a portion of the hand and a piece of the ear could be positively identified. Other fragments were found in the same direction and were piaced with the above as probably belonging to his body, Hensel was blown northward across the pond, and a long spoon whic! been using went with him, adi feet. The head, shoulders, trunk and one leg were found together, but torn and disembowelled—a most hor- rible sight. An arm was found justas the Henavp reporter came upon the scene at a distance of 500 feet in the underbrush of the wood that surrounds the place on nearly every side. ‘The missing leg and foot wore afterward found a quarter of a mile away. The whole surface of the pond was covered with bits of flesh frozen into the ice, Manly's body was also blown to the northward, the largest piece that could be found being a portion of the head with the hair burned off, Small fragments were afterward picked up, perhaps fifty in all, each from less than an ounce to # pound or more in weight. The whole area tor several hundred feet in every direction was strewn with shreds of tlesh and patches of clothing. AN INQUEST BEGUN, . These bits of what but a few hours betore had been vigorous, active bodies were tenderly placed in sepa- rate boxes. Coroner, Warner proceeded to hold an inquest, which was not concluded at a late hour last nigut, the search being continued as long as there ‘was daylight lett. The inquest was held at a hotel on the Preakness road, and a vast crowd thronged the place, including several members of the families of the dead men, The loss by the disaster could not even be approxi- mately state’ by the superintendent. The buildings were all very cheaply coustructed, as it appears such works aro sooner or later expected to blow up, and no great outlay is made upon them. Perhaps $5,000 will cover the loss. ROBERT PEDRICK ARRESTED. United States Commissioner Shields issued a war- rant, on the 19th of last October, for the arrest of Mr. Robert A. Pedrick, the alleged defaulting Custom House clerk of Benkard\ Hutton, who is accused of having taken $108,000, ‘The warrant sets forth that at" divers times, between the 20th of October, 1877, and the Ist of October, 1874, Pedrick “forged and counterfeited certain certificates of entry, mado, or required to be made, in pursuance of law by the officers of customs of the port of this city of New York, and did use the said certain false and forged counterfeit certificates, knowing the same to be false and forged.” This warrant was put into the hands of Deputy Marshals Holmes and Wattels for execution, and for the past two months they have been searching the city for Pedrick. Holines called on the members of the firm at their place of business in Broome street; but nothing that would lead to Pedrick’s cap- ture was learned, both Mr, Benkard und Mr. Hutton, it is said, appearing very reticent. Yesterday morning, at about ten o'clock, Pedrick stepped into the office of Spectal Agent D. A. Nevens ana gave himself up, The two officials who held the warrant were not present at the time, and Pedrick lett the office; but about an hour later was met b # Holmes and Wattela in Broadway, near the Post Office, when he wae taken prisoner. Before United States District At- torney Fiero the prisoner waived examination. To secure his attendance before the Grand Jury atthe next criminal term of the United States Cirenit Court, on the 8th of January, bail was fixed at $5,000, Mr. Pedrick immediately sent for bondsmen, and half an hour after his arrest was released. His bondsamen were Mr, Thomas Foren, of Elm Park, Staten Is! ; Mr. George W. Robertson, and Mr. George B. Sanford, of Newark, J As to the statement said to have been made by Mr. Pedrick, that the District Attorney had granted him immunity from arrest, Mr. Fiero said that the mar- shals had searched for him since th issued, bat until he coukt And bon had probably kept carefully out of the way, BURNED TO DEATH. TWO BROTHERS PERISH AT A FIRE It EAST ORANGE, N, J.—HORSES AND OTHER PROPERTY DESTROYED. In East Orange, N. J., yesterday morning occurred a fire that was attended with the death of two young men, brothers, ‘he fire broke out about five o'clock in the elegantly fitted up stables attached to the resi- dence on William street, near Grove, of Mr. W. F, Kidder. The first alarm was caused by the wild rearing and plunging of a pair of horses in the stable. The noise aroused Mr. H. C. Ward, who resides next door to Mr. Kidder, and who at once aroused the neighborson finding that Kidder's stable was on fire. The upper part of the stable was handsomely fitted up as a billiard and smoking room. It also afforded sleeping accommo- dations for two brothers, Charles and Nulton Thatcher, one twenty-two and the other’ fourteen years of age, both being in the employ of Mr, Kidder, “WHERE ARK THE BOYS ?" Upon being aroused Mr, Kidder's first cry was, “Where are the boys?’ meaning the Thatchers, whom he esteemed as faithful employés. No one could tell him; no one had seen any- thing ‘of them. Meanwhile the flames were eating up the stable, hissing — mockingly at the feeble attempts of the bucket brigade—the only fire department East Orange boasts of—to master them. Mr. Kidder ran to the barn and tried to make his way to the place where the Thatchers slept. Ho was driven back, scorched and blinded with the fierce heat. Indeed, he narrowly escaped being caught himself in the fatal embrace of the flames. No ladder could be procured. Then an attempt was made to arouse them by smashing the windows of their sleep- ing room, A stone was hurled through a pane, und instantly out rushed a dense volume of smoke as if from a stcamer’s funnel. THE SILENCE OF DEATH. No sound was heard from the boys. This silence gave a faint ray of hope that perchance they were not there at all—had not come home on Friday night—or had been called away before the fire. This thread of hope was soon broken when, a few hours after, their remains were found in the stable débris. Efforts to save the horses were also made, but without success. The smoke and heat soon stopped the plunging and snorting of the poor beasts. ‘THE FLAMES SPREADING. Meanwhile it became necessary to turn attention to the dwellings adjoining the stable, ‘The flames caught Mr. Ward’s house and that was destroyed also, but not before he had had time to secure the most valu- able of his furniture and effects. The bucket brigade worked heroically and did good service in staying the spread of the flames until the arrival from Newark about six o'clock of Chief Enginver Benedict with Then the flames three engines and a supply wagon. were speedily subdued. FINDING THE BODIES, As soon as the ruins were cooled the firemen set to work to look for the bodies of the Thatchers. Two human tronkg, scarcely possible to recognize, were found, The limbs had been burned away and nearly all of’ the heads, ‘The remains were yathered up and removed to an undertaker's to be pre} for burial. The deceased were sons of Charles Thatcher, an upholsterer, of East Orange, and were much liked for their quiet, steady behavior. 4 THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE, It is generally believed that the stable must have been set fire to by an incendiary. It was fitted up specially to guard against fire, and great care was always taken not to leave anything inflammable around. It was lighted with gas, with patent electrio igniters. ‘ THE LOSSsES, Mr. Kidder places his loss at $15,000; fully insured. Mr. Ward's loss will not reach $5,000; ‘also fully ine sured. This is the second fire that has occurred in the vil- lage within a week, aud now there is serious talk of either organizing u fire department or making special arrangements with the Newark department. THE BOOTY RESTORED. TWO HUNDRED AND TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS RETURNED TO THE IMPORTERS AND TRADERS’ BANK THROUGH THE MAILS. ‘The party who stole or found the package contain- ing $209,722 38, which was missed on Friday by Hoffman Beach, the special messenger of the Im- porters and ‘Traders’ National Bank, on his arrival at the Clearing House, returned $202,009 of the amount to thebank yesterday. It is the custom of the officers of the bank to send a messenger to the general Post Office each morning to receive all mail matter ad- Gressed to that institution, and as this often amounts to 150 letters daily one of the assistant cashiers opens . the correspondence and sorts it in readiness ‘for perusal by the higher officers of the bank. The messenger on his arrival at the Post Office yesterday morning was handed among other letters a large white énvelope with a curious superscription, which brought from the Post Office clerk the remark “that it ‘probably contained the missing certificates.” The messenger hurriedly started for the bank, bringing the good tidings to the assistant cashier, and the latter imme- diately opened the package and found to his joy that some certificates were really there, The messenger was sent in post haste to the residence of Mr. Perkins, the cashier, and that gentleman hurried to the bank, ax he expressed it, ina great state of nervous. ness. The package was then handed to him and he discovered that it contained $202,000—§160,000 in Clearing House certificates and $42,000 in United States gold certificates. The amount missing waa $7,722 38, of which $6,755 38 was in currency #$900 in United States gold certificates, and $67 gold. Be- sides the above the envelope contained a lot of old papers, the private property of the regular messen- ger of the bank, Mr. Turner, but the pocketbook itself was not returned, DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVELOPE. The envelope in which the certificates were sent back was a common large white one, with the direction:— “Importers and Traders’ Bank, corner Murray street and Broadway, N.Y. C.," half written, halt printed with lead pencil, the party who sent it evidently do- ing his utmost to disguise his handwriting. On the right hand corner of the envelope were three three- cent postage stamps, and on the left was the Post Office mark “Due 9,” the sender having only one-half the postage. ‘The postmark was “New York, December 2i, seven P, M.,” showing that the indi- | vidual who placed it in the mails was careful to choose the hour when the greatest rush occurs at the Post Office, so a8 to escape all possibility of being identitied at any future time. MEETING OF THE DIRECTORS, ‘The Board of Directors held their regular weekl, meeting yesterday in the bank building, and the mat ter was brought up before them and thoroughly dis- cussed, No definite action, however, was taken, but it was intimated that the subject will not be dropped, but probed to the bottom until it is learned through whose fault this great mistake was made. The offi- cers and directors seemed very much pleased with the amount réturned, and consi themselves very fortunate in recovering it in such # short space of time, In an interview with a HeRaup reporter yesterday Mri H. Perkins, the cashior of the bank, stated that Hoffman Beach was not suspected in the matter, but Fen was £cer of unheard ty and Seeceemee stupidity. on his part to.carry such @ large amount money between bis two coats. without even hay his hand on the ‘ketbook, when he should have attached to his person with a chain, The bank officials felt very much humiliated that tuey should have had such a stupid person in their employ, but considered the taught them well worth the amount of their loss, To a question whether Hoffman Beach would be in the employ of the bank Mr. Perkins could give no id, Beach had decided answer. He however, that not been there yosterd but was at his ina very neryons condition, awaiting the of the officers of the bank im his caso. whether | Mr. Beach's bondsmen would be eee tor the Joss, Mr. Perkins said that the given by Beach was for $5,000, and expressed the opinion thad it would be confiscated, “COMPLETELY TAKEN ABACK." Fields & James, brokers, at No. 16 Broad street, yesterday reported that they had been victimized to the extent of $30,000, A broker, named J, W. Huil, they say, called at their office on Thursday and or dered $30,000 in United States bonds at four and « half per cent to be delivered yesterday, Mr. Hull, as the firm further allege, called yesterday at the office, and having received the bonds; told the cashier he would be back in a few minutes, but did not return, case was detectives at once reported to Police Headquarters were placed on the case. A H&RALD reporter catled at the New York Hotel and saw Mr. Fields, who said ;— “Tdesire to have it distinctly understood that o firm has been completely taken aback in this affair, for we had transactions with Mr. Hull in the Chicago and Rock Island Railroad four years ago and tound him strictly honest.” Hull ia sixty-tive years of age and five fect seven inches in height. A reward of $5,000 has been offered, for his capture. The following ate the numbers of the bonds all to have been taken : B, 3,322, 3,004, 96,117, 37,052; C, 91,157, 91,158, 3,995, 99,008, 94,477, 41,946, 41,947, 41,045 5 11,2 222, 11,221, 11,220, eh 15, 66,140; , 87,974, 8,775 8,773, 88,127, 04,476, JUDGE SUTHERLAND’S RETIREMENT, Amecting of the members of the Bar has been called in the Supreme Court, General Term room, Sramnlag te estes hua Fespeet Of the protenaion foe reanl ne and res] less! ridge donieh Sutherland, who is about to retire frou the Bench after twenty years of judivial service,