The New York Herald Newspaper, January 16, 1879, Page 3

_ WASHINGTON. The Changes in the New York Custom House. SECRETARY SHERMAN IN ‘Senator Conkling in Defence of the Removed Officials. NEW YORK HERALD, THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 1879.-TRIPLE SHEET. ments, abuses which were permitted to exist by him, new boilers be supplied by contract with lowest losses of revenue under his administration and | bidder.” other matters, most of them enforced by references to and citations from the reports of the Jay Commis- sion and other investigations. For these reasons, the letter says, the Secretary de- sired the removal of General Arthur, and it adds, report says, that the result has proved the wisdom of the change; that important and necessery reforms, which he could not have successfully carried into effect under the administration of General Arthur, EXPLAN ATION. have been enforced under his successor, and it closes with the declaration that.the Secretary could not guarantes the proper collection of the revenue while General Arthurewas allowed to remain at the head of sthe Custom House. It was determined, rumor says, to keep the letter secret for the present and to aliow General Arthur an >| opportunity to reply to the allegations and charges it contains, The Committee on Commerce, which FIN ANCL ‘AT, MEASURES IN THE HOUSE. has the New York nominations in charge, holds its . Bill Passed Making Greenbacks Receivable for Customs, {HE DEMOCRATIC SENATORIAL CADCUR, | FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT. WasHInGton, Jan. 15, 1879, THE PERILS OF RESUMPTION-~A BILL MAKING LEGAL TENDERS RECEIVABLE FOR CUSTOMS + DUTIES PASSED BY THE HOUSE. ‘The frail tenure on which resumption, so called, hangs und the predatory attacks to which it must bo constantly exposed until the Legal Tender act is either repealed or declared unconstitutional, was shown this evening in the House. A bill was re- ported from the Ways and Means Committee making ‘ greenbacks receivable for customs duties under all circumstances. As it seemed likely to pass by a very large majority, composed alike of repub- licans and democrate, General Garfield undertook ‘ to call attention to its exact meaning and purpoxs by moving an amendment making them receivable for customs duties only while they are redeemed. in coin, His amendment did not specify gold coin, but coin, and ineludéd silver with gold, and yet, mild and almost ridiculously so as it was, it received only 41 votes, and the original bill was passed by s large majority of both parties. Some of those who voted fur it excused themsetves on the ground that “resumption is an accomplished fact and that the bill authorizes only what is already Jone. But the plain factis that, whether resumption hits or misses, the greater number of men in both parties are detor- * mined that the government shall accept its notes for customs duties. The spirit which prevails here in both parties re- garding resumption makes the carnest friends of a sound currency see that nothing is really settled in this metter until the government notes are deprived of the legal tender quality. The House also peased the bill creating what is substantially a postal savings bank, allowing deposits of $10 or upward to be con- , Yerted in sums of $100 into four per centbonds. The Secretaay of the Treasury expecis, it is suid, to sell * under this bill and through the general demand not loss than one hundred and fifty millions of four por cents during the present calendar year. Mk, EDMUNDS’ “PEACE AND GOOD WILL” RESO- LUTION BEFORE THE DEMOCRATIC caUcUs— ADDITIONAL RESOLUTIONS SUGGESTED. The committes appointed by the democratic cau- * cus this morning to consider the “peace and good regular weekly meeting to-morrow, and it was sup- posed that the nominations would then be decided on and that they would be reported adversely to the Senate, The Secretary's letter, itis supposed, was seut to the Senate to-day in order to forestall this summary action of the comwitteé and to prevent immediate action by the Senate, Friends of tho administration say to-night that the letter is very strong; that it has made an impression on many republican Senators, and that they are confident that more:democratic votes will be uceded to’ reject General Merritt than were required to reject Mr. Roosevelt. On the other hand, the anti-administre- tion republicans say that the rejection of Merritt is cortain; that there is no fight in the administra- tion men; that the democrats do not care how it goes, and that the charges against Arthur can be met and disproved, ‘There is not much excitement on the subject here, but the impression is that no vote will be reached on the nominations for a week or more. GENERAL WASHINGTON DESPATCHES. Wasmixeros, Jan. 15, 1879. THE NEW YORK APPOINTMENTS —SECRETARY SHER- MAN IN EXPLANATION OF REMOVALS MADE— FIERCE REPLY OF SENATOR CONKLING—POOR PROSPECT FOR CONFIRMATION. A communication was laid before the Senate in Executive Session to-day from Secretary Sherman, on the subject of the New York Custom House appoint- ments, designed to show that the removals of Collec- tor Arthur and Naval Officer Carnell wero made for sufficient cause, and that therefore the confirmation of the present nominces should not be resisted on the ground that injustice was done to their predecessors, The communication embodies sundry reports made to the Secretary and other extracts from the confidential records of the Treasury Department, essorting or indicating that Messrs, Arthur and Cornell failed to administer their offices with the degree of efficiency considered requisite by tke deprrtmont. Their failure to take action in regard to the extensive smuggling of silk goods and the undervaluatiou of kid gloves, is commented on end placed in contrast with the ineasures inaugu- rated and. pushed to an issue satisfactory to the gov- ernment by their successors in office, Among the charges made by Secretary Sher- man against Collector Arthur it is stated that he did not acquiesce in the department's suggestions as to the extent to which the force in the Custom House could be properly reduced, but wheu the reductions were carried into effect the result showed that the department was thoroughly right, and that the Col- lector had endeavored to retain a much larger num- ber of employés than was actually needed. Secretary Sherman also informs the Senate that the New York Custom House employés numbered | will”’ resolution of Judge Edmunds contains several | #bout one thousand two hundred, and many of them Southern members, and it is said that these and | Were appointed by Messrs. Arthur and Corneil to oc- other Sonthern men urge that they see nothing ob- cupy sinecure positions, merely as rewards for politi- jectionable in the first resolution, which declares the | al services. last three amendments valid) In fact, some of ‘The Secretary, in support of these various charges, * them propose an additional resolution that twice two | quotes extensively froth the report of the Jay Com- ‘make four, that if you take threo from six three | mission and from reports made to hii by Assistant will remain, and that the whole country is interested | Secretery French and Assistant Solicitor Robinson, An seeing these plain facts generally recognized. It Secretary Sherman states at the outeet of his com- : {s supposed, however, that these ‘additional resolu- |. munication that ho sends it to the Senate bydirection ~ tions would be offensive to Senators Voorhees and Jones, of Novada, as containing some covert hit at flat money and the dollar of the fathers. As to the resolution of Mr. Edmunds, jit is said that so far as Proposes constitutional action it is unobjectionable, but that it is so loosely worded ag to open the door to very wild legislation. It is suggested that Mr. Ed- munds, who generally writes very compactly, was so anxious in this case to get into » small compass a very large sized spread eagle that his resolution con. ~ tains more words than distinct meaning. Thevea cus committee will probably, prepare some counter resolutions, among them one intended to draw the attention of the republicans once more to the Test Osth law, under which, fourteen years after tho close of the war, a man whofserved in the Confeder- ate armics is not allowed to sit on a jury in s federal court. It is remarked that under this re- markable law a Senator or Representative may vote to pass a law which afterward he is incapable of sit- ting on # jury to enforce. It looks a little as though under the leadership of the ingenious Mr. Edmunds both parties will spend a large part of the remainder of the session in tho Benate in “eggravating” each other. It is perhaps as useful employment asthe Senators can have for the present. ———— FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT. WASHINGTON, San. 15, 1879, THE INDIAN PEACE POLICY-—-PRESIDENT HAYES ON THE CAUSES OF ITS FAILURE—REV. FATHER REARDON AT THE WHITE HOUSE. Among the President's visitors to-day was Rev. Father Reardon, assistant pastor of St. Bernard's Church, New, York, who was introduced by General McCook, Representative of his district, from New York. During the interview the. President spoke at some length of various causes which, in his opin- ion, operated to prevent the succers of the peace policy among ‘the Indians. He ssid that as the white settlers pushed for- ward their settlements they were continually encrosching upon the rescrvations set apart for the Indians, and, as the hunting grounds were narrowed in their limits, it became absolutely necessary to food the Indians, and the task of caring for them de- volved upon agents who were poorly paid and hence came the temptation for the latter to steal and rob the Indians of oven the scauty provision made by Congress for their support, For the first of tho evils the President said he saw no remedy; for the second he was doing all in his power to purify the agency system and to fill the positions with honest men. Itwas o serious problem and one which de- served the earnest attention of every friend of hu- manity. Father Reardon called attention to the efforts made by the Catholic Indian Society to promote the cause ‘of peace, and said this was an occasion on which he would express thanks that the Catholic missionaries wore being more generally recognized as agents in the good work of civilizing the Indians. Subse quently Father Reardon visited the Capitol and was accorded the privilege of the floor of the Senate, » compliment which has been seldom paid to a clergy- man of any denomination. Father Reardon is the guost in Washington of Senator Spencer. FROM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT, Wasurxaton, Jan. 15, 1879. GECRETARY SHERMAN'S EXPLANATION OF THE REMOVAL OF COLLECTOR aNTHUR—cURRENT OPINIONS ON THE PROSPECTS OF Mn. MER- RITT'S CONFIRMATION, ‘The Senate had & long executive session this after: goon, and this evening it became known thatthe time had been employed mainly in listening to a letter of Secretary Sherman, in which he gives his ren- sons for requesting the President to remove Collector Arthur, and the impossibility, in his opinion, of collecting the customs dues in Now York while Mr. Arthur remained at the head of the Custom House. The letter was very long, occupying about an hour in its reading, and entered, it is said, into of Presidont Hay os: At the conclusion of fle reading of Secretary Sher- man's communication Senator Conkling took the floor and made an earnest speech defending Messrs. it | Arthur and Cornell from the charge of inefficiency, and denouncing the charges as pretences and after- thoughts put forth by the administration in an effort to justify action which was wholly unwarranted on civil service grounds and prompted merely by per- sonal or partisan considerations. Senator Conkling, in the course of his speech, com- ented with great severity upon the administration's tion last winter in tendering another appointment to Mr. Arthur, saying, in substance, that after all pretended damaging facts were known to Presi- ayes and Secretary Sherman, thoy solicited and a foreign position of great -tmportal ce, such as the Consul Generalship at Paris or London. Senator Thurman made some semi-jocular re- marks, evidently calculated to widen the breach between the President and the majority of the repub- lican members of the Senate, and Senator Edmunds also spoke briefly, without, however, definitely in- dicating: his position on the subject of the contro- versy. The communication and accompanying papers were then, on motion of Mr. Conklinz, referred to the Committees on Commerce, and just before ad: journment the Senate gave tho committee authority to notify the persons acctsed and to send for per- sons aud papers, with a view to determining the truth of the charges. ‘There has been uo request made to the President or to the Treasury Department by the Sonate or by the Committee on Commerce for any information con- cerning the causes of the removal of Messrs, Arthur and Corvell, and to-day’s communication is, there- fore, voluntecred. It in the general impression to-night that the pend- ing nominations will be rejected, as the deniocrats apparently manifest no disposition to rally to their support, and a yery large majority of the repub- licans ate known to be fully cominitted against them. GOVERNMENT MONEY IN THE NATIONAL DANKS—— SECRETARY SHERMAN IN REPLY TO A RESOLU- TION OF THE HOUSE. The Speaker laid before the House this morning, in reeponse to a resolution of that body, a communica- tion of tho Secretary of the Treasury transmitting @ supplemental statement of the balances in the loan account in coin standing to the credit of the Treas- urer of the United States in the national bank do- positories on the Ist of January, 1879. The aggre- gate amotnt of the balances was $46,898,168 01, The Jarger amounts were as follows :— First National Bank of New York..... National Bank of the Siate of New ork... Bank of New York National Banking Asso- ciation. + . Maverick National Bank of ston . National Bank of Commerce of New York.. Second National Bank of New York Monument National Bank of Boston. National Exchange Bank of Albany. . Wachusetts National Bank, Fitchburg, North National Bank, Bot Chase National Bank, New York National Security Bank, Boston, Firat National Bank, Newburyport, Mass.. Manutacturers’ National Bank, Boston... National Bank of Commonwealth, Boston Natick National Bank, Natick, Mass First National Bank, Cincinnati, Ohio. Granite National Bank, Augusta, Me lenmen’s National Bunk, National National Bank, Mont First National Bank, Marlboro, City National Bank, Selina, Ala ‘The remainder have less than THE NAVAL INVESTIGATION, Chief Engineer Shock was before the House Naval Committee this morning and was examined in refer- ence to the frode of doing business in the Burean of Steam Engineering. He stated that tt was the custom of Mr. Wood, when Chief Engineer of the navy, to sign “by direction of the Secretary of the Navy,” but he had found only one instance In the records of the office where such direction was actually given in writing. ‘In this case Admiral Rowan had reported that « vesnel, otherwise ready for sea, could nét eail on acconnt of her boilers beifg unfit for tse, This «$19,107,948 7,155,054 many details, among them the amounts receired by | appears to have gone to Secretary Robeson, who in- (Mr. Arthur in selery, moictios and other emoiu- | doreed upon it, “This seems an imperative case, Lat couse under it ¢! Sinco witness had been at the head of the bureau he had never signed “by direction of the Secretary of the Navy" without the written authority or indorse- ment of the Secretary. He considered it much better to purchase stores, &e., in the open maer- ket from reliable parties who held the best materials than to advertise for proposals. There were first class houses that would not enter into competition with bidders without standing, who could only furnish inferior articles. During the war transections were so large that advertising for proposals might have been advantageous, but at the present time it was economy to purchase small quantities as wanted from time to time. ‘To Mr, Hanna—In searching the records of the, bureau had seen no evidence that Secretary Robeson or any other person connected with the department had personully profited by the management of its affairs, Mr. W. George Quintard, an iron manufacturer and steamboat builder, of New York, testified that he had bought four of the condemned boilers at the price for scrap ivon, believing that hecould use them; the experiment had been an unprofitable one, and the oilers had been much more expensive to him than new ones would have been, ‘The committee adjourned till half-past ten A. M. to-motrow. Hie Ex-Seerctary Robeson will appear before the com- mittee to-morrow and be examined relative.to the charges of mismanagement preferred ayainst him daring his administration of the Navy Depertment. MORE IRREGULAR ELECTORAL CERTIFICATES. Tho National Republican of to-morrow Will an- nounce the discovery of tle fact that the names of the seven electors of Arkansas in 1876 are all sigued on the back of the envelope containing the electoral certificate of that State in the handwrit- ing of the same person, ‘The story runs that when Acting Vice President Ferry re- ceived tho Arkausas certificate he discovered an irregularity therein, in the ubsence of the signatures of the electors from the back of the envelope, and per- mitted it to be sent back to the State for corrvction, the sume us he did in the case of the Louisiana certifi- cate. When it was returned to him he presented it to the two houses in joint convention, and the seven votes of the State were counted for Tilden and Hendricks. THE PEOPLE'S SAVINGS. DEBATE IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON THE BILL AULHORIZING THE Issur or CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT IN AID OF RE- FUNDING THE NATIONAL DEBT. Wasinaton, Jan. 15, 1879. In the House to-day the Speaker announced the regular order to be the reception of reports from the Committtee on Ways ond Means. Mr. Woop, (dem.) of N. Y., chairman of that com- mittee, reported back the bill authorizing the issue of certificates of deposits in aid of refunding the pub- lie debt. The bilt authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to issue, in exchange for lawful money of the United States, certificates of deposits of the denomination of $10, Dearing interest at the rate of three per cent, and convertible at any time, with accrued interest, into the four per cent bonds authorized to be issued, and directs that the money so received shall be applied only to the payment of the 5-20 bonds. Mr. KELLEY, (rep.) of Pa., submitted an amendment so as to make the certificates convertible with ac-- cruéd interest after six months into lawful money and at any time into the four per cent bonds. EXPLANATION OF THE BILL. Mr. Woop, of New York, called attention to the bill as introducing a novel feature into the affairs of the government so far as the producing classes were concerned. It would sford the poorer classes an opportunity of investing their small carnings where they would be safe and secure and not subject to the instability of ‘private corporations. It was pees this bill to make 4a national savings bank, where there would be positive aud absolute security for every dollar deposited by the poorer classes, and the result of which would bo to make these classes of the people copartners in the government itself, Another effect of it. would be to — Kia weg Sates ems) the land, nee jong ago this propos system. France owed darger debt than fhe = United States, and yet France no foreign public debt, The whole funded debt of Frauce belonged to the French people and seven-cighths of it to the poorer classes of the people. As a result of that he pointed to the fact of the successful, prompt payment of the war indemnity of $1,000,000,000 imposed on France by Germany. If such a'system was found so advan- tageous under an unstable government like that of” France, how much more advantageous would it be found under a stable government like that of the United States. SPRECH OF MR. KELLY, bys be ror ot ye soipewes said thatthe bill was an impo: one © people, especially to the poor and economical and thafty peopl, It had been eralded to them as establishing a national savings bauk. The only provision in the bill which was characteristic of a savings bank was that the govern- ment would receive deposits as low as $10, There was no other. The United States government pro- posed to engage the laboring people in a’gaine of chance of whien the law wes, “Heads I win, tails you lose.” No laboripg man could have any benetit from the bill, It would turn that class into game for the Shylocks that conten- trated abont the stock exchanges of the country. Suppose a poor man had deposited $v and found himself unable to deposit more, ho would have to ‘weit 123 yeura and four months before he would be entitled to interest. That was the redemption pro- posed by the United States when it established a savings bank. It was said that the certificate might be sold. What would a $10 certitieate bearing three per cent interest bring when a $50 bond at four per cent could be had at par? The laws of trade would put them far below par whenever they had to be sold in the market. That was the savings benk offered the poor of America by & Magnunimous gov- ernment, ‘the rich who yesterday had subscribe $14,000,000 to the four per cent loan were not to wait 125’ years and four months for their interest. It was to bo paid quarterly. His amendment pro- posed that these cortiticates shoyld be convertible at the end of six months, with acerued interest, into lawtul money. Without that a idment the Dill was w snare and a trap for the poor and a disgrace to the government; with it the bill wonld be safe for the people and beneficent in its effects on the funding operations of the rhiment. SPEECH OF BUTLER, Mr. Buteer, (ind.) of Muss., opposed the bill as a delusion and a snare. The effect of it would be that @ poor man might spend @ day every tonth in pro- curing a ten dolar bond; that when he got five of them together he might them into a four per cent bond, at: he would have spent five days and would have saved just thirty-five and a halt cents in interest. ‘That was all there was of it, ‘there was no element of a savings bank in it; it had no safety; and when the poor man wanted mouey tor his bond he would have to go to a broker and submit ya ebave greater than the interest, If there was anything elxe in it he failed to find it. They were toid that it was doing a good thing tor the poor people and that it was like the governinental savings bank system of England. In England, however, the government savings bank paid two und one-quarter per cent interest, within one-quarter per cent of the Dank ot Euglend dis- count. Herethe ordinary rate of discount was from six tu ten or twelve per cont, according to locality, and it was no boon to the poor mun to take his money and pay him three per cent interest. Ir the interest were put np to six or seven then he would talk with them. Let them give to the poor man the samo chance that they give to the banks, OWKCT OF THY BILL. The object gf the bill was, he intimated, to with- draw the yreeMbacks from circulation, tor there was no way ot paying them out when received tor this purpose, it would be # farther contractton of the currency, which had alveady depressed labor, stopped business and brought the country to its present con- dition. And the result of that condition (which was said to be necessary) was the heaven bora boon of resumption at New York, and nowhere clase. Ho could not vote for the bill, and he did not believe that it coulddo the people any yood, Ho wanted agov- ernment savings bank paying interest (as in England) within one-quarter pér vent of the bank discounts. Why should the government pay «ix per cent to the banks and only tufee per cent to the poor laborer? It was a mere demagogic wndertaking to say ,that th people should have the privilege of three per certificates which can be exchanged into a fou cont bond that may or may not be worth its face value. ‘They never could be worth more and might be worth less, Was the House prepared to pass such a meas- ure? If it was going to do anything in that direction it should adopt the amendment offered by the gentle- man irom Pennsylvania (Mr. Kelley), so that a man could get back his money if he aid not like the ‘ity, Just as he could in the savings banks. An- her objection was the want of safety under this ‘Aman might lowe his certificate; he might be robbed of it; it might be burned up, and then his sayings were gone. Mr. KeLixy—It is the same in the case of a savings dank book. Mr. Butier—Oh, by no manner of means, God bless, you, no! O Lord, no! (Laughter) Not in our country. Ido not know how it may elsewhere. With a government savings bank there will be re; tration. A voucher may be sold in proper torm and the assignee can get the money. It the book or th bond is lost the owner can got it back just as well aa the Manhattan Savings Ban! back its bonds, 1 ! putes aud regula ; redeemed, that tor that privilede | | kings of the Old World, anh and soul, mind, opposed to this ‘Mr. Ketery—Even with my amendment ? Mr. Burren—t will vote for your am his certificate endment be- can be converted money at any time, On the 12th of February, 1669, I sed to the House the convertible system. My speech is on record; 1 never have had occasion to yo baek on it, aud I stand by it still. NR, GAREIRLD'S VIEWS, Mr. Gagriexp, (rep.) of Obio, said that the less leg islation there was on finauces the better. The coun- try was getting on well and he would not favor any radical change in the present order of the currency laws. — But here was a bill that was greatly misunderstood. In the work of refunding the reseut Secretary ot the Treasury had aban- med the syndicate and invited all nations! Danks (murkedly all depository banks) to take hold of the work end aid him in transierring the six percent bonds into four per cent bonds. He now lieved that he could make the work of refunding proceed yet more rapidly by going beyond the banks and dealing with the people directly, This bill pro- posed just that thing. It was not a proposal to make ® savings bank of the Treasury, The amendment of the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Kelley) put a savings bank feature inio it, but mot one broad enough to fill the ides of a savings bauk, while it substantially took away the purpose of refunding. He believed that the bill as it stood would be very efficacious in hastening refnnding. ‘The geutleman from Massachusetts (Mr, Butler) said that the bill Would distress the poor mau. He (air. Garfield) had more faith in the poor man, He was willing to be- lieve that if 4 man det-rmined to save $50 he could do 80. Gne of the clements of strength in France aroxe from the fuct that 5,000,060 Frenchmen held the bonds of France; and the day ow which 3,000,000 American laborers were holders of United States bonds would ‘be the day when the occupation of those gentlemen who tried to raise a row between the bondholders tnd the poor people would be gone. (Appleuse.) He was ous tor the death of demagoyery and that the People should hecome interested m the debt ot the nation. That would be a great protection for the public credit. {¢ would hasten the day tor refunding thedebt. Jr labor und industry were to be encour- aged the government must get out of the way as a competitor for loans. ACTION ON AMENDMENTS, ‘The debate having closed Mr. Burchard offered an amendment that in lieu of the certificates provided for the Secretary or the ‘Treasury shull, if desired, enter on the books of the Treasury, to. the eredit of any one presouting or forwarding iv to the Treasury, #uy sui uot less than $1, and shull allow in- terest thercon and credit the same quarterly ut the rate of three per cent per annum, and shall establish ious ior the withdrawal or payment of such deposits; provided, that when the sum of $1,000 shall have’ accumulated to the credit of any Person, four per cent bonds shall be issued in dis- eltarge and payment ot it. ‘The previous question was seconded and the main question ordered—yeas 32, nays 99, ‘The first vote was taken on Afr. Kelley's amend- mente—thut certificates shall Le convertible (atter six qnonths) into lawful money, and at any time into four percent bonds. ‘The anwndment was rejected—yees 81, nays 151, ‘The next vote was tekken on Mr. Burchard’s substi- tute, aud it wus detented—yeas 67, ueys 15s. ‘Mr. Syrixven, (dem.) of Ml., moved to ly the bill on the table. (rep.) of N. Y., moved to adjourn, and the yeas and nays were ordered. During the roll call the hour of b (at which time the House had agreed to ‘until halt-pust seven), but the Speak call should be complited, and it resu ay: and the House, at twenty minutes to five, took a recess until hait-past seven. During the course of the day Mr. Huntos, af Vir- ginia, oftered u resolution, whizh was adopted, for the oe to the children of the late B. B. Douglas: of the remvinder of his salary as member of the Forty-titth Congress. R.VENING SESSION. The House resumed ‘the consideration of the bill authorizing the issue of certificates of deposit, the first vote being on the motion of Mr. Springer, ot Ili- nois, to |: ‘he bill on the table, This wis defeated—yeus 78, nays 115—and the Dill was then passed—yeas 117, nays 72. GUEENDACKS RECEIVAMLE VOR DUTIES. Mr. Woop, of New York, Chairman of the Commit- tec on Ways and Means, reported a bill making United States notes receivable tor duties on imports. Mr. GanrieLp, of Ohio, stated that he desired to offer an amendment providing that such notes should be receivable so long as they were equivalent to coin. (Crics ot “No, no.”) He did not propose, for one, to shut of the supply of coin to meet the interest’ of the public debt, in case any calamity should happen to the country. Mr. Woop, acting as the organ of the committee. yielded to the introduction of the amendmeut, and the previous question was ordered. ‘Mr. Haneisoy, (dem.) of IL. (to Mr, Garficld)—Has the gentleman any doubt about the success of re- sumption? Mr. GanrieLp—I have no doubt of the success of resumption, unless by such a Dill as this or some other hostile legislation resumption is destroyed. ‘The amendment was then defeated—yeus 73, nays ‘Mr. Ganviziy—Believing this bill to be s serious attack on resumption, I move to lay it on the tuble. ‘The House refused to lay the bill on the table— yeas 41, uays 195. ‘The passed—yens 154, nays 43. was then It simply provides that after the passage of the act United States notes shall be reccived in payment of duties on imports, Mr. Woop also reported 4 bill to facilitate the re- funding of the national debt. It suthorizs the Secretary of the Treasary, in the of refunding ‘the uationat debt, to exchange direetly at par the bonds bearing four per cent inter- est for the bonds commonly kuown as five-twentics outstanding and uncancelled, and directs that when- ever all such five-twenty bonds shall have been the provision of this section and all existing. provisions of law authorizing the refunding of the national debt sball apply to any bonds of the United States bearing five per cent or higher rate of interest, which may be redeomab! and that in any such exchange iiterest shall bo lowed on the bonds redeemed tor a period of three mouths, ‘The main question being ordered, the House, at fifty minutes past ten, adjourned, GRANT ABROAD. * WHY EUROPE IS HONORING THE EX-PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. * [Brom the London Daily News.] Within the last year or two Ireland has had many distinguished visitors. The interest attaching to General Grant has nothing in common with that ex- cited by the sojourn among us of the Emperor of Brazil and the heir of all the Hapsburgs. The Gen- eral is not, like Mr. Gladstone, @ great orator—in- deed, taciturnity is one of his most noted character- istics. Sprang from a plain, middle class family, his name conjures up none of the thousand recol- lections which aré awakened in the mind of the stu- dent of history by those of Hapsburg and Braganza, And yet as this man passed through Europe he was received with honors such as never have been paid to royalty itself. Upon him were lavished at once the testes of courts and the enthusiasm of t . The secret ot the deep interest which G visit to Europo evoked ix an open one. ration for military success still remains one of dominant passions of mankind, aud Ulysses «name is inscribed in the roll of the world’s great captains, At a time when victory was crown- ing the brow of the slave Confederacy; at a time when oven the North itself despaired of success; at a time when events had wrung trom the lips of Mr. one the famous exclamation, “Jefferson Davis has made a watio: tthis time the wise choice of Abraham Lincoln gave Ulysses Grant the chief com- maud of the armies of the United States. ‘TO THK RESCUE. In an instant the tace of the conflict was changed, the young General tained upon the South blow a:ter blow, quick and crushing as though he wielded the hammer of Thor, until iu the end his dogged valor was rowarded by the crowning triumph on that mem- orable day when he rode 9 conqueror through the blazing strects of Richmond, the [lium of the West. But it is not as a mere soldier that General Grant ‘has been recewed with ‘euch honors in Europe. His highest claim rests upon the fact that he has held a seeptre, very new, indeed, but still more splendid that an wielded by the We say With ail respect to General Grant that eny honors that have been ial, or will be paid him, are paid not to the individual, but tothe mighty nation he bas ruled over, and whose representative he jn some sense is. During his Presidency he did some acts which caused the Just resentment of our brethren in America; but this is not the time for discussing these matters. THE DENT OF IRKLAND. The compliment which the Dublin municipality yesterday determined to offer him is a complinent to the United States of America, and no Irishinan worthy of the name but will join in such a tribute, A thousand =e ties of eed and affection old we dwell in upite theyoung nation Ghoeral Grant has ruled. An English orator has in glowing sentences told how, as the Israelite turns to derusal and the Mohammedan to Meeca, “the Trish int, when he asks for food and freedom and blessings, his eyes follow the vetting ann, the aspiration of his heart reaches beycnd the wide At- lantic, and in. an he grasps hauds with the great Republic of the West.” ‘The first of American poets has claimed as the chief glory of his country that— Her free lateh-string never was drawn in Against the poorest child of Adam's kin. Of that boundless hospitality Ireland has enjoyed her full share, and she never can forget how millions of her children, flying from their suffering nati land, were received with open arms by the Republi wore every right and franchise of citizet ship, and found in the cities and plains of the Union happy homes and altars tree, Splendid, indeed, was the hospitality of America, xplendid was the return the exiles mi for the great soldier who ts soon to be among Ws knows better than any living man on how many stricken fields Iris! wt checked the ‘y wivance of Virginia and se: “chivalry” of the South. ‘The roll on whi Municipality of Dublin proposes to incribe the name of General Grant is @ brief one. It already contains only two names. The first is that of the distin- gtished Irishman who won for Irish municipalities the privilege by which such a roll exists, The second is that of the great Englishinan whose remedial le; lation opened # new eporh in Irish history. Ons! # list the country will see with aatistaction the 1 scription of the name of the firet mon who, having mighty State in which Irishmen end playing #0 great & part, atter- the old home of the race which has done and received so much from the Western 2 THE STATE CAPITAL. Important and Secret Conference of Prominent Democrats. A-NEW EXCISE BILL. Retrenchment and Reform in All the State Departments. oe [BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.} : ALnany, Jan. 15, 1879. Both houses of the Legislature assembled promptly at cight o'clock this evening. There was u thin at- tendance in the Assembly, that body being ebout an hour in session, The anxiety of members was not appeased as to the composition of committees, as General Husted, who officiutes in the ab- sence of Speaker Alvord, stated that the an- nouncement would not be made until to-morrow. Mr. Alvord is indisposed, The usi#l speculation is indulyed in to-night as to the cha rmanships of the committees. No,material change is. made in the sel- ections as previousiy published mr the Hrmatp. It is protty well understood that Dr. Hayes will yet the chairmanship of the Committee on Cities, while a sharp contest is said to be. still going on as to the formation of the railroad committee. THREE CITY BILLS, The principal features of the Assembly session were the introduction of three bills by Mr. Strahan, one arranging the statutes as to the conduct of claims in the law courts against the city of Now York, all the features of which were embodied in Hayes’ billof last year. The second, empowering the Commissioner of Public Works to lay out that section of the vity lying between Eighth avenue and 145thand 155th strects, amd the third giviug authority to the municipal authority to dispose of a small strip of land in the rear of the new Post Office to the United States government. “It will be recollected that this proposition was reecutly up before the Board of Aldermen, when the Corporation Counsel decided that legislative aid was necessary. PUBLIC AND PRIVATE TRUST FUNDS, Mr. Hamilton Fish introduced di important bill re- lating to public and private trust funds, It provides as follows :— al officers, of corporations, and of ‘all ucting in a fidneiary ca- ‘or two deposit public, perso ized to loan mor oc corporate money” or funds in any bank or other depository, or in the hands of any individual or firm, to lend or deposit all such funds or m wherever the fi money lent or deposited shall be United States coin or uny currency, check, Dill or draft, payable or convertible into gold at par, upon all be made the express contract that United States gold coin oft of weight and finoness established hy tho laws of the United States at the time the contract or deposit shall have been made. A GENERAL EXCISE BILL, Mr. Stegman, of Brooklyn, introduced a general Exeise bill, which applies to all cities and towns of the State. It creates boards of excise and regulates license fees at from $50 to $250, Mr. Stegman states | & hammer that the best clements of the temperance and liquor interests of Brooklyn are in favor of this measure. CONTESTED SEATS. Mr. Langbein presented petition from John E. Brodsky contesting the seat of Daniel Patterson from tho Eighth district of New York city. A similar pe- tition was presented from James T. Sighe asking for the seat of Assemblyman Trowbridge, uf the Fourth istrict 0: Brooklyn. A SPECIE PAYMEST RESOLUTION. Mr. Erastus Brooks, as the democratic leader, led off to-day by introducing the -following resolution relative to the resumption of specie payment :— Resolved (if the Senate concur), That the Legistature of the State ot Ni rk, eX tho serse and feeling of e penple of the State and of the Unit States, congra its own citizens and the country large upon the fact of the general resumption ot specie payment after.a lapse of newriy soventoen yeurs; aud that we commend such finanetal iezisiation and practical ad- ministration in the future as will prevent any return of the: calamity of an unrodeemable paper curcency, 1 eS em. The Lien |, alzo presen! y Mr. Stegman, gives ample protection to all meeheuics in the. collection of their claims in preference to other creditors. SIMSON LAWS. A proposition is made by Mr. Baker, of Monroe, to repeal the statute giving authority for the publica- tion of session laws in two papers of each county throughout the State. RXTRAVAGANCE IN THE SENATE. The Senate met at eight o'clock this evening with a full attendance, and did not adjourn until shortly before ten, Aside from the bill relative to the water supply of New York, which will be found below, the oule feature of the proceedings which has ang igen eral interest was # discussion over the resolution introduced last week by Senator Goodwin, ‘The resolution called for the appointment of a spocial committee of three to consider a reduction of the number of the Senate's employés and a de- erease of their salaries. Senator Goodwin to-night made 2 carefully prepared hg in favor of such retrenchment. “Even in this magnificent granite tomb,” he said, ‘where $10,000,000 of the people’s money. are buried, the ery of the multitude for lower taxes and a more exact official account- ability penetrates the heavy walls and reaches your ears, Senators, and mine.” Becoming more particn- lar ‘in his remarks the Senator went on to say that the incidental expenses of the Legislature had been increasing from year to year until it wee now a serious abuse, He presented a table of the number of employés of the Senate in every year since 1845, with the amount of salaries for each year. It appeared that since 1855 the number of employés bas increased from twenty to seventy-four, and the amount paid hea increased from $9,912 to $53,859, Tho Senator referred sarcastically to the fact that tn the old Senate Chamber the three little doors were guarded by seven doorkeepers, who cost the State $3 aday, He alluded to the “platoons” ot employés as engaged in straining their necks to study high art in the panelled ceiling. There was erage of more than two employes tor each Sena- tor, and the gentleman regarded this asa shameful state of affairs, while unemployed laborers and overtaxed capital of the State were clamoring for retrench- ment. “Answer their demands with this resolution,” said Sonator Goodwin, “and perhaps you will yet in return trom the hand of some honest mechanic snd nuils, with directions to use them as doorkevpers.” In the course of his remarks the Senator paid a high compliment to Governor Robinson as one who had saved and was still saving vast sims of the people's money. Senator Hamilton Marris said he was surprised to hear the Governor spuken of as a frugal official when last year he had tavored spending $1,000,000 for a park at Niagara. ‘Senator McCarthy said he was in favor of retrench- mont, but he thought the proper place to practico it was in the Supply bill for the big institutions. Senator Ecclesine defended the policy of Governor Robinson, and after an eloquent but somewhat gen- eral address from Senator Hughes an amendment was: made to the resoldtion by Senator McCarthy, and it was paswed as amended. As adopted it calls for a committes of five to consider a reduction of expendi- tures, not only in the Senate, but in every depart- ment of the State. ‘THY, WATER SUPPLY OF NEW YORK crTy. Senator Robertson introduced the following bill re- lative to a water supply for New York city sners appointed or of the Laws of ir chat proceeding moro than on oir eXAMnAtion Ax to an times ws any in their diseretion postpe the compensation to i time prior to the Binal determin wm withstanding the fa claim or chain: ried. issionces referred to in the first section ¥ apecitied claims and determine the coin. jon to be made thereon, and im Foterence thereto, witich report embraced in such yp tinne as to all claums upon which no such separate det yet in made, to any claims © compensution for the Tight as shall bo specified in their report and may award therefor a inodified compensation, and the payment by the same city of euch modified compensation hall onti r ef such modi ; mitted to them, by the written aud of the Commissioner of P New York, and fre with reference to ach It were embraced nin the warn thin the original petitio ‘The bill is indorsed by Messrs. Theall and Isaac H. Willi ©, Whitney, Counsel to the Corpora. ounsel for the property owners. A SECRET POBITICAL CONFERENCE. The particulars of aun important secret political conterence, recently held at the rooms of Lieutenant Governor Dorshei leaked out here t plat pe points in the speech Mr. Jobn Kelly at the Lotos Club ummner. At thi jocratic conference were Allan U. Beach, Secre- tery of State; Chief Justice Church, Mr. Erastus Brooks, Senator 8t, John, ex-Governor Hoffman, Mr. 3 David Dudley Field and Indge Sturgis. The proceed. _ ings were cutirely of an informal character. A gen- eral conversation took place as to the condition and prospects of the democratic party in this State, {t was conceded that the outlook at the present time for the orgamization was not of @& cheering character. The late election in New York city and the immense republican majority iu the Assembly were cited as proofs of this assertion. The troubles in the metropolis between Tanumaeny Halt and its opponents were also considered seriously aud views were expressed that something should speedily bedone to harmonize the contending tac- tions in that locality. No icular remedy was decided upon, but all present were of the opinion that if Mayor Cooper, who now represented the anti-Tammeny element, and Mr. John Ktlly, who controls the Tammany o1 , ther, the difficulties ‘he dangors ization, could be brought tos yjyht thus be effectuslly overcome. aud injuries resulting to the democratic party, not aloue in the State, but throughout the entire country, from the bitter controversies in New York, were dwelt upon ut length, Something should be done at once, it waa asserted, to heal up the differ- euves and prevent democratic leaders trom cutting one another's throats. It was also stated that Mr, Kelly was anxious and willing to teuder the “olive branch.” ‘The conference was entirely Larmonious. No definite plan to bring about such results was, how- e greed upon, ‘Two of the gentlemen who took part in the gathering refused to give any details of its mis on being approached tor information. The object was, evidently, to keep the whole matter se- cret, at least until further developments might war- rant publicity. x LIFE INSURANCE SECURITIES. On the petition of Superintendent Smyth, of the Insurance Department, and on motion of Harris“ Rudd, of counsel, Judge Westbrook has granted an order appointing Gunning 8. Bedford referee to take proof aud ascertain who is cvtitled to a share in the $111,980 of the ‘securities deposited in the depert- ment by the Security Lite Insurance and An- nuity Company, of New York, now dis- solved, The company was organized “Jan- wary 16, 1662, but on examination, in_ 1877, was found to be insolvent, and William H. Wickham was wppoiuted receiver und wound up its affairs. The order also directs the Superintendent to appoint an actnary. John P. O'Neil has been appointed receiver of the Empire Mutual Life Insurance Company. ‘This com- pany has been out of business for several yeurs, ut its security deposit is #till in the Insurance De- partment to be disposed of. HOUSE OF MERCY. THE STORY OF CRUEL TREATMENT TOLD BY A RECENT INMATE—HER STATEMENTS DENIED. In yesterday’s HERALD appeared a brief account of the remoyal of Rebecca Burgess from the House of Mercy, near the foot of West Eighty-sixth street, aud her transfer, by the order of Judge Duffy, to the Magdalen Asylum in East Kighty-eighth strect, ucar Fitth avenue. It was suid that the girl had made serious allegations of ill-treatment against the Sisters in charge of the former institution, and to learn their exact nature a reporter visited the Magdalen Asylum yesterday afternoon and asked to see Rebecca, The matron re- mained in the room throughout the interview and once or twice enjoined upon the speaker the necessity of telling nothing but the truth. Rebecca is a girl of sturdy figure, ‘a trifle below the average height. Her face is plump and, were it not fora rough complexion, might be called rathcr comely, though hardly prepossessing. The following is a condensed report of her story to the reporter:— REBECCA'S CAREER. “TI was born in Brooklyn and am nearly seventeen years old,” she said. ‘(My mother died when I was four and left my fatger with me and five other chil- dren, My father was hardly ever sober and used to beat us younger oues nearly every day. When I was seven years old he had me sent to the House of Refuge, and kept me there till I was thirteen. Then @ cousin got me out, and I lived with her and my aunt in Brooklyn for more than two years. Somehow I got acquainted with » girl who had been to the House of Refuge and used to be an actress and sing in the Bowery. She got me to run away with her, and I went around with her for some time. After that a doctor took me to a missionary lady, and I was with her about a weck. Ono night last July I was at a meeting with her in Fourth avenue, and my sister was there. As I was going out my sister had me arrested and locked up in a station heuse over night. The next morning I was taken to the Tombs, and my sis- ter and @ cousizt—not the one 1 ‘been living with—were there to make acharge against me. A nitleman who keeps a big gambling louse had a wyer there to defend me, and got the case delayed. till afternoon. Then two officers, one of the Society Yor the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and another a | aged the yt aoe arierie t peared against me, on my. sister's p: at run away from home Judge Duffy sent me here to the Magdalen for six months.” A BREAK FOR LIBERTY, “Were you well treated here?” ‘Yes, sir; I was well enough treated, but I didn’t like to,be locked up in an usylum; so me and two other girls tried to get away after I’ had there two days. When it was getting dark we went down tw the tront gate and climbed upon the hinges. One of us got over, and I was standing on a barrel to help the other up, when the board broke and she fell over. I didn’t wait to pick her up, but climbed up on tho wall and dropped down the otherside. ‘Chen me and the one that got over first hid behind a tree, and Mrs. Battersby didn't see us when she came down to the The other girl told on us, and we were caught that night.” “When did you go to the House of Mercy?" “I think it was the first week in October, “Did you like it better there than here?" “At first I liked it pretty well, but it is prison discipline. We wasn’t allowed to speak in the chapel, at work or at meals, and if we spoke in the afternoon we lost our supper. We was never allowed to go through the halls or down to the yard without # monitor, About three weeks ago I had handcuffs puton me for writing a girl's name on the chay wall, and another girl was handcuffed for doing the samme thing.” ‘THROWN INTO A DUNGEON.” “4 week ago last Monday my hair came down while I was at work washing and I asked @ girl to braid it for me. Atdinner nothing was given me to eat. [ ked Sister Mary atterward why I hadn’t had any dinner. She said for speaking at work. I told her why I had spoken and said sho had no right to punish me for that. She told me I should have no supper, and I said to her she had a better right to be culled a Sister of Misery than @ Sister of Mercy. She didn’t say nothing to that; but when I went to the chapel that night 1 didn’t kneel down and shetrielto make we. Then she got me to go out in the hall, and the engineer, Henry, grabbed me. I tried to run back into the chapel, but he caught me by the neck and dragged ime down to the cellar and threw me into the dungeon and locked me in.” «What is the ‘dungeon’ like ?" “It's alittle cell about eight fect square, with rough stone walls whitewashed, There isn’tnoe window and the door’s six inches thick. Even the keyhvic is cov- ered, so there isn’t aray of light, and you can't teil day from night. There isn’t any bed or anything to sit on and I wasn’t given anything to cover myself with at night. No one came uear me except Henry, who brought me some water and dry bread once a day. I was kept there .till yesterday morn- ing and when they took me out to be carrted to the a to get some medicine. After I had taken a bath changed my dress two officers foe hee took me up to the Harlem Polico Court, befere Judge Duffy. Sister Mary went along aud told hér story and made a charge of disorderly conduct against me. The Judge asked me if I'd go to the House ot the Good Shepherd, but I told him I'd rather come to the amy ee . He said I'd have to stay here nine months ionger than there; but I'd had enough of Sisters, and so 1 chose this, and here I am, to stay for the next twelve months. TRE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY. When Rebecca had Anished and retired from the room the matron said that but little reliance could be placed upon her statements. She had given much teouble the last time she was at the Sad oy and it was with sorrow she received her back. temper ‘was capricions and ungovernable. ‘The reporter made his way to the House of Mercy and had a few moments’ conversation with Sister M who is practically the matron of that institu- si the charges made by Kebecca About ten days ago, sho quarrelled with one of her com- and in a fit of passion raised a pair and struck her with terrific force on the arm. For this she was locked up in a cell in the basement for one day and one night. The cell contains a bed and bed clothing, and the unruly girl was not put ona fare of bread and water, but Feceived regular meals of good and wholesome tood— as good as the larder of the bouse affords, On Monday night last, for destroying = large quantity of clothing belonging to other inmates, Kebecca was again locked up in the cell, and when taken out in the morning had to be carried—not from exhaustion, but from her savage resistance. She had threatened the lives of several girls and Sisters, and her bad example and the annoyance she had caused to inmates of the House made it impossibie to keep her any longer. She bad once been threat ened with handcuffs, but they had not been used, AUSTRALIA'S EXHIBITION. Mr. R. W. Cameron, No, 23 South William street, New York, has been delegated fall power bie retary of the Agricultural Society of New Woates to act on behalf of the counsel of that society inthe United States and Cavada in connection with the Australian International Exhibition, to be held in Sydiey, opening on the Ist of August, 147i, and continuing for four months, The, Aue: tralian. vern ment. consequence én the matter has been up in England the European Continents hae assumed the entire supervision of the exhibitiea, which will consist of two divisi embracing her stock, agricultural products, machinery and ap- said, the girl ha panions, stool or Pliances; the other fine arts, and ihe ances in liberal and common arte, ite, clothing manufec: Ur ug 1 food, also, products of mining and fulustriee, mbebinery, ce