The New York Herald Newspaper, February 8, 1879, Page 4

Bt. Martin affidavit; first saw Mr. St. Martin in New Orleans; never gave St. Martin money, and hever had conversation with him outside of the committee Foom. ‘The chairman then went through the St. Martin affidavit, interrogating witness on every point where his name was mentioned, the result ot which was a eneral and particular denial of all the charges eu- odied therein, Under cross-examination by Mr. Cox, Gibson stated that he did not recollect any conversation of auy character with Mr, Weber in Orleans, and bad ho remembrance of receiving from him or forward- ing to him # communication of any kind; admitted having received memorandum from Maddox as to what certain witnesses were to testify when they were called to ihe stand, and having given the same to either Mr. Stenger or Mr. Blackburn, whomever he chanced to meet first. Q. You were generally in the committee room dur- examination, were you not? A, I think so; on Mosars. Stenger advising them as ? A. Yes, sir; I think so, except in a few cases, which were detailed, Q. Froim my remembrance you were there much more regularly than either of ‘the gentlemen named; ain Tright?, A. My recolleetion is that that is a fact; 1 was there every day. . Q. You took no notes while there, did you? That is, had no writing material before you? A. No, Thave never done anything of the kind since Ihave been in the newspaper business; if I had had no other business than that of correspohdent to perform I should not have been obliged to do so; I did send daily reports to the Sun. Witness then testified that he never made any in- quiry as to the whereabouts of the witnesses in New Orleans, and did not know where they were quartered until he heard it here, GIDSON'S LONG STO! ‘Mr. Cox then asked the witness what part of his duties in New Orleaus were journalistic proper and what part political. The witness replied that to answer this would necessitate his telling rather a long story; his first visit to Louisiana was in the spring of 1377, and he remained there about two months; business kept him there, and he also took a deep interest in the political situation; he made the acquaintance of a great man: y republicans during his stay, without any special object, except that he thought more mischie! might be done by encouraging Packard and his party ; through him and others he gathered a great many facts about the Returning Board and the election of 1876; shortly after his return from New Orleans he received from Mr. Dana an envelope containing @ number of papers which he desired witness to look into: these were the papers sent by James E. Ander- son from Philadelphia; he investigated them very caretully until about the 17th or 20th of June, when he left the city with his family for a month or six weeks among the mountains of Virginia; on his return he received other communications and submitted the facts to Judge Black, of Pennsylvania, who after seeing some of the per- sons referred to and obtaining detailed information about certain crimes that had been committed in Louisiana, wrote a letter to Mr. Dana, editor of the Sun, giving his opinion us to the value of the papers in alegal and newspaper point of view; witness carried the letter to Mr. Dana, and upon his instrue- tions proceeded to Louisiana to further investigate the matter; after this he made a third journey to Louisiana, and the sum total of his investigations comununicated to Mr. Dana had largely to do with the course pursued by the paper in demanding an official investigation; when the committee went to New Orleans witness was requested by Mr, Dana to accompany it, and he did so, and 10 separate his duties as a correspondent and as a quasi adyiser of the democratic members of the committee would be difficult; he knew generally what they were after; he knew a great many things which they did not know—some, in fact, that he was unable to lay before them, be- cause they had come to him confidentially. ‘Mr. Cox—You speak of your relations a8 counsel to certain persons. Are you a lawyer by profession? Witness—Yes; I have no office, but I have a great deal to do with many cases in which the Sun is in- terested both here’and in New York. Mr. Cox—Was the only commission you received in the case, orally or otherwise, and the only source from which you received money that should be ex- nded in any way in that visit, that of the proprie- ors of the Sun? Witness—I could not have gone to New Orleans without the consent or direction of the editor of the Sun; I went there by his request, or rather by his @irection, and whatever money I expended was obtained from the Sunor was my own; I certainly had no other relations with any person except the roprietors of the Sun; Ido not mean to say that Mr. Di understood I was going to New Orleans correspondent to note and report what © expected me to assist in every way to aid the development of any facts which came to my knowledge; and in the event of certain things transpiring 1 would have been able to communicate to the Sun, in advance of any other paper, valuable information which would more than have compen- sated it for any outlay made; the other work, which was precisely what has been described by the witness Maddox, brought me into close intimacy with the democrats, of course, but I knew all the politicians in New Orleans of both sides. in reply to Mr. Cox witness said:—I furnished no money for the payment of witnesses, and as far as my knowledge goes no money was paid for that pur- pose. CHEAP LOUISIANA TESTIMONY. Mr. Cox—Had you no .nformation as to the $450 that it has been alleged were to be paid to Dula? A. No, sir; I migut say something else; I think I should have been a fool to have paid $450 for the testimony of any man; as a supposititious proposi- tigp I would reject it, because I do not think I would ge@my money's worth; testimony in Louisiana rates very much lower, according to general rumor. Mr. Cox—Yew, we have testimony to the effect that some of the colored witnesses received from $40 to $80. That is considerably lower? A. 1 know nothing ot that and do not believe it. THE DEAD WITNERS, In further cross-examination by the chairman Mr. Gibson stated that Mr. Weber had furnished, in his statement before the committee in Washington, the names of certain witnesses who had made affidavits in the Custom House, some of whom were dead at the time their affidavits were purported to have been tuade, and others who had testified upon hear. say but who had been reported as if they had spoken from their own knowledge. Weber was anxious to have that part of his testi- mony supported by such witnesses as he could ob- tain, and he furnished the names himself. Witness bad no talk with any of the witnesses at any time. MISSING DOCUMENTS. In reply to a further question with regard to the papers that led him to visit New Orleans, witness sid that the Morrison committee, in 1876 or 1877, attempted to get the original pers about the election from the Louisiana eturning Board, but the Board refused to do more than to furnish copies; the papers upon which the Returning Board were supposed to have acted were atterward sent to Washington and placed idence onl; in charge of the Senate committee; a few only of these papers were returned to New Orleans; the rest were cted from the committee room here, and a of his business was to find out eomething about the missing documents; he was in New Orieans when the Packard goverhment broke up and was anxious that these papers should be immediately looked after; Mr. Sinith, a reporter of the Democrat, since dead, was instructed by witness to take up the search, and he found a safe in the executive office and took out « great number of the papers; his principal object was to find # certain protest in the case of Tichiana per- ish; he knew that a protest had been drawn up by Governor Kellogg which was not accepted, and a second by Mr. H. J. Campbell; these were the docu- joents referred to in the list that he had given to Mr. atte On being cross-examined by Mr. Cox in reference to the telegrams that were sent by St. Martin to him, witness said he did not understand they came trom Weber, becanse he knew that Weber had no right to fend him such telegram; he bad suspicions, but these he did not care to’ say anything about ‘it, as they might prove unjust to some person; he could not recollect precisely what he had said to Maddox about there telegrams; he had no doubt that he re- quested Maddox to look after Weber's school board case, and he himself spoke to Governor Wickliffe; Mr. Hawkes, an authority in the village, and several other gentlemen thinking it right that the man should have a tair hearing in the case; he never kuew that Weber complained of his treatment by the democratic party; knew nothing about the warrants, except that Weber had not come rightly by them, AN UNPAID BILL, No other questions being put Mr. Gibson said he had one other little matter to draw the committee's attention to, He understood the committee was now iu funds, and he begged to hand to the chairman an which he advanced to the com- 0 pay witnesses who came to New » sub-committee had left. Mr. Potter with a smile and promised to 4 that it had been previously Pp committee was short of money. At the conelnsion of Mr. Gibson's testimony the ld aseoret ses at which it was r. St. Martin shor be discharged and veral applications to appear before the committee Wore dincunsed. ‘The commitwe adjourned until Monday, ANDERSON. Wasntneton, Feb, 7, 1871 The Senate committee appointed to “inquire into ftertuin matters touching the late Presidential election in Louisiana,” held a private session to-day, which was inainiy devoted to an examintion of the printed testimony of James EB. Anderson, given before the Potter Commmittec and recently received from the House of Representatives. Senator Matthews whose motion the committee Sra creutend, was present at the meeting to-day by in- Vitation, and will give further assistance to the in- vestigation next ‘Tuesday, until which date the com- inittes adjourned, The Question whether or not it is worth while to sammon Avderson from Nevada to Washington for additional examination Is still unde- | termined. baits + AS ihe THE TELLER COMMITTEE. TESTIMONY OF THE SHCRETARY OF THE REPUD- LICAN SOUTH CAROLINA EXECUTIVE ComMIT- TUR—APPOINTMENT OF REPUBLICAN COMMIS- SIONERS, Wastixoton, Feb. 7, 1879. ‘The Teller Committee to-day examined John L. ‘Woet, who testified that he resided at Columbia, 8. C., NEW and previons to the Iate election in that State, in May last, was appointed secretary of the Republican State | Executive Committee, and as such officer he had cor- respondence with the republicans of each county as | to the nomination of republicans to serve as Com- missioners of Election, He took the list to the ex- ecutive officers, Governor Hampton was absent, but | he was told by the Governor's private secretary that | the matter of appointments was with General Ken- | nedy, the president of the State Democratic Executive Committee.’ There were thirty-two counties in the State, and thirty-two republicans, one for each, were recommended for appointment. Only six or seven rouounced republicaus were appointed, because he Governor promised to do so before the list was presented. Many of those appointed to act for the republicans were democrats, some were under democratic influence, while others were illiterate men and therefore unfit to represent any party. Pro- tests were unavailingly made against such appoint- ments, Senator Randolph, of the committee, inquired whether Governors Moses and Chamberlain did not disregard the recommendation of the democrats as to the appointment of Commissioners and All the places with persons of their own party. ‘The witness roplied that he could’ not say of his own knowledge that this was done. ‘The investigation here closed, so far as the Charles- ton feature is concerned. ‘The committee have summoned two witnesses from Mississippi and two from Arkansas, ‘There will be a meeting of the full committee on Monday. DAVENPORT ON THE STAND. WHAT HE KNOWS ABOUT FRAUDULENT NATURAL- IZATION PAPERS. Almost all of yesterday's session was occupied by the Congressional committee sitting in the Post Office Building in listening to Mr. Davenport's ex- culpation of his official conduct on election day. ‘There was quite an excitement in the room when the Commissioner took the stand and Congressman Frye began his examination. The witness testified that there were about sixty thousand certificates of nat- uralization on file and only about twenty thousand applications in the year 1868; ot these 10,000 were in the Supreme Court, and on the indices of the Su- perior Court there were 8,! he had proof that the applications on file nowhere ap- proached the certificates of citizenship is- sued; there were besides several thousand ap- plications under fictitious names uot really existing and not now on the files of the courts, Many of the witnesses could not write and yet their supposed signatures appeared in exceedingly fine writing. About eighty witnesses in all appeared for about nine thousand applicants for naturalization. The work of naturalizing in the Supreme Court was mainly carried on at night. Certificates of naturali- zation were sold openly and publicly. Men residin, in Jersey City, Peekskill and other towns obtain certificates of naturalization to enable them to vote in the city. There were several club rooms in the upper part of the city where fraudulent certificates of naturalization could be obtained, and the principal place for the making and obtaining of fraudulent naturalization papers was in a room formerly oc- cupied by the Sheriff of the city and county in the City Hall, room No. 12. The receivers of these papers were sworn to support the constitution and vote the democratic ticket. In the case of some Germans the oath administered to them was tw re- nounce all allegiance to the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland. udulent tickets to the number ot over ten thousand were to the late “Jim Fisk’ to scatter over the line of the Erie Railroad. Witness had nothing whatever todo with the “slave pen” so much re- ferred to, but did not believe there was any suffering among the persons confined there. It had been his intention to prosecute all persons voting on ‘’63”” papers, but he was not the prosecuting officer of the overnment, and no charge could be niade against flim for parties not having been prosecuted. In no manner, shape or way had any intimidation been ex- ercised by him or his aids on election day. given JUDGE BLODGETT’S CONDUCT. THE ATTEMPT TO PROVE IMPROPER RULINGS IN BANKRUPTCY CASES. Curcaco, Il., Feb. 7, 1879. In the Blodgett investigation to-day E. A. Drum- mond was recalled. He identified the pages of the minute book wherein orders of the Court are re- corded awarding Winston $30,000 in the Bigelow block case; witness entered the order; Blodgett was. presiding, and Drummond was in Chambers, but not on the bench; witness remembered Drummond was indignant that the order was made and entered. William H. Bradley testified that Judge Drum- mond, on revoking the above order, said it never should have been made without consulting him. Tho defence read Blodgett’s denial of the charges and specifications that his court had done illegal acts to defraud the creditors of the bankrupt Garden City Insurance Company. INSURANCE PANKRUPTCY CASES, George W. Kemp identified orders from the minutes of the Court in the Garden City case, showing numer- ous applications of creditors to have schedules filed and that the order requiring schedules was set aside and no meeting of creditors was called. Mr. Goudy, for the defence, called attention to the rule of Judge Blodgett’s court in 1873 in the Fire- man’s Insurance bankruptcy case as a basis upon which such estates were usually settled. Judge Blodgett said the rule stood until some two years ago, when Judge Drummond had occasion to differ with him, but not to the invalidation of pro- ceedings then ended. L. J. Nisson, formerly attorney for some Garden City creditors, testified that he ap; before Judge Blodgett with a petition to have the schedule flied; Mr. Blodgett thought the company was doing its ut- most to pay, and extreme measures would only cause trouble and expense; Judge Blodgett made no objec- tion to entering the order, and in afew days setile- ments were made at forty or fifty per cent, although the best previous offer was thirty percent. Witness told Judge Blodgett that mysterious proceedings were taken by the company in Chancery. HOMER COOK AND H. B, SMITH INYLUENTIAL, T. L. Miller testified that after the fire he was buy- insolvent insurance companies’ claims. ir. Cooper, for the memorialists, said it was pro- posed to show that the proceedings in Judge Blodg- ett’ urt favored a combination of insurance officials in buying up claims. Witness continued, stating that the Garden City company’s liabilities were $650,000, and its secretary told him claims were not worth over five p ut in 1871; bought claims at ten to twelve per cent in i872, by an arrangement which was con- ecaled from the public. The price finally rose to thirty per cent. Had the schedules been filed it would have shown a large connection of the State Savings and Fidelity banks with the officers of the Garden City company and caused a run on tho banks. It was understood that Homer Cook and H. B. Smith could get the pi dings in bankruptcy stopped through their intl » with Judge Blodgett. About $500,000 of claims were bought a! five to ten per cent; when the bowing: od Proceedings were pregsed they brought more. Wituess said, on cross examination, he @ difficulty with the attorneys on the part of the estate regarding compensation. T. E. Miller, son of the preceding witness, testified to a similar state of facts. Further evidence was given on the Bigelow block charge. The memorialists gave notice they would, when the committee returns to Washington, put in evi; dence numerous documents relating to some of the charges. Blodgett’s counsel introduced a letter from Chief Justice Chase, written in 1872, to the effect that an additional Register in Bankruptey here was not ad- visable. . Howard Cook, for the defence, denied the principal points of the evidence respecting himself in the Garden City Insurance Company's case. He espe- cially denied that he ever had a conversation with Tudge Blodgett arding the affairs of the estate or ever professed to have influence with the Court, John H. Haines and others testified on this case and generally confirmed Cook's statements, Tho memorialists having been unable to secure the attendance of witnesses on the charge that Judge Blodgett demanded a verdict of sel, in the Rush & Palmer whiskey case, asked for a continuance, Mr. Knott said— As all ground {n the memorial has been covered the a may be considered closed, The c| was then withdrawn, Judge Blodgett was then called for the defence. He explained his action in the case of George A. Walker, who claimed to have been disturbed in his possession of rooms in Honore Block, He said he ad no idea of being abrapt with Walker, but was very busy in Chambers, He had no knowledge of a scheme by the stockholders of the Garden City Insurance Company to buy up the clams; Delieved the company was honestly anxious to rottle; had always been disposed to grant every in- | dulgence before the dernier resort to bankruptey ; may have advised parties, as testified to, to settie on the beat terins they could get without enforcing bank- y: did not act on any information obtained out- rds. ttee then adjoarned to meet in Washing- \ report to the full Judiciary Committes, | ONE WAY TO BUILD A RAILROAD, Cixctnnatt, Ohio, Feb, 7, 1879. About @ year ago @ contract for building a narrow gauge railroad from this city to Xenia, Ohio, was given to one Benedict at what was considered an exorbitant fignre, the construction of the first five miles being placed at $300,000, It is now stated, npon the authority of one of the Board of Directo: that the President, Seth Haines, had a secret co: tract with Benedict by which Haines was to receive $125,000 in bonds of the com this Being under- stood to be in consideration o1 awarding the con- | tract to Benedict. WASHINGTON. Report of the Senate Committee on Epidemic Diseases, THE ARREARS OF PENSIONS. ecutive Committee. FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT. Meeting of the National Democratic ‘ Wasurxoron, Feb, 7, 1879. NEW YORK CUSTOM HOUSE, The nomination of Charles K. Graham to be Sur- veyor of Customs at the port of New York, which had been reported favorably from the Committee on Commerce, was confirmed to-day by the Senate, in executive session, without the formality of a division or @ roll call, This, the third and last of the New York nominations, had been indorsed by Senator Conkling. THE INTERSTATE COMMERCE, AND RIVER AND HARBOE APPROPRIATION BILLS. The sub-committes of the Senate Committee on Commerce, to which was referred Honse bill on interstate commerce, expects to report the result of their consideration of the bill to the full committee at its next regular meeting, on Thursday next, The friends of the measure say that if the committee reports the bill favorably to the Senate it will pass that body as it came from the House, if not de- bated to death, but the impression is that it will be delayed in the committee until near the close of the session, when it will be too late for consideration, and that it will fail for want of time. The House Committee on Commerce will not be ready to report the River and Harbor Appropriation bill until about the middle of next week. The sub- committee has not yet completed the work assigned to it, and when the bill is finally agreed upon by the full committee it will be reported to the House and re-committed to the committee, so that another week will pass before this measure can be ready for the consideration of the House. VENTILATING THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The special committee on the ventilation of the Hall of the House of Representatives has agreed to report in favor of cutting away tho inte- rior wall and galleries on the south of the chamber so as to take in all the space extending to the main outside wall. This will give the hall the windows and light of the southern portico. Thechange will sweep away the reporter's gallery and a portion of the public gallery, but it is proposed to give the reporters scats in the space behind the Speaker, whose desk is to re- main in its present place. The intention is also to do away with the desks of the members and to give the latter in place of their present seats large chairs with a small secretary desk on the arm. The grates in the cloak rooms are to be converted into large open fireplaces, to assist in the process of ventila- tion. oe GENERAL WASHINGTON DESPATCHES. Wasutneton, Feb. 7, 1879. NOMINATIONS BY THE PRESIDENT. ‘The President sent the following nominations to the Senate to-day:—John F. Hartranft, to be Post- master at Philadelphia; James Pollock, to be Naval Officer at Philadelphia; A. Louden Snowden, to be Superintendent of the Philadelphia Mint; Martin Parry Kernard, to be Assistant Treasurer of the United States at Boston, Mass.; Thomas Stevenson, tobe Collector of Internal Revenue for the Fifteenth district of New York; Ephraim McMurtrie, to be Collector of Customs for the District of Minnesota. THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC EXECUTIVE COM- MITTEE, In response to an invitation of Senator Wallace, of Pennsylvania, Senator Barnum and a num- ber of other members of the National and Congressional Democratic committees met at Willard’s Hotel this evening for con- guitation, their purpose being to arrange preliminaries pertaining to the organization of the Campaign Committee for 1880, After the interchang- ing of views on the question of procedure and the most practical method to be adopted the subject of further organization was postponed, Messrs. Wal- lace and Barnum being appointed a sub-committee to consider and report on the same. REPORT OF SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE ON INTERNAL REVENUE LAWS. The Senate Finance Committee this afternoon took final action upon the House bill amendatory of the Internal Revenue laws, and authorized the chair- man to report it to the Senate. The committee, by a vote of 5 against 4, decided to recommend concur- rence in the House provision reducing the taxon man- ufactured tobacco to sixteen cents per’ pound. The vote in detail was as follows:—Yeas—Messrs. Jones (Nev.), Bayard, Kernan, Wallace and Voorhees—5. Nays—Messrs. Morrill, Dawes, Ferry and Allison—4. ‘The committee fix the tax on snuff at twenty-four cents and strike out all the provisions relative to the tax on cigars, cheroots and cigarettes, thus propos- ing to leave them subject to taxation at existing rates, The House provision repealing the tax on matches is stricken out, and the committee have also entirely omitted the tobacco bonded warehouse clauses. The bill is further amended by the addition of a section to remit all taxes upon insolvent savings banks and to exempt from taxation $2,000 of each deposit made by one person or association in any savings institution. THE ARREARS OF PENSIONS ACT. ‘General Rice, chairman of the Committee on Pen- sions, has had several interviews with Commissioner Bentley as to the necessary legislation to carry ont the provisions of the Arrears of Pensions act, Of course time will be required to examine the claims presented, and, with the facilities at his disposal, the Commissioner-thinks no more than $10,000,000 will be required for claims adjusted during the coming year. The committee has informally considered and will probably report a bill appropriating that amount for the purpose, Should the claims be more rapidly adjusted provision for their payment can be made on the meeting of Congress in December, ‘Th House Committee on Invalid Pensions, at their meeting to-day, agreed to report with favorable frocommendation Mr. Rice's bill, amendatory of section 4,098!4 of the Revised Statutes, so as to road as follows When the rate of an invalid pension shall be in- creased for the reason that the degree of his disabil:- ties has become greater than when it was last before rated, the increased rate shall commence at date of filing the application for the increase, Whenever it shall be made to appear to. the Com- missionot of Pensions that the pension of any pen- sionor has been erroneously rated he shall correct the rate as justice may require, The committee also agreed to report the bill fixing afee of $2, and no more, to be paid to cach examin- ing surgeon for each examination of a person, as provided’by law. SILVER AND TREASURY NOTES. Mr. Muldrow of Mississippi, from the Committee on Coinage, Weights and Measures, reported a bill authorizing the Treasurer of the United States to re- ceive coins of the United States in exchange for United States notes. He said that the legislation of the present Congress in relation to the silver dollar was sought to be nullified by the various banking institutions of the country. ‘This bill was to aid that legislation and to thwart the efforts of the banking institutions to debase the coin of the country and to inculcate the idea that silver never could be a proper standard, Mr. Brewer, of Michigan, offered as a substitute an amendment providing that on the presenta tion of any coins of the United States at the Sub-Treasury at New York there shall be exchanged therefor on demand to the extent and amount to which coins arc legal tender an oqual amount of Treasury notes, and all «ilver coins eo re- ceived which are unfit for circulation shall be re- coined. Mr. Brewer's substitute was adopted, Mr. Robvine, of North Caroline, then moved to lay the YORK HERALD, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1879.-TRIPLE SHEET. dillon the table. This was defeated—yeas 61, nays 67. Mr. Garfield raised the point that no quorum had voted, and the House then, at twenty minutes to ten, adjourned. EPIDEMIC DISEASES—REPORT OF THE SENATE SELECT COMMITTEE—YELLOW FEVER AND CHOLERA NOT INDIGENOUS—A NATIONAL QUARANTINE RECOMMENDED, The seiect committee of the Senate appointed to investigate the best means of preventing the intro- duction and spread of epidemic diseases in the United States submitted their report to-day through Senator Harris. The report states that the committee held joint sessions with @ committee of the House ap- pointed for the same purpose, and that the committee of the two houses in joint session appointed scien. tific experts to examine into certain branches of the subject. After detailing the operations of the ex- perts and of the sub-committees of the two houses sent to New Orleans and Memphis the report says:— From the testimony of eminent medical men and the conclusions arrived at by the board of scientific experts, after the fullest and most careful investiga- tion possible within the short time allowed, the committee strongly incline to the opinion ' that neither yellow fever nor cholera is indigenous to any part of the United States, and that the great majority, | if notull, of the epidemics of these diseases with which the country has suffered so greatly have re- sulted from importation. The committee are ot the opinion that the best and only certain means of preventing the introduc- tion of these diseases from other countries is abso- lute non-intercourse with ports where they exist in epidemic form during the time they so exist; and the next best means of prevention is a well regulated national quarantine, strict in its requirements as to the observance of all proper sanitary measures at the port of departure by all vessels sailing from infected ports, and equally strict in requirement and enforce- ment of all necessary inspections of such vessels, their cargoes, passengers and crews, and the thor- ough disinfection of the same when necessary at the quarantine station before being allowed to enter any port of the United States. While the quarantine regulations may not give ab- solute security against the importation of these dis- eases they will, in the opinion of the committee, prevent importation toa very large extent and se- cure benefits greatly in excess of any possible cost of their enforcement. The public health is second in importance to no question which addresses itself to the consideration of the legislator, and Congress should, in the opinion of the committee, within the scope of its constitutional powers, adopt such meas- ures ax are best calculated to preserve and promote it. In the exercise of the power “to regulate com- merce with foreign nations and among the States,”” the regulations should be such as not only to promote tho commercial interests of the country by measures suggested by those considerations which have generally heretofore controlled these ‘regulations, but should also so Tegulate as to prevent, as far as possible, the impor- tation of all contagious or infectious diseases from foreign countries and from State to State. To this end the committee report and recommend the pas- sage of abill which prescribes certain duties to be observed and performed by all vessels coming from any foreign port where any contagious or infectious disease exists before departure, and inspection, aud if necessary, disinfection and detention of vessel, cargo, passengers and crew before entering any port of the United States; and it also estabiishes a bureau of health, with a director general of health as its chief executive officer, and # board of health, com- osed of seven meinbers, to be appointed by the ident, by and with the advice und consent of the Senate, and the Surgeon General of the Army and the Surgeon General of the Navy to be ex officio members of said Board, and that said Board of Health shall be charged with the execution of all sanitary measures within the District of Columbia, which are now, or may hereafter be, required by law or made in pursuance thereof, and also the making, with the approval of the President, such uniform quarantine rules and regulations upon the commerce with foreign nations and between the States as may be necessary and authorized by law, with the execu- tion of the same. It is also charged with the super- vision of all matters connected with the Marine Hospital service, the bill ‘ees that the office of Supervising Surgeon shall be abolished. It is also charged with the duty of obtaining information as to the sanitary condition of foreign ports. While the bill reported by the committee does not present a complete and perfect system, or accomplish all that it is believed will be necessary and proper to be done in-this respect in the future, it is, in the opinion of tl “ommittee, tep in the right direc- tion, the ‘inning of a system that the calamities of the past have proved to be nevessary, and the benefits of the future will prove to be important. In the opinion of the committee Congress has no power to supersede or interfere with any quarantine regulations, operating wholly within any State which may have been or may hereafter be adopted by any State or established by the author- uy of any State; but, independent of and in dition to such quarantine regulations as the States may have adopted or may hereafter adopt, Congress has the power to so regulate commerce as to prevent the importation of contageous disease from foreign countries and from State to State. The Dill reported by the committee proposes co-opera- tion with State and municipal authorities without interfering with their respective systems, and in- vites the State authorities to undertake the execution of its provisions, and provides for the appointment of quarantine officers of the United States only at such places at the State authorities may refuse or fail to execute the law of the United States and the regulations made pursuant thereto. While the committee is of opinion that the en- forcement of quarantine regulations is important to revent the introduction and ger of epidemic senses, it is equally well satisfied of the importance of enforcing strictly the most thorough local sani- tary measures in every city and town that would protect the lives and promote the health of its citizens, While the weight of testimony greatly prepon- derates and the opinicns of the committee strongly incline to the conclusion that neither cholera nor yellow fever is indigenous to any part of the United States, yet the proof of the fact that the latter, if not both, may not originate here, it is not so sive: as to justify or warrant cities, towns or muni- ties in relaxing the ‘htest degree in the observance and enforcement of all local sanitary measures nec- essary to and promotive of health. WOMEN ADMITTED TO PRACTICE BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT. In the Senate to-day Mr. McDonald, of Indiana, moved to postpone the pending and all prior orders for the purpose of taking up the House bill to re- lieve certain legal disabilities of women, which was agreed to—yens 31, nays 20. ‘The bill provides that any woman who shall have been a member of the highest court of any State or Territory or of the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia for the space of three years, and shall have maintained a good standing before such court, and who shall be a person of good moral character, shall, on motion and the production of such record, be ad- mitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States, After some discussion the bill was read a third time and passed without amendment— yeas 40, nays 20, It now goes to the President for his signature, LIFE SAVING SERVICE. REPORT OF THE GENERAL SUPERINTENDENT— DISASTERS AT SEA GREATER IN NUMBER AND SEVERER IN CHARACTER. WaAsHINGTON, Feb, 7, 1879. The report of the General Superintendent of the Life Saving Service for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1878, somewhat delayed, is out. The operations of the service during the year were confined to 148 stations, 116 of them being on the Atlantic coast, 30 on the lakes and 2 0n the Pacitic const. 4 Regular crews of surfmen were employed on the Atlantic coast during the winter, On the lakes and Pacific the dependence was chiefly on volunteer life- boat service. There were during the year within the limits of the operations of the service 171 disasters to vessels. On board these vessels were 1,557 per- sons, ‘The estimated value of the vessels is $1,879,003 and that of their cargoes $745,672, making the total value of the property involved $4,624,735. The num- ‘der of lives saved was 1,351 and the number lost 226, Of the latter number 183 perished inthe disaster to the ited States steamer Huron and the steau- ship Metropolis-S in the former and 8 in the latter. The number of shipwrecked persons sheltered ond succored at the stations during the your was 425, the total utunber of days’ relief afforded them being 432, ‘The total value of property saved $1,097,875, and the amount lost at $ of disasters involving the total lows of vessels and cargoes was 505. These sta- tistics show that the disasters of the present year were greater in number aud seve in Character then the service has ever before encountered, a fact extablishod by the record of 171 disasters within life-saving limits against 14, the highest number of any former year, 5Y vessels and cargoes totally lost, in contrast with the highest antecedent record of 44. A large pro- portion of the loss of life is made up, as bere stated, of the 183 persons who perished at the wrecks of the Haron and Metropolis, the firet wreck occurring before the opening of the stations under the provisions of law, and the latter between two sta- tions at such @ distance from either as to ureetly hinder successful operatic conditions whic had long been indicated by the officers in charge of the service an ant with fatality, There were four other wrecks, involving the loss of ten lives, which occurred when the stations were closed, and one other disaster, involving the loss of four lives. happened at a ‘distance which made rompt assistance impossible. The General Super- Fitendent shows that the number of lives lost fairly, and legitimately within the scope of the effective op- erations of the service was but twenty-nine, and fur- ther shows that this loss of life was unpreventabiec by human efforts. The particulars of each case are given in detail, With reference to the examination of keepers and crews the General Superintendent states that district ‘No. 6, embracing the coasts of Mav lsud, Delaware and of | and Virginia, which was last year in so unsatisfac- tory a condition on account of local political inter- ference in the attempted control of the selection of crews, was this year found to have not an incom) tent man in the district, shoving the virtue of remedial measures of the service in such cases. THE NEW STATIONS. ~~ Of the new stations authorized to be established by the act of June 18 the three authorized between Cape Henry and Cape Charles have been completed, and thirteen on the coast of North Caroliua, between Cay Henry and Cape Hatteras, were, by the terms of the contract, to be completed on the 15th of November, but the work has been somewhat delayed by the great storms of tho 221 and 23d of Oc- tober, which swept away much of the ma- terials. The points designated for the establish- ment of stations upon the New England coast and upon the lakes have been examined, and sites have been selected for station: wranberry Isles, Me. ; Scituate, Mass., and Wat Hill, R. L, on the sea- coast; at Point Austin and Sand Beach Harbor of Refuge, on Lake Huron, and at ig? Manistee, Ludington, Muskegon and K Lake Michigan, and titles have been secured to all these sites, except at Scituate, not in time, however, to admit of the construction of any of the stations during the present season, Plans and specifications are in course of preparation, and the work will be undertaken as carly in the racticable. Measures toward the estab- the stations authorized for the Gulf it have been delayed by the prevalence of yellow fever at the South, but the work will soon be com- menced, The arduous character of life at the stations and patrol duty are ilustrated by g the General Superiutendent’s account of the great storm of October 22 and 23, in : several of the stations were carried and a number of the nien were exposed to great peril and well nigh perished. In one instance a man was tossed over a sand bank several feet high; in | another a patrolman was found in the morning by his comrades lying prone on a sand hill, clinging to the ground, where he had lain all night completely surrounded by water. THE NEW GUN. Tho report records a remarkable improvement in life saving ordnance, by whith a pea oe and a considerable reduction in weight ure effected. The new gun, which is of bronze, weighs, with its bed and shot, only 202 pounds, and has attained a maxi- muin range of 695 yards. ‘The mortar heretofore in general use at tho stations weighed 312 pounds, and its maximum range was 421 yards. The importance of this achievement will be appre- ciated when it is remembered that the xpparatus has to be dragged in most instances by hand, and by only seven men, whatever the distance may be from the station to the scene of the wreck, which makes the diminution of the burden exceedingly desirable. The increase of the range is also hight: geeitying, Te- calling the disasters to the Giovanni and the Circas- sian, where so many perished because the wrecks were just beyond the reach of line shots. The sta- tions have been Soputied, with the new guns. This improvement is due to the genius of Lieutenant D. A. Lyle, of the Ordnance Department of the army, who was detailed to assist the Life Saving Service at the instance of the General Superintendent in con- ducting experiments in 1877 with this object in view. Lieutenant Lyle’s report of his experiments ix an- nexed to the report of the General Superintendent, by whom it is spoken of in nighly complimentary terms and propounced a stant authority upon the subject of life saving ordnance. THE TELEPHONE. ‘The telephone has been introduced at each station between Cape Henry and Kitty Hawk, in the Sixth district. is has been done through the co-operation of the Signal Service, to which the telegraph line upon that coast belongs. The first use to which it ‘was put was to transmit the intelligence of the occur- rence of a wreck to headquarters. MEDALS AND BOOKS. Medals for saving lite have been awarded to several persons. A number of books have been donated for the use of station crews, and in several instances, through the public spirit and humanity of private Cee sites have been given for the erection of stations. WRECKS AND CASUALTIES. Due acknowledgment is made for the generous ac- tion of Congress in organizing the Life Saving Service by the act of June 18, 1878. This legislation is re- ported to have had the effect of greatly inapiriting he life saving crews, in illustration of which the General Superintendent publishes a series of brief narratives of the services performed by the men at | ninety-six disasters which occurred during the first | three months of the present active season, some of which are quite tl ling. These accounts also vividly illustrate the nature and value of the work done in saving property as well as lite. A compilation of the statistics of wrecks and casual- ties which have occurred on or near the coasts and on the rivers of the United States, and to American vessels at sea or on the coasts of foreign countries, collected under the authority ot the act of June 20, 1874, is included in the report. This compilation, arranged as it is in distinctive tables, with reference to the value of vessels and cargoes and loss to the same, insurance, tonnage, number of passen- gers, crew, number of lives lost, nature and cause of casualty, &c., must be highly valuable to under- writers, vessel owners and other persons interested in shipping. A noteworthy fact mentioned in the General Superintendent's remarks upon these statis- tics is the constant and rapid decrease in the loss of life upon our coast in proportion to the number of persons on board vessels suffering casualty and to the number of disasters. He shows the de- crease to ly fifty per cent since 1875, which he attributes. to the un- recedented agitation of the public mind Within the last fow years with respect to marine dis- asters, which has resulted in protective legislation in- volving an increase in the number of life saving stations, lighthouses, beacons and buoys, and the institution of improved steamboat inspections and ulations for navigation, and has also rasulted in juable inventions for the management of vessels as well as for the saving of life in case of accident, besides leading shipowners to exercise greater dir- crimination in the selection of their officers and equipments, and care for the condition of their ‘ips. COTTON, TOBACCO AND LIVE STOCK. REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICUL- TURE—A VERY PRODUCTIVE YEAR. Wasutxoton, Feb. 7, 1879° ‘The agricultural report just issued, in giving the prices of the cotton crop, says:—‘‘We are guided by the prices received by the planter, which have ruled excessively low this winter, the average for the whole country being about 84 cents per pound. The great value’ of this crop is founded on the demand for export. Prior to the war, and in 1859 and 1860, the amount imported into Great Britain trom the United States was four-fifths of their whole importation. During the war it fell off to less than 2 per cent. Starting in 1866 at 37 per cent, we find that in 1878 we had regained the position we held prior to 1861, and that four-fifths of the cotton used and manufactured in Grest Britain came from the United States, ‘The proportion of our total crop exported to foreign ports was 3,340,000 bales out of a crop of 4,750,000 bales during the year ending September 1, 1878. The production of this great staple seems to be too large, and the result 1s shown in the ylutted markets and low prices, the larger crop of 1878 being worth less than that of the preceding year. Basing the calculation on the prices returned by the producer, we find the value of the crop of 1878 to , be $194,700,000, and for 1878 $240,000,000, while the number of bales was 4,750,000 in 1877 and 5,200,000 for 1878, ‘The total amount exported and manufactured was a little above 465,000,000 pounds, Allowing six per cent for that used at home and that which evaded the tax, we have @ crop for 1877 of about 490,000,000 pounds. The acreage for 1878 was seventy-six per cent of 1877. THE TOBACCO CROP. ‘The quality of tobacco produced was generally better and heavier, making the yield per acre rather more than that of ‘the previous year, except in Ken- tucky, where it fell off slightly. We estimate the total crop of 1878 at 395,000,000 pounds, worth $22,000,000, against 40,000,000 pounds last year, LIVE STOCK. In reference to the condition of live stock the re- port is ax follows :— Horses increased about three per cent, only two Massachusetts and Tennessee, falling below ; Atlantic coast States from Maryland north- ward about holding their own. ‘The Southern States reports i increase, do the States north of ppt de rritories, Pact cially in the newer States and T have continned to decline, Prices During the last tive rs the average price of horses over three years old as fallen off about 36 per cent in the 8 States; in the Gulf States, about 3s Southern inland Ste‘os, 36 per con 7 north of the Ohio 1. ver, 41 percent; in the States ‘west of the Mississippi, 20 per cent, and in the Pacitie coast States 10 per cent. The rapid movement f population westward and the “consequent nth Atlautic tlement of the vacant areas f the Western States and Territories a for the smaller decline of yalues in this rogion. A home market for é has thus been created, ‘Taking the whole country together the decliue has extreme Northeastern States, where the home con- sumption erveeds the juction, does the price hold a fair comparison wit! the rai of previons years. ‘The numbers as compared with those returned Janu- ary, 1878, shows an increase of about five ay! cent, which is’ mainly caused by large increases in States west of the Mississippi River, the States of Illinois, In- Ohio and Kentucky remaining nearly the same as last year, Mules increased about two. per cent, reporting twenty-two cout, Minnesots fourteen per cent and Nebraska ten per cent more than last year. A decline of one or two per cent is noted iv Now York, Now Jersey, Penusylvania, Vir- xinia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio and Oragon. Tho other States range from 100 to Compared with five years ago prices show a still groater decline than those of horses, NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. MOVEMENTS OF THE ASIATIC SQUADRON. Wasutvoron, Feb, 7, 1879, Rear Admiral F. H, Patterson, commanding the United States naval force on the Asiatic station, re- ports to the Navy Department from Yokohama, un+ der date of January 10, the following movements of the vessels of his command ;— The Alert sailed January 4 for San Francisco. ‘The following changes were made in the assign ment of officers:— Commander Manly is ordered to the Alert ana Commander Boyd to the Ranger; Master J. D. Keeler is detached from the Monocacy and ordered to the Alert; Ensign C.J. Badger trom the Alert and ordered to the Monocacy. The Ranger was going to Foo Chow, Swatow and Hong Kong, via Kobe and Nagasaki, On the 23d of December she was sent to the reliof of the American ship Paul Revere, of Boston, which was reported to be in a dangerous position in Gasteon Bay, with halt of her crew sick with scurvy and unable to work the ship. She was anchored by the Ranger in a sate position in the harbor. The Ashuelot was supposed to have sailed from Manila on December 27 tor Bangkok, Siam. ‘The Monoeacy would leave Yokohama ina few days for Shanghai. The Palos was at Tion Tsin. WHO KILLED PATRICK WHITE? | AN AFFRAY IN WHICH TWO PERSONS ARE SUS PECTED OF MURDER. The death of Patrick White in the Eastern District Hospital, Williamsburg, on Thursday evening, from the effects of a brutal beating on the Saturday pre- vious, has evolved a mystery that is at present ex- citing the police authorities of Brooklyn in the highest degree. White was a shoemaker, employed by C. Radewitz & Co., No. 57 Murray street, and with him was a man named William Callahan. On Saturday evening, after getting their pay, they started off together. White had the reputation of being quarrelsome in his cups, while Callahan, who was naturally of a quiet disposi- tion, became exceptionally good natured under the influence of liquor. Three or four hours after they left work they were seen, intoxicated, in the saloon of B, Reilly, on the corner of North Fifth and Fifth streets, Williamsburg, and left there with the inten. tion of calling at the saloon of Edward McSorley, from whom White says he intended to demand a ring and a pipe that had been taken from him at that place some time before. From this point the mystery begins. White was brought to his residence a few hours after by a stranger, stupefied, as his wife supposed, by liquor— as was subsequently discovered, however, from a fractured skull, that resulted in his death, as stated. Callahan, when first asked where he had been with White, said they called on Mec Sorley, and when White asked for the rng and pipe McSorley answered with s blow from some weapon that felled him senseless to the floor. He (Callahan) upbraided him with the crime and Mc- Soriey replied with an oath and a blow which disabled his wrist, and he _ there- upon returned to New York where he re- sides. On this story McSorley was arrested, and was ideutified by Callahan, who afterward pointed out in the saloon the movements of the two men and the spot where White lay when he left him, This story, coupled with the fact that behind the bar they found a batchet with a hammer head that fitted the wouni seemed to point to McSorley as the murderer, an: in the preliminary hearing before Justice Guek yes- terday morning he was committed without bail to await the action of the Coroner. Callahan was then held as a witness in $500, A NEW THEORY. Shortly after the hearing was concluded a man named Clausen entered the station house on Bush- wick avenue, corner of Stagg street, and handed Captain Worth a written statement to the following effect :—That on Saturday night last, between cleven and twelve o'clock, while walking along Union ave- nue, he was accor by a woman who ed bim not to go any farther that way, as they had just murdered & man there and he might get into trouble. This only excited his curiosity and he hurried up to see one man lying on the walk ina 001 of blood anda man, who he insists was Calla- an, standing over the prostrate man. Two other men coming up Callahan turned and walked away toward Grand street and the ferry, and when he saw the two new comers Ceara, to the victim he fol- Jowed Callahan. On the boat be made his acquaint. ance and there Callahan told him that he had come over with a friend who had been hurt. The statement concluded with the remark that he separated from Callahan at his residence in this city. The police declined to accept the theory ad- vanced by Clausen that the crime was committed by Callahan’ at first, because the friends of McSorley, who are very numerous, had been making all sorts of statements during the Thursday night and morn. ing and Ansisting on other arrests being made of arties with repntations bo hg the road Vhite must take to reach home at No. 77 Meeker avenue. Their recollection of McSorley’s remark to his wife when arrested, ‘ou are to blame for all this,” referring to the re- lationship of marriage existi' between her and White, ry him still f1 er than the hatchet in their eyes, and it is said they have one or two wit- nesses who saw White lying on the floor of the saloon as Catlahan describes it, During the day, however, circumstances were dis- covered to corroborate Clansen’s story, thrown aside ax suspicious because presented in writin, were no signs of bi either in McSorle; or on the sidewalks from thence to Union avenue, McSorley also produces several witnesses, some of whom claim to have been in his place from seven P. M. to midnight, and saw or heard no disturbance there. On Union avenue, however, near Witters strect, there was a pool of blood an: a bloody trail from thence up the street toward White's residence. It is also positive that two young men raised him up and walked him some little distance, when he de- clined their babe Aigo and said he could get aiong alone. They left him and he fell again a short time afterward, when another man Playe the part of the Good Samaritan and escorted him to his door and left him in the hands of his wife. Mr. White did not lose consciousness till Sunday Rpts but while he retained his senses did not once say where he was as- saulted or who inflicted the injury. FOUND NEAR THE TRACK, The corpse of @ man was found lying near the Cen- tral Railroad track, at Island Trees, Long Island, at five o’clock yesterday afternoon. The body was that of aman about twenty-eight years of age, five fect eight inches high, with light hair and imperial, and sandy complexion. A pistol lay on th» ground by the man’s leg. There was blood on the face anda wound in the mouth through which the bullet had passed and lodged in the brain, No foot prints were to be seen in the snow near by, and the supposition is that the case is one of suicide. No one at Hicksville or Mineola recognized the body, but an examination of the clothing by the Coroner revealed a number of cards beariug the name of Ernst Riensch. In the coat pocket was fonnd a certificate sho that the deceased Was an active member of the Ninth regi- ment, Second , Schleswig Leil artillery, of the German army, There were also @ number of cards from the Frank Bros. Nos, 230 and 232 Fulton street, this city, and of Earle’s Hotel, Canal street. Tiensch wore a black frock coat, black trousers and waistcoat, blue and red neckcloth and sleeve buttons marked with py hig ian ae waa notin the place wi seo" One terday when the same gang of trackmen ‘passed on Tucsday afternoon. NEWARK CITY AFFAIRS. Several matters of importance came before the Newark, N. J., Common Cowneil last evening. First came the Mayor’s message, vetoing the salary ordi- averaged about 26 per cent. Cows show an increase in nearly all the States. Tho ouly States reporting a decline aro Pennsylvania, Maryland, Vir- inia, Florida, Louisiana, Texas and ‘Tennessee, each w. The Si showing the greatest increase are Nebraska, 123; California, 118; Minnesota, 112; Mich: igan aud Kansas, 111 each; Oregon, 110. Prices have jeclined in ali the States. In some instances the decline is considerably over one-third. | Cattle are about equal in nun bas to last year, The | greatest decline-—-10 per cent—was in Long Isiand. | The greatest increase—23 per ceut—in Nebraska. Prices have also declined, The nuniber of sheep has increased about 5 per cent. ‘There i# a small decline in the Middie States, but all other sections of the Union show an increase. especially the Gult States, which have advanced 14 per cent, The largest rates of State increase are 44 per cent in Nebraska, 26 per j cent in Kentucky and 23 per cent ‘Minne- sota, The States showing a decline are New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, In- diana, Ilinois and Lowa, which fall 1 or 2 por cent below last year, Prices show a decline on the whole, but_not so great ax on other kinds of farm Anitnals, The Pacific States show positive increase, as aleo does Pennsylvania, The for hogs, re- ceived in January, 1879, are rtinously low. Tho records of this department since its formation have Lever shown so low @ price, Only ina few of the nances passed at the last meeting of the Council under the whip of the republican caucus. The Mayor says that the firemen carn every ponny they receive, As regards police pay he says:—“The proposed re- duction to $2 13 per diem is not, in my judgment, wise economy.” He shows that toss pay i given fi Newark than in any other city of its size iu t Union, and that many smaller cities pay larger sala ties, ‘The condition of the city doos not, he saya, doe mand such reduction, On motion of Alderman Clark, rs ‘an of the republican cacuua, the veto was laid ‘on the table; also 4 petition from hundreds of leat. ing citizens opposing the ordinance and praying that the Mayor veto it. The veto was tabled by & vote of 17 to 9, the republicans voting with the democrats, A motion subsequently made to take the veto from he table was yowed down, A message waa received from the Mayor on the city finances, He places the total debt of the city at 11,256,401 96, with au oftsct of over $5,000,000, Tho jayor declares that the city finances are in excellent condition, and sees no cause to fear aay embarrass mont. Alderman Donvelly mado # statement that the debt of the city is really $13,676,284, He clainus that the financial officers claim a8 assets asvessmouts that ax be collected according to decisions of ti.0 yar i