The New York Herald Newspaper, February 11, 1879, Page 3

~ WASHINGTON. Proceedings at the Democratic Cau- cus Last Night. ELECTION LAWS OPPOSED. Secretary Schurz on the Pen- sion Bill. _FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT. Wasurxaror, Feb. 10, 1879, UNEXPECTED ACTION OF THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS—REPEAL OF THE FEDERAL ELECTION LAWS DEMANDED. ig ‘The democratic caucus to-night was fully attended and the discussion which took plape developed com-, ‘on one of tho'two questions which were considered. Concerning the repeal of the Test Onth law there was mo difference of opinion. Soction 820 has already ‘Deen repealed by the Senate and the Senate resolu- tion to that effect is now before the House. This section, it appears, has no business inthe Revised , Statutes, having got there by an error. Section 821, however, was never repealed, and the democrats will ask its repeal now, and itis generally understood that the republicans will offer no opposition; that question, therefore, may be regarded as settled, and the men who have been arrested and who are pres- ently to be tried in some of the Southern States for violations of the federal election laws, will not there- fore be debarred from having proper juries. On the motion to demand the repeal also of the body of federal election laws, appointing and preacrib ing the duties of supervisors and defining and pun- ishing intimidation and various other offences, and to place the repealing clause on the Leglslative, Excu- tive and Judicial Appropriation bill, there was, it is said, a lively discussion, It is known that this measure was disapproved by a number of the most prominent Senators and Representatives, on the ground that no eloction is to be held this fall, except that in California, that before the elections of 1880 come on the next Congress will have had abundant opportunity to repeal these laws, and that no neces- sity exists, therefore, at this time for precipitate action at the close of the session—risking the call of an extra session. It is said, however, that public opinion has been carefully manufactured for some time in different parts of the coun- try, and the pressure of party newspapers “has been brought to bear on Representatives to urge them to force the repeal. The action of the Federal Supervisors in Cincinnati and othern Northern cities last fall, the Davenport troubles in New York and other circumstances appear to have created a deep resentment in Northern localities and s demand for the repeal at this session. It is not known whether and how far the repub- Hicans will oppose the repeal of these laws. The action of the caucus to-night is unexpected. It was not generally believed in democratic circles to-day that the proposition would carry in the caucus. If the republicans are shrewd they will allow these laws now to be repealed, for they may not find the demo- rats so ready hereafter to repeal them. THE SENATE RAILROAD TELEGRAPH BILL, ‘There is a good deal of quiet excitement here about the Senate Railroad Telegraph bill, which Senator Matthews gave notice to-day he would call up next Friday. The opponents of the bill will mske an at- tempt to recommit it, and it is possible they may sucesed, but the friends of the bill ‘have determined that this shall not be done without a previous dis- cussion of the subject. The committee which has it *in charge will hear the friends and opponents of the ‘vq measure on. Wednesday and Thuraday, and it is ro- “ported that General Butler will appear before the ‘pommittee on behalf of thove who desire the bill to Become.aJaw.. Little doubt is. felt that the clause ‘gelating to and covering the subject, which on Gen- eral Butler’s motion was placed in the Army bill, will pass the Sonate. THE TEN DOLLAR CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT— ACTION OF THE SENATE, In passing the House bill authorizing the Treasury to issue interest bearing certificates of deposit of the amount of $10, and multiples of that sum, to be ex- changed for four per cent bonds in sums of $100, the Senate to-day, on motion of Senator Kernan, raised the rate of interest to be paid on such certificates from three per cent, as it stood ‘in the House bill, to four per cent. Such certificates will, therefore, carn four per cent, which brings the Treasury into direct competition with the savings banks, which for the most part pay four per cent also. It should be understood by the * public when the bill becomes s law, as it undoubt- edly will, that the interest earned’ by the certificates ‘of deposit will not be paid until these are turned into four per cent bonds; that is to say persons holding only the certificates will not be able to draw the in- terest due on them, but it will be allowed when the certificates are presented to be exchanged for four per cents. They will differ but slightly therefore from the interest bearing greenbacks which were ‘issued atone time in the carly part of the war and which also wore exchangeable into bonds, and which, as they gained in value by the accrued interest, rapidly ‘went out of circulation. (GENERAL WASHINGTON DESPATCHES, Wasurnctor, Feb, 10, 1879, PROCEEDINGS AT THE JOINT DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS—DEBATE ON THE ELECTION LAWS. A joint democratic caucus of Senators and Rep- resentatives was held in the hall of the House of Representatives to-night. The first subject con- sidered was the proposition to repeal the clauses in the Revised Statutes regarding the test oath of jurors. Senator Thurman offered an amendment to the original proposition providing a niodo of drawing jurors in States whero there is no provision for that purpose. Representative Southard, of Ohto, offered another amendment to repeal the sections of the Federal Bupervising’ Election laws. Much discussion arono. Mr. Thurman urged his resolution in strong terms. Ropresentative Blackburn maintained that but one of the repealing measures should be attached to an appropriation bill, Representative Cox, of New York, took the ground that if both amendments were embodied in the Legislative,Executivo and Judicial bill it would bo a stronger case for the domocratio party, as the jury and test oath laws were limited and local, » geotional and Southern; but the election laws were ap- plied to all sections and cities—New York, Cincin- dati, Philadelphia, Boston and Baltimore. If the general sympathy and sentiment was desired tho Dest Aght and strongest case should be applied at once. Senator Bayard opposed placing such repeating elauses to the appropriation bills, Ho was answered by Senator Thurman, who said he stood on the old English rules of the Commons, “Who held the purse ‘with their privileges and against the prerogative of the king.” Finally, after several other speoches wore made, tho propositions with amendments were adopted, and will accordingly bo appended to tho Legislative, Executive and Judicial Appropriation ‘Dill in the House. The caucus was very well at- tended and remained in session more than four hours, AMERICAN MANUFACTURES IN EUROPR--THE NETHERLANDS TARIFF AND LOCOMOTIVES FOR SWITZERLAND, The Department of State is in receipt of a despatch from the American Consul at Amsterdam drawing attention to ® Ministerial resolution effecting sn important change in the tariff of the Nothoriands, and ono which, tho Consul thinks, fe not generally known among Amorican txportors, The following is a translation of tho de- tree referred to:—Tools of wood, tron, copper, steol tad other metals, as agricultural imploments and sewing machines, are frec of import dutios, and it is , Stipulated that in this exemption aro comprised ali finished tools which serve inechanics se an aid in thats work; further, parte of tools, ewok bam x mers, spades, chisels, &c., without handles, ‘ud augurs, without piercers, &c,, pro- vided they are in the condition in. which they are bought by mechanics in the stores, and afterward fitted for use by putting on the handles, piercers, &c. Tools of spelter or zine re- main dutiable, likewise mathematical, surgical, chi- rurgical, optical and musical instruments, The Department of State has also received s de, spatch from the American Consul at Geneva, reciting an, account of the test trial of the first American locomotive ever seen in Switzerland, The 1lo- ‘comotive, weighing, with its tender, forty tons, was constructed by the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company upon | new system intended to combine great power with remarkable saving in fuel, This locomotive was on exhibition at the Paris Exposition, and has been tested on several French railways with remarkable success. The experiments in Switzerland have de- monstrated a saving of eighteen per cent in the consumption of fuel, a matter of. great im- portance in that country of dear fuel, and the most lively satisfaction at the results attained was expressed by Swiss railroad men, This locomotive will be taken to Italy for like experiments. . Im the same report the Consul notes the constantly |. growing popularity of the American anthracite coal in Geneva, the private residents having begun to pur- chase it as well as the manufacturers, The future demand for this coal, in the opinion of the Consul, need only be limited by the means and facilities of transportation, THE POTTER COMMITTEE—A PROBABLE MEETING TO-DAY, A meeting of the Potter Investigating Committee was to have been held this morning, and General Hunton, Mr. Cox and Mr. Potter were early in at- tendance, but owing) to the important measures be- fore the House it was found impossible to obtain a quorum, and at two o'clock the chairman announced there would be no meeting to-day. No notice has been given that there will be any to-morrow, but in all probability the committee will meet as usual at eleven o'clock, and Judge Southwood will be called to the stand to testify to certain acts of bribery which were committed in Louisiana. At a mecting of the democratic members on Satur- day it was proposed to subpena Swayze, who, it was alleged, received $450 for his testimony before the sub-committee at New Orleans. This was overruled, however, on the ground that his statement had already received sufficient contradiction, and that it Swayze were called it would necessitate tho hearing of a numbor of other witnesses and take up much time. After Judge Southwood has been examined the Hon. Randolph Tucker, whose namo has beon mentioned in connection with the disappearance of certain cipher telegrams from one of the committee rooms here, will be allowed to make an explanation, and then the investigation of the cipher telegrams will be resumed, Mr. Woolley will .be summoned from Cincinnati, and two or three other witnesses will be heard, whose names have not yet transpired. Exertion will be mado to conclude the investigation this week so as to give time for the preparation of tlie reports, each side, it is understood, having decided to lay one before the House. COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS ON THE PEN- SION BILL, A communication was received by the Senate from the Secretary of the Interior transmitting a letter from the Commissioner of Pensions relating to the act granting arrears of pensions, and sug- gesting certain amendments to that bill, calling the attention of Congress to the present system of adjudi- cating pension claims, and the adoption of proper leg- islation for the protection of the government sgainst fraudulent claims, The Commissioner recommends an appropriation of $50,000 for temporary clerks in *his office. ‘Ile estimates that $34,000,000 will be re- quired to pay arrears of pensions to those on the rolls on January 25, 1879—the date of the passage of the bill—$2,500,000 to pay cases added from January 25 to the close of the present fiscal year, and $5,000,000 to pay arrearages in cases added during the fiscal year ending J: 30, 1880. The communications ‘wore -roferved 26 fire committecs.on Pensions and Appropriations, THE NAVY APPROPRIATION BILL, ‘The Committee of Conference on the Navy Appro- priation bill agreed upon a report this afternoon, The amount of difference betweon the two Houses was $85,000, the Senate surrendered $75,000 and the disagreement was thus compromised. INDIAN AFFAIRS, SENATOR M'CREERY’S SPEECH ON THE INDIAN QUESTION—INDIAN AGENTS POWERLESS FOR GOoD—THE CHURCH SHOULD BE SEPARATED FROM THE STATE. Wasnrxoton, Feb. 10, 1879, The Senate resumed consideration of the unfin- ished business, being the bill to provide additional accommodations for the library of Congress, and it was lwid aside informally in order that .Mr. McCreery, (dem.) of Ky., might address the Senate in accordance with previous notice on the bill re cently introduced by him to transfer the office of Indian Affairs from the Interior to the War Depart- ment. SENATOR M'CREERY’S SPEECH, Mr. McCneenry said it was not worth while to tell the Senate that this question was entitled to grave consideration. It was not worth while to urge the fact that the time had come when action should be taken. Causes which were well understood by every reflecting man have given to the Indian question a vastly increased importance. Ho alluded to the favorite pursuits of the Indians— hunting and fishing—end said if the world could have been made about twice as large as it was, and so much of its surface could have been spared for uch purposes, it would have been a pity to disturb them in the sports of fishing and hunting, with an occasional internecine war to purify their moral atmosphere, just as a thunder cloud cleared the air of its impurity, He referred to the discovery of precious metals in the Western States and ‘Territorica ‘increase of population and the rapid of those States, and said thirty os ago there were large bands living in Ci ere were they now? Perhap# a col of agencies hela nearly , with s few vagrants wandering, while charity — hesitatdd whether it was wats merettal to Hoe! themtt oF let them dic. ee ness referred to 8 ristianize » said some nen wedined to Convinced ‘eth vane of Christianity could be advanced by drivin; heathen and substituting a Christian in his place, We had failed to convert the Indian to our faith but had converted him into a wanderer, it or de- merit would have little weight in the determination of this Indian question. Right or wrong, the Indian would lose the case. There wore men who believed that honesty aud strength were necessary eloments tor the successful administration of Indisn affairs, and they believed that hosts of Indian agents could be | mre with and their duties performed as per- feotly Aan already in the service of the govern- and it he and such men had charge of the agents there would be no cause of complaint. He then spoke of the love in mankind for patronage and power, and said the proposition to add another amendmont to our constitution showed that woman had fixed upon her rights and showed that. she was anxious to wield her sharo of power. and enjoy tho patronage of government. He had heard ladies de- clare thut they would not vote even if the privilege ‘was accorded to them. He did not believe they would, except in case of emergency, and he thought the emergency would ariso at every election, CLRERGYMEN AS INDIAN AGENTS. He next referred to the as Indian agents, and there was an old au- thentic ecolestastio dictum which declared one could not serve two masters at the same tito, ‘The devil had been at work, and if tho eloquent Dr. Talmage, who had recently made @ reconnotssance, could be believed, the adversary was deep! trenched in a very formidable ition.: General Grant, unaided ard alone, appeaied to the seven ovan- xelical orthodox denominations and actual: suaded them to take control of our whole Indian frontier. The elders and deacons of theses orthodox denominations may be eminent in theology, but there was doubt whether they have beon ot ever will be very successtul in the mlministration of In- dian affairs. For the last ten years General Grant hed rarely met Sn obstacle he could not surmotint. Let him wade the churches Management of the to give up the government Indians, and it thom do so succveded in havi then scepticism would have to admit that he was » man of wonderfal influence. It waa great mistake and @ great misfortune that ever @ preacher called into the Indian service. Prior to their called into that service mony of them led usefullives, visiting the sick and aiding the poor. Sines entering the Indiau service many had nm who might have gone to honored graves had tl remained little th i of their lit been lone ine pe fore. commitzeo, of which he wes ~ sernchnhanyce Dados ae to consider the Buresu from the ment, and said it was a sublime spectacle to witness the coolness and composure of the Indian agents in giving their testimony, The religious element in charge of the conduct of our Indian affairs may have been a little less prudent and more ressive than they should have been. They were self-consti- tuted guardians of female virtue, and it filled them with auguish to contemplate the licentiousness which would follow their withdrawal. Ail such hor- rors were to follow the transfer of the Indian Bu- reau trom the Interior to the War Department. WERE ARMY OFFICERS UNFIT? It had been argued that officers of the army were unsuited to the government of the Indians, as they were educated for war, He argued that the officers and men of the army were Spgosed to war except as a last resort. wy wore not in favor of marching over desolate plains in pursuit of an enemy when that enemy might have been made a friend by a loaf of bread or @ cup of coffee. It was an astonishing thing that an army officer, educated af West Point, could plan bridges and construct railroads, but was charged to ‘be deticient as a bookkeeper at an Indian agency. What possible advantages had an Indian agent over an army officer for government ot Indians? Within the last year and a half fitteen Indian agents had been discharged for fraudulent practices, ten tor inefficiency, and ten had, for some reason, voluntarily resigned, He argued that many officers of the army. had been on the trontier for a quarter of a century’ aud had acquired a knowledge of savage life whicon enabled them to deal with the Indian. An Indian agent was powerless for good. He Gould not close a whiskey snop-without calling upon the militury. The organization of an Indian regiment and their evrolment’ in the army of the United States might be the basis of a lasting peace witk them. ‘This was the first time in our history when religions bodies had undertaken to control the offices left with the President, He argued that this religious qualifica- tion that was required for the filling ot an office was ‘unconstitutional, If the new departure had not the sanction of law it should be abolished, The man- agement of the Indian affairs under the triple head civil, military and ecclesiastical F ba had left a doubt as to whether any plan could have been found to do more harm in the same time. The Commis- sioner of Indian Affairs was of opinion that ee mude indifferent Indian agents; yct e was in favor. of the religious policy. Winer men than he, before he was vorn, declared that the interests of Church and State were best pro- moted by being separated. Could achurch in its org capacity be clothed with the power of fill- ing vacancies or making nominations to office? The ers of our constitution buried the religious question, but now it seemed to have been resurrected, and as u galvanized corpse it stalked over the land, leaving the black line of war, pestilence and famine to murk its pathway. ‘Ihe constitution ot our coun- try should be maintained in letter and in spirit, even though the so-called pore policy should tail, In conclusion, he rete to the removal ot Joseph and the Nez Pervé Indians to the Indian Territory, and characterized it'as cruel. ‘he climate and 08- of their present location affected them like a iy and slow poison. ‘They could uot stand the damp, the fogs and the malaria of that Territory. Joseph had lost his lands and his horses, and was now & prisoner and an exile, Would a powertul gov- ernmeut permit him and his people to suffer, or to return to a peaceful life in the mountains of Idaho? (Applause iu the galleries.) THE GOVERNMENT SURVEYS. DEBATE IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES— MR. ATKINS’ SPEECH ON THE SCIENTIFIC SURVEYS AND THE PROPOSED CHANGES IN THE SYSTEM—WHAT THE APPROPRIATIONS SHOULD BE, ‘Wasarneton, Feb. 10, 1879, The House of Representatives, at three o'clock went into Committee of the Whole (Mr. Blackburn, og Kentucky, in the chair) on the Legislative, Executive and Judicial Appropriation bill. The bill appropriates $15,154,475, as against esti. mates of $16,096,601, and as against an-appropriation in tho like bill of last session of $15,351,238. mittee on Appropriations, made a statement in regard to the bill and the state of the finances. Referring to the number of employés in the executive depart- ments, he stated that the bill provided tor a reduction of thirty from the aggregate estimated number, which was equal to a reduction in amount for salaries of $225,446. Forthe State Department there are al- jowed 86 employés; Treasury Department, 2,020; War Department, 691; Navy Department, 89; Interior partment of Justice, 46, and Department of Agricul- ture 40, making @ grand total of 4,829. The amount appropriated by the bill forthe payment of these employés is $5,403,178, Various changes in salaries of the higher officials, such as the Commissioner of In- dian Affairs, tho Commissioner of Pensions and chief clerks in Postal and War departments are provided for; ae oe ton, Baltimore, St, Louis, Chicago and the assistant examiners of the Patent Office. Changes affocting thesuperior officers of the Life Saving Ser. vice are made, and also in the payment of Congres- sionel employés. Mr, Atkins added :— The most important feature in this bill, as many regard it, and one to which I invite the careful ai- tention of the committee, is the bs po to place the scientific surveys, now on under the War and Interior depart also the surveys of the General Land Office, under the immediate supervis- ion of the Coast Survey, and the transfer of the Coast Survey, with its old as well as new duties, from the ' apa Department to the Interior Depart- ment Under a clause in the last Sunary Civil Appropria- tion bill the National Academy of Sciences was re- quired to take into consideration the methods and © x] of conducting all surveys of a scientific character under the War or Inte- rior department and the surveys of the Office, and to report to Congress a plan for sur- veying and mapping the Territories of the United States in the best manner and at the least cost, and also to suggest the best mode of publication and dis- tribution of reports, maps and documents of the sur- veys. ‘The Academy soon after the adjournment of Con- gress addressed itself to this important task, and has submitted its report to Congress, which I hold in my hand. There are to-day five surveys of different kinds being conducted under the auspices and by the patronage of the government in parsasnce of appro. priations made by Congress. T! surveys are not carried on by any system or unity of purpore, ‘he National Academy of Sciences characterizes them as follows:— The final object of all these works of mensuration ts the accurate determination of position and the laying down of Hines and points by measurement. There is at prosent no co-ordination between these five survey ir original dpremgetnations of position are independent; th a of surveys discordant; their results show many content le: id involve unnecessary oxpenditure. Ke ried on under the War a t Faterior departments aro of Little value for the parcellin; of land, while the land surveys are of correspond: ingly alight t foal and geographical Value. . The operations const and xeudetic survey the interior do not at present raphy and land parcelling. able accuracy and economy it that thero shouid be only ono goadetie system, one topo- raphieal sywtem and one lund parcelling system, all con. Aictod wader the va "Te Iwevident. that both, topo: arcelling surveys, to bé properly co- Eiently exact, must, de. based pon {Ai those thrge r lepa 1; all new based curate detorminations of position, und to be effectively and economically carried out should be united tte one comprehensive system. The Academy, speaking of the operations of the plan proposed, says: Tho effect of the above changos Will be to mafatain within the Interi ment theee distinet organi tons :—First, the Const and Interior Survey, whose fune tion will embrace all questions of position tion: second, the United States Geolozical Survey. function will be the determination of ull quostions relating 0 the feological structure und natural ro. sources of the public domain; third, the Land OMics, controlling the dinposition and ‘sale of the pablic land including all quostions of title and record. | Wi division should be secured a perfect co-ordination ai co-operation between the threo branches. The La Ottice should gall open’ the and Chr mire nts ° Survey for nrveys and me for tho nal disposition of Jan ‘Uttice shonld al upon the Ui States 6 nirvey for atl Information as to the valne and classifention of lands, remalts of nil the mensuration surveys as soou as completed shoald bo imm: oly uvailabdle for the Lad Office and for the Geological Survey and for other branches roquit of the kovernment, as reavired. « rvey should be anthorized to exeerte local topographical sur- veys for special purposes; mi ‘taneo, as the for inatanes, snl rveys of miniug districts and ‘motallic de- ol three tsations thue defined should make au annaal report of its operations (o tho Secretary of the Interior, Tho publications of the Land Ofies should embrace reports of Ite business operations relating te the disposttion and sale I. torytver with the erin riaps. The publications of ‘the Coast and Interior Survey, besides the anneal report of operations, should consist of ie goodetie rovults, geographical, topographical “and cadastral maps, coast ebarts and sach discussions and trowtivas connected therewith as the anporintendent shall doom of value Tho f the geologieal ’ r0 ‘ Cal and economic maps, IHuatrating the resources aud clan. acathon of the land, reports upon goneral and ceoomital Kootony in all its branche, with the necessarily connected Paleontology. Tho academy will bo commended for looking to the solution of the practical idea and leaving the scien- tife feature as a secondary one. The legislation pro- in this bill is—namely, the ing of the scientific surveys and the surveys of the General Land Office under the control of the Coast Survey and the trausfer of that bureau to the Interior De- partment; also the abolition of the office of Surveyor General and the creation of the office of Geological Dircetor, who shall be attached to the Coast Survey, but who shall be especially charged with the goologi- cal, geographical and other scientific surveys, It is to mubstitute the surveys of the Geological Director for the surveys now carried on by Wheeler, Hi m and Powell, which it is oO eye to abolish, t may be urged that in effecting this change in our ayatem of land shy fe we are giv! tried and known for an untried and unknown 8: . Well, it is conceded even by the Land Oftice ti the pres- ent nyatem is a costly, clumey and an unsatisfactory Oho; hence there isa demand tor reform and im- (ea One fact it ts well for the House to un- there are over one hi and fourteen inillion acres of public surveyed Mr. Arxins, (dem.) of Tenn., chairman of the Com- Departnicmt, 375; Post: Office Department, 375; De-! departnient to be called “The Bureau of Labor Stat ttes, tnre annually statistical details rel of labor in the State. of the trade and labor unions of the Stato, shall ap- point a superintendent, to hold office for three years, who shall appoiut a chief clerk and such other ae as he may deem expedient. The salary of the chief ¢! compensation not to exceed $4 each per day, but the dered ton third reading. bill was taken The Senate then by Justice Landon restraining tho Os ings Bank from pursuing business, it the defondant, its trustees and officers to transact its ordinary and authorized business as @ savings bank; cont and credited to of the percen $23,000,000 for the work of surveying. We have the authority of the Secretary of the Interior and of the Commissioner of the Land Office for the declaration that there would be no great public detriment or reasonable private wanes if not another acre should be surveyed for several years, thus grins time for the new system to be perfec and got regularly in motion, demonstrating either its success or failare. In the event of the latter Congr: ss can order a return to the old system without injury to the settler or loss to the Treasury. But the House will keep in mind that this bill does not repeal the rectangular method of surveys, It only provides that the commission, composed of the Superintendent of the Coast Survey, the Geological Director and the Commissioner of the Land Office and three persons appointed from civil life by the President, shall be empowered and required to sub- mit in one year to Congress such inethods of survey- ing the public lands as it may deem wise and prac- ticable, Until that report is made changing the method and Congress shall adopt it the present sys- on x ot rectangular surveying will remain undis- yur . ‘There are remaining of the public lands yet un- surveyed 1,704,000 square miles, exclusive of Alaska, or 731,687,255 acres, or, including Alaska, 1,101,216,885 acres. ‘An objection has been urged against this bill be- cause it is alleged that the new States would be de- ‘prived of the sixteenth and thirty-sixth sections in ‘each township for commén sehool purposes, upou ‘the ground that without the ame se system the sections could not be arrived at. ut the bill does not propose the destruction at this time’ of the rectangular mode of surveys. Should the commis- sion wo advise and Congress ratity, it is to be pre- sumed that the substitute will be so framed as not to impsir so sacred a right as that which lies at tho foundation of common schools. But lest there might be some inconvenience re- sulting from the absolute abolition of the rectangu- lar system of surveys upon the present basis of the section unit, it is provic in this bill that the Secre- tary of the Interior may retain, where it is mani- fesily appropriate and best, the rectangular method of bapvlib ing. No one well acquainted with the characteristics ot the lands now remaining to be surveyed regards the rectangular method as adapted to but a very limited portion of them. Under the aystem of triangulation it may not cost over fifty counts per square mile to establish tho geodetic gome in the survey of the public lands, whereas the lands already surveyed under the rec- tangular system have cost $20 or more per square mile, and the remaining lands to be surveyed, being ot an irregular and mountainous surface, will cost, it is estimated, about $30 per square mile. After careful investigation of the data 1 ussert that the cost of the hed ges pore surveys under King, Hay- den and Powell is $3 per square mile. The primary triangulation under the Coast Survey, as accurate, thorough and refined as any ever ‘conducted in any country, may only cost fifty cents per square mile, There was some surprise a short time since when General Humphreys published, over his own signature, the statement that the rate of coxt of Coast Survey topography had been $584 per square mile. ‘True, in a foot note he throws doubt upon the hypothesis and admits “the possibility of error in thedata.” But upon that sup- posititious hypothesis he proceeds to submit to the public frightful sums of money about to be squan- by the employment of trigonometric methods in tho public surveys. In reply to this moat romark- able statement of General Humphreys I ask the clerk to read the paragraphs marked of the letter of Mr. Patterson, Superintendent of the Coast Survey, ad- dressed to the Secretary of the Treasury, dated Janu- ary 18, 1879. On page 2 of said letter Mr. Pattersdn says:— “Tho bill under consideration does not propose to measure itself, as upon a Procrustean bed, to the Coast Survey methous, be they on a large or small scale, extravagant or economical. The bill proposes, itis true, to place the surveys of the public lands under the Superintendent of the Coast Survey; but it also provides that a commission shall be raised of competent persons, six in number, to bose, a the whole subject and report to Congress the best and cheapest and most practical methods in view of the geological structure, mineral value and climatic intluences of the regions to be surveyed, classifying the lands fitand unfit for agriculture, and what prac- tical disposition can be made of the lands under tho system ot homestead, pre-emption and sale of the same, and what portion of them it is impracticable to 80 dispose of. “The actual sums saved by this bill in salarics amount to $97,850, and in the Sundry Civil bill for the contingent expenses of the various offices of tho Surveyors General $24,000 are saved, making a net saving in salaries and the contingent funds attend- ing those offices of $121,850, This and the various other items of diminished expense referred to sre sufficient to justity the change which the bill pro- It will be further seen that this bill provides that all future topographical surveys shall be conducted aig aus retiet the coerce te une 8 shoal necessary for the 1 ‘uRe of the im that event there is no restriction upon the ‘Department "to employ: its corps of engineers without reference to the authority herein given to the Interior Department. Further than it there does not seem to be propriety. or protes- onal fitness in the army devoting its energies to either questions of science or ot practical civic polity. The army, as before intimated, now has charge of the survey of the northern lakes and rivers, of the Lower comer a River, the torpedoes, the surveya west of 100th mo- ridian. Should war or’ other causes the movement of the army, and ueographical ‘and topo- graphical reconnoissances should become necessary, they can atill and ought to be nade Ly the army en- gineers, provided maps affording full information cannot be furnished already prepared. We have the anthority of the Public ds Committee of this House that the maps made under the Interior Depart- ment were of more value tor the use of the army than those constructed by the War Department itself, Not mycelf being a judge of such work I venture no opinion of my own. In Bugland within the last six months that government has taken all such purveys away from the department of the military and handed them over to the civil organizations con- nected with the geological and geographical surveys. THE STATE CAPITAL. A SHORT MONDAY NIGHT'S SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE—NEW YORK MATTERS—PRO- POSAL TO FOUND A REFORMATORY FOR WO- MEN. [BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.) ALpany, Feb, 10, 1879. The Assembly met at eight o'clock this evening. ‘There was a very slim attendance. The only bill of importance relative to New York city was introduced by Mr. Hayes. This measure gives the Board of Officers of the Seventh regiment authority to issue bonds to the amount of $150,000, and also directs the Comptroller to pay $15,000 per annum to tlic corps in lieu of rent. The bill permitting Comptroller Kelly to issue bonds of the city of New York for $20, $50, $100, $500 and up- ward was ordered to a third reading. A REFORMATORY FOR WOMEN. Mr. Ogden introduced a bill to establish a reforma- tory for women, which constitutes William C. Way, Sinclair Tousey, Lewis D. Pillsbury, F. D. Hunting- ton, D. D., and William Blackie a board of trustees to select and determine upon a plan and to purchase an cligible site for the erection of a suitable building fora reformatory for women, to accommddate 500 inmates, together with the households of @ superin- tendent and necessary subordinates, but the cost lL not exceed ($300,000. All contracts made to carry out the provisions of the act are made sub- ject to approval by the Governor an Comptrviler. ‘The trustees are to receive no compensation, but all their actual expenses will be allowed, subject to the approval of the Governor before being paid. The building, when completed, shall be used for the con, finement of female offenders between the tifter a felony. The act makes an appropriation of $300,000 for this purpose, ages of and_thirty who have never been convicted of BUREAU OF STATISTICS, McDonough brought forward a measure to bureau of labor statistics. It establishes which shall collect and report to the Legt ng to all kinds The Governor, with the advice rintendent is fixed at $4,000, and that of the rk at $2,000, Other assistants aro to receivo f the burean shall not exceed in any 0, Provision is made for gathering the required statistics. LABORS OF THE SENATORS. In the Senate the bill to release the interest of the people of the State in lands and piets in New York city to Bdward Kenned was considered in Commit- tee of the Whole and ordered to a third reading, The bill to punish the ktealing of bodies from grave- jsonment was also or- Senate Apportionment oR read through and progressed. journed. yards with five years’ impr! The OSWEGO SAVINGS BANK RESUMES BUSTNESA, On the Mth of January an injunction was granted 0 City Sav- ing thought insolvent. It having been shown by some of tho best real estate owners and financiers in Oswego thut the assets of the bank are $57,520 42, showing balance over Habilities of $5,700 96, and at the request of Acting Superintendent Lamb, of the Bank Depart- ment, Justice Landon, at his Chambers in Schenee- tady to-lay, modified the injunction so as to permit upon the conditions, howeyer, that ten of the regate deposits or balance standing to the credit of each and every depositor in said bank upon its books on the Mth of January, 1879, be charged to every such depositor the defendant, and that no portion » chat and credited shall be patd or be pay: to any such depositor until the turther order of the Court in the premises, and upon the further condition that the defendant shall not a AR ee | osite therein on the 14th day of January, per on the canalx, NEW YORK HERALD, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY Ul, 1879.-TRIPLE SHEET. aber ot eerareng Oe etee | more than fifty per cent of the aggregate deposits standing to the credit of such pon os that day, until the further order of the Court, end the imjunc- tion order restraining the defendant, its officers and agents from bare payments to depositors other- wise than as specified in this order is hereby con- tinued until the further order of the Court, but this injunetion shall not apply to new deposits made Aiter the date of this order. It ix further ordered that the defendant may from time to time apply to the Court for such orders and directions as may be deemed advisable, and that all applications for such orders and directions shall be on at least five notices to the Attorney General, MISCELLANEOUS, BURINFSS. The following bills were ordvred to a third read- ing:—Amending the Revised Statutes relative to the election of inspectors of election. Amending the | law relative to the police toree of the city of Troy. | Providing for the repair of highways. Relative to the trial of certain actions, aud the recounting of | ballots cast at elections in Lirooklyn. In answer to the resolution of the House, the Su- | Pperintendent of State Prisons subinitted a detailed | statement of existing contracts for convict labor, | with whom made, description of work; number of conviets employed and prices per day paid. The rices range from twenty-five to sixty cents per day. in all the prisons the labor of, over sixteen hundred canvicts is contracted for. . Superintendent of, Public Works Clark, in answer to resolution of the Houge concerning weigh locks sent in a statement, which closes as follows:—‘‘From this statement it appears that a saving of $2,375 45,.or more. than twenty-five per cent, Was effected during the past season by the aboli- tion of weigh lock 0: at Oswego and Utica, where they were'not needed, and by the reduction of the force at other offices where more had been em- Ployed than was necessary.” NEW JERSEY LEGISLATURE. Trenton, Feb. 10, 1879, In the Senate to-day a petition was presented ask- ing for the passage of a law to prohibit the manu- facture of boots and shoes in the State Prison, The following bills were introduced and referred to their appropriate committees:—To redyce the foes of criers ofecourts in the several counties from $3 to $2 per day; to reduce jurors’ fees from $2 to $2 a day; for the relief of cities where there are financial embarrasements to compromise with creditors; to enable the Philadelphia and New Jersey Methodist conferences to become equal in the own- ership of the Pennington Seminary; to enable town- ship committees to change the time of holding town- ship elections from the first Tuesday in March to the first Tuosday in April; to requir> private bankers, brokers and ‘insurance companies doing busi- ness in this State to make an annual report to the State Comptroller, and that their earn- ings and net incomes shall pay a tax to the State of one per centum in addition to all other taxes; to provide for the inspection of illuminating oils. Tho Governor and Senate are to appoint a Stato inspector, who shall have power to test all oils offered for sale or manufactured in this State, und also to have power to appoint deputies. In the House a number of petitions were presented in favor of the proposed bridge at Jersey City. BILLS INTRODUCED. ‘The following bills were presonted and referred to their appropriate committees :— To require the treasurer, secretary and officers of cometer r companies ta Syn secounts annually. oe viding restrictions inst trespassers wi guns on Warnagee Bay and its tide waters. To provide for a free public highway between New- ark and the Hudson River. This names commis- sioners for the purpose of carrying out the work pro- posed. Fixing the compensation of court stenographers for copies furnished to outside parties at four instead of ten cents a word, To provide for holding # municipal election in sted him to Elizabeth city. To prevent gas companies from refusing to sup- py any building with gas for the reason that a former gas bill remains unpaid. Giving to boroughs having @ population ot less than 2,000 the power to pass ordinances to regulate and grade wagon ways, gutters and water courses of the public streets. BILLS PASSED. The following mentioned bills Breed ooo — To reduce the fees of solicitors for drawing mort- bs oy from $5 for a to thirty cents a folio. ‘o pay the police of Jersey City ten days’ pay. To repeal the act to authorize Jersey City and Newark to expend $4,000,000 each for the purchase of Morris Canal for 2 water supply. . AN UNCONSTITUTIONAL BILL, Tho Attorney General sent in his opititon'that the ‘Hill to exempt mortgage bonds from judgment was ‘unconstitutional. STATEN ISLAND’S SENSATION. ARREST IN THIS CITY OF MRS. MILES, WHO IS CHARGED WITH ABDUCTING THE WIFE OF HER SON-IN-LAW—THB PURSUIT, RECONNOISSANCE, ATTACE. AND CAPTURE-—THE DEEADED MOTHER-IN-LAW IN DURANCE VILE. ‘The ease of Frank Elkington, the young officer of Her Majesty’s Nincty-first Foot, whose wife, as he alleges, was abducted from him, and which was re- ported in the Heraup of yesterday, has developed into a somewhat romantic story. It appears that on Wednesday last Mrs. Mary A. Miles, tho young man’s mother-in-law, in company with Mra. Walton, of No. 63 West Twelfth street, and several gentlemen, visited Mr. Southwick’s, on South Beach, 8. I., where Elkington and his wife were boarding, and, according to the complaint in the case, forcibly conveyed Mrs. Elkington to this city, where they imprisoned her against her will. ‘The husband made complaint before Justice Garregt, of Stapleton, and upon ttiat complaint a warrant was placed in the hands of Constable Robert Goggin for service, SHUT THE DOOR IN HIS FACE, Goggin on Saturday night visited Mrs. Walton's house in West Twelfth street, where Mrs. Miles resides, and, on ringing the front door bell, the basement door was opened by a colored girl. On the parties within the house hearing Goggin say to the girl that he was an officer the door was shut and both Goggin and the girl locked out. Goggin then gave up hopes of making the arrest for the time being, but on Sunday renewed the attempt. Applying to Inspector Thorne for an officer, Goggin, in company with the officer and Captain Elkington, visited the vicinity of the house. Secreting themselves in a house near by they waited and watched for developments. After a wait of sev- eral hours their hopes were somewhat raised by the appearance of the young’ wife at the window, and sbortiy after the mother-in-law, Mrs. Miles, showed herself at the same place. . IX THR ENEMY'S QUARTERS, * The two officers then determined to move on the enemy's works, but the captain of Her Majesty's Ninety-first deemed discretion the better port of valor aud mounted guard at a distance of two blocks, Goggin sent the New York officer up the front stoop, with instructions to ring the bell, while he himself, remembering his experience of Saturday night, took up aposition at the basément door. The bell was rung and in a few moments the basement door was opened, and, without any cere- mony, Constable Goggin put himself inside the house. Mrs. Walton’ son. immediately demandéd by what right the house was invaded, and threatened to shoot some one. Goggin made his way up stairs and begen a search tor his parties. Ho found the young wife bfter considerable search, and while talking to her Mrs. Miles’ voice was heard up stairs giving mstructions as to what todo. The con- stable at once sprang up stairs, following the sound of the voice, and succeeded in arresting the old lady, despite her threats of fainting. INDIAN TACTICS, Previons to the arrest, however, and while the ge. were waiting in the adjoining house, Captain sikington said he had « peewee war whoop, which hix wife would immediately recognize, and, recogniz- ing, would show herself. Suiting the action to tho word, he let out # whoop, such. as a Comanche In- dian would be justly proud of, but the effort was unappreciated by the officers, who put a stop to any such further proceedings, AN IMATE MOTHER-IN-LAW. Mrs. Mites, accompanied by her danghter and son- in-law, was then brought to Staten Island, where she was arraigned before Justice of the Peace Garrett, and, in the abwonce of any bonds, was committed to the County Jail for examination, which is to take place to-day at Shag The t. iter ine ated upon accom @ her mot! to jail am wel, to do so. While in conrt Mra. Miles went th h some very queer gymnastics, She abused son-in-law in very round terms, calling him a thiof, counterfetter and foveral other pet names, Seeing Judge Garrett's gold headed cane lying on the desk ehe picked it up, and had it not been for the interference of the officers she would have administered a beating to the gallant captain. Seeing his terrified condition the constables took pity on him and quicted the irate mother-in-law. Mrs, Miles, after getting through with the tongue thrasiing which sho was continually giving to her son-in-law, called for cigars, which Constab! Goggin promptly furnished, Goggin is tho authority for the atatement that from the time the cigars were furnished to the time the jail was reached the lady demolished half a dozen of the weeds, Captain Elkington ts said to be a relation of the Elkingtons, silversmiths to the Queen, while Mra, Miles, hie mother-in-law, says sho is a sister of Victo- ria Woodhull and Tennte ©. Claflin, being at the same timo an enthusiastic spiritualist. “Among the other misdoeds which Mrs. Miles lays at the doo the noble captain is one that he was married to het daughter by Rev. Dr. Eaton, of West Thirteenth atreet, and tendered in Fen gr of the marriage fee a worthless check for #2 receiving, in change $5, leaving the reverend doctor just §5 cash ont in the little operation, Tho explanation of the so-called abduction ae be a” oop that her ean cen wi she not Ww) SUpposi tl To would bo imwortwoned sho took har daughter ‘home iven —————— KILLED WITH A MALLET. AN UNGRATEFUL SCAMP ATTACKS HIS BENE- FACTOR AND RECEIVES HIS DEATH WOUND DURING THE AFFRAY. A murder was committed yesterday in the Fourth precinct, and was concealed from the police until late in the afternoon, when the perpetrator surren- dered himself at the station, The only peculiar feature of this case is that a father was killed in the presence of an only son who did not interfere and who subsequently justified the deed. Jacob Slaight was a homeless widower, aged fifty- two years, a painter by trade, of somewhat irregular habits and noted for his extremely bal temper. In last June he became acquainted with Michael Gross, who had then recently purchased the liquor business at No, 69 Gold street, and did a little work for him, Gross had only been married a few months and is now but twenty-four ye fided'to him his loneliness, frequent!; ppTa that he had no permaneat Habitation nox any friends, and mgdé~so much of an im- pression that ut length permit upy a spare foom in the house in which he lived, No. 113 Clinton street, in consideration of some occasional manual assist- ance. They became very intimate, until the saloon keeper trusted him #o implicitly that he would leave him in charge of his business for a day at a time. The temptations which this freedom and confidence threw in his way were too great for him, and he would steep himself full of lager beer, and, then going to sleep stretched out upon a table at No. 69 Gold street, would leave the door wide open from midnight until broad day. When Gross came down town in the morning he once or twice found Slsight in that condition and the money drawer emptied of the whole proceeds of the sales during the previous twenty-four hours, Presumably some one had entered and carried off the unguarded Juare. HRemonstrances against such con- duct would throw Slaight into the most frantic especially when his breath was still fuming with alcohol after @ nocturnal orgy. He carried his dissi- pation still farther. Not satistied with making night hideous by carousal during the hours of even- ing custom, he welcomed the visits of mutable women after midnight. The patience of “his patron, Gross, became exhausied, and he told him that aa soon as heconld get money he would have to py, for his lodging. Slaight promised to do better, but on last Saturday he went away in the morning to col- lect some money which he had earned during last summer. He came back to the saloon in a riotous state of intoxication and was reproved for his con- duct. On Sunday he was away again all day and ro- turned to the house an hour after midnight. Gross roused out of his bed to Ict him in, and tinding him very drunk was much exasperated and said to him, according to his statement made last evening, “Now, see here, Jake, if you don’t do better than this you will have to pack up your trunk and leave.” Jacob replied:—What is that, you son of ab—h? I'll get square with you! I could kill you, right here!” HOW THE FATAL ROW BEGAN. “I took no notice of this,” said the prisoner when last night he told his story with flushed cheek and in a tone of suppressed excitement. He is a small man, with a rather handsome countenance of the Swedish type, brown eyes and a slight mustache. ‘Often be- fore,” continued he, “she had made such threats against my life, sometimes in the presence of my father-in-law. When he came into the saloon to-day I supposed he was all right again and that we were on good terms. It was about half ast ten. His son was then in the saloon. The first thing Jacob did was to ssy to me, ‘You son of a b—, now I’vo got you and you must either lay me out or I willeat youup!’ Then he began throwing at me the things that were on the counter—pies, sandwiches, plates, &c replied, ‘Jake, you hed better stop that. What's the matter with you, anyhow? He repeated that either the one or the other of us must be killed and kept ee at me everything that was convenient to his 4 I came out from behind aioe conta snd oie told him to . He put up ists ant strike me, Pout I warded them off. Then he kicked me two or three times in the groin, saying, ‘I'll finish you.’ I saw the danger that I was in, and seized a bung starter which lay on a barrel and hit pee Pe Fe nae ied =~ only event him me e ote ata ttl was sorry. He fell over ‘against the stove. I sent foradoctor and had his wound dressed, and sent him up to my house in a coach, 80 that my wife could nurse him. I asked the doctor’s advice ‘as to what Iought todo. He told me I had better see the Coroner. Deputy Coroner Miller told me to give myself up, and I did so as soon as I heard that Slaight was dead.” The story of the son, John H. Slaight,a young man about twenty-one years of age, agrecs sub- stantially with that of the homicide. ' He says that he has for a long time been afraid of his father on account of his violent temper, which was ungovernable when he was in ‘his often suffered from his blows, and for the past fer months they hed not ken to each other. the killing was being Gross called upon to interfere, but he says that he did not for fear of his father. He went out Mitchell and when he returned Slaight Hitted the wounded man into a chair and was reviving him by the use of whiskey. After he was taken to the house and until he died he made some remarks which were plentifully sprinkled with oaths. The son was asked, ‘You think, then, that Gross was justified in killing your father?’ He re- plied, in an emphatic manner, “Yes, I do. In place I would have done the same thing.” captain reproved this unnatural expression, but the only answer of the young man was 4 repetition of what he had first said. He was locked up as @ necessary witness, Two other persons who were in the suloon at the time of the occurrence will be taken into custody, FINE ARTS. gE SALMAGUNDI SKETCH CLUB EXHIBITION, The private view of the first exhibition of works im black and white of the Salmagundi Sketch Club wil} take place at the Kurtz Gallery to-morrow evening. ‘The exhibition will be open to the public from Thurs- day morning until the end of the month. We are glad to state that it will be open free on Sunday after+ Over two hundred original drawings, sketches, etchings, &c., have been contributed, following artists being among those represented:— Abbey, Burns, J. G. Brown, W. H. Beard, Champney, F. 8. Church, M. F. H. de Haas, Detaille, Doré, David- son, Farrer, Fortuny, R. Swain Gifford, James Homer, Lafarge, Meissonnier, Mente, Miller, Minor, Muhrman, Pyle, W.T. Richards, C. F. Rein! Share, Shelton, Shirlaw, F. H. Smith, Whistler T. W. Wood, GENERAL NOTES, The usual monthly exhibition of pictures and art reception will occur at the Union Club on Thursday evening. On Friday evening the closing reception prior to the removal of the collection to the new building in the Central Park will take place at the Metropolitan ee oe uict for March will contain an ill Harper's ine for rch will co an illus trated article om American att and artists. ‘Through’ the liberality of a few gentlemen and an appropriation of the trtstees the nucleus of s col- lection of works of American art has been formed at Smith Ce Northampton, Mass. The ten works now hunj R. Swain Gifford’s “Orchard 4 the Sea,” Willfam Sartain’s “Narcissus,” James M. Hart's “Coming of the Thunderstorm,” Louis C. Tiffany's “Old New York,” J. C. Nicolls “Closed In,” George Inness’ “Stturise in New Jersey,” Samuel Coleman's “Caravan in the Desert,” A. H. Wyant’s “Scene in County Kerry, Ircland,” Walter Sattorlee’s “Young Dominican,” and William H. Beard’s “American Eagle in Autumnal Forest.” ‘They are important and recent works and show the painters at their best. Rix and Tavernier have fitted up as a studio the old municipal court room at San Francisco and somo- what astonish visitors by the wealth of ertistic and other bric-a-brac which they have gathered around them, William R, O’Donovan's bust of William Page will be formally presented to the Academy of Design to- morrow evening by the subscribers, PALETTE CLUB REUNION, ‘The Palette Club held an informal reunion last evening, at which a number of members and guests were present. The eventng’s entertainment con- sisted of music and recitations, the programme having been arranged by J. Seaver Page, chairman of the Entertainment Committee. Mr. J. L. Rice opencd with a piano solo, being followed by Mr. James Berdett in a humorous tation, “The Irre- oe ge Boy.” Messrs. Flamant "and Harrison Mil- jard then gave im fine style a duo from “Belisario.” “A flute solo liy Professor bol came after, Mr. McNulty caused laughter by his recitation, “The Frenchman's Dilemma,” and Mr. Romatne sang in his best voien “Le Noéi”* of Adam. One of the remaining numbers of the pros Grains ae sleight of hand with cards by Colonel auchia. Though no regular art display was made & few pictures were hung in the parlor and reading room, among which we note D, Maitland Armstrong's large “The Harbor Bar,” a pleasing landscape an cattle piece by T. H. Dolph, a large Oriental scene by Froli and a landscape by J.'W. Mansfleld, A supper was finally discussed. AN ALLEGED BIGAMIST. Tadge Pratt, Supremo Court, Kings county, yes terday confirmed the report of the reterce appointed to take testimony in the action of Charles Hertuer agninat Sarah Hertner for absolute divorce on the ground of bigamy. The referee found for the plaintiff. The latter alleged that the defendant, whom he married In May, 1874, fraudulently con- cealed the fact from him at the time that sho was ‘ly married to one Henry Bremen, aes of age. The old man com... who wae.