The New York Herald Newspaper, February 14, 1879, Page 4

4 5 NEW YORK HERALD, FRIDAY, asphyxia have occurred among the workmen, Men have actually fallen dead in the graves they were digging, as was recorded during the London plague. Walking back from the ceme- tery to the city I counted ftty-two bodies going to burial, This broad sand beach in front of For- taleza is a main road to the burial ground, From morning till night a stream of corpses is passing along here. I never went to the beach without seeing four or five. While I took my morning bath in the surf a score would pass me. There are two or three smallpox ‘hospitals; but, of course, they were over flowing during the epidemic, The one I visited was close by the cemetery, Every cot was full, and as fast as one was vacated it was taken up by anew patient. In many cases they did not even wash the cot, and I believed that many deaths were caused in this way,as when a patient only slightly attacked was placed on a cot where one had recently died of some aggravated form of the discase. WRETCHED HOVELS. The flies were swarming about here by millions, I think these insects had much to do with the propa- gation of smallpox, passing as they do from house to house and lighting on face and hands. You must not suppose that all the smallpox patients were gath- ered in these hospitals. I visited many of the refu- gee huts, and in almost every one I found the dread disease. Some cases I saw were horrible enough. I stopped at one hut, two or three miles out of town and away from the main roads. It was the merest shelter, made of boughs und palm leaves; no floor, of course, and no furniture beyond a dirty ham- mock, a mat and two or three cooking utevsils of clay. A woman to whom I spoke looked up drowsily. She was suffering from fever, plainly the fever of smallpox. A baby in the hammock’ was tossing with the fever also, A little girl on the mat had the white sores just breaking out on her face. A boy on the ground was one horrible mass of rotting flesh, with the blood oozing from all parts of the body, He could not have lived an hour Jonger, And yet there was no one to give a cup of water to this sick family. It was so in many cases, People died of hunger and thirst because disease left | them helpless and there was no one to aid them. The refugees seemed indifferent to their fate, They laughed even to see some distorted body. They mbled for their rations. I often saw them at this sport. The only sign of fear I observed was in the Tepugnance which the men showed for hospital and cemetery service. It was very difficult especially to find gravediggers. The dead were collected every morning by a corps of searchers, A fixed sum was paid, I believe, for each body. DISEASE DEPOPULATING THE VILLAGES, If affairs were bad in Fortaleza they were worse in some of the villages around it. From its centre in the capital the epidemic spread in all directions, At Pacatuba, with a population (refugees included) of 3,500, the death rate went as high as 120 per day— three and one-half per cent of the whole. In this place I visited some twenty houses at random, and in every one I found from one to five smallpox cases. At a friend’s house where I stopped the servants had scabs still on their faces, Children, lightly attacked, were crawling about the streets or begging at the railroud station! One man hed twenty-four work- men. Seventeen of these died in forty-five days, and another was sick when I left. Another had nine clerks. Six of them died within four weeks, Fam- ilies of teu died one afier another until none were left. Cases were common where only two or three remained out of a large circle. And this, you must remember, was among the richer class as well as among the poorer, though, no -doubt, the mortality was greater with the refugees. Along the new railroad line the mortality among the workmen was often very great; but the engineer, Mr. Mossing, had introduced a semi-military system. The people lived in decent houses and the sick were rigidly separated from the weil. WHAT VACCINATION MIGHT HAVE DONE. I believe that the epidemic itself might have been prevented by vaccination and the commonest hy- rieni What cau be done? I was at Baturité, 4 boxutiful village about soyenty-five miles from Fortaleza, There were some 15,000 refugees there. They lived in decent barracks, had food enough and to spare and were clothed by the government. The labor system had been in use all along. Vaccina- tion was enforced and smallpox had hardly been felt there up to January, 1879 Out of the 15,000, during my visit, the mortality ran no higher than fire per day—a very low rate when it is considered that people were still coming in ina starving state. The good condition’ of affairs at Baturité is almost entirely owing to one noble man, Dr. Antonio Gomes Pereira. This gentleman, one of the wealthiest in the province, devoted himself from When the great exodus took placs he fed thousands at his own expense. As government commissioner he intro- duced order and economy into the work. He vac- cinated 1,500 people with Lis own hand and enforced the measure witi all. He is now honored by his neighbors, worshipped by the refugees, and he de- servos to be known 48 a mun who has sayed 10,000 lives. the first to succoring the poor peop: APPEARANCE OF THE BLACK PLAGUE. Tcould write much more of Casré and the good and evil I saw there; the evil, alas, too sadly predom- inant! Only one thing more I will note, for it may be the sign of another scourge in the future. When I left Fortaleza people were talking of a disease which they called biack smallpox, It was utterly anlike the ordinary smallpox. The patient was teizod with a sudden giddiness, fever and burning of the tongue; then dark spots like bruises appeared on the body, and in twenty-four hours all was over. I surmised from the first, and I believe there is now no doubt, that this is the terrible black plague, the scourge that has so often swept throngh Europe and Asia, but which. so far as I kuow, has never appeared before on this side of th The cases were already numerone at th of this year. One of the first victims was the wife of the Provineial President, Sonhor Joeé Julio, She died in afew hours after the “disease attackel her. She was buried at night without attendance. What will bethe result of this pestilence? I only know what has been—a utterly rnined; a population of 900,000 re- to 400,000, end these dying at an enormons bly there have been 900,000 deaths in tha t-stricken provinces of which I have few notices. There is nothing in history that wil! com- pare with it. God grant thet there never may be again! TENNESS THE NEW YORK. PropostTion SUBMITTED TO THE (ey OF COMPROMISE LEGISLATURE, APH TO THE HERALD.} NasHyieie, Feb, 13, 1879, The proposition of the New York bondholders was Presented to the Se o-lay and referred to the Finance Committee, after a heated disenssion. Sena- tor Savage, who is known to be an extreme low tax man, favored an immediate settlement of the quee- tion, and did not want any dodging. The House in- vited General Pryor to address it at the close of some gnate, He will respectfully ne the invitation, ou the pips that the mein. ers of the Lagisiature already have all the tucts before them. SCALING TEN i BONDS. Baraptone, Feb. 13, 1879, A meeting of holders of Tennebser State bonds, heli here to-day, indorsed the proceedings and ac. tion of the boudhoiders at the meeting reepntly held in New York, agrecing to scele the debt to sixty cents on the dollar, Among the genUlemen present at-the meeting to-lay was Enoch Pratt, representing the Peabody lustitute of this city, which holds $334,000 of Tennessee bonds includes " of the institut be annual me the late Ge atitit ing to a i yi, mn comm A now G por jount of the del of the debt, avoruec THE SARATOGA MONUMENT, [ey 7 GRAPH TO THB HERALD.) Newrons, R. 1, Fob, 1 A momorial from the Saratoga (N. ¥.) Monumental Association was introduced in the House of Rep sentatives to-day asking for an appropriation of $1,000 toward the Saratoga Monun isto be erected by the thirteen original States, It was re- ferred to the Committee on Finwnee, WASHINGTON. Last Desperate Effort for an Extra Session. . FRIGHTFUL NOTE OF WARNING. Southern Representatives on the Federal Election Laws, GOVERNMENT ESTIMATES AND EXPENDITURES, Rear Admiral Ammen on the Uses of the Navy. FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT. Wasuinoton, Feb, 13, 1879, THE EXTRA SESSION MOVEMENT—LAST <DE- SPAIRING EFFORT OF THE SUTLERS’ BRIGADE— A HORRIBLE PLOT OF THE ADMINISTRATION TO GEL CONTROL OF THE NEXT HOUSE. The attempt of the sutlers’ brigade in Monday night's democratic caucus to take command of the democratic camp and ferce an extra session of Con- gress in order to more quickly divide the spoils broke down so lamentably that these anxious patriots have been obliged to devise a new mode of attack. They have accordingly discovered one of the most tremendous mare's nests of the period, and are to- day busily displaying the contents to an amazed public. It is nothing less than a horrible and das- tardly plotof the administration to carry the or- ganization of the next House by a com- bination of bribery and tyranny, corrupting the greenback members with office and patron- age and sticking into the Albany penitentiary enough incorruptible democrats to accomplish its fiendish purposes. It is against this gloomy and soul harrowing plot that the sutlers and bummers are to-day solemnly warning democratic representa- tives and Senators, and they have managed with singular good luck to get the assistance, whatever that may be worth, of the Washington Post, a lively news- paper, which professes to be the democratic organ here, and which is in fact the organ of some Western democrats. A HORRIBLE WARNING AND A GLOOMY VIEW, The Post this morning devotes a doubie leaded leading article to the exploitation of this mare’s nest, which is sent you herewith. It will be noticed that this gives an extremely gloomy view of the democratic prospects, and is eminently calculated to alarm any one who believes it. It says:— In the absence of any formal test on the floor of the House, and judging solely from the drift of com inept on the part of individual members and Senators since the joint caucus of Monday night, we are re- luctantly compelled to admit that while there is no serious doubt as to the repeal of the juror's test oath, the far more important question of repealing the fed-+ eral election law is still unsettled. ‘The unfortunete, and, as it seems to us at this time, almost suicidal at- titude assumed by senator Bayard appears to have found adherents in the House; not many, indeed, but enough to jeopardize the narrow majority which enables the democratic party to protect the rights and conserve the liberties of citizens. When a repeal of the election law is urged, there are a few democrats who meet it with set repetition of the untortunate doctrine advanced by Mr. Bayard, to the effect that vould be “revolu- tionary,” “contrary to ugage anu ‘violent.’ ‘We will not attempt to argue the case but we will say that, unless that election law is repealed, anless tho desperate hand of frantic radicatism is stayed d stayed with an emphasis admitting o1 no to its meaning, the next House will not be organized as a democratic body. ‘he radical programme, fully resolved upon and completely calculated, is this:—To carry ali four of the Califorma districts by the aid of the corruption fund and the Election law; to buy or bribe with chairmanships and executive patronage all the inde- pendents, nationals and greenbackers elected to the next House, and, finally, fo indict, convict and im- prison, under the Election law,’ seven democratic members elect, ‘The men selected for this treatment are King, of Louisiana, and Hull, of Florida, who are already. under indictment; Elam, of Louisiana; Shel- ley, of Alabama; Conner, of South Carolina; Chal- mers, of Mississippi, and one other, to be chosen out of three or four names under consideration by the chict prefect f national police under our. present imperial form of government, Devens. ‘ ‘his is all we have to offer. We hope the ‘demio- crats in the House will fully consider what they are doing and what the consequences will be before they act, and we repeut that if this Congress passes the Appropriation bilis leaving the Election laws unre- pealed, the Speaker, committees and chairmen of the next House will not be democrats. It in the face of tacts like these the democratic majority in the House choose to accept the untimely conservatisin of Senator Bayard as their guide, it will not be because of any failure on ‘our part to suitably warn them of the consequences. We do not believe they will be so infatuated, but it they shouid prove to be, we only ask that our protest may be recorded and our prediction borne in ruind. Aguin we state that if this Congress fails to repeal the Election laws, or, in default ot repeal, fails to toree Hayes to the wall and obediently votes h.m the money he needs to carry ont his infumous designs, the democratic party will not control the orgauiza- tion of the forty-sixth Honse of Representatives, and when that body meets seven of its members-elect will be serving out sentences in the Penitentiary, if there is force enough to put them there, in accord- rere with the sentences of packed juries and corrupt judges. THE BUMMERS’ LAST GasP. Of course nothing more horrible than this could be imagined, else its amusing anthors would have imagined it. It is their last gasp, so to speak, and if with this tale of a cock and a bull they cannot scare the democratic party, inciuding the unfortunate and almost suicidal Senator Bayard, why, then they will have to give it up as a bad job and wait till next December for the division of plunder for which their souls hunger. | How far they will succeed is yet to be seen. At provent it remains true that almost all the democratic Senators and a large number of Representatives are opposed to the attdinpt to tack on to au appropria- tion bill a clause repealing the Federal Election laws, an act which, as the sutlers' brigade perfectly understand, would result not in a repeal of those laws, but in the failure of the bill and the necessity, therefore, of an extra session. FEELING AMONG THE SOUTHERNERS, ‘The Southern Senators and Kepresentatives, with a few exceptions—and those exceptions’ members of the House—dcclare that they are content with the re« peal of the test oaths. ‘A Southern Senator, who is generally believed to be one of the most extreme of his section, said to your correspondent on Tues- day:—“If the test oaths are repealed, we of the South do not ask for anything more now, is found to have violated the law he must take his punishment. All that we have a right to ask tor any of our people is a fair trial before an intelligent jury, and not before a jury made wp by excluding from the tales the intelligent and responsible citizens of the neighborhood and ‘leaving only the ignorant, unrea- soning and easily prejudiced,” ‘This substantially has been repeated to your cor. respondent by every Southern man he has spoken with on the subject, and it is an ndeniable fact that this movement has not had the countenance of Sonthern ni with a few exceptions, and they have not even been consulted about it, although it will be noticed that it pretends (o originate iu an extreme anxiety to protect Southern democrats, SENATOR THURMAN'S POSITION, It would have, therefore, but little importance and wottld not be worth the space given to its discus#ion here were it not that Senator Thurman line appar- ently placed himself at the head of it. He is the only man whose connection ‘with it gives it an air of re- apectability, just as hiv connection — with the greenback and inflation movement in Olito last year was needed to yive that an appearance of respectability, though it did not se. cure fis success, Mr, Thurman has been for several years playing the part as a democrat which Senator | Morton for many years played in the republican party. Morton was once deseribed by one of bis fellow republicans as a man whose habit it was to sit on a high fence and whenever he saws crowd anywhere to jamp down and put himself at the head of it, in the hope that {twas marching to the White Hous, Untortunately for him he never headed the ‘That will give us | fuir juries, and if any man tried before afair jury | ry" 5 right crowd, but he always knew when to drop it and get up on his fence for another chance. A SOUTHERN SENATOR'S STATEMENT. Concerning Mr. Thurman's present attitude as the head of the movement for forcing ap extra session on the plea of relieving the South from bad laws, a Southern Seuator remarked to your correspondent to-day :— ‘The South is poor and feverish and tired—it wants peace and rest. It can only be injured by being once more made the football of political contention, as it has so often been used by Northern democra’ ve of the South are not moving for the immediate re- peal of the Election laws; we have thought nothing about it, It is time enough, in our judgment, to re- | peal them uext December. | So far as Senator Thur- nian is concerned, if he is really in earnest and has not been carried away by & momentary im- pulse, he appears to be repeating the punauyre of Douglas when suddenly sprung the Nebraska bill ana the doctrine of squatter sovereignty on us. The South had not asked the repeal of tlie Missouri compromise; Stwas tung inte politics by Mr. Douglas, w Northern dem- ocrat, a very influential and eminent one, not to please us, but to coerce us, not for us, but for his own advantuge. When the gift was forced on us we could not retuse it. Just as now, if the Northern democrats insist on immediately repealing laws of which we have long complaimed'we can hardly re- fuse to co-operate with them. » But the South is tived of being uxed by Northern democrats as a mere political football, We see the danyer to ourselves of this constant renewal of sectional issnes or questions in which the Southern States are made the polities! target. Douglas harmed us to advance, as ho hoped, his own political fortunes, and it may be that Thur- man thinks the same policy’a good one for himself, Of course the answer to this is that Southern men need not follow a dangerous leap, If this theory of Senator Thurman's motives should be correct, as it is certainly plausible, the Southern men are not bound to follow him. They can do themselves and their section far more yood by resisting what, no doubt, is a temptation by replying that they prefer the good of the country to the untimely and irregu- lar repeal of even bad laws. In such a matter men like Senators Bayard, Kernan, Randolph and other Northern men are far sufer guides and leaders than Senator Thurman, My. Kernan spoke wisely when he warned the Southern men, in Monday night's caucus, that they had to look to carrying the North much more than the South, and that if they allowed themselves to be misled into a movement which Northern democrats could not defond before their constituents they committed a fatal fault. ‘There appears to be little doubt that the republi- can Senators will agree to the repeal of the test oaths, The President is also said by his friends to favor this measure. DEMOCRATIC SENATORIAL CAUCUS ON THE RE- PEAL OF THE FEDERAL ELECTION LAWS, At caucus of democratic Senators held this morn- ing the question whether it is judicious to attempt at this late stage of the session to effect the repeal of. the Federal Election laws wus discussed. ‘The discussion showed that there was a largely preponderant sentiment against such a movement. Auother meeting of the caucus will be held to-morrow morning, when there will probably be a substantially unanimous decision that such an attempt at this time would be unwise and inexpedient. Tht consultations of the last two days have produced the general conviction that this movement has its origin not in the South, but among Northern politicians, and this takes away whatever strength it at one time seemed to have, FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT. WasurncTon, Feb. 13, 1879, USES AND PURPOSES OF THE NAVY—PAPER OF REAR ADMIRAL AMMEN READ BEFORE THE WASHINGTON BRANCH OF THE NAVAL INSTI- TUTE. Tear Admiral Ammen read last night before the Washington Branch of the United States Naval Insti- trite hb flapper ott'the purposes of a navy and the best methods of tendering it efficient. The army and navy were supposed to be the hedges of a nation, no less important to its welfare and security than the hedges of the farmer were to him; he hoped to show that they did not exist idly and unprofitably, and that their fruits were not the less valuable because they were common property, ‘The purpescs of the navy are usually afloat. The high seas are policed by the navies of the world,with- out which there would be no safety on the ocean, A purpose of the navy was shown in the expedition of Commodore Perry to.Japan, in 1854, which resultéd in bringing into the family of nations 35,000,000 of ingenuous and bighly ipdustrious people, who now occupy a distinguished position, owing to their high character and great artistic taste. ‘Had it not been for this expedition Japan would probably still be an fsolated natidn. An expedition about the same time to Paraguay had done much to bring that nation, then isolated, inta commercial refations with the world, Our navy had explored the Amazon from the head waters to the-sea, and now that magnificent river is navigable its entire length: Only last year one of our vessels of war had mede an excelient survey of the River Madeira, one of its principal branches which would soon bring us into commercial rela- tions with an extensive and rich region. ‘Within the past eight years the navy his completed surveys wherever required of the watersheds of inter- tropical America, leaving nothing in doubt as to the solution of ‘the interoceanic canal question. It has furnished inspectors of lighthouses and officers for the hydrographic duties of the coast survey, both of which ure of great value to us and to foreign flags visiting our consts, the oceans and determining the position me. The navy give: mes something more poritive Ih hose governments are not stable, to our merchants an@ citizens abroad, Such have been the purposes of a navy more oP less since its forma- tion; such will be its ‘purposes more or less as long as it is efficiently directed and exists in an efficient condition. “These functions were so constant and important in times of peace that they may be regarded as indis- pensable to auy great commercial nation, and the rformance of them ‘serves as a school of iustrac- jon in times of peace, without which in times of war tho loss to # nation would be incalenlably greater than all the cost incurred in maintaining such an establishment. ‘Phe importance of being able to instruct a large number of officers taken from the merchant service is dwelt npon, and also in this connection the latent force that a nation posscenes in having « large retired list of competent officers... The provisions made by Great Britain to comparatively young men in responsible ? onto and to retire « large number of officers to effect thig were given and fhe benefits de- rivable from this act on. Compound engines were not regarded as for vessels of war, nor was it thouglit possible to con- vert vessels built for the merchant service into ves- sels of war that would be abla to meet vessein of the same tonnage built for versels of war, Wooden pro- Hers having long shafts were not thonght well of rom the waut of rigidity of frame—a defect that con- rigidity made bad lineage for the enginery, which cuused friction, heating, consequent expansion and breakdowns. An unarmored iron versel was thought useless veesel of war, and the reasons given therefor. Y sels having iron frames, and known es ‘sheathed’ and 98 “composite,” were regarded as those which yuld take the place of wooden vessels of war. ‘hey would be found as expensive in construction as wooden vessels, at least those first built, but when rebuilt the cost would be comparatively smalfand the hull as good as new, which is pot the ease with wooden vossuls rebnilt, the cost of the repars being often as great as a new hull, and the vorsel then soon pasring into the long list of disabled versol«, ‘Tt was assumed that "sheathed" and “composite” vessels should be our schools of inatruetion, and | police tho seas in tune ot peace aud should destroy | an enemy's commerce in time of war, and that ma- | rine rams would be able to destroy armor-plated gun- Dearing ships, but that we could not hope to rely Upon supporititions and untried elements of maval strength, and, therefore, in peace, should devise and | tey them #0 ao to miko naval warfare econoinic, but | that nothing could be considered economic that’ wae i not effective, | Sounding the depths of the ocean, surveying the | islands and shoels and hidden dangers, policing the sens and thus preventing the existence of piravies, protecting by “moral force’ our merchants and citizens abroad, and in the » unstable governments forming @ material support, and thu avoiding the necessity of making demands for indemmity—these are the constant purposes of a navy, aiid could not be dispensed with by any power without great lose in time of peace and rnin in time of war. ‘The Admiral thinks highly of the prosent trainin: and effectiveness of the personnel of the navy abd concludes as follows :— “Courage is a natural quality, far more common than mony suppose, at least sufficient couraye to do arceqgnized duty; but that alone will not suffice, ‘That eminent divine, the Dean of We; ‘Courage, self-control, discip:ine—the: by which victories are won on earth.’ These are goliien words, If they are taken to heart by our young officers we have nothing to fear from the power of any adveraury.”’ BUTLER'S TAX IN THR DISTRICT OF CoLUMDIA— SARCASTIC APPENDIX TO THE OPINION OF THE ATTORNEY FOR THE DistRteT, Mr. A. G. iiddle, attorney for the District o aid >— structors have not yet overcome. Thix want of | y countries haying | ite | , FEBRUARY 14, 1879.—TRIPLE SHEET. Columbia, this afternoon forwarded the following to | the District Commissioners as an appendix to his opinion relative to the letter of General Benjamin F. Butler declining to pay his personal tax:— ‘The communication is from an eminent represen- tative and distinguished lawyer of Massachusetts, a temporary resident of Washington, complaining of the asseasment of taxes upon his personal property situate in the District, and aceompanicd with’an in- dication of grave calamity to the capital of the na- tion if redress is withheld. The letter seems to haye Deen written under an impression that the Commis- sioners of the District are the authors of the ob- noxious law sought to be enforced, and that the ; Whole legislative and administrative power in the | premises is in their hands. I submit four conclu- sions that may be drawn from the opinion :— ; #irst—That the laws under which taxes are as- wessed and collected in the District of Coluinbia are not the product of the government of that muni- cipality. ‘Second—That if the property referred to actually travels with its distinguished owner in his journeys between the c ppital and the State where he is domi- ciled it should not be taxed here, although here when taxes are assessed in the District, aud hence within the words of the law, ‘ Turd—It the property is here continuously, js used and-employed here, then it should be taxed here, no matter where the domicile of the owner may be, unless Fourth—The owner actually pays a tax on this specific property in the State of his domi If the text of the tax Jaws does not warrant the | opinion referred to the more accurate learning ot the complainant will at once detect its errors, He will lay the District under obligations by pointing them ont. If it should prove to be a scund view of those statutes the undersigned respectfully hopes that the complainant will entertain the idea of appealing directly to the two houses of the American Congress, now in session, ere he resolves upon the execution of the purpose so distinctly declared im his communieca- tion. A copy of the opinion and appendix will be trans- mitted to General Butler to-morrow. CHINESE “IMMIGRATION—ACTION OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT ON THE QUESTION. It transpired in the course of the debate in the Senate to-day on the Anti-Chinese bill that the State Department was-in correspondence with the Chinese Minister, Chin Lan Pin, on the subject of the modi- fication of the treaty with China, looking to the lim- itation of the number of Chinamen who should be permitted to embark on vessels bound for the United States. It is understood that tho purpose of the State Department is to effect by diplomatic negotiations thé result ‘proposed in the Dill. It has transpired that the Chinese Minister has no authority to promise any modifications of the treaty, so that whatever may be done will have to go through the hands of the Chinese imperial government. This would require many months of delay in the ordinary course of correspondence, and itis this knowledge which prompts the advocates of the bill to insist upon legislation as the only speedy way of meeting the question in time for the fall election in California, Pi ciate ESS aL GENERAL WASHINGTON DESPATCHES. Wasuixeton, Feb, 13, 1879, EXTENSION OF TELEGRAPH LINES—DR. GREEN BEFORE THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON RalL- ROADS—ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN THE WEST- ERN UNION AND THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, The Senate Committee on Railroads met this morning for the purpose of hearing arguments with respect to Senator Jones’ bill authorizing railroad companies to construct and maintain telegraph lines for commercial purposes, and to secure to the gov- ernment the use of the same for postal, military and other purposes, The Senators present were:— Messrs. Mitchell (in the chair), Teller, Barnum, Stanley Matthews, Shields and Dorsey. The Chairmen announced that this meeting had been called on an application made by Dr. Green on be- half of the Western Union Telegraph Company,’ who wished to make a statement in regard to the bill. A letter had also been received from Mr. Reiff, the President of the Automatic Telegraph Company, ap- plying for permission to appear before the commit- tee. The following is that portion of Dr. Green's exam- ination referring to the Associated Press :— ‘The Chairman—I um inclined to the opinion that what has done more to agitate this question and chuse a great many people ‘to call for some legisla. tion on the subject is what is regarded as 2 great monopoly onthe part of the Associated Press, I would ike to know for my own information, if it is proper, what relations exist between what is known as the Associated Press and the Western Union Com- pany? f Mr. Dorsey—And the public press ? ‘The Chairman—Of course, Dr. Green—I am very much obliged for this ques- tion, and it gives me pleasure to answer it, for there is absolutely nothing to conceal m connection with those relations, Announcemonts have been made by, us again and again that we would transmit the despatches of any other associations of like service for a like price without davor of any kind. The As- sociated Press of New York was organized to collect the news of the world. They have their reporters everywhere, at home and abroad, and they pay a very large sum for cable telegrams. ‘They are a company formed expressly to gather news, and the news so gathered is just ao» much ‘their property as a private telegram or a private letter, hey do not monopolize the news, but they collect it also forthe New York State Press, the Missouri and the California State Press, the Western Press and other associations. They transmit all their news to these associations over our wires. The Western Associated Press transmits through us about seven thousand words a day and we deliver it to about fifty different papers in twenty-five or thirty different towns, We transmit it trom New York to every one of these towns at one seuding, and we get for it about three and a dalf cents per word, Now an opposition paper comes to us and avishea as to transmita special report for the saine rate as wesend one of these fi(ty, or else they must have that same report. Wefl, we say, we cannot give you that report, because it does not belong to ns: If you ‘want a special report, get up a combination and then we will send it at the same rates. We have always made concessious to the outside papers where they are reason! The Chairman—Is there anything in your contract with the Associated Pross that would ‘prevent your sending the news of other combinations. if’ you wished? Dr. Green—Nothing whatever except that we fifticth pert of the price paid by our best enstomers. Of course, we have propositions made to as that wo should establish a news bureat sell it to all the pape ownership or proprietorship in the news, but have transmitied it simply. We shrink from the proposi- | tion of a news burean because it ix a dangerous power in the hands of any corporation, We could not undertake to made reports ot polities) news for all the journals in the United States, Why, if we did we could elect anybody we pleased. You place that power in the hands of a telegraph company, anit let them make two columns of ews @ day for every paper in the land, what show would anybody hi against them? : The Chairmen—Do you, know what the arrange- ment is between the “Associated Press and other papers? Dr. Green—I can only say I have some knowledge of it, but it is none of my business, For instance, the Western Associated Press and the Associated Press of New York m. news by cable, aud by to get it cheaply. If the on such news the combina: course; but we have nothing to do with that, Mr. Dawes—But could not the public or the other papers send this news ? ir, Greon— have not the slightest objection, It | oe our funeral; they can send as muchas they ake r ‘The complaint seoms to be that the shielts itvelf in the statement that it ix none iness, while at the same time they give the Associated’ Press «pocial facilities. I think some I jon {* needed to correct thts, | Dr. G Let the governmont «tart a nows bu- liect and send the news tteelf, ir. Daw 1 have the right to make such | tyrms as-you please with the Asoctated Press, have | You not? | Dr. Green—I assume that as public carriers we | nave to carry all public messages at acomimon charge. | Mr. Dawes—My impression is that you have @ right | to charge any price please. Dr, Green—Woll, that might be, but wherever we i} om ne we have special conditions at- achoal. | BSTIMATES AND EXPENDITURES OY HIE GOVERN- MENT—SECRETARY SHERMAN TO THR CHAIR- MAN OF THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS. The following is the full text of the letter from the | Seeretary of the Treasury, which was read in the | House to-day, in relation to the estimates, and ex- penditures of the government: ‘ ‘Treaseny DEPARIMERT, } Wasinsotox, D.C. Feb, 14, 1899. Hon. J.D. 1. Areins, Chairman or the Committee on Appropriations, House of Representatives :— | She-Lam in receipt of the communication of cannot atlord to supply anybody ot a tenth or a} | your committee of the Tth inst., aking whether it is my intention to submit an estimate of arrears of der the vet of January 25; 18% lerstand that the Secretary of the Interior has transmitted to Congress an estinate of te Comunis: sionct of Pensions of the amount necessary to pay the arrears of pensions wnder this act as follows ;— Vor the payment of arrears on pensions yravted ‘ment of arrears that may be allowed during tho al year, $2,500,000, and tor those that may he al- lowed during the next fiscal year, $5,000,000, making @ total of $41,500,000, In my last annual report I estimated the revenuo Of the uext fiscal year as fo!lows:— From customs... + $133,000,000 From internal revenue. .... + 125,000,000 From Us BOUTCES.. + 16,500,000 Total...... sees ences: $264,500,00 ‘The expenditures, exclusive of the sinking fund, were estimated at $236,384,912 68, leaving 4 Surplus “of $28,165,087 32, The revenue from cnstoms for the seven months of the present fiscal year ending January ‘1, 1ST), was $75,185,719 14, and for the corresponding period last year, 75,850,405 46, showing an increase of $2,325,728 67, at which rate of increnge the estimated amount for the uext fiscal year may be realized. The receipts from internal revenue for tho same eriods were us follows:— $66,022,190 23. Gh, 744,708 78 + $1,277,481 45 Showing an increase of ........+ This rate of increase will not pe more than $112,500,000 for this year, and no increase may be expected tor the folowing year under present laws. ff however, the tax om tobacon is reduced, ap is pro: posed, the total reecipts from internal revenue for the next fiscal year will not exceed $106,000,000, and- may fall as low as $104,000,000.- The receipts tron, miscellaneous sources may be increased $2,000,000 during this year and a corre- sponding amount oVer the estimates for next year. The pa pendiiares for the first seven months of the current fiscal year were $152,00),41 06, and for the same period last year $141,002,548 15, showing an in- crease of $11,598,002 91, from which should be de- ducied the amount paid for the Halifax award, 35,500,000, leaving @ net guercase of $6,008,002 91, If to this be ad the amount necessary for the pay- ment of arrears of pensions, $41,500,000,.and the ex- | Sagi for the last fiscal year, $236,964,326 40, the tal estimated expenditures for the next fiscal year will be $254,562,419 71, ‘The receipts as estimated will be:— From customs,....... + $133,000,000 From internal revenue. 106,000,000 From iiscellaneous sources. 18,500 «+ $257,500,000 i di 003,419 71. This esti- inate is based upon the asxuinption that the expendi: tures for the bi ice of the fiscal year will not be in- creased y unusual deficiencics, and that the appropriations for the next fiscal year will not ex- ceed Fa other respects the amounts appropriated for this fiscal y i The saving of interest resulting from the refund- ing of {the debt will not inure to the benefit of the ‘Treasury for the present, ax the double interest paid during the three months allowed bylaw and the Necessary expenses will offect the decrease in the interest account. It would Shue sppene. that the sinking fund must be entirely ignored and the $29.000,000 be provided for by additional legjslation. This may be accom- plished by the imposition ot some new tax adequate For the purpose, or by authorizing the money to be borrowed upon four percent bonds, which, in the present state of the market can be sold at par. As new taxes cannot be immediately productive, it is recommended that authority be given to raise the amount necessary by the sale of four per cent bonds described in the acts ot July 14, 1870, and January 20, 1871, JOHN SHERMAN, Secretary. CIPHER TELEGRAMS OFFERED FOR SALE. In addition to the subpoenas which were issued yesterday by the Potter Investigating Committee, Mr. Woodward, of Indiana, a newspaper corre- spondent, has been summoned. It is understood that this gentloman was recently offered a batch of cipher telegrams providing he would pay the price asked therefor, namely, $500. There will bo no meeting of the committee to-day CROOKED POLITICS. ALLEGED ATTEMPT TO PLAY THE LOUISIANA RE- TURNING BOARD GAME AT CASTLETON, 8. I.— EXCITEMENT OVER THE LATE ELECTION OF TOWN OFFICERS, The town of Castleton, Staten Island, is groatly ex- cited over an alleged case of attempted returning board tactics in connection with the recent election for town officers, It appears that the demoeratic party isina majority in Castieton and has been for many years. Democrats filled all the offices and’ re. publicans had to grin and bear it, On Tuesday last an election was held to fill nine town offices. The republicans nominated a straight ticket with the exception of one name, Mr. Herpich, democratic candidate for Supervisor. Mr. Clark, a republican,’ had many democratic friends who declared their in“ tention to vote for him, otherwisg he had no chance of being successful. ‘Those democrats who were de- termined to support their regular nominees felt bit- terly on the subject, and there was consequently great excitement on election day. The total vote for Collector was 1,893, of which Clark received 949 and Farrelly, the democratic candidate for the same office, 44. The count was made after sundown, and the results were given to the people at the police stations later on, The inspectors of election were ‘Tom Haley, John McGee and William Hayes, the latter a republican and the other two democrat In counting the returns ot the First distric Castleton fourteen straight republican tickets were Juid aside, it is saul, with the purpose of subse- uently adding the number of fourteen votes to the 4 ic poll tor Supervisor. ‘This, by un over- sight, was neglected, and when they came to can- Vass the ballots they found,that out of a total of 150 yotes cast in that election district only 136 could be found. Unable to discover where the mis- take was, they coficluded to go home to, bed and sleep over the matter, It was this that put it inthe heads of John A. Hayes, an ex collector of the town, and Tom Haley, who was for- morly @ United States Revenue Collector, to raise a point about the validity of the whole count. They waited till long past midnight, and then awakened one of the inspectors, William Hayes, and told him to come along at once. and rectify the returns, A NEW CANVASS OF THE VOrES, Hayes refused to uct unless the other inspector, McGee, was called so that the whole Board might be Drought together. This was finally accomplished, and tne three inspectors iBevey being one of them), accompanied by two clerks of the polls, proceeded to make @ new canvass of the vots, Huyos demanding it us acitizen snd a friend of one of the candidates. They were engaged in the work of recounting till five o’clock on Wednesday, when Clark was found to be left out in tie cold and Farrelly elected. The two inspectors, MeGee and Hayes, appeared tobe astounded at this result, and the for- mer took the so-called revised poll to the Town Clerk, to whom the returns have to be made, and he rejected it because the heading was not ptaiatix in comformity with ‘aw. 80 Mr. McGee decided to keep the poll paper ov presentation before the Town Board at its meeting yesterday. CLARK LOOKING OUT FOR HUMKELE. * In the meantime Clark, the counted out candidate, had been looking into tie mystery of his defeat after all Castleton had been apprised of his victory, and, meeting with the inspectors, he gave thom u picce of his mind, e was willing to waive all harsh proceedings in the matter if they would go before the proseut Supervisor, who ts Chairina of the Town Board, and imake individual statements of what hand they had in the transaction, This they did, and the Supervisor recommended Ulat they sifouid put the tacts in the fortu of an aflidayit vefore a notary public, Mr. Clark engayed the legal services of Mr. Sydney F. Rawson tw look atter his interests, and yesterday, when the Board of Lown Canvassers met, at ten o'clock, that gentieman presented the sworn statements of two of the inspectors, Hayes and Meee, and two of the clerks of the poll. The Loard consisted of democrats. They hoard arguments on behalf of the two candidates and then took the statements of the inspectors, McGee, Haiey and William Hayes, and the clerks of eli Simonson and Chuibby, and finally concluded, points raised were so MOMentous, to employ counsel aud take advice im the prenisex, and nieet again on Satuvuay, The Boara ix believed to be composed of fair minded men, who will the heavens tail. It Mr. © extremities ho could have had thé whole clared iiegal, from the faet that it was held in a ealvon, which is expressly against the law. THE VIRGINIA INDEBTEDNESS, (BY TELEGRAPH ‘ro THE HERALD.) Ricusonp, Feb, 13, 1879, In tho lower House of the General Assembly, the Committee on Courts of Justice to-day reported, de- claring that the State of Virginia will not be responsi- ble for the debt represented by the West Virginia certificates of indebtedness, of which there is about $10,000,000 in the han of holders, except such amounts of that debt as may be paid to Virginis by the State of West Virginia. ‘Thix action is considered important because of the fact thet the siature of Virginia has re- eontly disowned the certifivate debt and disclaimed auy responsibility for it. At the settlement of the old debt of Virginia made by the Virginia Leginta- ture soon after the war, $15,030,000 was apportioned us West Virginia's share, of which about $10,000,000, os above stated, has been funded in cortiiicates, THE BILLINGS MURDER CASE, (PY TELEGRAPH TO THR HERALD.) Banueroy, N. ¥., Feb. 18, 1879, The Sseratoga county Grand Jury, in session here, sre considering a bill against George W. Jones for Perjury, in having testified falsely in the Billings murder trial while on the stand as a witness for the defence, Billings haw employed counsel to defoud Jones, Its thought that this action will hetp the chauces for anew trial of Billings on the charge of wite murder. “The motion for # change of venue comes ip for argument on Saturday morning. ‘The Distriet Attorney elaine to have discovered very Irn portant new evidence bearing on the case. ‘The Pupulace of Saratoga county seem yencraily oppowed prior to the passage of the net, $44,000,000; ior the | to snother trial, | THE STATE CAPITAL. Legislation as to the Sheriff, County Clerk and Register of New York. SALARIES INSTEAD OF FEES (BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.) Aupany, Feb. 13, 1879. Dr. Hayes’ Committee on Cities have unanimousl; agreed to report the Seventh Regiment Armory bill, ° which permits that, organization to issue bonds ta the amount of $150,000 and authorizes the Comptroller to pay them $15,000 for ten years in lieu of rent NO CHANGE AS TO EMPLOYES, “Nearly the whole of to-day’s session in the. Assem- bly was ‘oceupied in discussing the reports of the Committee on Legislative Employés and Expendi- tures. The majority report agreed as to the ipexpe- diency of interfering with the present empioyés or their salaries, and recommended two additional ap. pointments—that of Superintendent of Mail Mattér and Superintendent of Documents, It was contended in support of tho adoption of this report that’ the law ‘was mandatory upon the Speaker ag to making all. such appointments, defining their duties and fixing their salaries. Mr. Alvord himself took this ground, and was supported in his position by Messrs. Grady, Husted, Sheard and others. Mr, Skinner, of Jefferson, read a lengthy specch in denunciation, on general princi- plex, of the practice of appointing so many em- ployés. Mr. Brooks vigorously advocated reform in this direction. The debate lasted trom eleven o’clock until fifteen minutes to two. Most of the speeches contained the usual buncombe flights of oratory as to necessity tor economy and reform, The whole matter ended in the passage of -the majority report by a decisive yote. Recommendations are made in the document asto the passage of a bill by the present Legislature which will remedy all evils on this subject. SHERIFF, RUGISTER AND COUNTY CLERK, | = If Mr. Varnum’s excellent bills, introduced in the Assembly, becomes u law the next Sheriff, Register and County Clerk in New York must be content with recviving salaries instead of fees, They provide that atter January 1, 1880, all the fees ved by the Sheriff and County Clerk shall be turned over t the Comptroller toward the expenses of the city, and the Sheriff and County Clerk shall thereatter be salaried officers, receiving the et, salaries :—Sheriff, $12,000; County Clerk, $10,000, The bill in relation to the Register is of a similar character, giving him a salary of $10,000, in lieu of all fees, after January 1, 1881. The times fixed for the change are in accordance with the expiration of the terms of office of these officials, thus making the bills comply with the pro: visions of the constitution. The fees now received by these officials amount to from. $25,000 to over $50,000 annually. REORGANIZING BROOKLYN'S MUNICIPALITY. Mr. Thomas J. Sheridan introduced a bill to-da; to provide for establishing a municipal government in the county of Kings and consolidating ie cine, of Brooklyn and towns of New Lots, Flatbush, New Utrecht, Gravesond and Flatlands under the same. It provides that within twenty days after the pas- sage of this act the Mayor of Brooklyn shall appoint ten commissioners, who, with the supervisors and the two justices of the peace having the shortest time to serve, or a majority of them, of each of the towns before-mentioned, shall appoint one commissioner from cach of said towns, and tho said commissioners so appointed shall constitute a Board of Consolidation Commissioucrs. Tne said commissioners shall meot within ten days after their appointment at the Chamber of the Board of Suj visors, in the city of Brooklyn, and shall appoint one of their number as presiding oficer, and shall have power to amploy a clerk and messenger at a compensation to be fixed by said commissioners not exceeding $3 for every day actually employed. They shell hhve power to send for persous aud papers, books and accounts in relation to the financial affairs of the said city aud towns, and shall proceed to cevise a general plan for said city and towns to be united aud consolidated into one municipal corporation, to be called the city of Brooklyn. Such plan shall set forth the rate of taxation hereafter to be as- wesved upon the respective portions of terri- tory embraced in the consolidated city, the general division of the same into wards, and the method of governing the same, selecting of cers thereof and reducing the expenses thereof. When tho said plat is adopted and signed by tho resident and clerk it shall be printed in pamphiet font for gratuitous distribution, and they shatl give notice in such papers in the county of Kin ‘as may bo designated that such’ pamphle are rewdy for distribution in the office of the Clerk of Kings county; such pamphlets shall be ready one nionth before the general eloc- tion in November ucst, when such plan sball be submitted to the legal voters of the said city amd towns, also that tions! ballot boxes be provided upon which shall be the word ‘Consolidation,” also a sufficient number of ballots shall be turnished for and against said plan, The said commissioners to be appointed under this act shall receive for thetr service $5 for every day necessarily employed, but the whole amount paid to any such commissioner shall in no case exceed $200 cach. IN FAVOR OF ELEVATED RAILROADS. A remonstrance signed by thousands of Brooklyn- ites was presented to the Asse. .bly against the pas- sage of sg Bogie interfering with rapid transit rail- rouds in that city. IN THE SENATE. The Senate seems to be waiting for bills from the Assembly and to meanwhile simply killtime. The very briefest sessions are held, and little of interest can be gleaned from the proceedings. Senator Ee- clesine to-day introduced a somewhat singular bill, Its object is to make railway and steamship compa- nie and other public carriers admit to their prom- ises’ or conveyances one escort accompanying females or cl passage enxaged. to so almit such an escort, at least once, shall be deemed a misdemeanor punishable by fine or imprisonment. The compa- nies are, however, permitted to issue escort tickets at a cost not to exceed four cents each, and when such tickets are issued the escort is bound to present one for admission, é One huudred citizens of Fredonia, Chatauqua county, sent in a petition against the modification of the existing Excise laws; and @ remonstrance against any modification of the existing laws relating the introduction of vapid transit into Brooklyn was re- ceived, It is signed by Henry Ward Beecher and 2,000 other citizens. The bill of Senator Ecclesine, permitting insur- ance companies which had voted to reduce the number of their directors to suspend such reduction upon a vote of tue same character which directed the reduction, was favorably reported from the Judiciary Commitive. MUTUAL LIVE INSURANCE COMPANY, ‘The Judiciary Committee of the House gave an- other hearing in the matter of the complaint of the action of the New York Mutual Life Insurance Com- pany in granting a rebate of sninia por cent of the preminm to new policy holders. ir. Lawton, the actuary of the com subinitted the figures asked for at the last meeting to the amount paid for advertising aud legtl ices growing out of the adop- tion of the new plan. ‘The Chairman, at the close of this testimony, said that as he understood it the charge against the com- ny, 80 far as its action was concerned, was ta initied, and there had been argument on both at as to its effect. Some conversation was had, when the committee mijourned until Wednesday evening of next week. TUNIS TITUS KENDRICKS, TIS LATEST REPORTED EXPLOIT IN PREACHING TEMPERANCE AND FILLING HIS POCKET, [BY TELE SRAPH TO THE HERALD.) ANwapouts, Md., Feb. 13, 1879. During six months of last year Annapolis was moved mightily by a temperance crusade under the leadership of Colonel A. J. Bowen. Hard drinkers were recjaimed, hundreds signed the pledge, meet- ings weve beld daily, saloon keepers yave up their business, and the stock of one was publicly burned on tho murket place by a procession of‘tomperauce folks amid 4 great hurrah and flourish of trumpets, though the liquor was paid for sub rosa, Among the workers from @ dis- tance that came to help ths Colonol was Rey, T, T. Kendricks, who purported to be a Methodist minis. ter dnd to hail from Washington, though it waa thought a iittle strange that none of the Methodist pastors of that city professed to know anything avout him, ‘The reverend yentieman was a ready and tnteresting talker on the threadbare theme of temperance, in Which secomplisnieut he was sus- tanta by # portly Agure and rather good Lege § fare, on which latter were large growth of blac! whiskers @ (4 Burnside, ‘TEMPERANCR AND BURIN ESS, Among the pillars of the work in this city was Mr, David $. Capron, one of the clerks in the Post Ofive, aw qontionan shrewd in business generally, and fully able to take care of his own It is now stated that, ingratiating himself into tho good graces of Mr. Oepron, the Rey, Kendricks informed him that ho was going into business and said “ho would bo obfiged to hin if he would kindly put his name on ‘his note; that he did not want to use the paper, but only wished it to show that he had some credit.” IS BANK FOR PAYMENT, TH an unlucky moment Mr. Capron putfhis name te a note for $590, The reverent gentleman loft this part ol his temperance work, went to Washington wud, it is alleged, sold the note to a broker aid po: oted the proceeds, Mr, Capron does not know where the reverend temperance adyovate now is, but he does know where tae note is, a6 if has been plaged ia dank here for collection,