The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-04-20
The News.

The News.
In another column we give such particulars as
have reached us of the shipwrecks on the coast
cansed by the recent violent gale The passengers
Of the packet ship Underwater, ashore at Squan
Beach, have all arrived in safety at this port As
sistance has been despatched to the vessel and it
is thought she will be got off. The ship Humboldt,
Paulson, with passengers from Hamburg for this
port is reported to be the vessel ashore at Barnegat
A steamer will be sent down to her this morning
Telegraphic dispatches from Philadelphia state
that the ship Powhatan of Baltimore, from
Havre for New York. went on shore early
on Sunday morning, near Egg Harbor Light. She
had about two hundred German emgrants on board
every soul OF whom persisted, and the vessel was
completely destroyed. Fiftyeight bodies have been
cast up on the beach at Absecom. The schooner
manhattan, OF Bangor, was also lost in the same
neighborhood and all on board save one man
drowned. There are reports Of many other vessels
being on shore and the loss Of life can hardly be
estimated. This has been a of disasters I'M
pa1alleled IN the history of our commerce. The
destruction of vessels and their cargoes during the
past winter in which Americans are interested, in
wolves, it is believed, loss of between two and
three millions of dollars.
1t stated that the probabilities are in favor of
the adoption of the Soo ameDdm ent to the Gadsden
treaty by the Senate, and the confirmation of the
treaty itself. 1t can hardly be possible, although
strange things happen in these degenerate days.
The Senate has done noby in rejecting that offspring
OF the sposmen, and doubt if it lies in the power
OF the administration to effect any change. The
treaty is dead: there can be question about that
although the gavanizing process may produce few
spasmodic squirms from the corpse The Senate yes
terday confirmed several appointments, including
De Leon, Consul-General to Alexandria, and
Frederick S. Beecher Secretary of Legation to Cen
trail America.
In the United States Senate yesterday remon
strances were presented against repeating or sus
pending the duty on railroad iron. The House
amendments to the bill increasing the salaries of
clerks in the executive departments were concurred
in. The bill appropriating one hundred thousand
dollars ITO the real discoverer of chloroform was
taken up and passed. The consideration of the
Homestead bill was resumed, and, upon the motion
to strike out the part limiting the grant citizens
an animated discussion arose. The effect of the
amendment would be to allow foreigners all the
rights of our own people simply upon taking the
initatory steps to become naturaliZed. Notice was
given of substitute to the bill, to include clause
making presumption rights permanent.
In the House of Representatives the bill granting
ten millions of acres of land for the benefit of the
INDECENT insane was taken up, and after speech
from Mr.. Clingman the unconstitutionalty of the
measure, passed by vote of eighty-one to fifty
three.
The question of womans rights is becoming quite
important from the number of suits recently inst
tuted in Courts in the names of females. Judge
Roosevelt has lately decided that married woman 5
"next friend is cher husband !" but we this day
publish a very interesting and somewhat antagon
istic opinion Of Judge Hoffman who says that if the
action concern the wife's separate property, the
husband cannot be joined with her, but she must
sue by "next friend and when the action is be-
tween herself and her husband she shall also prose
cute or defend by her next friend. Judge Hoffman
is of opinion that complaint which relates to the
separate property of the wife cannot be fled by her
and her husband as plaintffs-that she must sue by
her next friend, and that the husband cannot be
such.
For some days past the inhabitants OF the Fifth
ward have been in agitation from the fact that the
Commissioners Of Emigration have rented build
ing in Franklin street for the purpose Of occupying
it an Office and receiving house for newly arrived
emigrants. As these emigrants very generally
their arrival Frustrated by contagious diseases,
DR. Hosack and Mr. Nixon, of the Fifth ward, by
their counsel Messrs. Edmond Blankman and +.
Park, promptly and properly commenced suit
against the Commissioners, and have obtained an
injunction, as viii be seen by our legal reports re-
strainng them from establishing such nuisance In
the ward. There numerous places in the
suburbs, or ON the immediate confines of the rivers
where the Commissioners can find accommodation
for the emigrants, without concentrating them in
midst and jeopardizing the health and lives OF
the inhabitants of this densely populated city.
The act that has just passed the State Legi.la-
ture, amending the school law and extending the
powers Of the commissioners, will be found in the
report Of the proceedings of the Board Of Education,
which met last evening
The Board Of Aldermen transacted an unusual
amount of business last night A communication
from the Comptroller on the Reynolds contract was
received which, together with the official report OF
the proceedings, may be found elsewhere.
The Board of Councilmen met last evening and
furnished considerable amusement TO a large number
Of citizens by protracted debates the matter OF
their own dignity. Councilman Beakly was arrest
ed, placed at the bar and reprimanded for absenng
himself from meeting of the Board when a call OF
the Board was made. Editors of newspapers re-
oeiVed gentle hint as to the tone of their editorials
on ncncipa matters and the reporters Of the press
were endorsed FOR accuracy by the civic legislators
Owing to the protrected sitting OF the Board we
can only give sketch ai the scene.