The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-02-07
The News.

The News.
The steamship Arabia is now fully due at this
port with European news to the 23d ult, one week
later than previous advices.
The struggle in the House of Representatives on
the question of the reference Of the Kansas Lecomp
ton constitution and the Presidents message, which
commenced on Friday afternoon, was continued
without intermission until near seven o'clock on
Saturday morning. As is usual in the case of pro-
Jonged partzan contest upon party grounds, the
time was consumed in taking votes upon motions of
a frivolous character The House finally adjourned
with the understanding that the question of re-
ference shall be the special order for Monday. The
first motion that will come up is to refer the consti
tuition and message to a select committee. This is
the plan of the Douglas men and the republicans
combined and its success failure is regarded rs
decisive of the fate of the policy Of the admins
istration upon this important and vital subject The
tameness of the proceedings of the session in
ferrupted about two o'clock in the morning by an
episode dsgraceful to all parties concerned, being
nothing less than a knock down and drag out fight
in which Messrs. Grow, republican, OF Pennsylvania
and Keitt, democrat, of South Carolina, were the
principal gladiators. We have commented at length
upon this affair in the editorial columns The greatest
excitement prevailed in Washington yesterday in
consequence Of these events.
Several matters of importance were brought be.
fore the Legislature yesterday Among the bills in
troduced in the Senate was one making appropria-
lions for the maintenance of the canals for the fiscal
year commencing on the LIST Of October next. A
synopsis of IL may be found in correspondents
despatch. The Assembly settled the chaplaincy
question by adopting resolution inviting the cler
gymen of Albany and vicinity to open the session by
prayer, for which no remuneration is allowed. In
this regard both Congress and the New York Assem-
bly, agree that the laborer is not worthy ofhis hire.
meeting of some of the most prominent members
of the New York bar was held yesterday in the Su-
peror Court, and passed series Of resolutions
demnatory Of the present want Of accommodation
for the transaction of the business Of the law courts
In case the Board Of Supervisors neglect TO provide
proper accommodations, the Judges requested TO
order the Sheriff to procure suitable rooms. The
meeting was a very spirited one, and evinced de-
termination to effect an immediate reform Of the
abuses which have been so long and so loudly in
weighed against by judges lawyers and juries.
There was number Of interesting cases disposed
of in the General Sessions yesterday, will be
by our report Of the proceedings.
The Excise Commissioners were TO have met on
Friday but they adjourned over to the first Monday
in March, at which session they viii sit for three
days FOR the issuing of licences, after which they
will Close their business for the year. On Tuesday,
the 18th Of May, they will formally commence
Issuing licenses for the Socond year Of the nstitu.
ton of the Board. No suit has as yet been entered
to test the constitutionality Of the Excise law So
far the counsel has been unable to procure any per-
sen Of the Liquor Dealers Association willing TO be
contestant OF the law. As ACT the slightest regard
is paid TO the law, individual liquor dealers viii pay
no attention 10 the legal question at issue so long
they can conduct their business without let or
hindrance. The Commissioners. however. intend TO
press a suit, to see what legality there Is in the
enactment
We learn from the weekly report Of the City
Inspector tina, there were 437 deaths in the city
during the past week, decrease Of IL a. compared
with the mortality of the week previous, and
precisely the same number as occurred in the cor
responding week Of last year. Diseases Of the
brain and nerves are very prevalent We notice an
increase Of 20 deaths Of these complaints over the
mortality from same causes last week. In other
respects the report presents extraordinary
feature. The following table exhibits the number
OF deaths during the past two weeks among adults
and children, distinguishing the Sexes
k~L won~n Boy. Giris. 7Ssai
wees ending Feb On o. isf las as1
Among the principal causes Of death were the