The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-12-05

Iverson, johnson Of Arkansas johnson Of Tennessee
Lane Mallory Mason Polk, Push, Reid, Rice, Sebastian,
Shields sldell, Smith, TOombs and Ward.
Mr. Sliden regarding this o satisfactory test vote,
but 1t the time recognizing the Impossiby Of tho
bill becoming law within tho remaining seven days Of
the session without injury to the public interests declined
TO press any further but announced his determination 10
bring up early this session. We may expect therefore
lively time In both houses over tho Thirty Million bin
PROTECTION TO AMERICAN CITIZENS ABROAD.
On the 18th OF February lastjust fortnight before
the final adjournmenthe President sent special mes
sage TO Congress, urging tho Importance Of Legislative
action for the protection Of American citizens and their
property while In transit the Isthmus routes be
tween our Atlantic and Pacific possessions and recon-
mendng Congress to pass law comforting on the pres
dent the power to protect the lives and property of Ame
rcan citizens in such Senator Mason from the
Committee Foreign Relations, reported bill giving the
President the authority he asked The Senate spent
portion Of day in debating the subject but no action was
taken. Next day Senator Mason made eort TO hayo
the bill consdcred but the Senate by Of Is TO 81
refused to take up The matter.wil undoubtedly bo
again brought before the attention of Congress-
GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURES.
The Senate adopted the Sd Of March, the following
very important resolution
Resolved That the President OF the United States he
and he is hereby requested the heads OF the
various executive departments submit estimates OF the
expenditures for the to the Thirty sixth Con
gress upon basis not exceeding $50 COO 900 per annum
exclusive Of the public debt and the interest thereon pro-
vded The same be done without injury the public
service.
In compliance with this resolution the estimates to be
submitted Congress will be restricted in the aggregate to
fifty Millions but Congress will probably go TO work and
make appropriations requiring the expenditure of double
that sum.
COMMITTEES OF INVESTIGATION.
The republican party INDUCING very extravaganza
anticpatons Of what they will gain from series of spe
ca committees ofinvesgation into all governmental ex-
pendtures, and is quite probable that an effort will be
made in that direction also expected that the i'm.
parchment Of Judge Watrous Of Texas will be again
brought the taps. These investigating committees
rarely effect any practical good The only for some
years past in which any good flowed from them was that
which led to the expulsion resignation OF MattesOn
Walsh and gilbert, all members Of the republican party
This case ought to be warning to the republicans to
indulge in such dangerous experiments
PACIFIC RAILROAD.
Next to the subject of Cuba that the building of one
or more lines Of railroad from the Missouri 70 the Pacific
occupied most time in the Senate So carly as the 18th of
December Mr.. Rice of Minnesota, introduced bill TO aid
in the construction Of certain railroads to the Pacific to
encourage settlements their lines and for other pur
poses. This intended a substitute for the bill re-
ported at the previous session Next day that original
bill came up for discussion, and was kept before the
Senate, with more less steadiness until the 9th or
January The title Of the bill To authorize the Pre-
sdent Of the United States to contract for the transpor
ation Of the mails, troops, seamen munitions OF war
army and navy supplies all other service
by railroad from the Missouri river TO San Francisco in the
State Of California" Finally the bill was SO altered
and amended simply to direct the Secretary Of the In
terror to advertise in two wspapers in each State and
In tho riot Of NoIr o;~ba-
rate proposals for the construction and working Of three
railroads from the valley of the Mississippi to the Pacific
oceanone from the western boundary Of Minnesota to
Puget Sound, in Washington Territory; one from the
western boundary Of Missouri Iowa. within the thirty
fourth and thirty fifth parallels Of latitude to San Fran
cisco or Benica; and from the western boundary
OF Arkansas or Texas, by the most eligible route to
San Francisco The sum Of $1,000 was appropriated
TO pay the expense Of advertising. The bill, which
was denounced as farce by Senator Gwn and was by
all the friends Of the Pacific Railroad regarded as virtual
defeat Of the measure passed by vote Of
to twenty was sent to tue House. but no action was
taken on it in that body The Pacific Railroad win mn
doubleday be one Of the most important subjects that will,
be brought before the next Congress-
THE TARIFF.
revision OF our tariff laws will also occupv uch or
the time and attention Of national legislators hrogb
out the coming session. The New England men,hsr.
particularly are pressngly anxious for the imposition o
system OF high protective duties on all articles
iofo'gn manufacture that come into competition with
the product Of Northern LOOMS and the Pennsylvania de,e
CATION are equally socitous about protection for the ron
interests Of that State The Western men would Nke
better protection for their growing interests an3tbe
members from Louisiana would like higher duties on
sugar. But the Southern representatives generally are
decidedly opposed to the existence Of import duties for
the sake OF protection and would prefer system Of direct
taxation for the support of the government The Pres
oens rather in favor Of revision OF the tariff and will
probably recommend in his annual message pretty
exciting contest may bc looked for on this head.
BANKRUPT LAW.
!he PRESIDENT will in all probability press upon Con
sress 'ne importance and necessity Of passing general
bankrupt law There few subjects Of moro absolne
importance to the commercial ana trading ,oros, e
this country; and it is be hoped that Congress % ~
fail to give it that attention which its magnitude 40
serves.
POST OFFICE DEFICIENCIES.
will be recollcctcd that the annual Appropriation bin
for the support Of the Post Department during tho
current fiscal year failed to pass last Congress- on
Oh parliamentary technically which came up in issue
between the two houses. The bill-as all appropriation
bills necessarily do-orignated in the House Of Repre-
senaves was passed by that body then sent to the
Senate The Senate added amendment after amendment
increasing largely the aggregate appropriation and among
these amendments put increasing the rate Of single
letter postage from three to five cents for distances
within the United States exceeding three thousand
miles, and to ten cents for any greater distance and
aboshing the Thanking privilege as to letters When tho
bill came back to the House with these amendments or
the Senate question was raised by Mr. Crow Of Penn.
sylvania, that this particular amendment was an on
croachment on the privileges the House OF Representa-
tives and he therefore offered the following resolution
Resolved, That House bill No s72 making appropria
lions Ior deirayng the expenses Of the Post Office Depart
ment or ne year ending June 3d. $780, with the senate
amendments thereto be returned to the Senate AZ acc
BILL - 'o
The question was put to the House and the resolution
was adopted-yeas III, nays 70. The subject then
came before the Senate and that body reored by the
adoption Of the following resolution
Resolved, by the Senate of the United States tha ho