The New York herald., 1865-02-16
GEN ERAL NEWS.
WASHINGTON, Feb. Is, 1855.

GEN NERAL NEWS.
-c-~~>>~~~~~~~>~~>~~~-
WASHINGTON Feb Is, 1855.
THE DRAFT.
has been incorrectly stated that Provost Marshal Fry
has issued order to provost marshas postponing
draft. The terms of the Presidents proclamation of
December 49, 1854 calling for three hundred thousand
men in order to supply deficiency under the call OF
July 49, 1904 provides that Sin the quota or any
part thereof Of any town. township ward OF any CITY,
precinct election district, Of q county not subdi.
sded shall not be filed before the 18th day of February
1866 then draft shall be made to fill such QUOTA any
part thereof under that CALL which may be untitled
aaid 18th day Of February, 1865"
In pursuance OF that proclamation the Proves. Mar
shall General Monday issued instructions to the pro-
vost marshais, requiring them in all their districts and
subdistrcts wherein the quotas should not be filed to
make preparations for draft just he did prior the
previous drafts neither OF which took place until some
time after the day up to which time given by the
proclamation for recruiting These preparations for the
draft will be consummated speedily possible and
there is every suppose that the draft viii
be made at early day.
The following the instructions issued yesterday.
per telegram, from tho Provost Marshal Generals
efhce:-
WAR DEPARTMENT.
PRovosr MARSHAL GESERAI's BURgAU.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Feb. 13 1865.
. TO all ACTING ASSISTANT PROVOST NARsHAiS GENERAL,
except Connecticut Iowa, California and Oregon
See that all the Boards OF Enrolment in your jurisdc
eaon, which not husily employed In examining and
mastering recruits, prepare at to draft
tng. Report as possible what districts
rapidly filling their quotas, and the day on which the
board IN each will be prepared TO draft that the order
t0r draft may issue from this oilice
JAMES q. FRY, Provost Marshal General.
FEE CANDIDATES FOR SECRETARY OF THE TREA-
sURY.
No decision regard 70 The Of Mr. Fessenden
In the Treasury Department has yet boon arrived at It's
understood that the appointment lies between Mcsss
Boutwell, and McCulloch. with the chances in favor Of
the latter very strong pressure is brought to bear
upon the President In his favor Petitions have been
presented to him to-day, signed by twenty of the
swentyAye republican Senators and forty or
she republican Representatives Of tho Indiana
Legislature urging his appointment in the
manner
xxrRA CONVERSATION FOR BUILDERS OF IRON
CLADs, ETC.
Tho Naval Committee Of the House will on Thursday
odd to their resolution referring the question Of extra
compensation to the builders of clads steam
gnes, g., for decision to the Secretary Of the Navy
limitation that in no shall such extra compensation
exceed twenty por cent in of tho original
!, tract price.
PAYING OFF THE TROOPS.
Paymasters will leave tomorrow next day for tho
'front.' with funds TO pay OF the Sixth corps and in few
days the funds will be ready to pay the whole Army Of
che Potomac, which is four months in
Every effort Is making TO speedily discharge the
uated of pay to all the troops in the ed before
che commencement Of the spring campaign. Arrange
ments have been made to hereafter 81 600 900
every three days. to be applied exclusively to the pay
of the troops The increased receipts from inter
nal revenue and the sale OF the sevcn-thirty loan
will relieve tho Treasury OF the urgent pres
nur md 10 discha nj leae he
claims of our soldiers who have borne with 50 much
patience the unavoidable delay in payments of their
arrears
THE SURVEYOR OF THE PORT YORK.
Abraln Wakeman, Surveyor OF the port Of New York.
arrived here to-day having been summoned to appear
Before tho Committee Of Commerce of the Senate in ref
his conn rmaton and respond the charges
Ssised by his political opponents.
COTTON TRANSACTIONS AT NORFOLK.
The sub committee of the Committee Commerce Of
Che House have gone 10 Norfolk 10 take testimony in
Veerence 70 the cotton operations and transactions under
sho permits of the Treasury Department There is a
prospect Of interesting developments this sub
feet at no distant day.
THE NIAGARA SHIP CANAL
The Senate Military Committee have heard an srgu-
-nent from Mr. Littleohn In favor Of the Niagara ship
canal, and one from Mr. Allen, of Buffalo, against it.
Hon Caleb Gushing, OF Boston, will argue favor Of
marine railway n substitute for the canal
mornng The bill will probably be reported to the
Senate In day wo covering both the canal and rail-
way but leaving to the discretion of tho President to
select them otter shall have the reports
of the engineers.
THE FUNERAL OF SENATOR HICKS
The In the Senate chamber this afternoon the
funeral OF Senator Hicks, very impressive Not
withstandng tho storm the floor and galleries we're
crowded with ladies' and gentlemen including the Presi
dent several members of the Cabinet, and many other
distinguished pcrsonages
PENSION CERTIFICATES.
The number OF pensisn certificates granted from July
L. 1seI TO January l. 1865 is sixysx thousand three
hundred and ninety. OF these, twenty-ninc thousand
-four hundred and twenty-five to invalid soldiers and
thirty thousand nine hundred and sixy-cght TO
widows orphans and mothers Of sodiers deceased The
number OF applications rejected up January 1885, is
nine thousand seven hundred and twenty-four The
number OF discharges for disability received Mt the Pen
sion once last month thousand seven hundred
and twenty.
PURCHASE OF A PORTRAIT OF GENERAL GRANT.
resolution was offered in the House this morning. by
Nr ngersoll, OF Illinois, 70 pay the artist who painted
che carcature Of General Grant purportng to be por-
Craft Of that iusrous commander which has for some
fimc been on exhibition in the Rotunda OF the Capitol
Aweny i've hundred dollars and purchase the same for
Che government II was referred to the COMMITTEES on
che Library; but the proposition to purchase such
,prodnction excited general smile throughout the
1ouse.
THE MAGAZINE EXPLOSION AT FORT FISHER.
The board of officers appointed 70 investigate and rc-
mort upon the Of the explosion OF the magazine In
Tort Fisher have made their report TO General Terry
Thc opinion Of the board Is that the explosion was the
result OF the part Of persons to them un
Known It appears from the finding
yrtImmediately after the capture OF the FORT Gene
ri Ames gave orders TO Lieutenant Colonel Samuel
toont Thirteenth Indiana volunteers, through Crral-
Ceorrs W. Huckina. Of ths Fourth New EsApsliS Vol