New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-12-17


sI THIreRAPs lIO TEE TRIBUNE.
WASHINGTON Dec 10 1890.
The Ways and Means Committee have special
meeting tomorrow, for the purpose Of taking some
definite action upon Gov Boutwelfs gold bill. They
are determined TO adopt some kind Of legislation which
will deprive the Secretary Of the authority which he
now has of selling gold secretly They believe it
ought TO be disposed of in open market and that the
time should be fixed when the sales shall take place.
Whether they viii adopt the plan suggested by Gov.
Boutwell, OF different one will probably be decided
tomorrow. They are determined to recommend to
the House that the present system be changed, and
will report bill accordingly 1t is understood that
the Secretary Of the Treasury does not object to
making the sales public. What be objects to IS inc
reduction Of the amount hand TO S45, GOO OOO He
is Of opinion that at least $500 10000 600 should be
kent ON hand. In regard TO this point members OF
the Committee are very much divided. They expect,
however, 10 harmonic and adopt plan that Will be
satisfactory to both the Secretary and 70 congress
The Senate and House POst-Ohce Committees
have now before them the propositions respectively
submitted TO each body to inquire into the expedeney
of reporting bill for the construction OF line or teie-
graph between Washington and New-York, and such
other points as NAV be demeed proper to be under the
control and management Of the Postmaster'Genera,
subject to postal regulations. Both Committees are
unerstood 70 be favorable to this project There are
large number Of members OF both Houses VINO also
favor il. The reason assigned by them is, that the
present rates charged by the various telegraph COM
panies are exorbtant. The Committees are OF opn.
ion that the Government can construct the lines and
work them on the postal principle per cent cheaper
than they ore worked by private enterprise, and
at the same time derive considerable revenue thereby
The Postmaster General is also said TO favor 1t.
The question how TO prevent the immense frauds
which are constantly perpetrated on the Government
in the whisky distileres throughout the country in
evndng the 80 tax on whisky is seriously agitatlng
the minds Of the members Of both the Senate and the
House Committees on Finance. One OF the ablest
members in the Committees sees but one solution OF
this important matter. The English and French
system. he maintains, will eHectually put
stop TO the frauds Let the Government take
possession of ell Of the distilleries IN the
limited States and do all the manufacturing.
The aggregate amount Of property invested in the dis
tillaion Of spirits in the United States is estimated at
500 000 0G0. The Government can seize and confis-
cate the property, aud paw this amount IN the hrst
wear and save over $50 600 COO to the Government.
The estimated amount Of whisky made last year was
little over 60, 00e 900 gallons. At S2peT gallon, the
Government ought 10 have had 10000 COO revenue.
n was not much over one-twentieth OF that sum.
Some idea may thus be obtained>of the frauds that
have been and are constantly being perperaed ID re-
gard to this matter.
Tbe Committee on WAYS and Means meet at 10
o'clock tomorrow to discuss the question Of an in
crease of clerks pay. strong desire has been mani
tested by many members that, If anything IS 10 be
done il should be done at once TO rejoice the clerks
through the holidays The Committee Is burdened
down with petitions for an increase OF salary from
clerks in Oh the Departments. One petition covers
ream of fOOscap, and is an exhaustive argument IN
favor Of the increase. The author states that he IS
clerk in the Treasury, and for the last three months
be has devoted ell bis time, from 9 o'clock IN the
morning until o'clock in the evening excepting one
hour each day for lunch IN preparing the documents
Between the anxiety Of The male clerks 70 have Their
salaries increased and the fear Of the female clerks
about thes proposed disposal the departments here
are m lively state OF excitement The newspapers
here contain daily communications. on the subject,
signed with such signatures as "a lover OF bis
country" A soldiers widow" Justice, Human
jty.p lone legged soldier" {" One who stood up for
his country" Misery" Gratitude" Patriot"
etc The board convened sometime since iorthe purpose
of making pro rata distribution of the funds turned
over by Rebel authorities as captured funds have dis
solved having submitted the report to the Secretary
of War.
Col. Ordway, Sergeant.at-Arms Of tho House of
REPRESENTATIVES left here this evening for Pennsylya-
MIA 10 demand the release of the Hon. Cbas. Vernon
Culver member of the present Congress from Nenan-
go County, Pennsylvania, now held IN jail at frank
lin Pa
The New Orleans Investigating Committee leave
here tomorrow for New Orleans 10y tho Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad, via Cincinnati and Louisville. Deputy
Sergeant Arms, T. j. Cherry, will accompany
them.
The Commissionerslappont by the Legislature Of
North Carolina, consisting of Gov. Worth, eI-GOv.
Swain and ex.Chef Justice Rufin, arrived here
Yesterday The mission is TO confer with the Presl
dent and Gen. Grant regarding The order Oh Zen.
Sckles of October last, suspendng the lnfleuon Oh
corporal punishment, by order OF the Courts oil the
states of North and South Carolina. The Commits
soners over that Of the civil authorities OF North
(arolna are fully established, the Courts shall be
permitted TO enforce the State status and hence they
will demand the revocation OF the order lhey also
state that one Of the criminal courts wall SIT IN lew
DAYS and that unless the order is revoked, criminals
must go unpublished They will have an interview
With the President tomorrow Gen. Grant beng out
of town, they will await his return.
The receipts Of Internal Revenue from Jaly last,
10 this date inclusive amount to the heavy aggregate
of SIJs 100 939 W. This is rate OF over S9o0OOO
prr diem, which, il continued would amount to
nearly $3.50 900 900 for this fiscal year. But allow.
anca must be made Tor the customary reduction OF
manufactures. During the Spring months alter the
market has been stocked, a fair estimate been made
which shows not extTavagant to expect an aggregate
for this fiscal year of $500 000,0 600. Add 10 these
figures the receipts from customs and other sources,
ana the entire revenue of the Government for the year
will probably reach the enormous sum OF SJ65, OOOOOO
The subject OF the seryiceabillty OF the ARTIFICIAL
limbs furnished by various manufacturers TO the sol
ders Of the late is now being investigated by the
House Committee on Military Affairs This investi.
cation reveals the fact that but small proportion oil
these limbs prove 10 be durable while in many cases
they have been found to be wholly useless or SO I'M
perfect TO require expenditures in repairs equal TO
the original cost Of the limb. The Committee has
sent letters 20 nearly all the soldiers who have limbs
aud requested full reports regarding their serVlceao
ity &C.. and the investigations still IN progress
The price paid by the Government for artificial legs
S75 which is said by those competent to judge TO DO
amply sufficient for serviceabe limb, and 1t Is De-
lieyed that Congress will endeayor 20 compel the
manufacturers to do justice by the soldiers they nave
swndled.
Regarding the movement on foot to obtain the pas
sage Of bill granting pension Of 30 to each soaler
Tor widow OF sodier) Of the war Of 1872 the House
llnnnmiilae ON Pensions has made careful esllnate