New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-12-23

WASHINGTON, Dec. o. 1867.
Wall-st is in tremor over Senator Sherlnans bli'
and communications by the score have been scnt I'D
members of Congress protesting against the clauses
proyiding for the taxation Of the bonds, and OBJECT
ing to Sherman's bill III general. Froma canvass OF
the House. however it may be positively stated tha'
majority ara in favor of that section of the bills
and tboueb the laws say that they shall not be SUD-
;ect 70 State or municipal taxation, the statutes
nowhere define that they shall not be liable To taAa-
ton by Congress, if deemed advisable. Ihere Is "
very strong disposition TO subject them TO taAauoh
now, and before the final adjournment OF the pseno
session takes place. bill efectng that purpose VIII
undoubtedly be passed.
There is considerable discussion here on the Dis
trict Suffrage bill striking out the word white"
from the laws of the District Of Columbia, and allows
ing negroes to sit on juries, dc. which was passed
some DAYS ago. but which had not been sent TO Com
Qress by the President within the 10 days prescribed
by law, the adjournment having taken place Deiore
their expiration. The President and his friends hold
that the law is now virtually dead, and that Com
gress will have to repass the they wish 10
pnt it on the statute books But this is mistake as,
according to oil the precedents, the tenth day WIZ
not have expired until Tuesday JAN T. 1863 Inc
interval is only of Congress, and not an a'>
journment.
partnents. 20 members of Congress and to the Cons
mittee. it is probable that the order reducing thu
force of workmen in the Government service VIII
not be enforced on the 1st of January but VIII Dd
suspended until the present OF distress over
and general business somewhat revlyes. "neh tha
order reducing the force III the Ordnance Department.
was received there last Friday, deputat:on Of the
workmen was Immediately appointed TO wait on the
Secretary of the Navy. Mr.. Welles stated that lbs
regretted very much the necessity of dischargDg SD
large number Of men, and said that II he received
an official notification from the Committee on Naval
Affairs he would be glad to suspend the order.
Messrs Archer and Stevens, two members OF the
Committee. have written letters recommending the
suspension of the ORDER and other worklngmens
committees entertain strong hopes that the ORDER WIZ
not be enforced.
At the last session of Congress the law for the COLI
lection of the direct in the Southern States was
in consideration of their distressed and unsettled con-
dition at that time, suspended until after January -
1868 and the Commissioners who had been appointed
were recalled. large number Of applications have
been filed here within the last two weeks for these
positions in the expectation that the statute VIII be
enforced next month The Secretary OF the Treasury,
however. communicated few days ago with tho
Ways and Means Committee on the subject and sug-
gested the adysabiliy of granting further eXten-
sion of the time within which the law shonld not
90 into operation on account of the general inability
of the Southern States to pay. The Committee arc
divided in opinion the subject and 1t Is uncertain
what course they will pursue but the Secretary has
determined to make no appointments until some
definite conclusion shall have been arrived at by
Congress. Leading Southern men have sent strong
letters asking for furthersspension OF the s,atutes
Gen. McCOok has just received by telegraph tho
full report OF the San Francisco Chamber Of Cons
Il flo r-,ftta paf In
Reciprocity treaty with the Sandwich Islands. The
dispatch consists of $50 words Its strongest and
best argument is that while the United States would
lose $4,000 a year in sugar she would Sc
cure to herself the freedom Of the islands their nse
for all practical purposes,l populate them with
Americans, and have fair pretext for resist
ing their occupation by England or France
as an appanage of those crowns. The document
shows very cOaclusively what these islands
fully as necessary to the welbeing of great and
growing commerce in the Pacific and in the China
Seas as the cebergs of Walrussa and the yolca-
noes of ST. Thomas to the general and picturesquc-
ness of America. But Congress has taken high
grounds, latterly in virtue of retrenchment. They
allow no jugs anywhere about the Capitol, save liz
the Committee rooms. The Senate has just made d
dazzling reduction Of the national expenditures by
cutting off its own supplies OF stationery. Temper<
ance and economy is the Congressional war-crY
now and it is just possible that may lose our most
valuable way station in the Pacific TO save shll<
lings worth of sugar revenues to the country. Two
more such bursts of virtue and retrenchment those
l have quoted wOuld be dangerous in the extreme.
They might result in the translation of these modern
EnOchs and leave Congress without aquorum.
The only bills signed by the President that wero
not reported Congress before adjournment are tho
bill changing the time of holding the annual meot~
ing of the stockholders of the Union Pacific Railroad
Company, and the bill changing the name of Samuel
Chase Barney. The other bills in the hands of the
President fail for lack of his approval except the bill
to incorporate the First Presbyterian Church of this
city, which was not presented to the Executive until
yesterday morning and. of course, was too late To
receive his signature as the President has no anthor-
itv to afix his name and approval after the day on
which Congress adjourns The Chairman OF the
Senate Committee on EngrOssng Bills says that he
he did not get possession of the bill last mentioned
until Yesterday and therefore failed TO get it TO
tbe President in time to authorize the Executive
signature.
A new organization of the Attorney Generals
Office is generally approved the object being, far
as NAV be practicable, TO bring solicitors and law
officers in the various Departments under the genera
control of the Attorney General Ii is argued that
this will result in bringing about conformity and conc
sstency the rulings upon legal questions of great
Importance instead of the conflict Of opinion among
the Department solicitors and the Attorney General
that often happens under the present system Of Dis,
trct law officers for each department. or bureau each
independent of the other
Senator Howard. who has charge of the Stanton
investigation is bnsy engaged i'm preparing o report
that subject 1t stated that he has caledo on tho
Executive Department of the Government for furthe
OaflO apHf hQf fln vii hA