, 1868-07-24


duction of the enlisted men in the regular
service to 26,000, to be contained in 80 regi-
ments Of infantry, of cavalry, and 4 of ar
lillery. 1t contemplates the appointment of
board of officers to prepare plan for car
rying into affect its provisions.
BANQUET TO REvERDY JOHNSON.
Baltimore, July 16. = The banquet to
Reverdy johnson last night was very pelas-
ant occasion. John w. Garrett was Presi,
dent. johnson made lengthy response to
a toast in bis honor, expressing his confident
hopes that all questions with England shall
be disposed of SO as to remove al. embarrass.
ments. Thornton, the British Minister, ex-
pressed his qualification at the appointment.
EXCESSIVE HEAT IN MONTREAL.
Montreal, July l6.-Thermometer LOG in
the shade, and ten sun stroke cases in the
city yesterday.
CONGRESSIONAL. ....r
Washington. July 17.-In the Senate,
Chandler reported bill extending the laws
of the United States relative to Customs,
navigation and commerce over Alaska, and
establishing a Collection District therein,
which was passed The bill makes Sitka
Port of Entry. Special privilege for travels
ing will be given under the law for the pres
ent United States District Courts of Cali
fornia and Oregon are 10 take cognizance Of
all violations of law in the Territory.
Schenck, from Committee on Ways and
Means reported the Senate funding bill with
thirteen amendments The first limits the
H. - ho al ha
second makes all bonds forty years bearing
compound interest third, sixth and seventh
underwent verbal changes; eighth strikes
out Sd section and provides for the manner
of converting old bonds into new. Another
amendment provides for tax on the income
| from bonds to be assessed and collected by
the treasurer or disbursing officer in the same
currency in which the interest is paid, said
collection to be made by deducting the
amount of tax from coupons or interest due
at the time of payment.
Washington, July 17.-In the Senate the
credentials of -Abbott-.and Pool, Senators
from North Carolina, were presented, and
! both gentlemen took the oath.
Cattel called up the bill providing for the
issue Of three per cent. certificates to the
amount of S25, 10000 for the purpose of
retiring outstanding compound interest notes.
After debate, the bill passed.
Wilson, from the Military Committee, re.
ported book the bill reducing the army to
peace establishment.
At the evening session of the House the
bill to pay Henrie St. Marie $4,000 for his
services in procuring the arrest of Surratt,
was passed.
The Alaska appropriation bill was passed,
omitting the section declaring the joint pow
ers of the House with the President and
Senate to contract treaties.
In the House the Senate funding bill, re-
ported from the Ways and Means Committee,
was referred to the Committee of the Whole.
The credentials from the Alabama repres-
entatiyes were referred to the Committee on
Elections, when the House went into Com
mittee of the Whole on the funding BILL
The first amendment, providing for only one
| class of bonds, was agreed to. During the
discussion, Stevens took strong grounds in
favor of paying 5,20's in greenbacks. He
said, l hold to the Chicago platform, and as
l understand it on that point, 10 the New
York platform, that these bonds shall be
paid according to the original contract
A Member: The law, Mr.. Stevens, ac-
cording to law.
Mr.. Pike: The spirit and the letter of
the contract. ,-
MIR. Stevens: What was that law ? That
the interest should be paid up to certain
time at six per cent. in coin. After the
bonds fell due it would be payable in money
just as the gentleman from Illinois under
stood it. just as he (Stevens) understood
it. just as all understood when the law was
enacted. Just as was explained on the floor
dozen times by the chairman of the com.
mittee of Ways and Means. If he knew any
party In the country would go for paying in
coin that which was payable in money thus
enhancing the debt one half if he knew
there was such platform aud such determ-
ination on the part of his own party, he
would with Frank Blair and all vote for the
other party. He would vote for no such
swlndle on the taxpayers of the country
The discussion was continued at great
length, when the committee finally rose, and
took recess till evening, when the funding
bill will again be considered. A number of
amendments to various portions of the bill
were proposed and generally rejected.
THE HEATED TERM.
New York, July 16-The thermometer
was at $50 to day. There were about 100
cases of prostration from heat yesterday and
many to-day. About half of them proved
fatal Among the deaths from sun-stroke
to-day was DR.. W. T. G. Morton, the discov-
erer of ether. Thirty sun,stroka eases we're
reported in Albany yesterday Twenty one
proved fatal. There we're l3 deaths from
the same cause in Philadelphia; Is cases in
Baltimore, and great many in other portions
of the country.
THE NEW TAX BILL.
Chicago, July lS.-It is difficult to give
an abstract of the provisions of the new
tax bill. The tax on whiskey is fixed at so
cents. Wholesale dealers pay S1OO on ans
nual sales II not over 80 mn one dollar