New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-03-28
WASHINGTON.

AMERICAN STEAMSHIP LINE-NAVAL APPRO-
PRIATION BILL-THE MANUFACTURE TAX
ELECTROMAGNETIC POsT-oFFICE-
wHIsKY-NEw TREATY WITH GREAT BRITAIN
COINAGE AND CURRENCY.
.. TELEGRAPH TOIrHE
WASHINGTON, Friday, March p, 1868.
We have nothing to note in the matter of impeach-
ment unless il be to the oft-repeated report
that the House Managers on the one hand and the
President's counsel on the other are busy engaged
IN preparing their respective sides Of the case. It's
generally known that Mr.. Butler will present the
case for the House of Representatives on Monday.
That gentleman has been busy the last three or four
DAYS writing his argument, which, it is said. will be
one of the ablest and most elaborate efforts ever
presented in an American court. He
will read it from the manuscript, and its
delivery will consume nearly five hours. In 1t
will be incorporated brief survey of the authorities
upon the law of Improbable crimes and oftenses,
which has been prepared by Mr.. Lawrence, one OF
the managers. There is much speculation as TO the
length of the trial. The Senate, as may be seen from
the order adopted on last Wednesday, are anxious to
make the proceedings and the trial as short as pos
sible, consistently with justice and proprety The
order alluded to prescrbes that the trial shall proceed
with all dispatch under the miles of the Senate,
sitting upon the trial of impeachment" The third
rule of the Senate Impeachment rules says that the
trial shall proceed from day day. Sundays excepted
unless otherwise ordered. Notwithstanding the
desire that the proceedings should not be unneces
sary delayed OF protracted, the general impression
Ia wellinformed circles is, that the trial cannot DC
finished in less than four weeks. The House Mana
gers have subpenaed about score of witnesses, ana
the Presidents counsel have probably called twice
that number The tactics to be pursued on the other
side are not known, but it may be safely asserted
that no legrl bubble which may have the effect OF
nrnlou zinc he caee will ba left untried.
Judge Black says that he declined to be one of the
Presidents counsel because it impossible for him
TO defend the President long he sustained the
Secretary of State in the Alta Vela case and he was
well satisfied that the President did sustain Mr..
Seward, and would continue to do SO.
The usual weekly meeting of the Cabinet was held
to-day All the Secretaries attended, including Gd
interim Thomas in place of Secretary Stanton.
Nothing special was done.
The House COmmitte on Post-Ofices and Post
Roads agreed to report bin to-day providing for the
establishment of an American line of mail and emil
grant passenger steamships between New-York and
Bremen, touching at Southampton, England. The
net provides that the Postmaster-General of the
United States shall be empowered to contract with
the Commercial Navigation Co., a corporation exist
ing under the State of New-YOIk, chartered April %,
1866 for the weekly conveyance of all European and
foreign mails of the United States between New
York and Europe. The bill prescribes that the
Steamship Company shall fit out, within one year
from the passage of the act seven hrstclass seago
ing steamships five of which shall be OF not less than
1900 tuns burden each and two Others not less than
1000 tuns each These vessels to be constructed
under the inspection Of the American LOyds, or. If
ordered, under the supervision of Government en-
gneer. Tho compensation for said service shall be
IN conformity with the act of Congress approved
June II, 1885, and to secure the construction
of these vessels the Postmaster General
Sc authorized in anticipation of the moneys that may
become due to the said company, TO guarantee the
payment and interest Of the bonds TO be issued by
the Company, TO the amount Of not more than
abOO COO such bonds to be payable at the expiration
of 10 years with interest at per cent payable semi
annually in the coin of the United States None of
the bonds shall have this guaranty except as each
one of the vessels is completed, and then not IN
amount over 80 per cent OF the actual
cost OF each vessel The United States in considera-
ton of this guaranty has first lien on all the said
steamships as the fifty per cent OF the guaranteed
bonds are delivered, which first mortgage shall re-
serve to the United States all Of said steamships
The Postmaster General shall receive all money upon
postage earned by the company which is to be de-
voted to the payment of the interest the surplus to
he formed into sinking fund 70 be applied to the
payment of the principal OF the bonds
The vessels shall be Differed by cltl-
sens of the United States, and the Government
shall have the right TO said ships as vessels OF
war whenever the exigencies OF the United states
nav require Among other clauses 1t is provided
that the rights and privileges thus granted shall not
he assienable, it being the intent and meaning OF
the act TO establish an American line Of steam YES
sells for the transportation Of mails and emigrants
between New-York and the ports above named.
In the Senate, to-day, during the morning hour,
Mr. Cattell made speech on the bill which he IN
troduced some time ago, to prohibit any national
bank from paying interest on the deposits OF any
other national bank and TO prohibit any officer or
agent of the Government from receiving any consid-
Grafton for deposits of public money etc. At the
conclusion Of Mr.. CattelPs speech, Mr. Cameron TOOK
the AOOr in opposition to the BILL and after short
and effective speech from him. the subject was post
poned for the present The Naval Appropriation bill
was taken up and discussed but final action was not
reached. The Senate refused TO concur in the
amendment recommended by the Finance Commit
Tee 70 strike out the provision Of the House bill
Yeouirne the civil engineer and the master mechanics
Of the navy-yards to be confirmed by the Senate
Considerable debate greeted this proposition. Some
Senators ridiculed the notion of the Senate having
10 confirm blacksmiths, carpenters, sailmakeTs,
etc but on a cali IOf the Yeas and Nays
the proviso to this effect was retained The
Committee of Conference on the Manufacturers Tax
hill made o report which provoked some debate upon
certain new features which have been introduced
into the bill by the Conference Committee and II
was at length agreed TO have the bill printed as
a0reed upon 1t then went over until tomorrow
This was private bill day in the House, and the
rst hour of the Session devoted 70 the consider
alton of bills of that character Afterward the Pres
idents veto Of the Supreme Court bill was taken NJ