The New York herald., 1869-01-09
A Bill Authorizing the Government to
Purchase Raw Cotton Intro
duced in the Senate.
Debate on the Civil Service Bill
in the House.
The Telegraph and the Whiskey
Ring in League.

WASHINGTON, Jan. s, 1869.
Meeting of the Senate Finance Committee.
The Senate Finance Committee had meeting this
morning and considered nominations for Collector or
customs at New Orleans, and Collector and Assessor
of Internal Revenue for the Second districtof Louis
nana, without taking final action The discussion OF
financial matters occupied most OF the time, but no
definite results were reached as to what plan the
committee will adopt towards furnishing the Senate
with bill for the regulation of the finances.
The Virginia Reconstruction Committee.
The committee appointed by the conference Of
citizens from different parts OF Virginia, which met
at Richmond on December 81, arrived here to-day.
1t consists Of A. H. H. Stuart, chairman; Messrs.
John L. Marye, Jr.. OF Fredericksburg; James F.
johnson, Of Bedford w. T. Sutherlin, OF Danville;
Wyndham Roberts, OF Washington county; w. 8.
Owen, OF Halifax; John B. Baldwin, OF Augusta;
James Nelson, Of Richmond, and J. F. Slaughter, OF
Iynchburg. The object OF the committee in visiting
washington Ia to ascertain the best terms on which
Virginia can be restored to the Union. The action
Of the committee will conclude nothing as IL is to be
knbmitted 20 o convention Of delegates elected py
the people, proposed to be held In Richmond on the
10th of February.
The committee had q private meeting tonight,
at which they formally organized. The proceed
hngs were confined to general exchange OF
although the programme is considered settled. The
committee will remain in permanent organization,
keeping quorum Of their body here until something
"a accomplished for the relief OF the State. They
have pledged themselves to allow no discouraging
or untoward events to deter them from the earnest
and persistent pursuit Of the object In view. No
changes will be made in the committee, letter hav-
ang been received from Windham Robertson that
although detained, he would soon arrive here The
Committee win meet to- morrow at nine O'Clock and
remain in full session until Wednesday OF next week.
when probably all but q quorum win go home, with
the understanding that some VIII return and relieve
shose here on duty, thus keeping constantly in ses
sion. prepared to take advantage OF any circum
ftance which may arise towards accomplishing the
object {: H;eif ss;eeiif meeting is:Ss.!.ns
/ Reconstruction or Georgia.
The Senate Judiciary Committee Is said to stand
three to four In favor Of reconstructlng Georgia No
meeting was held to-day, and 1t Is believed no action
win be taken till Wednesday next on Senator Ed
Mnnd6 bilL
Murder Of Government Omcers bv Mexicans.
The Treasury Department has just received the
full details OF the attack on Carksve, Texas, and
the murder OF Inspectors Phelps and Hammond.
The party which committed the crime was composed
Of Mexicans and negroes, and was organized In
Mexico Phelps was shot In the head and had ten
body shows i've knife wounds. any one Of which
would have been mortal. After committing the afro
sious deeds the gang recrossed the Rio Grande into
Mexico The Secretary OF the Treasury hos addressed
. communication to the Secretary of War, calling
mis- attention TO the outrage and requesting that
Texas is still under military government, measures
may be taken to bring the assassns to justice and to
guard against the repetition Of similars acts Of vio
lence. The authorities Of the Treasury have ascer
OF the whiskey ring and, moreover, that certain
telegraph companies are In league with the whiskey
ring kilograms that were sent from here to ofcers
OF customs and internal revenue at New Orleans
were known to outside parties almost soon a. they
put the wires. and dispatches from officers
IN New Orleans In reference to AFFAIRS IN Texas were
known to members OF the whiskey ring here before
they were received at the department Measures
have been adopted by the War Department to secure
the safety in future OF officers OF the government
on duty along the Rio Grande.
Expenditures Of the Treasury Department.
Some indignation was aroused in the Treasury
Department by the speech Of Mr.. E. B. washburne on
economy in the administration OF the government.
Mr.. Washburne, 1t seems, stated that the Treasury
Department recklessly expended in the erection OF
government buildings $685. 900 over and above the
appropriation made by Congress last session, where
upon he proceeded to denounce such wild extrava-
gance In the strongest terms The Treasury authori-
tres say, in reply to this that they have not gone
beyond the amount appropriated; the other hand,
small balance remains to the credit Of the appro-
priation. Work has been suspended in all cases
where the appropriation is exhausted. They afirm,
besides, that $9oo,ooo Of the see5oO0 referred is
intended for works that have not yet been CON-
menced, and, therefore, cannot be expended, the
appropriations being deemed too small to justify the
commencement OF the buildings The Treasury on
GERS say that their case Is peculiarly hard when
viewed from Mr.. washburnes standpoint. Con-
gress they say authorizes the erection OF buildings
and orders estimates to be made therefor and then
abuses them for demanding such large appropna-
tions.
The Alleged Alaska Fraud.
The Committee on Public Expenditures had a ses-
sion to-day, but did not examine any witnesses.
Colonel Martin, who seems to have been at the bot.
tom Of the stories about corruption In connection
with the Alaska purchase, has failed thus far to
answer the committees summons to appear. Mr..
Noah, correspondent OF the New York Democrat has
been subpenaed.
The Moorhead Tariff Bill.
The Wavs and Means Committee were In session
again to-day and discussed the amendments to be
proposed in Committee OF the Whole to Moorhead,s
Tariff bill. Several amendments were proposed but
pending their consideration the committee ad-
journed.
The Busfeed Investigation.
The subcommittee Of the judiciary examined
two witnesses to-day, John A. Cuthbert ana Peter
Hamilton, Of Mobile, Ala Cuthbert was clerk OF
the court over which Busted presided In Alabama,
and his testimony related to the manner in which
the records OF the kept. The prosecution
relied to great extent upon the testimony Of these
two witnesses to prove the charges against Busteed
but It Ia said they failed to do 80 to-day. A few
more witnesses remain to be produced for the pros
ecution when the case for the defence VIII be
opened.
Observapcc Of the Eighth Of Januarys
The anniversary OF the battle Of New Orleans is OBJ
served here by the display OF nags from the public
buildings and hotels, that is ALL
Claims for Salvage.
The Secretary OF War transmitted to the House to-
day the claim OF the officers and crew of the n,ted