New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-12-22
WASHINGTON.

4
THE NEW POsT-OFFICE INVESTIGATION
| AMERICAN COMMERCE.
| fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUEBl
| WASHINGTON. Tuesday Dec a, 1869.
The Senate Finance Committee to-day discussed at
length Secretary Boutwelps proposition Of retiring thirty
five millions OF the three per cent certificates, and Issuing
in their stead thiry-hve millions of national bank
rency to supply the South West and other localities
with the requisite banking facilities The Committee are
understood look with favor this proposition There
are several members OF the Committee who would in
crease 1t to fortyfye millions In order that there might
be ample banking facilities wherever the people desire it.
The subject will be resumed tomorrow, with view Of
maturing bill at once, as there is strong pressure In
the South and West for such additional banking facilities
| 1t is understood that the Committee decidedly
| opposed to any further imitation Of the currency
In the Senate, Mr.. Trumbull made another effort TO
get up the bill to admit Virginia. but the Senate showed
no disposition TO hurry in the matter and Mr. Trumbul
had TO give II up. Thayer and Howard inmated that
there was cause for investigation into the elections
in the State, and until all the charges carefully
amined they would oppose admission Finding useless
TO attempt put the Census bill through before the ho
days, resolution passed suspending the law under
which the last census taken, which will enable Con-
gress to complete the bill on reassembing
| RThe House to-day went promptly to work the
Georgia BILL and the discussion earnest and interest
| Ing voorhees, began the debate in fowery speech,
with the usual reference TO the Constitution Eldredge,
Potter Co. made speeches against the bill IN the came
strain. The speeches were limited TO twenty minutes,
and much complaint made, as usual, about cutting
off debate Senator Bingham made a very forcible
speech In opposition TO the BILL which greatly delighted
the Democrats who gathered about his desk Butler
In adjacent seat vigorously taking notes At the
cuson Of his Speech Bnghum moved that the subject
be postponed until the third Wednesday January.
Finally Butler got the floor to close the debate before
taking the vote at O'Clock, and made excellent
lost, Yeas "a Nays, H. only four Republicans in the
affirmative and the bill then passed by vote Of 12
against So Bingham and Farnsworth being the only Re-
publicans voting with the Democrats.
The House to-day amended the resolution for recess
by extending the time the 10th Of January instead Of
the 6th. The Senate will probably concur.
The question OF settling in some amcable way the
trouble respecting the rank OF staff and line officers Of the
Navy was again discussed to-day by the House Naval
Committee The Secretary Of the Navy not having COM
piled with the resolution calling upon him to furnish
copy of the report Of the Naval Board this subject tho
matter was postponed until after the recess,
Last week the House Naval Committee passed a resolu
ton calling the Secretary Of the Navy for the report
of the Board organized during November settle the
difference between the line and the staf officers Of the
Navy in regard rank The Secretary has not yet re-
piled to the resolution, but contemplaes reconyening
the Board for the purpose Of having report made
The original report simply the ideas and wishes Of the
the whole staff corps Of the Navy Surgeon Wood
member OF the Board at the time the report made
submitted written protest In behalf the staff officers Of
the service This protest would have TO be submitted 70
Congress with the report Of the Board The Secretary,
however, is impressed with its arguments that It is
his desire to have the Board and make
equitable and definite settlement OF the points at issue
The confirmation OF Mr.. Hoar Ju tice OF the Su.
preme Court Is In grave doubt The Judiciary Commit
has yet reported for the action OF the Senate and
before stated Il is not probable that any action will
be taken until after the The principal argument
against him in the Committee, and among Senator's Is
that 10 would be unjust TO impose a New.Engand man
Southern Circuit, when there number Of emil.
nent lawyers from whom selection could be made All
the Justices the Bench from the North, and the
Southern Senators will certainly oppose him. careful
Of the Senate has been made and 1t is asserted
that there are at least twothirds of the members who
viii vote against him.
Admiral Porter appeared before the House Special
Committee on the causes OF the decay Of American
merce, and gave HIS the relations OF steam
mercantile marine 10 tho national defense and the means
by which the prosperity Of our shipping interests may
DO revived The Admirals evidence was very long and
interesting He gave his opinion that We should have
least forty Millions at the outset OF the late
war; II VIC had had feet OF steamships, like those used
in the Atlantic lines which might have been turned
into bockading fleet. He thought that TO encourage
American steamship lines subsidies were needed, and
they might be in tho form OF ocean postage or OF direct
payment for the trip. The Admiral favored such aid to
mail steamers, and drawback on the materials used In
shpbuldng equal to the amount Of duty on them, but
is opposed 70 free registration Of foregnbut ships as
utterly destructive Of mechanical and building in
terests. He believed It would DO necessary 10
allow OF the purchase OF come "a steamships and their
registration the purpose OF being mt used IN
ablshng mail steamship lines, with such an acquisition
and the protection accorded by subsidies and drawbacks
Tho Admiras opinion that within two three years
the American carrying trade would revive. He thought
that Of the utmost Importance that the United
states should have steam marine the vessels OF which
could transferred at oneo into cruisers occasion re-
qured He further It as his opinion that 80 vessels
OF the class described above would be OF more service III
case Of war; than combined navy at present con
stltuted.
Numerous letters have been received by Congressman
I'm regard 10 the Naval COurMartal which sat In Boston
during October and December and tried and convicted
Lieut. Commander seelcy OF the Navy for cruelty to sea-
man while an officer on board the United States steamer
Pavnee These letters emanate mostly from naval OH
GERS and complain that the courmaItial which tried
seeey set bad precedent TO good discipline IN the Navy
nv allowing seeleys superior officer the commander OF
the Pawnee to escape trial This officer was Capt CHtz
and he had command Of the Pawnee at the time the
alleged cruelty perpetrated, while seeley was mere
sphordipate acting as executive officer The steamer
was on the high at the Time and 10 appears In EVIL
denee that Capt CZ informed OF The cruel ana In
human treatment some OF his were receiving, but
refused to interfere saying that everything was In the
hands Of his executive officer and whatever he did was
all rignn II also appears In evidence that one OF the
most important witnesses for the prosecution was allowed
10 decamp so as unable to testify by the careless
ness of Capt Clitz After the holidays resolution VIII
be introduced In Congress calling on the Navy Depart
Inent for the facts In the case.
An amusing discussion occurred IN the Executive
session OF the Senate to-day especially interesting TO
newspaper readers. 1t came up on the announcement
made by prominent Senator that 1t was Illuminating TO
rho dignity Of the Senate detrimental to the progress