New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-01-26

I'LL
mttee on Retrenchment on the subject of the over
land mail contracts and the connection Herewith of
Mr. Spades and Wells Fargo & Co. He also at
tempted to sustain the action of tho Post-Ofiice
Department in refusing to contract with the lowest
bidders and accepting the terms of the present con-
tractors. He stated that Spades declined to carry
the mails unless pro rata amount was pad Tor the
extra mail matter authorized by act of Congress.
Assessor Websters 100000 levy upon Walst.
does not seem to progress satisfactorily. The Com
missioner of Internal Revenue has not made any de-
csion yet. as the case can hardly be said to have
been fairly brought before him. Mr.. Webster has
stated his claim and enforced his view of it with his
customary zeal. He claims that the provision of law
which prescribes a tax of Ia of one per cent
per month on Capital used in Banking
business" should be taken to apply to the call loans
of the brokers obtained on the pledge of the stocks
bought for account of their customers 1t is certainly
a novel ideavthat these temporary loans should be
considered as the capital proper of the broker but
Mr.Webster hopes to make the Commissioner and the
Courts view it in this light and get some 100000
OF additional per annum from the bulls and
bears 1t has been questioned by some of the parties,
in interest whether there is not Matchmaking IN
tention at the bottom of the case but there is no
foundation whatever for such idea, the whole
movement being prompted by a desire on Mr..
Wobsters part to increase the revenues of his Dis
trict. Col Olcott the counsel who has the interest
of the brokers and bankers in charge, has printeda
pamphlet setting forth the points in controversy.
The Judiciary Committee Of the Senate submitted
to-day a resolution recommending that the Hon.
Joshua Hill of Georgia be not admitted as Senator
from that State Accompanying the resolution is
long report reviewing the events in Georgia, political
and otherwise from the date of Gen. Meade's prOcla
nation declaring the adoption of the Constitution,
up to the present time. In considering the matter,
the Committee say the of Mr. Hill depends upon
three considerations. FirSt-Did the Legislature of
Georgia regularly organized in accordance with the
Constitution of the United States aud the COnstltu-
tiOn Of Georgia, duly ratty the Fourteenth Amend
mcnt, and comply 18th the various conditions I'M
posed by the act of June p, 1865. SeCORdHave the
Legislature and the people Of Georgia. subsequent TO
such compliance, committed such acts of usurpatiOn
and outrage as TO place the State III condition unt
to DO represented IN Congress Ihird-Nhether IN
the whole case. taking the action OF Georgia, D0th
before and since the pretended ratihcaton OF
the Fourteenth Amendment, a civil GOyeyern-
ment has been established ~ that state
which Congress ought to recognize these questions
must be answered by the law and the facts. The
Committee then proceeded to quOte the proclamation
of Gen. Meade calling the Legislature together, ana
his correspondence relative to the eligibility OF GER
tain of its members and also reviews at some length
the action Ofthe Legislature itself on the same SUBJECT
and expresses the opinion that no doubt eXsJs tat
the number Of disqualified members was large, but
an of these members were allowed to retain their
seats in direct violation of the Fourteenth Amend
ment. At the election OF Senator, MI I'M received
10 votes, Gov Brown -, aud Alexander H. Stephens
three and il is extremely possible that tins majority
received by Mr.. Hill was made up OF members
who were disqualified by the Fourteenth Amendment
The Committee next refer TO the expulsion OF the
colored members and state that It IS not possible TO
hold that no remedy for tins wrong IS now IN the
,,o,ver of Congress. q wrong by which more than
half tho people OF Georgia deprived Of the rights
and privileges TO which they are entitled In regard
70 fTe condition Of affairs in Georgia il is believed
IItq( zee
agents Of the FTeedmens Bureau that III that state
there have been $50 OF murder from January ID
1865 to November l. 1865, and for all those Ourages
there had been no legal redress ana the cV govern
ment has evinced its total nadequacy or It's total u
willingness to protect impartlay the nights OF all
the citizens, and, under all the circumstances,
the Committee have come TO the conclusion that
Georgia not entitled 20 representation IN Congress
Mr. Hendricks. the Democratic member OF the Com
mttee stated that he would give his views IN oppO-
sitOn when the subject came before the Senate, haY
ing been prevented by illness from preparing
minority report. The Chairman of the Committee
Mr. Irumbull, submitted minority report, which Is
very vOluminOus. He quotes from the Oihclal pro-
cecdings in Georgia the letters OF Gen, Meade ana
the orders of Cen Grant on the question OF the eg-
bility of members OF the Legislature, maintaining
that Georgia reconstructed according 10 Tie pre-
scribed forms. He also quotes the act OF jan %
1868 declaring Georgia entitled 10 representation IN
Congress and asserts that lt is not competent Tor the
Senate now to exclude the Representatives OF that
State The unfortunate dlhculty between the lIesl-
dent and Congress arose on this very pOlnt-the
President holding that each House must decide for
itself to the admttance of It's own members, ana
Congress holding that the two Houses coWOlhtly
must pass upon the question Of TepresCntatlOn-and
Congress having declared that Georgia is entitled 10
admission It IS not competent now Tor either House
to refuse admission 10 the regularly accredited repre-
scntatves Of that State. The Senate has no right TO
revise this action of Congress the charge that the
Fourteenth Amendment was not ntlhed IN good
faith. lt IS not sustained by particle OF evidence
The following are appended 10 the majority report
concur in the conclusion Of the report that Mr. H
made ROSCOE CoNKLSG.
concur IN theiconclusion Of the report that Mr. Hin
ought not now TO be admitted ana agree that the report
be made +. T. FRELNGHUYsEN.
The Election Committee this morning heard fur
Their argument from Judge Paschal OF Texas, IN be-
half Of Simon Jones. the contestant Of Col Mann,
deceased, who had been seated. Col Hunt and Mr.
Menard cOoredl desiring further hearing, the
Committee Will continue the case, and further argu-
ment will be heard tomorrow.
The Reconstruction Committee heard this morn
ing delegation OF Figlnla Methodlsts III opposition
70 the plan of the Committee OF Nine, 80 far as il
modfes the Constitution in the matter Of church
property.
ton Committee tomorrow TO testify as TO affairs IN
Virginia This Is in response to the request of the
Virginia Committee of Nine.
IL is reported that the negotiation Of Mr.. Seward
with the Republic of Colombia for the right Of way
to the Darien Canal Is a failure, and that Caleb
Gushing will return home without having accom-
plished his mission at BOgOta.
Special Agent Of the Treasury Department who
has been examining Customs affairs in Vermont,
recommends reduction of expenses. He reports
fayOrably the conduct of the House officer
IL Is estimated that there are at least 900 dis
tAeTles IN operation Throughout the country and re-
ports received at the Treasury Department show
that the number will be largely increased.
The decision OF the Supreme Court to-day in the
case OF the steamship China, affirmed the cOnstltu-
honality OF the New-YOrk Pilot laws, holding that
inbound vessels must have pilot and that the col
Hiding vessels IN the above case were responsible
according as they bad or had not pilots on board.
A former Collector Of Customs having disbursed
$4,000 for the erection of CustOB-1Ous and
Marine Hospital at Chicago, claimed One-fourth OF
one per cent for services The Supreme Court dis
allowed the claim on the ground that no GXtra com