The New York herald., 1869-01-31

L
in the newspapers. He was at loss to know why
ne had been subp9naed at all, and was then told
about the letter from New York. II is suspected by
certain parties here that the "General" wrote the
letter himself with view to having pleasant trip
to this city and back at the expense OF the govern
ment. sHN@
Candidates fdr tho speakership In the Next
Congress.
| The various candidates for Speaker OF the Forty
nrst Congress Gre busly engaged canvassing the
House for support, land Of course make the usual
number OF PROMISES General Butler on being
asked the other day whether he INTENDED to sup
port Blaine or Dawes. said he thought be would
| vote for Dawes as he was from his
State, and as he thought Dawes o good,
reliable man. Though it was to his interest to vote
for Blaine, because Blaine had promised to make HIM
chairman OF the Committee ON Appropriations in
stead OF Washbu'ne. General Butler added jocOsey,
with wicked twinkle In his best eye, 'hat arrange
ment, II made, would be bad for Grants adminis-
tration, because il he Butle was placed at the head
Of that committee he would OF course feel it his duty
TO cut down all the appropriations for Grants ad-
ministration as low as possfble.n
Illness Of Il. q. Washburne.
The severe labors incurred by Mr. f. B. Wash
burne OF Illinois, in endeavoring to arrest the ex-
travagance Of the republican party in the House and
to defeat the various schemes brought before it to
bleed the Treasury and to foster monopolies, have
Frustrated him so much that yesterday he was un-
able to be in his seat in the House, and to-day he
was compelled to 60 home at an early hour. In his
absence General Butler will have charge OF the up
Precipitation bills in the House,
Another Railroad Job Defeated.
1t appears thai yesterday, in the Senate Com
mittee on Pacific Railroads, the omnibus bill,
carrying nearly a dozen railroads and a fabulous
quantity OF land and bonds along with it,
came under discussion which lasted but a
Icw minutes when vote was taken on Its
passage in committee. resulting in the defeat OF the
bill by six TO five, being about the same ratio as the
vote defeating the Central Branch Pacific Railroad
in the Senate. good many Senators, however,
who voted for the further extension Of subsidies to
this road have disposition to vote for subsidies
any other; but they consider the honor or the gov
ernment was more or less pledged TO furnish the
same assistance to this line as was gwen to the
Union Pacific. In fact 1t is claimed the Central
Branch had prior right. ana is the identical route
to the Pacific that Tom Benton advocated for thirty
years, and to which he finally succeeded in directing
practical attention Besides, 1t is held the govern
ment committed itself to the assistance OF this road
at the start, and ought not to. desert it now.
Montana Indian War Claims.
The Senate Committee on Territories had meet
ing to-day to consider claim which has been before
them for some time to reimburse the Territory Of
Montana for expense incurred in equpping
troops and supplying quartermasters and COM
missary stores in the Indian war Of 1863
and 1867. Governor Green Clay Smith made
an argument in support Of the claim, contending
that the United States government was responsible
for the expense to which the Territory Of Montana
was put by reason OF the inability OF the general
IN fha Of no eff
and ward off the predatory attacks Of the hostile
Indian tribes. J. NJ. Kavanagh, delegate from
Montana. made similar argument. Neither Of
these gentlemen asked that bill appropratng the
amount OF expense incurred, $1l50, 900, be intro
duced, but that q commissioner be appointed to
audit the accounts OF expenditure and report after
the examination to Congress- The committee, how
ever are divided on this question Of the RESPONSE.
bilty Of the general government, and the authority
OF the Governor Of the Territory to raise and equip
troops where the United States forces were
In charge and deemed adequate to the emergency is
good deal doubted. A letter from General Sher
man was read In which he states thar he ordered
General Augur to 20 10 Montana In answer to the
representations from there regarding Indian hostii
ties. General Augur reported that the accounts
exaggerated and that the United States troops
were equal the demands Of the stua tion; but he
found the Governor had already organized troops
though he was unable 10 see the necessity for their
employment. The committee came 10 no conclusion
and agreed to adjourn till Monday, when the subject
will be resumed again.
A New Department in the Government Proc
posed.
Senator Wilson is strongly OF opinion that the
time has arrived for erecting the Revenue Bureau
into a distinct department OF the government
with q secretary at Its head, holding seat In
xt.a rotsu vIo hniia a in Inn
country to-day adequate to the responsibility OF
managing the Treasury as It ought to be managed
while II Is encountered as at present The revenue
has grown to be the most important feature In the
government administration and the morality, wei
fare and prosperity OF the nation demand that all the
ability. integrity and attention that can be secured
be given to Its management. On the revenue depend
the most vital interests OF the people. II regu-
lated and collected with honesty and energy
the quick payment Of the national debt,
the reduction OF taxation, the resumption OF
specie payments and the general happiness Of the
masses will follow, without the necessity OF any
legislative tinkering with the finances. Senator
Wilson Is very earnest in the view he takes OF the
overshadowng importance attaching to an efficient
management OF the revenue, and he hopes, under
Grant, step in the right direction viii be taken.
lie disclams, altogether, harboring the intention OF
tying Grants hands In his bill amending the Civil
Tenure act, and contends there is nothing to pre-
vent the President elect from making clean sweep
OF all the rogues in the revenue and OF incompetent
of1cials elsewhere.
The Recenstructiou Quesaiou.
The Committee on Reconstruction has become
thoroughly wearied with Its investigation Of AFFAIRS
In Virginia, Mississippi and Georgia. and to-day de-
cided to close ali the testimony and argument con.
cerning these States. In accordance with the reso-
luton OF the House the committee VIII submit re-
port embodying the result OF their Investigations
Settlers Driven on by Indians do Not For.
felt their Claims.
The Commissioner OF the General Land once, In
reply to an inquiry OF Senators Ross and Pomeroy
relative to the rights Of pre-emption and homestead
settlers public lands in the western part OF Kan
sas, who are compelled to abandon their residence
on their claims in consequence Of danger to them