New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-04-30
WASHINGTON.


IBI TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSE1
WASHINGTON Thursday, April 20, 1869.
President Grant telegraphed yesterday to the alb
sent members of his Cabinet, asking their attend
ance at meeting to be held tomorrow, at noon,
when he expects that all of his advisers will take
part in the conference which it is believed Will be
important. ~'', ~
The April Public Debt exhibit which will be issued
promptly on the LIST of May, will show decrease in
the debt of about s30O0OO0. The statement for May
will give even better showing, owing to the large
increase in Internal Revenue receipts derived from
the Income Tax to be paid next month, and from in
creased customs receipts The Treasury Department
has begun the payment Of the May interest on the
$40 bonds. The amount of coin in the Treasury
Yesterday was sl10 7O7 OOO of which $l90OoOOo are
| PAYABLE on demand upon coin certificates.
The President and Members of tho Cabinet were
the guests Of Secretary Borie to-day IN
an excursion down the Potomac in the
United States steamer Tallapoosa The party
consisted of the President and Mrs. Grant Miss
Nellie and Master Jesse Grant, Gen. Porter and fam
ily, Gen. Babcock and family Secretary Borie Min
ister Motley. Secretary Cox, Attorney General Hoar,
Marshal Sharpe and wife, Judge Dent, Gen. Badeau,
Gen. Dent. and several other invited guests. The
party were received at the Navy-Yard by salute of
Il guns The excursionists inspected the mansion
and grounds at Mount Vernon, and the improvements
going forward under the $1,000 appropriation by the
last Congress. Owing to the high winds which pre-
vailed during almost the entire day. the ladies OF the
party were compelled to remain in the cabin.
The Ways and Means Committee some time before
the adjournment Of Congress. had under discussion,
the subject of new reciprocity treaty with Canada.
The matter being finally referred to Messrs. Schenck
and Brooks as subcommittee, these gentlemen
were directors to examine the whole question, and
report whether or not ii was advisable to negotiate
a new treaty. The Committee had free confer
ences with the agents of the Canadian Govern
ment then in the city, and it was Thought
that Congress would not approve otfhe negotiation
by the Committee, and resolution was agreed upon
by the Committee, and finally passed by the House,
recommending that the President or Secretary Oh
State open negotiations with the Dominion OF Can
ada looking to treaty for the free navigation OF tie
ST. Lawrence River, the protection of the American
fisheries and a reciprocal trade with the Provinces
The adjournment of Congress then followed
and Secretary Fish was called upon by the
Canadian authorities to suggest some plan Tor
negotiation it being the desire of that Government
TO conclude treaty during the recess and have II
ready to submit to Congress at the next session.
Through some arrangement the Ways and Means
Committee have again become interested in the sub
,ect. and the Committee or some of the members OF
il will. during the Summer, visit Montreal ana
Ottawa in an official capacity for the purpose VI
observation aud conference.
Considerable interest has been created in the In
terror Department by the alleged discovery oil great
frauds having been perpetrated by claim agent on
tho Indian soldiers who served In the Territory west
of Arkansas About 200 men were mustered out OF
the Indian brigade. The Government was indebted
10 them 500 each for bounty and considerable back
ID. tor mt nrit ~
here at least 100 Of these claims passed into the
hands of one man. connected at the time with well
known law firm here, one member of which after
ward occupied high position under johnson. IL
appears that not moro than 10000 has been paid to
the Indians while the agent IS credited with receY-
ing the whole amount. The same party has also OBJ
tanned most of the extra bounty claims, 800 each
which are now beng paid half III goods, at store in
Fort Gibson, in the Cherokee Nation. The chiefs
protest against such payment The store is believed
TO be owned in part 10y the agent referred TO- Secre
tary Coxs attention has been called to the subject
Bv special dispatch TO The TRIBUNE Bureau here
from Richmond received tonight, il appears that
in the Conservative Convention in that city the
friends of the new movement triumphed, after an
earnest struggle by a vote of more than two to one
The minority acquiescng in good faith, the Conser-
natives will therefore no party candidates, ana
their old ticket is withdrawn. The Gubernatorial
contest is thus narrowed down to Gov. Wells
Radical, and Walker. Conservative Republican.
Walkers friends are highly eated over the
triumph they had achieved and regard his election
AZ certain by large majority. The contest will he
very spirited one and which ever ticket Is elected,
the consequence is full acquescence in the results
of Reconstruction. The Convention appointed
Committee to wait on Gen. Grant and endeavor to
get a day named for the election. very kindly
feeling was exhibited toward the President among
the delegates The Republicans proper are not dis
couraged, and the contest in Virginia promises 10 DO
of the most lively character.
The Hon John L. Hale. Minister to Spain, teIe-
graphs Senator Sumner by Cable rs follows: The
attack on me by Perry in his letter of March p is
false. have the documents to prove 1t. and in q
few DAYS will send them TO you" 1t will DO remem-
bered that the letter above referred to, charged that
Hale had used his Ministerial franchise for CONNER
cial purposes
Notwithstanding the denial of the Associated
Press il is fact that the Foreign Affairs Committee
of the House or a Subcommittee thereof, has made
arrangements TO visit San Domingo, st. Thomas, ana
Cuba during the recess of Congress, and has drawn
the necessary funds from the contingent fund OF the
House for that purpose, under the authority OF re-
solution passed by the House during the closing
hours of the session The facts are given on the au
| thority of member Of the Committee.
Great complaint j. made. by members OF Congress
and their friends on account Of the large number OF
removals that have been made in the Treasury De-
| partment. Immediately after Secretary boutwell,
assumed the duties of his Office, he notified the Heads
Of Bureaus in his Department to inform him OF the
condition of business ia their respective Bureaus
and the number of clerks employed. 1t was ascer-
| famed that in some of tho Bureaus there were
hundred clerks, male and female more than was
ssorv IN discharge the duties, and it appears that