The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-07-06

TIC SCuatcs
THE INCOME TAX RESTORED.
The Virginia and Kentucky Con-
tested Election Cases.
WASHINGTON, June s. 1870.
Tom Murphy's Chances for CONDENSATION Inn.
NFrs rep,@~-. provinS. -
1T looks az though Mr. Tom Murphy's chances for
confirmation by the Senate were increasing. some
OF the parties who opposing him most bitterly
day or two ago and who spoke most confidently Of
his rejection now exhibit no slight degree OF appre-
hension and anxiety. Their uneasiness would seem
20 betoken loss Of confidence; while, on the other
hand, Murphys friends are full Of hone and spirit;
but so many Senators stand uncommitted, SO many
refuse to declare how they Will vote on the subject
probably through laudable anxiety to 60 for the
winning horse a. soon they can md him, that it
would be rasn to predict boldly either confirmation
or rejection. Two things are decidedly against Mr..
Murphy-the few days Intervening before the end Of
che session and the fact that Senator FentOn is
member Of the Finance COMMITTEE, which must
make a report for or against the nomination.
Obviously, II Fenton's influence over the con-
mttes is strong enough to prevent any report being
made before Congress adjourns he viii not scruple
to exert 1t to the full extent Of his power. But on
the other hand, 1t should be remembered that the
President after adjournment can suspend Mr.. Grin
nell and install Murphy as Collector. Moreover, there
Is another circumstance favorable TO Murphy and
that is, that Senators in general, when there is
question Of confirming purely administration
appointment do not care to put themselves on
record against Presidential wishes. The only in
teres that Senators in general have in such matters
is their little slices Of patronage ana II they can
be assured that those slices will not be swallowed
up by change they cannot be expected to run coun-
ter to the choice Of the administration. 1t is said
that Senator Conkling has given such an assurance
to his fellow Senators. Fenton, however, is leav-
ing no stone unturned to defeat Murpny's confrma-
ton.
The late usage OF The Senate has been to refer
nominations for Collectors Of Customs TO the Commit
tee on Commerce. In case Murphy's Is 30 referred
as am informed tonight 1t will be- he has friend
on the committee In the person of Senator Conklng
Such nominations have been referred both the FL
nance and the Commerce Committees In the history
OF the Senate: but l understand Mr.. Fenton will
make no opposition to Murphy's nomination going
TO the Commerce Committee.
General Washburn's Report on the Postal
DECENTRALIZATION Postponed tilI Next ses-
sion.
The report Of the Special Committee on Postal
Telegraphs, submitted to the House to-day through
their chairman with the bill introduced by General
Washburn early in the session, which has received
some important amendments, comprises first, gem
era review Of the progress OF telegraphy in Europe
as compared with this country; second compari-
son Of the objections urged by the western Union
Company to government system in their
pamphlet OF last with those put forward by the
English companies to the government there assum-
1ng control OF the telegraph third, full and ex-
haustve review Of the most important OF these OBJ
1ectcns; fourth, arevew of the arguments advanced
by Mr.. Orion before the Senate and House Commit
tees against government Interference with the bust
ness fifth, an estimate Of the actual value Of the lines
and property in this country which the bill
contemplates purchasing together with an estimate
OF the amount OF business which they would be capa
BILE OF performing If properly constructed; sixth,
review Of Mr.. Hubbard's speech in advocacy OF the
ESTABLISHMENT OF postal telegraph company; sew
enth short review OF the present relations Of the
telegraph with the press Of the country, and lastly
an answer to the assertion that government system
would become political machine III the hands OF
the dominant party. The committee, after giving an
Interesting history Of the telegraph In Europe and
showing the immense advantages it confers upon
the people by ifs wide extension thorough manage
ment and low rate OF tariffs, proceed to dissect the
arguments OF the opposcrs Of the postal system
IN the United States and the erroneous statistics
upon which they are based. They show that while
there are not as many Offices in Europe In proportion
to population as in this country the proportion OF
ofIlces to area, which shows how near each indi.
vidual is TO q telegraph Office, and is the correct
basis OF calculating facilities is considerably greater
They snow from Official reports that in most Euro.
pean countries the telegraph is selfsus:anng under
a government system, and that In several it il q
source Of revenue; that the internal tariffs of those
countries are less than onethrd the average tarifr
III this country, and that the rates from country
10 another, Notwithstanding the different tee.
xraphic administrations they are called upon
70 support, are generally less than for the
same distance in the United States On this
point they show that the statistics or The Western
Union Company are based entirely erroneous
mileage both In this country and in Europe and
that their figures are generally incorrect and their
statements inconsistent. They quote from Official
reports and letters received rrom the telegraph adj
ministrations OF European countries denying the
allegations in the British and Western Union Com
pany's pamphlet. Although the fasity OF these
statements had been proved before a parliamentary
commission In the investigation which decided that
government ought to assume control OF the te,e.
graph, the committee have still thought 1. best TO
consider them as they desire the country to have
the fullest possible information on the subject.
They then review In similar manner Mr.. Orton,s
published arguments before the Senate Post ONCE
Committee, and afterwards his speech before this
committee, which Is appended, with copious notes
The value OF the telegraph lines and property OF
this country is next shown, by Mr.. Ortons own ad.
mission and the testimony OF well known telegraph
men, to be about 100000. BY an expenditure of
$9oOoooO the present lines could be put in order to
DO three times their present business or 100000
messages per annum, which, at the average rate of
thirty cents per message, would yield a revenue
sufficient to pay all expenses. including interest on
investment, and leave profit OF six or seven mil