New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-01-28

WASHINGTON, Thursday Jan n, lo'O'
Mr. Hill OF New-Jersey did the country great service
to-day In obtaining the passage by the House OF te OH
to abolish the Franking Privilege There were number
Of members who wanted TO amend and FIX up the DlI'
but Mr.. Hill insisted total abolition and finding
good majority with him, the efforts OF the opponents
were Of avail. Mr. Farnsworth, as Chairman OF the
Committee PosOfices and Post Roads, had control
OF the floor and allowed hours debate. What little
opposition that manifest in the debate Mr. Hill
answered in a brief speech Of about Is minutes In
answer TO an assertion made that nothing WOULD Oe
saved TO the Government by the passage OF the bl MI
Hill said that at the PosOice in this city there have been
received within the last three weeks from five to SIX
tuns OF mail matter under frank the postage on "hch
would amount to two thousand dollars more per day.
To this must also DO added the expenses Of the horses
and wagons 10 carry the mail matter and the men EN-
ployed to look after the same He felt that the pas
sage OF the bill would only be saving OF one OF
maybe two millions TO the Treasury every year, on inc
matter postage but would result in stopping the ph
ing Of so many public documents, making saving Of
several millions additional, and cheap postage on letters
newspapers for the people would surely follow Inc
bill was finally passed by vote OF ia to a.
The Senate passed promptly, to-day. the House resou
ton breaking up the perncious practice in the Depart
ments here, OF evying blaek.mail upon subordinate
employees get up testimonials to their snperors Inc
only objection to the measure came from Mr. Nye. MI
Coles resolution, relative to teezure of distilled spirits
league Mr.. Cassery, voting for It, Secretary BoutWeh
was on the floor conversing for while with Senators
upon the finances. The POstmasterGeneral was also
there talking up his laudable desire 10 abolish the
Franking Privilege and the House bill for that purpose
was received, and, it is thought Will pass, by
a large majority. Mr. Lewis, one OF the senatorselect
from Virginia very tall, spare man, was sworn in no
one responding to the Vice Presidents inquiry as to
whether there any objection. The Currency bill was
again debated at great length Mr.. Morton making the
longest speech and generally opposing the arguments OF
Mr. Sherman Mr.. Sherman insisted upon sitting the
bill out to-day Senators refused TO come 10 an agree
ment about taking vote tomorrow, and succeeded IN
defeating motion to adjourn. but failed wheh IL was
renewed II a vote should not be reached tomorrow
| Mr. Sherman will fight for session on Saturday.
In the House, to-day, at 80 Mr.. Dawes obtained the
floor to reply to the elaborate and carefully prepared
speech OF Butler The galleries were fairly hlled
and all the members left their seats ana TOOK
position alses, and about the desks on the RepuO
can side Mr. began his task at once, and asked
the members to follow him. page by page, in the list OF
| estimates which placed upon every desk lie SAID
little OF personal character, but confined himself 10 duI
facts to sustain his speech Of last week. and his enort
was therefore less interesting TO the galleries. lie
| reviewed his previous speech AID IN sup
| port Of his position presented letters and
| documents without number. His desk was strewu
| with them He took up the Navy-Yard estimates
first then the Frankng Privilege and the other counts
AT first il seemed difficult judge which was right But
Ter or Dawes Both presented figures and both seemed
TO give unanswerabe arguments. IL seemed for time
that figures could be made to show any result ana that
the last speech was always the best and most plausible
But as he proceeded he became interesting. He
said his speech of Tuesday OF last week was not an at
tack upon the Administration He would like 10 see the
tendency Administration toward economy instead
of extravaganza and his comparisons were with the
appropriations OF JohnsOns Administration, and not
estimates He related his conferences with the different
Cabinet officers and heads OF Bureaus, and while he was
courteous to all, he severe on some He explained
the mistake Of 100000 the footing and how the mis-
take was carried along from page to TO the end He
made no comparison Of expenses OF the past and present
Administration but he wanted to divert the House and
the whole Administration from the extravaganza into
which It is easy 10 drift. He said the President
| had aided him, and would continue to aid him
| and that the course he had taken not
wholly his own. He spoke for the whole
Committee OF Appropriations. During the delivery OF
his speech lie was listened TO by PostmasterGeneral
Creswel and Senators COnkling, Wilson, morrill, toi
Mane), Corbett, Thurman Bayard, and Casserly. lie
closed 81 last Of his speech being severe on Gen
Butler, without being personal His effort Is generally
regarded a very strong one and the opinion Is that
he has fully sustained his position. Gen. Butler took
notes at length and tried to get the floor to reply but
the floor was given to Mr. Voorhees, Of Indiana, and the
House adjourned
Now that Virginia, and the Franking Privilege. and
League Neutrality-suspicious. disposed Of in the House,
work will be begun in earnest on the Appropriation bills
which will be considered until Shermans Currency bill is
passed by Senate and reaches the House The next
business in the Senate will be the House Census bill,
which will require much debate and be materially
amended.
Its the opinion of those opposed to shermans
bin that 1t will pass when vote is reached The Sen
ators the South and West have united on Mortons
amendment making the new issue sGOOo00O0 instead OF
$4,000 OOO which nearly its adoption. When the
bill is disposed Of the Census bill VIII come up for action
and will occupyiseveral days.
-Four OF the nine members elected TO the House Of Rep
reseptatyes from Virginia were sworn n and took their
seats today-namey, Messrs Jos. H. Plat, jr Second
District; c. H. Porter, Third Districts Robert Ridgway,
Fifth District; and VIM. Mines. jr Sixth District.
Messrs Aver Of the First District Booker Of the Fourth
Mckenzie Of the Seventh and Gibson OF the Eighth are
yet to be admitted Joseph Segar claims to have been
elected represent the State at large but the precedent
established in similar that occurred IN Tennessee
will prevent his admission 10 a seat.
Mr. Abel r. Corbn. whose name has become so notori.
ousy mixed up with the memorable gold panic IN Sep
TENDER last, arrived here last evening To-day he ap
peared before the Committee Banking and Currency
and gave testimony relation TO the part he took in the
schemes that brought about the gold panic. He testified
q hours without finishing and will again appear before
the Committee tomorrow. The Committee refuse to
make Mr. Corbin's evidence public at present and Mr.
Corbln also declines TO communicate anything To the
newspaper press. The substance Of his evidence is
known. however, TO establish, first, complete vindca
ton OF President from the charges Of Messrs Fisk
and others. and the fact that Mr.. Corbn became
party to the conspiracy, and led others in by false
statements and under false preenses, attempting TO
use relationship Of his wife TO the President for the
purpose OF deceng Others in order that he might specu
uate and make money His evidence gives the key TO
the whole Mr. COrbin is so ANXIOUS TO clear aud
vndicate himself that the Committee fud 10 difficult TO
get hin TO their questions. They determined,
he