The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-12-07

Introduction of Important
Bills Before Congress.
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Bill TO Ab liSh the Offices Of Admiral and
Vice Admiral in the Navy.
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Proposal to Abolish the
Income Tax.
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Republican Caucus---SenatOr Schurz
Present.
Presentation Of the New French
Minister,
WASHINGTON, Dec. 8, 1870.


The Republican Senatorial Caucus which was held
this morning. the object Of considerable interest
among politicians OF both parties. There had been
In circulation rumor to the eject that The party
discipline would be brought 10 bear upon the rebel
iious Scnurz, OF Missouri. account OF his aiding
ana abetting the new party movement In thar State.
Zach Chandler and one or two other radical
senators were known 10 be the
war path. They had sworn vengeance and
raised cry for blood. IL WAS expected that Schurz
would share the fate OF Doolttle, Dixon and Cowan.
when they cast their lot with Andy Johnson
Schurz however paid att cntion to these threats
and was among the lrst 10 march into the caucus
this morning. During the proceedings no auslcn
was made to his conduct In Missouri, nor we're
there any hints about reading him out
| OF the party. The attendance at the caucus
was not large Very little was done beyond ap-
pointing committee consisting OF Senators Chand-
er Williams, Rice, Ramsey, and Morrill or Vermont
TO revise the Senate committees The proposition
eject new officers for the Senate was not brought
forward. and It is thought nothing viii be done in
this direction until the close OF the present session.
There will be another caucu tomorrow or next
day to hear the report OF the committee ana TO dc.
eide upon the general order OF business for the
session.
Excitement In tho Hoase-Dni TO Abolish
the Rank OF Admiral and Vice Adj
nsruI.
General Logan succeeded in creating sensation
In the House to-day by the Introduction OF the FOL.
| lowing bill:-
BE IL enacted, &C., That the office Of Admiral I'm
the Navy be and the same Is nereb, abolished there
| being now vacancy In said office, and all laws
and paris OF laws creating said cficc shall, By
virtue OF this ac,, hencefort be held be repea!ed
SECTION q And be II further enacted, That the
office OF Vice Admiral In the Navy shall
continue until clncy shall occur In The same
and no longer, ana when such vacancy shall occur
In sad oliice immediately thereupon all laws ana
parts Of laws creating said office shall become inop
| erave ana shall, by virtue OF this act theneeror
| ward be held to be repealed.
Under ordinary circumstances no particular atten-
| ton would have been paid to this bil but coming
1t did, Immediately after the recently published
correspondence concerning Admiral Porter and the
President, members naturally listened attentiyely
as the Clerk read the title-"A bin TO abolish the
onices OF Admiral aRa Vice Admiral In the navy.p
| Logan asked present consideration for the
bill. and announced his intention OF putting it
| on Its passage This required unanimous consent
Several members obIectea, whereupon Logan with.
drew the bill, and gave notice That nc would iutro-
duce II on Monday next and press It a vote under
suspension Of tho rales. Everybody naturally
Jumped at the conclusion that Logan was aiming at
Porter. The suppostion that he intenu ed
to punish tho Admiral, first, for speaking dis.
paragingy OF Grant, and second, for dcpreciating
|
Logan dsclaimed having any ouch Intention In view
! when he introduced the blil. lie said no simply
wanted TO place the chief officers OF the navy on
footing with those OF the army In the army blll
| which he drew up last winner, and which passed
/ both Houses, he provided that the onices OF
| General and Lieutenant General OF the army
! shall cease TO exist after the resignation
| or death Of the present fncumbents. The rank or
admiral and OF vice admiral In the navy corresponds
! 10 that OF general aud Acknowledgement fn tho
| army Logan says he has no anmIs against
| Admiral Porter, but he intends to press this bin so
as TO make the two arms or the service consistent
| with each otner
! Meeting of tho Ways md Means Committee.
The Committee OF Ways and Means held their
initial session to-day and discussed the general rsa
OF the report OF the Secretary OF the Treasury
That portion OF the report which especially ell
| gagged their attention was the recomme adation OF
the Secretary FOR the issue OF three hundred MIL
| lions OF additional bonds, bearing interest at
| the rate OF five per cent, the interest to
! be paid quarterly instead OF semi annually.
| The Secretary, 1t will he remembered, makes
| this recommendation 10 view OF the difficulty of
negotiating the four ana four and half per cents,
owing 10 the war In Europe and the conseq uent dc.
rangement OF the money market No definite
action was TAKEN but the general opinion OF the
members OF the committee seems to b, that some
legislation OF this kind viii he necessary III order to
enable the Secretary to fund the maturing indebted
ness OF the government.
Cutting Down Appropriations.
The COMMITTEE on Appropriations met and over
hauled the estimates OF appropriate for the next
fiscal year. IL Is the intention or Mr. Dawes, chair.
man OF the committee TO get 10 work at once on the
appropriation bills, that they may be reported and
set for special orders, The probabilities are that
fho
Departments. win be considerably cut down, In the
same proportion, perhaps, as last year. Mr. Dawes
VIII endeavor to carry out the retrenchment pro-
Crane which he announced at the last session.
The New French Minister.
Viscount Treilhard at noon to-day IN accordance
vita previous arrangement called at the Execu-
tive Mrnsion. he vas not accompanied by any
one. lie Yves In citizens black dress arordhlp IN
this respect strong contrast with M Paradol, his
predecessor. who was In full court dress at
the time OF his reception. The new Minister
was shown into the blue room by enc
OF tho ushers. short time thereafter
the Secretary of State arrived, ana, having few
words with the Minister excused himself FOR a short
time and proceeded TO the onlco Of the President,
Who with the Secretary, came down stairs and to-
gcther entered the Blue Room. Ai'er the usual
sauatlons the Minister addressed the President as
follows:--
Mr.. PREsTDENT-t have the holor 10 place In
your hands the letter whereby the government OF The
national defence accredits me as Its Envoy Exiraor.
unaly aiid Minister Penipotentiary the United
states OF America. The friendly relations when have
long existed between France and the un.ted
STATES aud which 1t VIII ne the object of Gil
my efforts TO maintain, viii facilitate the execution
G, me honorable task which is confded TO me. |
entertain the hope, Mr.. President that SHAH also
DC aided by tho Kindness or the federal government
wnich have In times past learned TO esteem and
which nave preserved in grateful remembrance.
The President replied as foliows:--
ViscoUNT-You are welcome as the Envoy Extra
oiulnary anu Minister Plenipotentiary OF France.
Your former acceptable aboJe here IN another dpu-
mauc Character gives occasion TO congratulate you
Oh your promotion. Be assured that III our inter-
course Win you we shall always bear III mind the
origin or our KIND relations with your count y, and
shail endeavor To pre- 'erve and strcnp then them.
The President then returned TO his Office and the
secretary accompanied the Minister 10 the door,
Inc credentials OF Xsconnt TIelIharl arc signed