The New York herald., 1871-12-14

cannot pe traced to our counsel. General Cushing
Is. without exception, the ablest lawyer in the
country. William NJ. Evsrts Is scarcely inferior to
him, either In reputation or ability. Mr. Waite,
gentleman whom nobody appears to know. is also
well versed in International law. Everything that
counsel can do will be done; but when Mr.
! Cox takes the floor to.morr0w-unless, indeed the
Apportlonment bill should crowd 1t ofr-to favor the
appropriation but demonstrate the futillty OF the
arbitration by the unfriendy foreigners who are to
judge the case under the terms OF the Treaty Of
Washington, the question will have assumed new,
q wonderful aud most unexpected phase 1t VIII
| then be shown that the treaty is weak In this
great essential OF strength. While the point OF In
ternauonal law that England was bound to use
every effort TO prevent the depredati0ns OF the
pirates is frankly admitted, she Will endeavour to
show, not only that due diligence IN pre-
venting the escape was exercised but that
the getting away OF the vessel Is
admitted by the treaty itself as an actual escape.
The trouble here Is that allowed the treaty TO be
worded SO loosely and yet SO cunningly that while
we have admitted the escape OF the cruisers from
the English ports there Is not word to indicate
claim OF English liability, showing how weak ana
shOrtslghted was the work OF our High Commis-
sloners IN these respects. The Cass Herran Treaty.
growing out Of the riot on the Isthmus Of Panama,
in 1S56-about which there were preliminary nego-
tiatons for many years-will be cited, and 1t
will be shown that General Cass would
not allow the treaty to be signed till the
responsibility was acknowledged and had been IN
serted In the document itself, as predicate that
| New Granada should acknowledge her liability for
all 0utrages ana wrongs committed by the citizens
OF that republic The Secretary held that 1t was the
ackno wledgment OF liability which was first neces
sary SO that the only duty left to the Commission.
ers would be to determine the amount of damages
and make award to parties after full proof. The
failure TO do this in the present instance, the pr0ba
bility Of failure to secure the payment OF any
damages whatever for the Anglo.reDel depreda-
tions, and the unnecessary disposition to provoke
| war with Spain has stirred up an immense guam
tity OF bile. and will In the end entirely overshadow
! all the efforts OF the TIumbull-Schurz faction 10
overwhelm Grant and with the awkward decision
of the Board OF Arbitrators In the middle OF the
Presidential canvasses completely put out the light
OF sJhe man with the cigar" At least this Is the
hope Of the democratic leaders, and they are so con-
fdent that the meeting Of the Executive Committee
| has been deferred till January.
| Proceedings in Beth H0uscs-The Investiga-
| ti0n and kctrcnehment, AppOrtionment and
| Labor and Education Measures.
The campaign OF the recalcitrant republicans
! against the administrator was continued In the
Senate to-day but 1t was far from being in any way
as brilliant the battle which Is promised In the
House tomorrow on the Treaty Of Washington
SO far results are concerned they were OF no I'M
pOrtance, and though the Senate consumed four
hours to-day in the discussion Of reso-
luton, reported from the republican eau
Gus by Mr. Anthony, for the organization
Of joint standing Committee on Investigation and
Retrenchment, the only thing accomplished was
still wider breach In the republican party. The OBJ
70 ha 10 r
detective corps and grand jury on the Executive
portion OF the government 1t differs from the com.
nlttee proposed Dy Senator Trumbull In this, that
1t Is o regular standing committee instead OF Q
especial committee" and IS to nave the usual priv-
leges ana powers OF standing committee, instead
Of the extraordinary ones proposed by the
Illinois Senator The debate to-day was
of rambling nature, and was brought about
by an amendment, offered by Trumbull, giving the
new committee power to sit In perpetual ses-
sion, and 10 investigate everybody ana everything
without fear or hindrance. This appears to be
Trumbull's Idea Of getting at civil service REFORM
In this he was backed up by Schurz, who in the
course OF his remarks produced the report
! OF the committee OF the last Congress which
| investigated the general order" business Of
the New York Custom House as an ex-
ample OF the stupendous frauds daily
perpetrated against the government without cor
OF the President OF reform In the civil SERVICE are
still maintained" Said the Senator "a pound Of
performance would be more acceptable to the coun-
try than ton OF such promises" He cited the
case Of Colonel Leet who resigned from General
Grants staff and took personal letter from Grant
to the Collector Of Customs, which secured HIM the
general ordern business, from which his income Ia
said to be from fifty TO hundred thousand dollars
year. Ana yet In spite OF the protests Of the mer-
,rroo NJ p,oaIfb bo
Is maintained In that position which the Missouri
Senator thinks indicates power somewhere greater
than that OF the Secretary. Schurz's earnestness
brought out Conkling to the defence OF the White
House and the republican party generally. He
controverted the statements OF ScEurz about
the New York Custom House, saying
tnat the committee OF investigation was
the work OF the republican party and oil the recon-
mendatlons OF that committee for reform had been
carried out by the Executive. Morton, Edmunds
and Anthony followed up In the same strain, and
during the last hour the debate fell into sort OF
running nre from both sides as to whether the re-
pubcans or democrats stole the most, and as to
which party had gone the furthest to punish the
thieves. AT four O'Clock the debate got to be very
stupid and trining, and so an adjournment was
enected without vote being reached.
In the House yesterday Mr. Connor, Of Texas,
failed to introduce bill calling for information
relative to Governors OF Terrtories-of their PEREZ
grlnations IN foreign countries and their status gen.
orally.
After the expiration OF the morning hour Mr..
Hoar, from the Committee on Education and
Labor, called up bill providing for
commission Of three persons to examine the
subject OF the hours Of labor and the DIVISIONS Of
the profits on labor and asked to have day ap-
pointed for Its special consideration This question
proved to be Of interest by the nutter It's mentinn
occasoned. The objects OF the bill being TO pro.
vide only TOR investigation upon the questions In
volved in labor. the causes OF dscontenE among
the workingmen, and to discover II possible, the
remedy, opposition to 1t was not looked
for from any quarter. and surprise was
manifested at the promptness with which Mr. Kerr,