The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-12-05


dictate. which was also referred. The announcement
OF the committee was received without visible
erect upon the nerves OF members deeper than the
surface ripples. Genera Butler and Mr.. Dawes were
observed in friendly cht-chat, but the congratua-
lions ceased as the interest the committees died
away. Pennsylvania did not forget. however. that
Pennsylvania tariffs were slaughtered.
A larger number OF members were in their seats
than Is usual upon the opening day OF Congress,
and the body wore q decided business air. the
reform accomplished IN the ventilation Of
the hall during the recess Is q matter for
devout thanks. The seats or tine members
have been raised, and the floor regulators
which served for 80 long time as spittoons for
tobacco che wing congressman have been removed.
The ventilation and heat are now supplied through
the narrow openings left In each OF the steps OF
the raised platform, upon which are placed
the seats Of the members The new carpet. which
is neither gay nor gaudy, presents fresh appear
ance toning down the gllded glare OF the walls and
ceilings, and the entire surroundings are decidedly
ali Improvement over those OF last year.
The KumOrcd Cabinet Changes-AttOrncy
sUil General Akerniau TO Retire.
The rumors that have recently been circulating
as to personal disagreement in the CABINET
have finally settled upon Attorney General
Alderman as the offensive Minister. 1t Is
charged that the present head Of the Judi
cial Department Is quite selfOpinionated,
tenacious OF lis own views and rather disagreeab!e
In considering those OF others. Such traits have
made him so uncomfortable colleague that his room
special impulse this expected change H. however,
declared be distinct difference OF opinion the
Ku Klux policy, Mr.. AKerman designing that II
shall be made more offensive than ct present, an
opinion with which the President does not seem to
agree. Who Mr.. Akermans successor Is to be IS not
known, and the change will nor be made till after
the first report Of the Department OF Justice Is sent
to Congress. 4.stse.M l3srN
The Alabama Claims and the Geneva Com
ference. fs8..lG eEaa o#tA I
The complete statement Of the American side OF
the so.called Alabama Claims, as prepared by the
agents Of the United States for submission to
the Geneva Conference on the 18th inst. Is
contained in eight octave Volumes covering over
six thousand printed pages Seven OF these
volumes are filed with the legal aspects Of the
case as presented IN the diplomatic cor.
respondence, with q full history OF the cap
ture, bonding or destruction OF Amerl-
can merchant vessels by Confederate pri-
vateers, complete aud accurate account OF the
building OF the Alabama and other rebel cruisers,
with the terms and contracts under and upon which
they were built, equipped, manned, armed
and sent forth to prey upon American
commerce without the 1ormallty OF visiting
Q Southern port TO gain the semblance
OF national character, ard with the dispositions in
1ull Of over six hundred witnesses on behalf OF the
American claimants. The eighth volume Is printed in
English and French and the latter is pronounced to
be Q masterpiece OF faithful translation from
the English text, the proofs having been SIX times
corrected. 1t win probably be also translated from
the original into the Portuguese tongue to enable the
Brazilian member Of the Conference gain the most
exact knowledge OF the case upon which he Is
TO arbitrate. Still another translation into German
is talked or both as an act OF courtesy to the Ger
man Emperor who was to have deslg mated men,
Der In the OF the Powers first named falling to
respond, and may yet have to make such desgna-
ton should q vacancy occur In the repre-
sentation Of Switzerland, Italy or Brazil
The total amount OF the claims Is $40, 021,-
42s 81. But 1t Is expected that additional
claims not quite ready for submission Will some
what increase the amount. The eighth volume just
referred to contains the brief Of the American
sci. 1t opens with citation OF those points Of the
Treaty OF Washington and It's protocols
that bear upon the subject OF the
claims ana the modes and rules OF
their settlement Next follows an exhaustive an
alysis Of the case with copious references to the
exhibits contained In the other seven volumes.
Then comes . comprehensive digest OF all the
known authorities favorable 10 the American posi-
ton, drawn from every international source that the
counsel have been able to discover and concluding
with the most forcble arguments that these authors
ties would bear to establish their applicability to
the points now to come up for adjudication. These
eight volumes were printed at the government
printing ONCE, and complete success was
gained on maintaining the required secrecy
while the WORK was in progress. The brief
OF the counsel has been con6dentially
submitted to several eminent lawyers, whose opin.
ions were known to be weighty, and whose judy
ment was believed TO be impartial, and they all
agree In pronouncing 1t to be not only an honor to
the legal profession OF the country but tncontro-
verube Oh argument in all the materiul points OF
the case.
Revision Of tho Tariff and Internal Revenue
The Finance Committee Of the Senate have ma
turcd q programme revising the tarin, and, 1t Is
believed, the internal revenue laws Also bat only
for suggestion and conference with the new House
Committee OF Ways ana Means.