The New York herald., 1871-12-04
WASHING CTON.
REASSEMBLING OF CONGRESS TO-DAY
Probable Complexion of the Stand
ing Committees.
The Recent Massacres i'm
Havana.
No Correspondence Between Secretary Fish
and Minister Roberts on the Subject.
Proposed Revision of the Laws
Concerning the Navy.


WASHINGTON, Dec. 8, 1871.
Preparations for the Reasscmbliug or Com
srcss-Thc Prcsident's Mcssnge--Thc stand
Ing Committees.
The signs that long session OF Congress is about
to assemble are few, and the indications OF imme-
diate attention to business are fewer Most or the
Senators and Representatives are here, but none Of
them have any really great measure on hand. Thein-
terest tomorrow Will centre IN the Presidents Mes
sage and the report OF the Secretary OF the Treasury
The Message Will be transmit ted directly after tho
| President shall have been informed by the joint
committee that they ready to receive any CON-
munlcation he may have to MAKE Both the Mes
sage and the report Of the secretary OF the Treasury
will be teegrapaed to the distant press, but printed
| copies OF the reports OF the heaas OF depart
ments have been sent out In advance OF their
! deivery. The new members OF the House to be
| sworn IN are Houahton, Sargent and Coghan, OF
California; Sargent, however, has not yet arrived
from that State. Kellogg, OF Connecticut; Foster,
OF Michigan; Beveridge and Snapp Of Illinois; and
Aessrs. HarcOck, Conner, Clarke and Hernd0ry, or
Texas The two later have irregular certificates,
| which will be referred to the Committee OF Elections
| for It's consideration. Several delegates win also
| be sworn In.
The organization OF the committees OF the House
will attract great deal Of attention. In this mat
ter the HERALD's programme will be found to have
hit the mark. It is now conceded on all hands that
Mr.. Dawes Is to be chairman OF the Ways and Means
Committee. Tonight he and Secretary Boutwell,
| had long conference-a fact which Is OF some
| significance, since the Secretarys report may
be affected by the views OF the new chair
man OF the Ways and Means Blaine and
Butler have struck hands, and the latter,
In return for his support OF the Speaker for Vice.
| President. is no longer 10 be ignored. Butler Is
anxious to be chairman OF the Pacific Railroad. and
he is likely TO get the place. Garfield Will take
Dawes place at the head OF the Committee on Ap-
preparations, and Hooper Is to succeed Garfield as
| chairman OF the Committee on Banking ana Cur
rency. IL has been found diaicult matter to dis
1 pose OF Kelley and equally difficult to arrange the
second place on the Committee Of Ways and Means.
Wheeler, OF New YORK, and Blair, Of Michigan, are
| prominently mentioned In connection with ii.
4 HOar, or Massachusetts, will probably succeed
| Washburn at the head OF the Committee on Claims.
! Bingham will retain his old place at the head OF the
Judiciary COmmitsc, and Lyncn, OF Maiue, is To be
chairman OF the Committee on commerce.
| Ketchum, Of New York, gets the leadership Of the
| Committee Public Lands, and Farnsw0rtn
retains his place chairman Of that on Post Onlccs
ana Pos. Roads. The chairmanship OF the Com
mttee on Public Expenditures will stl be held by
Coburn, Of Indiana aud Sawyer, OF Wisconsin, will be
disposed OF by being put at the head OF the Committee
on Manufactures Shanks OF Indiana, win he chair
| man OF indian Affairs. and Houghton OF Michigan,
OF Military Aairs Thts completes the list OF all the
important places, except Naval and Foreign Affairs,
| and Of these Schoneld and Banks will continue TO
| be the chalrmen. II sneIaoarger should receive
the chalrmanshp OF tho Committee on CLAIMS,
Tatfe OF Nebraska, Will be put at the head OF that
the Territories and Hoar at the head OF the Com
mttee on Education and Labor.
| The extreme tarif men stand no chance In this
Congress- and the reduction OF taxation idea Will
sweep everything. 1t il asserted that the chair
manshlp OF the Committee OF Ways and Means was
offered to Shelabarger and declined by him ON the
ground OF Ill health. He IS certainly incapable at
this time OF assuming leading place, and the de.
sire to put him where mis- great abilities would en-
title him to be put, but which his feeble heah ad.
monishes him TO decline makes the composition OF
the committees doubtful in the points indicated.
The uncertainty in regard to him docs not render
the conclusion touching the tariff and taxation
| questions in any way doubtful.
| The Suspension the Writ Of Habcas Corpus
| To Be Inquired Into.
Congressman Beck has announced his intention
OF ofYering Immediately aftei the DISPOSAL OF the
Presidents Message in the House, tomorrow a res
olution OF inquiry, calling upon the President to In.
| form the House under what provisions
Of the Ku Kux act he has sus-
pended the writ OF habcas corpus in
certain counties in south Carolina Mr. Beck is
one OF the committee designated at the last session
| TO invessgate the ku Kux outrages In the SOUTH
and visited the locality incu TED In the Presidents
proclamation, IL s understood that IL Will be done
for the purpose Of drawing out debate on the sub.
| ject.
Bancroft Davis statement Of the Geneva
Com,nission.
| There is no truth in the statement made in a
| special despatch sent hence yesterday afternoon
that dissatisfaction exists among the counsel who
are to represent tne United States at the General
Conference with the statement and the case pre-.
pared by Bancroft Davis. on the contrary, Messrs
Cushing and Evarts commend IL very warmly, and
pronounce t very able presentation OF the matter.
MI. Waltcs appointment Is so recent that no ex-
preston OF opinion has been received from him.
The Evcnrs at Havann.
It has been ascerta ned, from an Official source,
that no correspondence whatever has passed be-
tween Minister Roberts and secretary Fish relative
10 recent events at Havana. The only communica.
ton received from Mr.. Roberts during the mast
week being some documents to be laid before the
American and Spanish Claims Commission; nor have
any 0flcal advccs been received from Havana since
the telegram from our Consul General, who, during
the excitement consequent on the alleged desecra-
ton OF Custanon's tomD, advised our government
that there were fears OF general massacre and
hence the importance or United States fleet in that
quarter to protect American citizens ana their in
terests. IL Is already known tnat ineHc was
prompt reply 10 his suggestions.
Our ships la West India Waters.
The force on the North Atanti station consists
OF the Severn, the swatara, the Mantasket, the
Npsic, the Kansas, the Pawnec and the Terror,
with tho Worcester and CanandAgua just fitted
out Tor the station, and the Snawmut now on duty
there, but ultimately destined for the South
Atlantic; In all ten ships, mounting seventy guns;
all being active cruisers except the Terror whicni is
an ironclad Of the Monitor class.
The renewal OF aclve operations by land and
water, and me attitude the American government
has just assumed In pcct to the protection OF our
citizens In Cuba, nccessitates the immediate