The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-01-25

SOu&resS xest0rdny-Th0 ForrtSOriai ntu
for Wnshinston-Civil Service Reform
ssSt. Observation-Disclosures i'm Georgia.
The West Point Investigation.
The bill to create new Territorial govern
ment for the District of Columbia, which
passed the House last week, came before the
Senate to-day on the question of concurring In
the amendments adopted by the House. It
gave rise to considerable discussion, involving
especially the question of giving to the Prest-
dent the appointment of the Governor and
Council, instead of leaving them to the cleo
ton of the people. The sentiment Of the
Senate was, however, not averse to the prin-
cipe of giving this power to the national
Executive. An effort was made to have the bill
and amendments referred to the District Com
mittee but 1t failed and the whole question
was thereupon turned over to a committee OF
conference, which will probably mature
measure that will give to the District Of
Columbia decent, respectable government,
of which it has hitherto had but very little
experience. The subject which occupied the
attention of the Senate for the remainder OF
the session was the bill Of Senator Trumbull,
to effect reform in the civil service of the gov
eminent. Our two Senators had something to
say in reference to the management of affairs
in the New York Custom House. No vote was
reached on the bill, and there is no saying
when the vote will be reached.
~ The proceedings in the House opened and
closed with references to the St. Domingo
question, although nothing properly pertaining
to that subject was before the body. 1t was
got up in the first instance in the form Of per-
sonal explanations between Mr.. Orth,
of Indiana, who has engineered the
joint resolution through the House, and
Mr.. Cox, of New York, who had
on two occasions charged or insinuated that
the State Department had destroyed or sup
pressed certain documents annexed to the st.
Domingo treaty, and supposed to show the
debt of the Dominican republic and the vari-
GUS grants and franchises which it had given.
This charge, however, was completely re-
PEELED by communication from Secretary
Fish, affirming that all the documents on the
subject that were in possession of the State
Department had been furnished to the Senate.
The subject came up again, when the Diplo-
matte and Consular Appropriation bill was
under consideration, in the shape of an amend
ment, offered by Mr. Fernando Wood, provid-
ing that no part of the Secret Service Fund
should be used in promoting the annexation
Of st. Domingo. On this occasion it got mex
diana Senate in applying the parliamentary
gag to one of its republican members, allow
ing him to retain his seat, but refusing him
the right to vote. Mr.. Woods amendment
was rejected, and the bill was pas sed.
The unsettled condition of affairs in Georgia
was brought to the attention of the House by
Mr.. Butler, of Massachusetts,, who made q
frantic effort to prevent the swearing in Of
democratic member from that State and to
| have the credentials referred to the Committee
on Elections. But Mr., Butler found that the
| republican side of the House was not going ID
follow his lead in that direction, Mr.. Dawes,
particularly, making strong appeal to the
House not to depart from its uniform practice,
which has been to admit without question all
persons who present their credentials in due
form. and against whose eligibility there is no
allegation. Only forty -one republicans rallied
to the support Of Mr.. Butler, the vote against
his proposition being one hundred and forty
eight Ind SO the sixth member from Georgia
was-sworn in. -
In the House the bill to provide for the con.
solidaton of the Indian tribes and to establish
an Indian Territorial government was, after
% ;co AZ
on Indian Affairs, which is to consult the Com
mttee on Territories in regard to it, and is to
be at liberty to report at any time after the ID
Of February. The bill to create Territorial
government for the District of Columbia was
referred to committee of conference.
The only other matter of interest in the
House proceedings was the authority given to
subcommittee of the Committee on Military
Affairs to proceed to West Point and there con-
duct the investigation into the kidnapping and
subsequent compulsory resignation of three OF
the West Point cadets. There Is no doubt
that the inquiry can be better carried on there
than at Washington but we cannot but think
that the reference of a school squabble to
legislative committee, instead OF leaving it to
the proper authorities of the Academy and of
the War Department, was very unwise pro-
ceeding on tae part of the House.
The National Debt and the Sinking Fund.
Since the beginning of Mr.. Boutwell's ad-
ministration as Secretary Of the Treasury the
amount applied to the direct reduction of the
national debt by the purchase Of bonds in the
open market has been over one hundred and
eighty millions of dollars. The purchases
were made for two distinct obiects--vz, the