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

was arainst him. Ho did not take the trouble to
correct this but made the night sQuarey on his own
merits. Logan will remain member OF the House
until the 4th OF March.
ruB WASHINGTON AND NEW YORK AIR LINE RAIL.
ROAD.
Judge Kelsey, OF New York. made another attempt
yesterday TO pass the Washington and New York Air
Line Railroad bill during the morning hour. The
democrats aided by the friends OF the Baltimore
and Ohio, the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Bai-
more, and the Oamdcn and Amboy Railroad COM
panies, commenced to Hibuster as soon as the bill
came up, with view to consume the morning
hour and drive 1t over until next Monday. BY dint
OF dilat0ry motions ana calling the yeas and nays
they succeeded. Tho bill has already twice passed
the House during the present Congress, and there Ia
believed to be clear majority IN Its favor II vote
could be reached.
THE POSTMASTER GENERALS RECEPTION.
The first card reception Of Postmaster General
and Mrs. Creswell took place last night
The psrlors were densey crowded with
ladies' and gentlemen, including President
Grant, members or the Cabinet foreign ministers,
Minister SchencS, General sherman, Admiral Porter
and Senators and Representatives. II was one OF
the most brilliant assembages during this winter.
GOVERNMENT MORTGAGES ON SUBSIDIZED RAIL
ROADS.
The bill Of Judge Lawrence, Of Ohio to secure the
government first mortgage lien upon all the pro-
perty Of the Pacific Railroad and other railroad com
panes that have obtained subsidies IN land bonds
from the government discussed yesterday in the
Committee Of Appropriations, to which 1t was re-
ferred some time ago. The object OF the bill is to
secure the government the amount of interest on
the bonds Of these railroad companies which 1t Is
by law bound to pay, and to 80 regulate the sales OF
the lands donated to them as to provide for sink
ing fund that shall ultimately be used for the
redemption OF the principal OF their debt.
Since the attention OF Congress was called
by the Secretary OF the Treasury to the
failure OF the Pacific Railroad Company TO pay
the interest on their bonds, the whole question Of
the liabilities OF these roads has been discussed by
members Ben Butler has resolution before the
Committee on Appropriations authorizing the Presi-
dent TO appoint three commissioners to examine into
the affairs of the Pacific Railroad Company. This.
however, has not been considered by the committee.
The view taken by the members OF the committee
yesterday was that some such measure as that pro-
posed by Judge Lawrence Is necessary, not only to
protect the government, but the private creditors OF
the company. The Union Pacific Railroad Company
has been falling behind gradually until now 1t owes
the government six millions for Interest paid on
its bonds. Whether the bill before the committee
is what Is needed was not determined, but 1t seems
to be the general opinion that law must be
acted to make the roads directly responsible to
the government.
SUBSIDIES FOR STEAMSHIP COMPANIES
The House Committee on Commerce yesterday
heard an argument on behalf OF the bill for subsdz
ing line or steamers between New YORK, Vera Cruz
ana one or two other Mexican ports THIS bill is
similar in all Its provisions TO the one which be-
fore Congress at the last session. 1t provides that the
Postmaster General shall be authorized to contract
with +. Alexandra & Sons, OF New York, who now
own a couple OF steamers plying between New York
and Vera Cruz for the carrying of the mails between
the two cities, touching AT Havana and Sisal, AT not
less than SIS, coo currency per round trip. The CON-
mittee does not expect to be called again this ses-
on and Of very little interest is taken by the
members in this and similar measures before them.
THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY.
Judge w. A. Richardson, OF the Probate Court OF
Middesex county, Massachusetts,, and Assistant
Secretary Of the Treasury, will 1t Is stated, shortly
resume his Official duties at the Treasury Depart
ment It's proposed to Increase the pay OF this
Official from $500 to 5000 per annum. 1t Is
thought that the Judge might spend more of his
time In Washington attending to the duties OF AS
sstant Secretary Of the Treasury and less Massa-
chusetts.
CIRCULAR TO COLLECTORS OF CUSTOMS.
The Chief of Bureau OF Statistics has addressed
circular to collectors OF customs throughout the
country calling their attention to the fact that up.
wards Of sixty classes of articles enumerated among
commodities subject to dutyn In tae schedule for
the home consumption and import statement, have
been made free Of duty In whole or part, under the
provisions Of the new Tariff law. AS 1t
VIII be matter of special iatelest to
legislators and others to know the effect which this
change In the tariff may have upon the importation
and consumption or the specific commodities made
free by that act he has requested collectors to
merate separately from and after January 1, 1871, in
their statements OF home consumption and imports,
under the head OF commodities free OF duty" the
classes or parts OF classes SO made free. This VIII
enable the Bureau OF Statistics to furnish satsfac
tory information upon the question OF free trade,
well "a for purposes Of comparison with the records
OF previous years.
TRANSPORTATION or BONDED MERCHANDISE.
The Camden and Amboy Railroad Company will
tomorrow enter into bonds IN the sum OF $10o.0OO
for the transportation of merchandise without ap.
prasement from New York to Philadelphia, and
will be the first company in the United States to test
the system and regulations prescribed by the Secre
tary OF the Treasury. 1t Is stated that this road Is
admirably equipped with the little cars for trans
porting imported goods that arrive In small In
voices, and will be ready to commence business i'm
mediately after executing the necessary papers.
THE LAND OFFICE c0MMIssIoNERsuIP
The Senate Committee on Public Lands on the Goth
agreed to report favorably the nomination of Willis
Drummond, Of Iowa, to be Commissioner of the Pub.
lie Land ONCE, in place OF Mr.. Joseph Wilson, whom
the President has determined to turn out. Subse-
quently, when the Senate went into executive ses-
sion, the nomination was reported favor,bly
by the chairman OF the committee. Mr.
Wilson asserts that his friends IN
the Senate WIN make vigorous fight to retain him.
HIS friends however, are neither strong nor numer-
ous They are such men as Upton, Of Nebraska,
and Ross, OF Kansas; men who are opposed to the
administration, and who have little or no influence
| with the Senate.
INCREASED TAXES FROM FRUIT DIsTILIEes.
An examination OF the receipts from brandy dis.
| titled from apples, grapes and peaches, for the
| months OF July, August, September October and