The New York herald., 1872-12-05
harm In his present position than - en independ.
ent and unhsmpered member OF the House.
Tho Committee ON Rules


ent and unhampered member OF the House.
The Committee ON Hules
OF the House have had one meeting. but, owing to
the absence Of several members, further considera
tfon OF the proposed amendments to the rules was
postponed. The principal amendment is the one
increasing the committees from nine to ten men,
bers to make provision for the increased represen-
tation In the Fortythird Congress, and OF which
the present chairman OF the Committee on Rules
Speaker Blaine, hopes to be the presiding ofricer
modification OF this rule governing the Commit
tee on Conference, making 1t imperative that they
shall be restricted to the purpose for which the
Conference Committee was appointed is also pro-
posed.
The Bill to Abolish the Omces or Assessor
and Assistant Assessor.
The Committee OF Ways and Means met to-day
for the purpose Of hearing the evidence OF Secrc-
tary Boutwell, Commissioner Douglass. ex-Com-
mission Rollins and several supervisors. Mr..
Orton, ex-Commissioner and President OF the
western Union Telegraph Company, will be heard
before the committee tomorrow. IL is believed
the bill will be favorably reported and ultimately
passed.
The Postal Telegraph Recommend
and tho Centennial.
That part OF the Message which relates to the
Postal Telegraph bill was assigned to the Com
mtttee on Appropriations. This provoked some
useless debate Mr.Fernando Wood was for refer
ring 1t to q select committee, or to the Committee
OF Post Ofices and Post Roads, but 1t was dis
posed OF as stated above The Committee on the
Centennial Celebration was then increased to nine.
Mr.. Lot, from louisiana entered a protest
against the election OF Mr.. Foreman, who pre-
sented but yesterday his credentials duly signed
by Governor Warmoth and was accordingly sworn
In. The protest was referred TO the Committee on
Elections.
Judge Hunts Nominal tlOn To Be Sent to
the Senate.
1t Is now t0lcrably certain that Judge Ward Hunt
is destined to I'LL the vacancy caused by the rcsigna
ton OF Judge Nelson. His appointment only depends
on his acceptance In conversation with your cor
respondent leading Senator secuted the idea OF
Bristow's nomination. ut ia absurd to suppose"
he said, 'that any one but New Yorker would be
chosen" Judge Hunt has, been very strongly re-
commended to the President by numerous letters
| rom the most eminent judges and members OF the
| Oar from the State of New York. Among these are
| Ohef Judge Earl, Judges Sutherland, Grover Lott,
Foster, ingalls, and Smith, OF the Court or Appeals;
also Judge D0rshemer, Francis Herman, Horatio
Seymour and sixteen others OF more less promi-
nence. 1t is expected the nomination OF Judge
Hunt viii be sent to tho Senate tomorrow
DisSraceful Condition OF AHnfrg-Yn-
adequate Supply of Gums for the De-
less.
Tho ordnance officers are quietly informing
congressman that the United States has only
3l7 iiteen-inch guns, all told; that the powder in
the magazines was all made during the war ana is
OF small grain, besides being damaged by age for
use IN these great guns and that there are only
hand eighty projectilcs for every ffteen-inch gum
OF which number only ten are solid shot Consd-
ering the number Of sea-coast Qualifications to be
armed with these heavy guns in case OF an ex
pected attack by an enemy's ronclads, IL must be
confessed tnat we are not prepared Tor war.
The RecnIcftrnnt Republicans.
From q democratic source 1t is learned that the
following are enumerated as the recusant repub-
cans:-Sumner, Trumbull, Upton, Schurz, Fcnton.
Rice, OF Arkansas, and Hamilton OF Texas. The
Iatter Is regarded accession TO the democratic
ranks. The democrats are seventeen in number
and the assistant democrats" as the liberal re-
publicans are called, are expected to share the
honors of twenty-eight standing committees, but
the places must be distributed by the democrats
| or they will not be recognized at all The demo-
Gratis complain that they have but committee
room and ask for two, favor which will probably
be granted.
The Loss OF the Missouri.
The Treasury Department has received the on
cia report OF the Court OF Inquiry held at Nassau,
the American steamer Missouri, which was burned
or Abaco October 2s. The evidence Is very volu-
minous, consisting OF the testimony OF OF the
crew and officers saved The Court finds. drst
that the vessel was hurrledly put to sea- aud
although fitted with new boilers and newly
paired machinery, no trial trip took place for the
purpose OF testing them; second. that the
felting for the boilers was found to be
either wanting or defective on the day
| appointed for sailing. and as there
can be little doubt that the fire originated from
the heating OF the boiler, 1t scarcely be ques
toned that the work OF felting was imperfectly
executed. Third, that the Missouri was not pro-
vided with q sufficient number Of boats, and such
boats as she had were so secured as to be found
difficult to be lowered. Fourth, that on the alarm
oil fire all was confusion; that there was no d;sci-
| pine, no organization combined effort to save
| life; that each man acted independently to save
| his own lie. and that no attempt made to
save the lives OF the female passengers.
There we're on board eighty nine persons, OF
! whom sixteen we're saved and seventy three
perished'
Senator Sumner Again Attacked.
Senator Sumner seized with a rather sharp
attack OF his compiaint-heart dseasc-whle In
the street last night. His friends have warmly
urged his cessation from all hs Senator al abors,
but he was in his seat to-day at the opening the
session
Legal Lore 10 r Federal Courts.
Congress will be asked TO appropriate $l4, 900 for
the purchase OF 100 sets OF Curtiss' decisions,
Howard's reports, Blacks reports, and the opinion
OF the Attorneys General for distribution among
the Circuit, District and Territorial Courts.
Detective Bakers Papers.
Judge Advocate General Holt has not yet An
ished the classification OF the papers OF Detective
Baker, who figured SO largely here during the war.
II there is nothing distracted from this collection
1t will be placer mine for future historians.
Interesting to Woodruff & Clafiin.
Attorney General williams has decided, in an
swer to communication from the Postmaster
General, that post Office officials have right to
open or detain letters or other matter transmitted