The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-18
WASHING on.
~>o>>>>>-~>,>>>>~-~~
The President and the New York
Custom House Frauds.
Criminal Proceedings To Be In
stituted Against the Bride
Givers and Receivers.
The North Carolina Senate
rial Contest.
~~>>~~~>>~~~>->>~~>>~>>~N>
The Southern Claims Observation-Disclosures
Of New York Harb0r.
VIC" WOODRUFF IN A RAGE.
VIC" WOODRUFF IN A RAGE.

WASHINGTON, Feb. II, 1872.
Criminal Proceedings Against the New York
Custom House Bride Gvers and Receivers.
1t Is reported here that the President mas directed
that instructions be sent to the United States Dis.
trict ATTORNEY IN New York to commence criminal
proceedings against all persons shown by the tes-
timony before the Custom House Investigating Com
mittee either TO have paid received brides, such
paying or receiving being In violation Of an act OF
Congress making IL penal offence.
New York Harbor Defcnccs.
The Subcommittee of the house upon the River
and Harbor Appropriation bill were In session to-
day for several hours discussing the improvements
| In New York harbOr. 1t Is the wish OF the com.
mttee that this appropriation shall be large and
| Will SO recommend.
| American Vessels Sold in Foreian Ports.
During this week the Register OF the Treasury has
received from the United States COnsuls notification
OF the sale OF the following American Bark
| Bohi0, OF Nantucket Mass, sold at CallaO, Peru;
steam propeller North Carolina, OF Tampa Fla. ct
Havana; ship Artisan, OF Boston. sold at Cork and
the schooner Otis, OF New York. at Port au Prince.
Since the beginning OF the year the sales OF Ameri.
can vessels In foreign ports have been unusually
large.
Additional Life-Saving stations and Light.
houses Recommended for tho Cape Cod
Coast.
Captain John Faunce, of the Revenue Marine
| who was specially detailed by Secretary Boutwell,
TO visit the Cape Cod and report what portion
| In his opinion, should be provided with life.saving
stations, in accordance with the resolution OF Con-
gresham BufntOn, Of Fall River has submitted
his report to the Secretary. lie says he carefully
examined the entire coast, well as the coast OF
Block Island, and he recommends the establish
ment OF four stations, with suitable boats
ana apparatus, at intervals between Race
Point and Highland Lights, ON the north
point OF the Cape, and twelve stations
between Highland Lights and MOnomoy Point, on
the eastern shore of the Cape. The coast at Barn.
stable. on the bay side of the cape. was also ex-
amined. and he recommends that q suitable lileboat
with house, be established ut Manomet Point sta
ton to the south and east OF Plymouth; anu also
one at Block Island. He calls attention to the dan
gerous beach for wreckers from Nantasket to Ply.
mouth, where many lives are generally lost. The
report viii be sent to Congress on Monday Tues.
day next and appropriations are expected III &C.
cordance with the recommendations.
Claims for Indian Depredations.
The Committee on Indian Affairs OF the House
were in session to-day discussing the subject OF
claims for Indian depredations. There are a large
class Of these claims that do not come under any
present law OF Congress, and the Committee to-day
canvassed the subject OF introducing bill TO pro-
| The Cuse Of Ex-senator Abbott, Of North
Carolina.
The Committee OH Privileges and Elections OF the
| Senate met this morning IN their committee room
for the consideration Of the case Of ex-senator
Abbott, OF North Carolina, claiming to have been
legally elected 70 the seat Just resigned by ex.
Governor Vance, The grounds upon which he
claimed to have been elected, although receiving n
large minority OF the votes OF the Legislature were
jOrity OF those who voted for him for
Senator were also disqualified, and that he,
Abbott, had received majority OF the
qualified voters and was therefore entitled 10 the
seat. lie presented a long argument to sustain his
position some time ago, and was this morning
present at the meeting OF the committee urge his
claims. General Ransom, who was few days since
elected in place OF Vance, resigned appeared before
the committee and made a statement to the effect
that Legislature OF North Carolina did not act In
bad faith, as alleged by Abbott, In the election OF
Vance, but that those who supported Vance
believed that although ne was disauall.
fed that his disabilities would be removed
as others had been. After hearing General Ran.
SONS argument the committee took the subject
for consideration, and, after short discussion
decided by almost q unanimous vote that Mr..
Abbott was not entitled TO the seat. Only one or
two members OF the committee dssented from THIS
view, yet 1t is expected that both q majority and
minority report Will be presented In the case early
next week. There seems TO be some doubt OK.
pressed as to the right OF General Ransom to the
seat and there are some technical questions to be
settled In relation to his election before lie will be
allowed to take It, even II properly elected.
Additional Commissioners Appointed to Hear
southern Clnims for Compensation.
The Southern Claims Commission have appointed |
tile following additional Commissioners 10
take testimony In the Southern States In cases
under S. 900 in amount-Th0mas s. largest Win.
chester, Va; Il. r. Hampton OF Webster, N. CIV
+. Connolly OF wedowee, Ala: u. s. Tbornburph.
Of New Market, Tenn; Henry d. Whitfield. OF co.
lumbus; E. G. Hunt Of vicksourg, Miss, and Z. IL.
PulIan, or Little Rock, Ark. Special Commissioner
Andrew Sloan, at Savannah, has resigned
his appointment, and his successor Will be
appointed In few days. Other com.
mIssioners are also to be appointed at
Memphis and Huntingdon. Tenn. The functions OF
Special Commissioner Backman. ~ Holly Springs,
Miss, have been terminated The late decision of
the Supreme Court on the unconstitutonality OF
the "DraKe amendment" does not affect tins COM
mission, which Is governed entirely by the act of
Congress establishing IT.. Claimants Will still have
to rely upon other evidence than executive par
dons and amnesty oath to prove their loyalty.
The Postal telegraph Union Advocacy.
III tne House Today Mr.. Palmer, OF Iowa, adv0
Gated union OF the postal and telegraph SER
vices, quoting the averages OF private and press
messages in Europe ana the Untel states, ana
claiming that they are much less in the former
than In the latter. He quoted Mr.. Beck as saying
that the average amount OF social messages the
United states Is less than Two per cent OF the whole
number, and stated that In Europe the social mes
sages amount to sixty per cent Of the whole amount
He argued that the telegraph IN this country is too
potent to be left i'll private hands, and, an agent
OF commerce. 1t ought to be under the control Of the
general government
President Grant ut the Agricultural Con- |
vcntion.
The Agricultural Convention did considerable |