Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-04-25

BUTLER AND FARNswoRTH.-General But
Ter was before the House committee on military
affairs yesterday for the purpose Of answering
the statements made by General Farnsworth
ment of the affairs and funds of the National
Soldiers and Sailors Asylum. He looked upon
the whole affairs as personal quarrel between
Farnsworth and himself, and made a general
statement to disprove the charges made, and
also to vindcate the course he has pursued since
he has been treasurer of the institution. No
action was taken by the committee.
THE JAPANESE AMBASSADORS, Iwakura and
KIDD, with their secretaries, A. Sioda, n. Cab,
4. Tanabe, H. Watanabe, T. Ando, accompa-
MED by Mr.. e. w. Brooks, of the War Depart
ment, visited the Treasury Department yester-
day and were shown through the different rooms
OF the building by Mr.. Saville, chief clerk O.
the department, who explained to them the
operations OF the different bureaus. For over q
week past w. Wakayama, OF the Japanese
Treasury, Y. Yosuba, deputy commissioner OF
revenue, and A. T. Kawage, secretary of the
japanese Embassy, have been diligently study
ing our system of internal revenue under the
instructions OF William H. Armstrong assistant
solicitor OF internal revenue. They prove apt
scholars.
DEATH OF GEN. McFERRAN.-Rditor Star
The following dispatch is just received. In Gen
McFerran the army has lost an excellent officer
and patriot: NJ. c. MsrGs,
Quartermaster General, u. S. A.
LOUISVILLE, Ky, April 25, 1872 Lieutenant
Colonel j. Q. McFerran, Deputy Quarterm sster
General, died this morning OF rheumatic affec-
ton Of the brain:
The deceased was q native Of Kentucky, and
was about ffty-twO years of age. He was a
graduate Of west Point, and for several wears
after the rebellion was stationed In this city a.
depot quartermaster. His disease was rheuma-
tism of the brain. He was regarded IS one of the
best officers in the service.
The POSITION OF Ex-GovERNoR CURTIN
Colonel j. W. Forney, George w. Childs, Mr..
Drexel and other prominent men OF Philadel-
phia. have united in dispatch to Hon. A. G.
Curtin, our Minister at st. Petersburg, warnlng
him against the Cincinnati convention as a
movement tending to disorganize the republi-
this dispatch, and it is claimed by the friends of
The Cincinnati convention that Col. Mcclure, OF
Philadelphia, has letter from Gov. Curtain
announcing himself in favor of the movement,
and authorizing Col. Mcclure to use his name
there Sin favor or reform in the party" Sc
This letter, however, IL is said was written sew
eIal days before the dispatch Of Col. Forney and
others was sent.
The REPORT OF the House District Of Column
bia committee upon the charges of the memo
rialists will be prepared as soon as possible, and
the opinion prevails that it will be brought
before the House as a privileged question, so
that its consideration will not be thrown over to
Friday assigned to the consideration of Dis
are very reticent as to their conclusions from
the testimony, but it seems to be the general
impression, in view of the failure to sustain any
serious charges against the Board of Public
Works, that the Investigation will result in no
further damage to District interests than has
already been caused by the opponents of i'm
provements. Some persons maintain that our
organic act may be amended With advantage in
some particulars, and ii is probable that some
suggestions will be made by the committee in
their report on that point.
The CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTION AS TO THE
RIGHT OF THE SENATE TO AMEND THE HOUSE
TEA AND COFFEE BILL.-The report of the Sem
ate committee on privileges and elections, SUBJ
mitted yesterday, on the constitutional question
raised by the House as to the right OF the Senate
to substitute bill for the general revision of
taxation for the House bill which simply abol-
ished the duties on tea and coffee, takes the
ground that the House bill abolissiag these du.
ties was not bill for raising the revenue within
the meaning of the constitution; and therefore
while the Senate might have amended it so As
TO abolish duties altogether upon other articles
the Senate had no right to engraft upon it, as il
dN in substance, an amendment providing that
revenue should be collected upon other articles
The committee then argue that the Senate has
the right under this clause Of the constitution to
alter or amend general bill for raising the
revenue. The report concludes with rcso,u-
ton directing the secretary Of the Senate to de-
liver copy OF the report to the House