The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-01
WASHING ON.
The French Arms Petard Ex-
plOdes---NObOdy Hurt.
SUMMERS LAST SHOT.
Ammunition Runs Out Ali
Round.
The BRAzEN PREAMBLE GUN SPIKED.
>~>>o~~~~~~~<->N>>>~~~-
Wisconsin Land Grabs i'm the
House.
% LAT Tom Scott Don't Want and the HOUSE
That Don't Care What He Wants.
A Story of the North Pacific
Railroad.
Charges Against the Minister of
Chile.

CmILes
WASHINGTON, Feb. 20, 1872.
The French Arms War Hatchet Buried in the
Investigating COmmtiee-rhe Preamble
Killed Outright.
The Senate to-day busted itself with its little
political games. The greater part Of the morning
hour was spent in an explanation of the manner in
which certain documents had been circulated by
means OF forged franks. Senator'S Chandler and
Morton found themselves the victims OF some
designing persons who had used their franks
10 circulate the call for the Cincinnati
Convention, and Senator Upton considered
himself even worse abused in having his frank used
to circulate the speeches OF the Michigan Senator
This heightened proceeding being over, the Till to
admit Japanese students to the West Point Acad-
envy was passed as graceful compliment to the
Japanese Embassy on the day OF its arrival at the
national capital and the Senate then proceeded to
terminate the terrible resolution OF Mr.. Sumner In
regard to the sale OF arms TO France. Mr..
Carpenter made his speech anu then the
voting began, ana 1t ended In the way 1t
ought to have ended on the day when
the resolution was introduced. The offensive pre-
amble was laid on the table, Mr.. Edmunds alone OF
the administration Senators voting against It, DE-
cause he in favor Of putting the whole question
where the majority doomed the preamble. The
administration and the trends Of an inquiry
which should be confined WITHIN reasonable
bounds, and the resolution was adopted by
q vote OF % TO 5. The five Senator'S vot-
tiny against 1t were Cole, Edmunds, Gilbert,
Harlan and Wright. These believed there was no
necessity for any investigation and were unwilling
to put themselves on the record as favoring an IN
qulry which they thought unnecessary and the
grounds for which they deemed completely dis
proved One thing growing out OF this controversy
Is certain-namely, that the discussion was more
damaging to tre administration than any investl-
ton possibly could be. NOBODY believes that the Sec
rotary OF War can lie shown in any other light THIN
AZ having done his duty carefully and cautiously,
and the more recent charges OF Mr. Schurz against
the CHIEF Of Ordnance even If they should be shown
to be well founded, VIII react only on that 0nicer.
strong effort will be made to develop the connec-
ton OF the Marquis de Cnambrun with the instiga-
ton OF this inquiry but IS not expected that any
new facts Of importance will lie developed one way
or the other. With the adoption OF this resolution
the whole thing Is practically dead, and no future
effort OF the Committee or investigation, which has
not yet been appointed can Ralvaaze 1t into decent
We.
The House French sales Inquiry.
The House Committee on the Expenditures In the
War Department met this morning, and without
other acLiOn tnan bricf discussion adjourned Tor
Two weeks. This means virtual abandonment or
the investigation into the sales OF arms TO France
and IS due to the Ill success OF Mr. Lynch In getting
ms resolution OF inquiry 80 modified as to exclude
the particular line Of investigation, which It Is be-
heved in administration circles the attorney OF the
French government at Washington was employed
TO bring abOut The whole matter will now he left
TO the disposition OF the Senate
The Land Gruut LOBBY Discounted in
Rrnv nv nd VIOlu
Another day was spent in the House over the Wis.
consin and St. Croix Railroad land grant steal,
which was STAYED OF yesterday by the skill and
adrotness Of Mr.. Cox, Of New York, and Mr. Hol-
man, OF Indiana. The House, the lODbies and even
the Speakers room were full OF specustors and
schemers both to-day and yesterday, and the strong
effort of the session to reopen the land grant steals
was made. This attempt OF the rings was met at
the threshold by only thlrtytwo votes against the
measure, just enough to call the ayes and noes, but
the friends OF the steal melted away perceptibly
when the ayes and noes were called.
The afternoon yesterday was spent In flibuster.
ing, the pretext Tor which was that MIR. Holman de-
sired to offer an amendment to deprive the North.
ern Pacific Railroad from any benefits In case this
bill did not pass, the arguments Of the Wisconsin
members being mat the Northern Pacific road
would get the andsif the Wisconsin and st, Croix
road did not. Thus was the objection OF the op-
ponents OF the blu obvlated, but somehow this did
seem to satisfy the friends OF the bill and the fiji.
clustering went on Those who favored 1t had a de-
bate OF an hour yesterday and BY large majority
cut on all opposing debate. Finally the House al
journed and this morning the question came
up as unfinished business. Mr.. Stevenson,
OF Onto, asked to have read letter from
the Commissioner OF Public Lands showing That
the Northern Pacific roads would get other lands in
lieu Of these II the bill passed. The stupid Wiscon-
sin members even refused 10 allow tails to be read.
Mr. Cox asked for further debate and this was dis
allowed. MIR. Holman begged to be allowed TO offer
MS amendment, and this was refused Then Hanks,
Of Arkansas who had voted for the bill, moved TO
reconsider, which was carried. This opened the
matter for debate, ana Cox, Stevenson and Holman
riddled it, Mr.. Cox made very sensible speech
upon the general policy Of giving away the public
domain, and presented protest which would have
been signed by members OF both sides II the
bill had passed. Mr.. Banks, OF Massachusetts,,
took occasion In lew remarks favor
ing the bill to reflect upon Tom Scott,
Pennsylvania for alleged opposition to the meas
ure, 10 which Mr. Negley and other pennsylvania
members replied, denying from personal knowledge
that Mr.. Scott was opposed to the bill. After TWO
days spent over what the managers oil the Dill
thought would require but as many hours to pass,
1t Is safely moored In the Public Lands Committee,
from which bourne land grant railroad DIS seldom
return. The bill begun with only thirty.two votes
against It, but in the course OF the fight 1t gained
friends so rapidly that only one vote was wanting TO
lay 1t ON the table, and II was recommitted to the
committee on Public Lands with Holman's insruc
uon by a majority OF over twenty. This is great
triumph for honesty, and the land grant lobby Is
much discouraged in its anucipations OF future
operations.
Tom Scott and Ills Baltimore DepOt.
The House Committee on the District OF Columbia
tnls morning heard the arguments OF Colonel
Ihomas A. Scott, OF the Pennsylvania Central Rail.
road In relation to the location the depot of the
Baltimore and Potomac Railroad IN his city. JOIN
w. Garrett, OF the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was
also before The committee asking that no special