The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-17

n AGIOAAD, w MIN HObh l.
this subject have been asked from this city, among
others uy Aaron NJ. Powell, OF the Reform League
ct New York.
A -wnrm Of Court House Jobs.
There has been large dimnution In the number
and amount OF landgrab schemes before Congress
this session, but there Is much activity pressing
appropriations for governments buildings all over
the country. Hartford wants $500, 900; Brook
Ign, 100000; Albany, $3.50, 600; Syracuse
5000; Charleston, West Virginia, S15O,0OO;
Parkersburg, In the same State, the same
amount; Cincinnati, q sum in blank; Quincy, Ill.,
$150,OO0 st. Louis. 100000 Oshkosh, Wis.,,
100000; La Crosse, 100000; Lynchburg Va,
$500, 900; Nashville. Tenn, $400,O0O; Brunswick
Ca $780, 900; huntsville, Ala, $4,000 Key
West, Jacksonville and Cedar Keys. In Florida.
$4,000 each; Austin, Texas. 500, 600, ana Tyler,
Texas, twice that sum; and many other large ana
small towns are down Tor big or little Court House
jobs These bills viii all be pressed with great per.
tinaclty BY interested Congressman before the
Senate and House Committees on Public
Buildings and Grounds; but the whole Ousi-
ness is likely TO break down by over weight,
especially as past experience has clearly shown
that the first appropriation is always used to open
the doors to many subsequent ones for REPAIRS pre-
servation and completion OF the buildings But
there are sanguine expectations that with such
court house and river and harb0r appropriations
as can be got out OF Congress for each State the
party funds be considerably aided for the great
election.
The Labor Inquiry bill Before the Senate
COmn,istee-Cnndidates for the Commission.
The selected Senate committee have the act for
labor commission passed by the House before them.
The proposition Is regarded favOraby, and will be-
m I'M At nPn
to increase the commissioners to five extend the
time from one to two years and reduce the salaries
to about three thousand five hundred dollars. A
great deal Of interest Is manifested In the measure
throughout the country only by labor reformcrs,
but by others. Among those urged for appointment
as representatives Of the wages mechanic classes
are the names OF Ira Steward President OF the New
England Eight Hour League; O'Neal, OF the Massa-
chusetts Bureau OF Labor Statistics J. II. Finney
OF the Anthracite Miners Union also Mr.. w. j.
Jessup, of New York. Hons. George W. Julian ana
Benjamin +. Wade and President Barnard, Of Co.
lumbia College. are among those named for chair
man OF the commission, while Robert Dale owen
and DR.. Elder are also mentioned.
England and Russian Intrigues.
1t is stated IN well-infOrmed diplomatic circles
that the English government, which has Of course
had even larger interest Than our own IN the I'M
impeded AMI peaceful relations of the two nations,
some time ago instituted inquiries the matter OF
Russian diplomatic ntrigues TO prevent the conclu-
sion OF the Treaty of Washington. The result of
these inquiries has established 1t is claimed, not
only the truth OF Mr.. Fishs charges against Mr. Cata
cay a. TO the latters intrigue, but also that Russian
agents were at work elsewhere for the same end.
The English diplomats are concentrating them
selves and their country on what is regarded by
them as the virtual end OF the much-talkedo of
dlalitv Of feeling between the Great Republic and
the SClavOn1an empire.
The Syndicate IDquiry-The Report of the
COmmittee-PrObabIe Condemnation Of she
Scheme.
The Syndicate transactions have been made a
matter OF close investigation by the Committee of
Ways and Means. The exact nature OF the con-
illusions arrived at by the committee has not
reached the public, but the report VIII soon
appear The HERALD Is enabled 10 anticipate this
report In general way. The resolution under
Which TINS inquiry was made was offered by Mr..
Cox, OF New York. This resolution asked whether
the Secretary had in defiance of law, increased the
public debt for time TO the extent OF $3.50 OOO, OOO
or to any amount, ana whether he had expended
more than one-half OF one per cent in commits
sions and expenses Of placing the said loan.
When the Committee OF Ways and Means
assembled Mr.. Cox, as the author OF
Inc resolution, was requested to attend
for the purpose OF asking Mr.. Boutwell, certain ques
tiOns. These interrogatories were submitted in
writing by Mr.. Cox. He asked the Secretary
whether. in the first place, he had made any In
crease IN the public debt. Mr.. Boutwell, replied
that the debt had been increased to the extent OF
$3.50 200, 600. IL was impossible to place the loan
without this temporary increase OF the debt The
law as written was impossible OF execution and
he construed for the best interests OF the country
hOund " cyl IN
it SO to insure the success OF the loan. He ex-
cused himself unqualifedly for this temporary in
crease OF the debt. Mr.. Cox then asked whether
the Secretary, by his action had not made a
precedent under which he could II he
pleased, increase the debt six hundred or
O thousand millions for three months or
for any tlmd The Secretary replied that, as
ne understood the law, 1t gave him this discretion.
Mr.. Cox then questioned the Secretary as 10 whether
he had increased the expenses of the Syndicate TO
any sum above the one-half OF one per cent allowed
by law. The Secretary replied that although
81, 100000 had been appropriated Tor the pur.
pose Of placing the whole $l,5OO,OOo,OOO. he
had q right, under the law, to use any
portion of the S7,000,00o for the expenses OF
any portion OF the whole loan, and that on this
point the law gave him sound and liberal discre-
ton. Mr. Cox then asked the Secretary whether or
not he had increased the interest OF the public debt
III any manner The Secretary replied that there
was an increase for three months; that during this
time the Treasury really paid eleven per cent
upon the $4,000, 600. Mr.. Cox then asked
how much the government had lost in this
increase. The Secretary replied that he did
not see that the government HAD lost anything con.
,Iderng the ultimate gain TO the people in the
ultimate reduction Of the interest. Time upon the
1850, 100000 interest was lost for three months
This gain remained TO the syndicate. 1t was under
their option and control, and excess OF the
amount allowed to the Syndicate under the
Jaw as expenses. At least or one and
D half of the whole amount had been
realized as a profit by the syndicate. The
reason Of the uncertainty as TO the real amount or
Inc gain was from the testimony of Jay Cooke, VINO