New-York tribune., 1872-02-01


WASHINGTON, Wednesday, Jan. 81, 1877
The Senate Committee Finance In session
nearly ali day, listening TO the representatives Of the
salt and iron manufacturing interests. The former
represented by delegations headed by Judge Comsock
OF Syracuse, and Mr.. Fitzhugh Of Michigan. These
gentlemen are opposed TO any reduction Of the present
tarif rates on salt, and showed that the
cost OF the production OF that article ia
now nearly equal to the market price.
The latter part OF the day was occupied
by the manufacturers Of iron, who represented almost
every important industry in which that metal Is ex.
labor which enters so largely into all their products has
decreased but very little since the close Of the the
Gacns the profits "i reased from tSer business e
minimum. Any further reduction Of the tariff
would therefore, they think, DO very disastrous
to them. One Of the strongest appeals made by these
suits from propositions made in Congress every year
two to reduce the tariff they said worked the greatest
injury 20 their business and they hoped that Congress
would simply let them alone for few years until they
get their industry firmly established The arguments OF
the iron manufacturers OF very convincing charac
ter, ana cannot fail TO have some influence with the
Committee
There has been some misunderstanding In regard 10
the estimate of the Commissioner of Pensions OF the
amount Of money lost to the Government by pension
frauds Col Baker denies that he ever said that one
fourth OF the money paid out for pensions Is paid to
fraudulent claimants. What he did say was he
believed that one-eghth OF the applications for
pensions are tainted with fraud. When the
in which these frauds perpetrated s
taken into consideration, it will be perfectly
apparent that the Bureau in Washington is not to blame
The evidence which pensions granted is on that
of the appointed for the OF examining
applicants. None but OF good character and high
standing in their profession are appointed ana they
make sworn written report II that report represents
man as wholly disabled, when he is not the Comms-
has way OF knowing IL unless some one
calls his attention to it, Such cases as this are discoy
cred day, hundred letters being read daily IN
% letters
referred to the proper division, and an agent sent TO
investigate each ease at once But the greatest frauds
are in connection with the bounty land warrants,
issued 10 soldiers OF the war Of 1872 and their heirs inc
Commissioner thinks that at least half the applications
This class fraudulent The law admits parol
evidence IN these cases, and IL has been me Dt oi ns
companies, forge the evidence required by
law then apply for the bounty land warrants. The
only way detect these frauds s to send agent TO as
certan II such witnesses actually exist, and SO many
frauds have been discovered that but few Of these war
rants are now issued The department l. hc,lf"uS o
having these facts made public, and asks Tor more
money to uHe in stopping the leaks.
The disposition House Naval Committee appears
10 he favorable immediate increase OF the Navy by
the building Of ships, and It isprobable that they
will soon report for this purpose. Two
bills are before them authorizing the construc
tOn of ten steam at cost of about sjOO
co. and the other empowering the secretary OF the
Navy sell old vessels. engines, and other material
which he NAV deem of little further 10 the service,
and appropriate the proceeds toward the construction
Of new vessels The exposure OF the weakness Of
navy and the critical character Of relations with
Spain has convinced many Of The most econ
of House that something ougtt hc done I'M
medately to increase the Sti'hSth OF our ""'"'''"
forces.
II tappears that Mr. Lgatc recently appointed Governor
OF WashnctoniTcrrtOy not backed 10y Senator Pom
eroy as reported but by Senator Caldwell alone. Tie
matter arranged during the Presidents visit to
Kansas last Summer when he spent "A day with Senator
Caldwell and Legatc, his particular friend Senator
POmeroy has been friendly terms with Legate
since The investigation, in ls6s, with re-
gard to raising money TO De used against
Impeachment: Legate supported by petition
signed by all the state officers OF Kansas the Republican
STATE Senators and by many OF the Republican members
f the fate oust OF Porcroy told
President that he would not allow his personal feelings
10 canse MIN to oppose the nomination. ul her cXamI
nation Of the report above referred 10 shows con
clnsively ~ two things, either that Legac. who
was. 1867, special agent of The Post Ohce Depnrt
mcnt i'm Kansas and New Mexico. came To Washington
and agreed with Perry Fuller and Edmund Cooper to
secure Senator Pomeroy's vote against the impeachment
Andrew Johnson, and began operations for the pur-
pose carrying ont his bargain. In which undertaking
he failed ~ there is no evidence tbat Hruht3t Pomeo
approached on the subject or else he erlured
himself In the words oi the C9'nnnlstt, he was pd!t
ceps in corrupt enterprise and upon ms own soWlhg
willing AZ 10 his recent connection with the pur-
chase Of legislative for Senator Caldwell, leading
Kansas say that there is no doubt OF his guilt II
corruption is proved at ALL lie ls warm perronai
friend Caldwell, and worked hard for his election.
II is however denied that he has left Kansas he does
not assume his new office for several weeks
The Secretary Of the Treasury attended the meeting of
the House Committee Commerce, to day and listened
% American The question of the wisdom of
granting drawbacks in shipbudlng materials imported
from foreign fully considered. but
clusion was reached IL is doubtful II the Committee
will report in favor OF the drawback system. 1t Is
rounded with many difficulties that there is dsposi
ton to abandon it aud attempt TO agree upon bill
granting bounty at a fixed rate per tun directly from
engage in foreign trade. The Proectionists IN the
House naturally opposed Ia drawback system,
NUhip ia pun a "A
materials, unless is coupled with provision for pay
to builders, who American materials, an amount
OF money from the Treasury equal 10 tho drawback
in the same materials imported. without such
provision they that the business of the manufac-
OF iron plates engues and eordage for in
contraction Of ships would he greatly injured for nobody
would buy articles from them which could be bought
abroad for from 10 TO 90 per cent less The representa-
tves Of the shipbuildng interests much prefer Mr. Haes
and they are unwilling TO hazard its passage by Joining
to it saving clause for the benefit of American manu-
the opposition Of the whole OF the Free Traders
They seek rather alliance with the Free Traders, and
controlled by the New England shipbuildDg interest,
added to that OF the Democrats and Western Freerade
favor OF Mr. ales bill which they hope 10 get out Of
the Ways and Means Committee aud pass They do not
appear to hope for any acton on the part OF the Con
merce Committee that will suit them.
The Judiciary Committee OF the senate spcndt its
sion to-day in considering general bin to regulate the
proceedings in U :. Courts which will soon be reported
The Miscellaneous Appropriation bill has reached the SEN
ate Committee and is already under consideration. Few
amendments have thus far been made but usual the
Senate will insist making certain changes in order
that the bill may not II came from the House III
will probably be reported back IN two ar three days.
The Senate Indian Committee to-day. agreed upon the
bill OF Senator Pomeroy for the settlers on the Osage
lands in Kansas, which extends the time three months
from the date OF the passage OF the bill In which the
settlers are required 10 file decaratOry statement The
bill will reported Dy senator Harlan. with amend
nent requiring the settlers To interest during the
period OF extension.
The Clayton Investigating Comusttee met today and
had before it A. h. Hartman who called at the re
quest OF Clayton. Hartman, two years ago. was Mayor
Df Little Rock but having hostile 10 Clayton, was,