The New York herald., 1872-12-05
The Assessors and Assistant As
SCISSORS Doomed
Disgraceful Condition Of the
Ordnance Supply.
BIG GUNS FEW AND POWDER USELESS
The Decapitation of Liberal Ohairmen and
Members Of Committees Compost
tion of the New Slate The
Loss of the Missouri.


WASHINGTON, Dec. 4. 1872.
Lively Discussions in the House-Mr.
Roosevelt After the District Territory
Ring-The Debate ON the Increase OF
the Navy Continued,
There was some lively discussion In the House
to-day. Mr.. Roosevelt, from New York, opened
with spirited raid on the Board OF Public Works
OF the District OF Columbia, Offering resolution
that the Committee on the District be directed to
ascertain and report what It's present liabilities
are including the liabilities Of the Board OF Public
Works. and what further sums will be required to
complete the work undertaken by the Board. BY
an act OF Congress the debt of the District of Co.
lumbia should at no time exceed $40, 900. Mr.
Roosevelt makes 1t appear that the improvements
will not cost less than $40 900, 900 when completed.
Mr.. Starkweather, Chairman of the Committee on
the District, moved that the resolution be
referred to the Committee on Appropriations.
but Mr.. Roosevelt made a strong appeal to the
House not to allow the thing to be smothered up
Mr.. Starkweathcr sharply replied that he did not
object to having daylight or moonlight or any kind
OF light on the subject. Mr.. Dawes came TO the
rescue OF the Board but could not save it, When
Mr.. Starkweather's motion was put to the vote 1t
seemed as II party lines would be drawn, but 1t
turned out otherwise. The motion was defeated
by ninety one nays over seventy-four yeas, and Mr..
Ro0sevelt's resolution was adopted.
Next in order was the discussion on Mr.. SEQ
fields bill, to authorize the Secretary OF the Navy
to buIld ten steam war vessels of iron. General
Negley said we were liable to foreign dis.
turbances at any moment, and was for building
the vessels at once, without loss OF time.
Fernando Wood took occasion to revive the st.
Domingo quagmre to attack the Secretary of the
Nnvu for hov hrIfi yl,iI oaid I,a
american citizens were left without protection in
Cuba" He, however, expressed his willingness to
vote for the bill as well as all its amendments.
Mr. Hale, from Maine, again rose In defence OF his
amendment to the effect that the Secretary of the
Navy be instructe ed to have five out OF the ten
vessels built by private contract. He extOlled
what ne considered the superior advantages or pr-
vate yards over government yards, saying that the
latter could not compete with the lormer as re-
CARDS cheapness and despatch. All the great
Powers OF Europe mad their war vessels
constructed In private yards with the exception
OF Russia, where patcrnai government left no
voice to the people. The discussion on naval mat
ters was brought to abrupt close by the expira-
tion of the morning hour, and Mr. Dawes made the
usual motion OF reference OF the different parts OF
the Message to the several committees.
MIR. Randa1Is Substitute for MIR. ScO-
fields Navy BiIl.
Mr.. Randals substitute for the bill approved by
Mr.. Sc0feld for building ten vessels OF iron was
framed with the view OF protecting the gov
ernment. The estimates, plans and specifications
are to be submitted to board OF nine naval OIL
GERS for approval and adoption, and after approved
provision will be made for letting out the contracts
to the lowest responsible bidder. provided 1t does
not exceed the estimate OF the Board.
Deposition OF the Liberal Chairmcn and
Slate-The President and the Oppose
tion In the House.
The Senate might have adjourned over from Tues
day until Thursday, as no business was transacted
yesterday or to-day. But Cameron and company
were not disposed to permit Fenton and Sumner
even to carry motion or adjournment, or to give
their brief eulogies OF Horace Greeley place in
the Congressional GLOBE Thsis but the first indica
tion Of the indexble determination OF the republI
cans In the Senate not to aIlliate with those who
left their ranks, but to class them with the demo-
cratic Senator'S as 0pp0sers OF the administration
The two wings OF the opposition have been for
maly notified that they can jointly agree upon one
OF their number to serve on each committee, and
they will meet tomorrow morning to make these
designations. When this list OF minority members
shall have been given to Mr. Frelinghuysen's g COM
mittee 1t Will be ready to report the
administration Senators have been notified to
assemble tomorrow, after an early adjournment,
to receive and consider this report. Tonight
Fcnton stands dep0scd from the Craftsmanship OF
the Committee on Contingent Expenses, which is
given to Window, OF Minnesota; Trumbu!l is de-
posed from the craftsmanship OF the Committee on
the Judiciary, which Is given TO Edmunds, while
Pratt succeeds Edmunds as chairman OF the Com
mittee on Pensions; Rice Is deposed from the
craftsmanship OF the Committee on Mines and
Mining which Is given to Hamiin; Schurz Is
ousted from the Committee on Foreign Relations,
and either Fcnton or Bayard must leave the COM
mittee on Finance. As Bayard's eyes are weak
and his health not good he may be prevailed upon
to stand aside. Sumner declines committee SER
vice, and Upton has never been at the head OF
committee. This slate may DO somewhat changed
tomorrow. but stands as above tonight.
The President is quoted as having said, previous
to his departure for New York, that we're he
member OF the House, neither Banks, Blair nor
Farnsworth should be at the head OF committee
OF that body. 1t so happens, however, that when
the Speaker has once announced the standing COM
mites at the commencement OF the session neither
he nor the House have any Jurisdiction over their
composition, unless under a suspension of the
rules, which would require two-thirds vote The
administration members let slip the golden oppor-
tunity for them to dcpose Banks when he asked to
be excused, but they refused to excuse him from
further service on the Committee on Foreign Az
fairs, and now he Is permanently there until the
close OF the session. 1t IS, however, within the
power OF a majority or that committee to depose
Banks from the chairmanship, although there
Is little probability that they will exercise that
power Should Blair ask to be excused from fur
ther service on the Committee on CLAIMS, OF which
he Is chairman. the House may treat him as leni.
entity AZ IL did Banks, especially az Buckley car
pet-bagger now from Alabama, would become. by
seniority chairman. But let Farnsworth ask TO be
excused from furthcr service on the Committee
on Post Offices and Post Roads, OF which ne Il
chairman. anu the House wi Jump at Il rs q nun
CRY trout jumps to golbe the anglers bait. THIS
Is especially because Farnswortli has INDUCED in
personalities OF bitter nature about several OF
his colleagues during the recent canvass. Banks