Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-02-12

passage of the house amnesty bill now living on
the senate table. While they anticipate that
Senator Sumner will again offer his civil rights
amendment, there will be found In the senate a
sufficient number, either to vote out the amend
ment as not germane to the bill, or to defeat it
by direct party vote. Having made their
record on that question which was carried by
the casting Vote OF the vice'president, they say
Its further consideration IS useless, as the am
ncSty bill, which requires two-thrdS vote, can
not be passed with such an encumbrance. With
Mr. Summers amendment OUT of the way the
bill doubtless can secure the required number of
Votes to pass it. The friends of amnesty are in
high spirits at the pruspect of success.
MI. Sumner regards the president rs hostile
TO his measure, but this will not, he says, swerve
him from the path of duty as he sees it, Wheth-
or the passage of the bill will iniure or help
General Grants denomination Is matter OF no
consequence to him, and he believes that unless
tue republican party extend to the Colorcd pee
pie civil rights 1t will feel the consequences at
the coming presidential election Mr., Sumner
says thar Mr., Coltax, by giving his casting vote
in the senate In favor OF his proposition has en-
HANGED his popularity with the colored people,
aud that if he had voted otherwise lac would
have been unpopular everywhere,
THE COMMITTEES
Gen. Butler was before the house committee
ON commerce yesterday forenoon and made 4
speech in reference to the revival OF American
commerce, recommending delereutial duties,
bounties, &c, for shpbuilding. Hon. Amasa
Walker also addressed the committee on the
same subject. There were no other house COM
mittces in session Yesterday.
The senate foreign relations committee had a
final meeting yesterday for hearing the charges
against Mr.. Hale On Tuesday next the com
mittee will decide upon its report to the senate,
which will be, as has he II several times stated
in these dispatches, favorable to Mr. Hale.
THE TREASURY INVESTING COMMITTEE.
The investigation instituted by the secre-
tary ct the treasury into the affairs of the
United States treasury office is neatly com.
plcted, 50 far as counting funds is concerned. 1t
is now estimated that the counting of the money
will be finished by the end of next week The
work of the committee, however, does not end
with the knowledge of the money on hand.
They will probably be buSily engaged until
March LIST in the examination of the accounts
of dsbursing officers. And until the state of
these accounts is known il cannot be uSCrrtainCd
whether there are any further deficiencies beside
those developed some months since. The third
auditor is still unable tC tell whether any
fraudulent claims based upon stolen vouchers
have passed his Office through the cOnnyanee Ui
Ehe, who was arrested on a charge Of attempt
ing to delraud the government.
There has always prevaiedin the third audit,
ors office a loose system of settling quartcrmas.
tiers accounts, they having been left in such
conditions that, if they could be distracted
upon them, since one half of the blank forms
used bear no evidence of settlement. The pa
pers, which it is alleged were distracted by
Elhe, were old vouchers, representing claims
settled years ago. cOlored clerk in the au-
ditol's office was the first TO scent the fraId
uent claims presented by Ehle, his attention
being attracted by the coffee-cOlurCd appearance
of the paper, which indicated its antiquity.
Ehle was in court yesterday. He waived an eX-
ANIMATION, and was remanded TO Jail in default
of $4,000 bail
WHAT BUTLER KNOWS ABOUT COMMERCE.
General Butler delivered an argument before
the committee of commerce in opposition TO the
bill submitted by Secretary Boutwell, and Svcre.
tery Robeson, in aid OF the maritime interests
of the United States. General Buter said we
sustained $4,000 American ships, carrying not
quite 100000 tons, and employed not more
than 100000 American sailors. We sustain a
carrying weight of II 900, 900 tons burthen, and
support 100000 alien sailors. OF 600 tons
Of steamship lines between America and Eu.
rope not single ton is under the American fag
10 1870 we imported goods in our American YES.
sells to the amount of S146,0O0,000 only, and
brought in foreign vessels goods to the amount
of S317 ,000,0 900. We exported in American YES
sells S16O 100000 worth, aud in foreign vessels
1903, 100000 worth. a grant of few dollars
per ton on the value Of a ship goes alone to the
builder.
The remedy | propose is to make differen-
tial duty on goods imported in favor Of Ameii,
can bottoms. | propose that wherever we arc
not precluded from SO doing by treaty, we make
a ditferental duty vi twenty per cent Of tariff
rate, in favor of goods imported in American
vessels, and twenty five per cent. in American
iron ships. The effect of this discrimination
would he to set every ship yard in the country
in motion and every rolling mill in motion tC
make iron for iron ships, and employ every
American ship TO its fullest capacity. When We
twenty tVputV-fiVp of OF ri
duties, we reduce so much the cost OF goods TO
consumers. In 1860 our American tonnage en-.
tered at the port of New York was 595 27S tons
foreign tonnage, 72j,000 tons. In 1869 it was,
American, 100000; foreign tonnage, 2,O44,OOO.
MINOR MATTERS.
United States steamer lroquoiS, now fitting
out at Philadelphia, mounts six guns, and will
probably be assigned TO the East India squadron.
The president has appointed Saylcs }. Bowen,
cX-mayor of Washington, us minister to Ecua-
dor.
A number of army officers will 20 to West
Point next week 10 attend the final intcrment OF
the remains of Gen Robert Anderson.
The Potomac river continues completely coy.
cred with ice, although the ice in the channel is
kept open by steamers which continue to arrive
and depart at Alexandria, Georgetown and
Washington. Tugboats industriously ply the
river but navigation is greatly retarded OF
course, though practicable.
The friends Of protection are in favor OF cut
ting down thesinternal taxes even below the
point indicated by the secretary Of the treasury,
so rs to relieve the masses of the people ms far
possible from the burden of the internal revenue
law. Their theory is that the revenue
necessary for the expenses of the government
should he raised mainly from duties on imports,
especially duties imposed upon articles from
abroad that come into competition with our
home productions; but the revenue reform re-
publicans from Illinois and Missouri oppose the
abolition of the odiOus income tax while they are
clamorous for PRODUCTION of the tariff for free
ships, free salt aud free coal.
The house met yesterday morning as in com
mittee of the whole for debate only. There were
but few members present. The only speaker
was Mr.. Wilson Of Indiana, whose remarks
were upon the distribution of public land. The
house adjourned at one O'Clock.
1t is stated that the investigation committee,
winch has just conc uded its labors in New
York, have not brought TO light any facts not
already known here, but that it substantiates
all the charges made bv Mr.. Patterson in his re-
port, made about ono year ago.
1t is believed at the treasury department that
an order will be issued early next week abolish
Ing the general order system of the New York
custom house. Ever since the report made by
senator Patterson regarding the investigation
made by his retrenchment committee on this
general order business, the treasury officers have
favored the abolition Of the system, bat owing
to political influence, it could never be carried
out.