The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-04
WASHING ON.
The Sandwich Islands Pr0tectOrate
Question Sur lie Tapis.
Interesting Diplomatic Budget from the
Realms OF Kamehamcha.
THE FRENCH sPoL1ATIoN Bill.

THE FRENCH sfOLIATION BILL.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 8, 1878.
Interesting Dispatches from the ssna-
witch Islands-The Correspondence Ia
be Comm un icated to Congress.
The President win probably communicate to
Congress at an early day some Interesting de-
spatches on the political condition OF the Sandwich
Islands, received at the Department OF state from
Henry A. Pierce the United States Minister Resident
At Honolulu. Charles G. Harris, now the Minister
nj Foreign Analrs OF the Hawaiian government is
native ofthis country, and was the Hawaiian Minis
ter here from 1867 until 1870 His successor Elisha
II. Allen, who has not been here OF late, is Maine
man. who represented that State in Congress from
lS41 to 1S43, and the present Chief Justice Is MI
Philips, originally OF Salem, Mass.
The French SPolfation Bill In Danger'
The French spoIiation bill VIII certainly provoke
heated debate In the House. The two foremost
democrats, Kerr and Beck, will bring all the
power Of their eoquence to bear against it.
Mr.. Kerr has been for several days engaged in
close examination Of the bill. He said to-day that
he thought it would pass in the Senate, but not In
the House. He will make good point against
the bin by the argument that the payment
OF the French spoliation claims would
establish q dangerous precedent in IA
vor OF the insurance companies who
claim s., 10000 out of the Geneva award for the
war lesses during the rebellion. Now, both In the
/Anglo-French war OF 1901 and in the late civil war;
American insurance companies charged enhanced
premiums which were more than sufficient to repay
for losses and risks incurred, and in both these
cases those who claim the most money are nsur
ance companies.
Cabinet Meeting.
The Cabinet session to-day lasted over two
hours and a half, and considerable amount Of
department and routine business which had accu-
mulated in two weeks was considered, but no
business Of unusual or extraordinary Importance
was transacted
COngressmen Looking Out for Their
Henchmen.
Some of the new Senators and Representatives
who will have seats in the next Congress, which
will commence its official existence on the 4th of
March, are here prospecting for ofilces wherewith
TO reward partisans who helped their elections
They do not hesitate, in most cases. to recommend
dndng places for these friends OF theirs by turning
out those placed in Office by their predecessors.
The Appropriations Com m ittee in Session.
The House Appropriations Committee met to-day
and considered the Notifications bill. Nearly the
same amount will probably be appropriated this
year as last. The committee also gave the finish
ing touch TO the Naval bill and the West Point bill.
The Vexata Questio Between Old Te-
cumseh and Secretary Belknap.
The Official relations between Secretary Beknap
and General Sherman have lately been matter of
comment, and rumors have existed of a serious
hinerence between them as to how orders shall be
ssued. But this difference has been one merely of
spinton which, 1t is said, has been settled to the
satisfaction Of all concerned by the PRONUNCIATION
Of the army order issued by General Sherman to-
aay.
- .Temperanee ReSbrmsrs ON the Alert.
The temperance reformers are about to make a
vigorous demonstration to secure the enactment
by Congress OF prOhibitory law for this District
and the Territories, while the national Treasury
enriched by the internal revenue taxes on an aver
age product OF 2e9,G3s gallons Of spirits daily.
Post Office Boxes.
The Postmaster General has decided that fami-
Ties, firms or companies cannot combine to rent
Post office boxes conformity, but that one box rent
must be collected for each firm, family or company
enjoying such facilities
The Revenue Cutter Moccason Assisting
Vessels in Distress.
Lieutenant Irish OF the United States revenue
cutter Moccas0n, reports to the Secretary of the
Treasury that on the 30th OF December he rendered
assistance to the British brig Altalaska which was
fast in the ice in the harbor OF Holmes Hole She
was towed out and placed in safe anchorage. The
sam steamer on the 2sth of December rendered
assistance to the American brig Angelina and
schoOners Nile and Silas McLoan all OF Rockland
from New York for Boston. These vessels had been
driven about the harbor Of Edgartown by the ice
and storm for five days. and on the Moccason COM
Ing IN they set colors for assistance. The schooner
Apgeine ,ay in dangerous position, as with the
starting 81 the ice she would probably have been
driven on the hats The vessels were all towed out
Of the ice to safe anchorage. .1,i -"
g Internal Revenue Statistics.
folio
prepared at the Internal Revenue Bureau shows
the increase or decrease of collections from differ
ent sources for the FIRST four months Of the pres
ent fiscal year as compared with the same period
last year:-On spirits there Is an increase Of
1882, 764 on tobacco increase Of $5740 O6; the
collection OF the tax on banks and bankers has
decreased $19e, $40; on adhesive stamps q
decrease OF $l,5o5,52s; on penalties there
Is an increase Of $29,s34 and on
sources formerly taxed but now exempt the
statement shows decrease OF $3,6250S3. The
decrease OF receipts on the above mentioned
sources where falling Of OF the revenue appears,
Is solely due to legislation. The total decrease is
on repealed sources and amounts to s5,33O, 2si.
The total increase from sources taxable alike In
1872 and 1873 is s2,s7595e The aggregate of inter-
est revenue receipts for the last quarter of the
calendar year Of 1872 is 6,330,025 90 decrease
from the reports for the quarter ending December
u, 1871, OF ss,Os25a2 81.
The Cotton Crop.
The iast statement OF the general and full cotton
crVp returns OF the Department OF Agriculture
Was made on the 23d Of November. The December
returns do not include cotton, and only a few
voluntary statements were received which do not
essentially change the November views.
Land Once Records Destroyed.
The Commissioner Of the General Land 0nice is
in the receipt OF dispatches to-day reporting that
the Land Office and many Of the records at Lin
coin, Neb., were destroyed by the fire there. Also
that all the RECORDS OF the Land ONCE at Darde.
nelles Ark, were consumed In the fire which de-