The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-20
CAUCUS OF SOUTHERN COSGRESSMEN
Refusal Of the Ways and Means Committee
to Favor the Job.
The Postal Telegraph Bill and
a5 It's Enemies.
Phelps, Dodge & Co. Not To Be Prosecuted-New
Regulations for Collectors Of Customs
The South Carolina Congress
sional Election Case.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10, 1873.
Minister SicIklcs and the Spanish Cow
ernment-sharp Comments ON the
Zorrilla Cabinet.
General Sickles does not appear to have had
from the very commencement OF the existence OF
the Zorrlla Ministry, Q conviction that 1t could
prove itself equal to the emergency. On the day
alter the Cabinet crisis General Sickes wrote thus
to the Secretary Of State:-
Itremains to be seen whether the radical Minis
ellis OF the King, deal with situation so grave
and for which they need not only statesmen, but
military talent of no common order. The main
current oil public opinion runs in their favor. Ihe
prestige OF the crown Is once more on their side.
They lose no time IN taking advantage OF an oppor-
tunity afforded by the resignation OF nearly all the
I'LL up the vacant places with their
partisans, thus securing the large ,s ana
They promise through their newspaper organs to
put in operation at once series OF reforms, en-
bracing large reduction OF expenditures, the sup
preston useless 0fices the separation OF Church
and state, the abolition OF CONSUMPTION for the
and Ds o.
ton to the colonies. Whether these promises Will
be kept; whether, If fulfilled the resistance such
OF 1868 must encounter will be overcome by the
support 1t should bring to the party that has the
courage and the consistency to undertake 1t In
earnest shall not venture to predict.
In later dispatches Mr.. Sickles expresses himself
more lavorably concerning Zorrilla and his radical
associates but 1t Is evident that he does not re-
gard them as possessing the highest degree OF
frmness and moral courage. To shield them In
their fear OF offending the known Castilian pride
General Sickless doubtless cOntented himself with
reading to the Spanish Minister OF Foreign Affairs
the long dispatches OF Secretary Fish on Cuban
affairs, and did not onicially communicate copy.
But should not this have been stated when the
despatch was made public
Two syndicates Onering for the Loan
Nothing to be Done Until the Commit
tee OF Ways and Means Render n De-
ciSion.
The propositions made to Secretary Boutwell, yes
terday were from two distinct Syndicates-One
by L. p Morton, representing Morton, Bliss & Co.,
and Drexel, Morgan & Co., Of New York; Barring
Bros. h Co., J. s. Morgan h Co., and Morton, Rose
& Co., Of London, for either 900 or oil OF
the remaining $500 zoo, 900 OF I'VE per cent bonds
The other proposition was by Jay Cooke d Co., who
are reported to be associated with the Rothschlds,
for 500, 600 900. The Secretary reserved definite
decision until after q meeting OF the Ways and
Means Committee, called for Tuesday next, when
the subject will come up for final action. secre-
tary Boutwell, SAYS that he is not willing to place
more than 500, 900, 900 at time.
Pressed-A Combination to Rob the
Treasury Of sixty-eight Millions.
The Southern members of Congress held caucus
yesterday to take into consideration the scheme
for refunding the cotton tax. Thirty members
were present, and it was proposed to have con-
certed action on the measure whenever the Com
mi.tee on Ways and Means could be induced to
lend favorable ear. On Tuesday next the CON-
mittee has agreed to hear arguments In favor Of
refunding. The Secretary Of the Treasury Is
opposed to it, but Notwithstanding the OPP
position the lobby is confident Of carry
ing 1t through. One OF the leading demo.
cratic members characterizes this job as the
most stupendous attempt at highway robbery ever
recorded. The career of Turpin and Nike Martin
is honorable compared with this project to rob the
Treasury, for out OF this $6S.o0o,ooo claimed not
one-twentieth Will ever reach the planters. The
question now is not whether the tax was consti-
tutonal or not, but whether the Treasury shall be
robbed Of sixty odd millions fer the benent OF q
horde OF lobbyists, spectators and unprincipled
cotton factors. 1t Is claimed that the people Of the
United States as consumers, paid this tax and that
Congress has no right at this time to defraud the
Treasury OF any portion of the amount claimed.
The bill for rounding this tax Is pending before
the Ways and Means Committee, and will be ad-
yersely reported. The members say they will do
all in their power to defeat it,
Phelps, Dodge 81 Co. Not To Be Prose-
cuted-New Regulations tor Collectors
and Consu1s.
| The papers in the case of Phelps. Dodge Co.
are still before the Solicitor Of the Treasury, and
| Will not be acted upon for several days. The
opinion expressed at the Treasury Department Is
| that there viii be no prosecution the government
asking only the amount claimed to be DUE
| pouf oil iequa regulations
for the guidance of collectors Of CUSTOMS and our
Consuls will be instructed to have special care In
reporting the ruling prices OF all the goods exported
| from the countries In which they are located.
| Activity OF the Lobby In Pressing
| Schemes Of Plumber.
.Now or never' Is the motto OF the hungry
| horde OF lobbyists who swarming in the lobbles
of the Capitol and at the hotels. Claims fol-
extra pay for building war steamers land-grab
bing railroad schemes subsidies for rotten steamers
on the Pacific, renewals o. expired patents, per
sonal war claims, and hundred more little
demands on the Treasury are being presented AND
pushed by crafty men and INSCRIPTIONS women.
The Postal Telegraph and the Compa'
nies-rransancisco Newspapers to bs
Punished.
The advocates OF the postal telegraph assert thai
the argument11npon that question which were SC
generously furnished the public present no new
points for discussion, and only perpetuafe the
errors wifuly put forth by the friends Of the tcle
graph lobby in Its previous statements pre-
cisely similar. argument, every sentence Of which
has been fully refuted by the testimony Of experts
or by the contradictory statements Of the compa
nies, own officers, was made here four years ag'
and telegrtphed Gil over the country. IL Is state'
that Mr.. David A. Wells, who Is under
stood TO have received q heavy fee for tina
part OF the argument appearing over his, sig
nature, admits that his figures are furnished en-
tirey In the interest OF the telegraph company, an
disclaims all responsibility for their accuracy. Tn
report Of the late proceedings before the Apprt
priation Committee is unauthorized and incorrec
especially with regard to the statements Of M
Lines. the Postmaster Generals secretary, whic
have been published here in full, and which convi
certain telegraph officials OF the Urossest blunde