The New York herald., 1874-12-20
WASHINGTON.
wAsHrsoroN, Dec. 10, 1874.

wAsHINoroN. Dec. 10. lsTA.
STATE DINNER TO KING KALAKAUA.
The President and Mrs. Grant will give State
dinner TO King KAIakaaa on Tuesday evening,
which will be attended by the King and suite,
members OF the Cabinet, Sir Edward Thornton
and Mra Thornton, Chief Justice Waite, Senator
Cameron, Representative Orth and q lew other
distinguished persons. Owing to press OF o1nclal
duties General Sherman Will be forced to leave for
st. Louis tonight and VIII not be able TO attend
the dinner.
PACIFIC MAIL INVESTIGATION.
The subcommittee OF the Committee on Ways
and Means repaired to the quarters OF Mr.. Irwin
to-day for tho purpose OF continuing his examina-
tion, bus he refused to tell how the money belong.
ing to the Pacific Mail Steamship Company was
spent pending the subsidy before Congress. This
fact OF refusal will De reported to the iul commit
tee ON Monday, when the usual course viii be
taken with view to obtain from him the particu-
lars OF the expenditures.
CAUCUS OF SENATORS.
At q caucus OF republican Senators TO-DAY sew.
eral Of the caucus committees made reports.
While no formal action was taken regarding
Southern affairs. there was q unanimous expires.
sion on the point that all citizens In that section
must be protected in their lawful rights.
Some Senators suggested that there should
be an increase OF the army for that
purpose, while others were OF the opinion that
improved militia arrangements would better SO.
cure protection, while being less Objectionable
than regular military force and more in accord
ance with the spirit Of our institutions. The
question was adjourned to q future but early eau.
Gus.
The Caucus Committee on Southern Affairs will
not make any recommendation with regard to
Arkansas affairs until the committee appointed by
the House shall have made their report to that
body, ana therefore the Arkansas question was
not discussed. There was an indisposition TO take
action relative to the Kellogg government. Az to
. the question OF admitting Pinchback 1t was said
there were questions pending before the Com
mitsee on Privileges and Elections Affecting him
which should first be settled before discussing the
propriety OF giving him the vacant seat in the
senate belonging to Louisiana.
Most OF the time OF the caucus was consumed In
the confederation OF the finance question. report
having been made BY the Committee OF Eleven on
that subject through Its chairman, Senator Sher-
man. The debate took q wide range, but all who
spoke expressed the opinion that something was
necessary to be done, and that therefore 1t was
the part OF wise statesmansnp for those present
to narmonize their views II possible.
The committee or eleven, before they brought
their report into the caucus, were dvlded In tneir
views, seven being in favor Of the report and lour
against 1t; but. finally, on motion OF one OF the
FOUR the report was made unanimous, and after a
long discussion was adopted by the caucus
The bill agreed upon will be reported at an early
day to the Senate. According to the best attain
able Information 1t provides for the resumption Of
specie payment on January l, 1879; for free
banking and for the retiring OF green
backs to the extent OF eighty per cent
OF the amount OF the new national bank notes
issued, and also requires the $4s,000.o0O Of
fractional currency TO be gradually Withdraw n
and silver coin In denominations OF from hve to
fifty cents issued in its place. The Secretary ol
the Treasury is authorized to use the surplus coin
in the treasury, on ana after tho day nxed for re-
sumption, to redeem the legal tenders, and, il
necessary, TO sell bonds for the same purpose Il
the amount OF specie is not suf1cient