The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-16
The Sore Puzzle Of the Senate Over
the Financial Problem.
Opposition to Sudden Re-
sumption of Specie.
Inordinate Expense of the
Postal Service.
Charlatan Economy in the Naval
Appropriation.


WASHINGTON, Jan. Is, 1874.
Conkling Nominated for Chief Justice |
and Accepts.
There have been all sorts OF rum0rs anoat to- |
day with regard to the Chief Justiceship 1t was |
asserted that the position would be ten |
dered to Judge Curtis, Of Boston, and |
that he had been telegraphed to as to whether |
he would accept This was generally looked |
upon as an excellent way OF disposng OF the !
position, which was fast becoming q subject OF |
vexation to the republican party. 1t was con-
ceded that Curtis would be confirmed without |
opposition. There could be no question as to his
ability, as was the case with Williams and
no points at which to attack him in his
political record. The wonder was expressed
that he was the third choice instead
OF the nrst, as it was alleged he should have been
taking into consideration his pre-emlnent stand
ing among the acknowledged leaders OF the bar
and his high reputation former Associate JUS
tice Of the Supreme Court. But al the time the
Curtis rumor was settled down into almost Ger.
tainty 1t was followed by another story that
Judge Dillon, OF Iowa, at present q
United States Circuit Judge, was the coming
man, and this In turn was displaced bv the name
Of Judge Waite, OF Ohio, one OF the counsel at the
Geneva arbitration. All Of these rumors are now
dispelled by the fixed fact that the President has
rendered the appointment to Roscoe Conkling,
and he has agreed to accept it. Aside from
the personal good feeling Of the President to
Conklng he has been worried and annoyed beyond
measure at the manner in which his nominations
OF Williams and Cushing have been treated by the
Senate. He began to think that he could make
none to suit them, and finally thought that the
best mode OF ending the vexed question was to
take one OF the leading members OF that
has been q matter of policy, as the
republican party In the Senate were getting
into q wrangle with the President. He had no de-
sire to IND himself in Johnson's position and con-
Guided to stop the antagOnIsm. Conkling has gone
to New York, and 1t IS generally believed that he
has done 80 for the purpose OF making arrange.
ments as to the selection Of his successor in the
Senate. With the large party majority in the SEN
ate there can be no doubt OF his confirmation as
Chief Justice.
Conference OF Ex-Attorneys General
Cushing and Black-The Mission to
Spain.
This morning ex-Attorney General jeremiah
Black, OF Pennsylvania, called upon Mr.. Cushing
and spent some time in conversation with him.
These eminent gentlemen, both Of whom have held
the position OF chief law adviser to the govern.
ment have for more than quarter Of a century
been personal and professional friends. The in
terest or Judge Black In the nomination of Mr..
Cusnlng induced him to call this morning to
express his regret over the loss of so able
jurist at the head OF the Supreme
Bench. Mr.. Gushing. while fully approaching the
honor conferred upon him by the President un-
asked, as 1t was, in his nomination Chief Justice
of the supreme Court of the United STATES, has no
feeling IN the matter OF the Withdrawal OF his
nomination from the Senate. except in
the manifest injustice done him in the
construction placed upon his letters written
at the beginning Of the war In regard to the
letter to Mr.. Marcy, Mr.. cushing says he has
friend, Mr. Daniel Marcy Of Portsmouth, N. H.,
and they were in correspondence and had been for
years. Mr. Gushing says that they probably ex-
changed views, though he has no recollection of
the particular letter referred to. Admitting how
ever, that ne did write 1t, he says that it but
discusses the questions OF the hour, and
states that the war was not for devas-
tation or destruction, but for the
preservation Of the Union. Mr. Cushing
keeps copies Of all his letters and notes. These,
unfortunately, were at Newburyport, and he can
not recall exactly in what part OF his papers they
are, nor did he have time or an opportunity to
refate the misconstructi0n placed upon the letter
IN question. The manner in which tho Jenerson
DAVIS letter came to light, 1t appears, fol-
l0ws:-Judge Adds, OF the Southern Claims Com.
mission, about year since made thorough exam
ination Of all the papers and documents purchased
through Colonel Picket and those captured at
Richmond, for the purpose OF looking up evidence
on the side OF the government in the settlement
OF cotton claims. During these researches Judge
Adds came across the lie tier written by Mr. Cush-
ing to JEFFERSON Davis, introducing Mr.. Roane.
When Mr.. Gushing was nominated to be Chief
Justice Judge Adds remembered this letter, and
1Ook had
sent to the Secretary OF War, who in turn
forwarded it to the President. 1t appears that
Sergeant heard OF this letter and secured copy OF
1t. The application OF 1t Is certainly no honor to
the Senate, II the rules which usually govern gen.
tlemen in their intercourse have any force there
Mr.. Gushing has not yet decided what course
he will pursue in regard to the Spanish
mission. As the President appointed him
against his personal wishes, his age, profession
and retired habits all make quiet desirable he WILL
OF course, await the desires Of the President. In
the course Of few days Mr.. Cushing will decide
what steps to take. There is reason to believe
that unless the President should urge the fulfil
ment OF the spanish mission Mr.. Gushing will re-
sign.
The Senate In Sore Puzzle Over the FL.
nancial Problem-The Fight OF West,
south and East-Abuses Of Contra cts I'm
the Post Oloo Department.
In the Senate to-day Mr.. Ramsey, from the Com.
mittee on Post Ofnces reported unfavorably on the
petition asking that the salary Of letter carriers be
fixed At 900 per annum, and the report was
agreed to. Petitions were presented by senators
Sherman, ORiesby and Hamilton for commission
to regulate the liquor trafnc. ON motion Of Sena-
tor Ramsey the consideration OF the annual Post
Route bill was resumed and Mr.. Morrill,. OF ver-
mont after a weak defence by Mr.. Ramsey of the
expensiveness OF the postal service, resumed his
course OF unreststed home thrusts at
the bad management Of this branch OF
the Post Onice Department and the
loose manner OF making contracts for the carrying
of the mails. He said the Senate would be called
on IN rpa "a for the