The New York herald., 1874-12-26
WASHINGTON.
FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT.

THE PRESIDENT SAVAGE ON THE SOUTH AND FIRM
ON FREE BANKING
The President Is fully aroused and Is repre-
sented by gentlemen who have conversed with
him on the subject as being savage, and has
avowed his determination to have no more triiing
or weak treatment Of the disorders complained OF.
The President in conversation with Representa-.
tives who have been chatting with him on the
Senate Finance b expressed his satisfaction with
1t as being generally about the best that could De
had az TINS time. He is more particularly favorable
to the free banking clause, because he recognizes
in It On evidence OF the influence OF that part OF
his Message recommending tree banking as one of
the measures OF relief to the finances oil the coun
try, accompanied with a specie resumption con.
sort. When II was suggested to him that four
per cent bond, PAYABLE IN currency, might be the
best medium OF placing the indebtedness OF the
government when reduced to the basis oil
$500, 000 600 outstanding, this to be accompanied
with the government receiving duties IN green.
backs, or at least NIFTY per cent thereof he re.
marked, THAT this would have the effect OF driy.
ing gold out OF the country.n When leading
Representative demurred to this he repeated his
CONVICTION with emphasis and would not appar.
emily listen TO any questioning OF the ground he
had thus taken. Members subsequently con-
suited, prominent among whom were Messrs.
Phelps and Chittenden, did not agree with the
Presidents views,
THE ALABAMA SPECIAL COMMITTEE UNABLE TO
SEE THE EXECUTIVE.
Another Intellectual attempt was made to-day
by Representatives CoDurn and Albright, OF the
Alabama Investigation Commit ee, to see the
President before their departure for Montgomery,
Ala, which will be Tomorrow, Dut he was non csc
inUe1ltuS. Some little dissatisfaction Is lelt by
those gentlemen at TINS unlooked-for conduct OF
the President, especially as he and Genei al Bab-
cock gave them to understand that 1t was the de.
sire OF the Executive TO see them At first. When
they went yesterday pro J0rnG TO see ii he had
anything 10 communicate to them he said .He
would like to talk over matters" Mr.. Coburn,
nonclng the want Of lpromptness on the part OF the
President to confer with them at once, became
somewhat impatient, aud on consultation with
Mr.. Albright expressed his indifference as to
whether he had anything to say or not, and sign:-
ned his unwllllngness to wait. The impetuous
C0burn lett in 'hgh dudgeon." The repetition OF
the Presidents failure to afford this i'm
portant committee an opportunity OF con-
sulting with them to-day Is viewed
with additional astonisnment and annoyance.
The members Of the committee now say that they
don't care whether he has anythlpg to impart to
them or not. They expect to be returned here
about the 18th OF January and to be able to report
to the House at once: Tney VIII take two phonog.
raphers and divide the committee, separating and
going to different points to take testimony. Mr.
Coburn will act as chairman OF the main and Mr..
Albright OF the sub committee. The latter gentle.
man stamps the information heretofore received
from Alabama in regard to tue outrages there as
incomplete aud untrue to the record.
M1scoNCEPT1oN ABOUT RELATIVES.
The selection Of successor OF James H. Howe
as District Judge OF Wisconsin has nothing to do
with his brothers position Senator. as an error
in the transmission OF the despatch last night
represents.
AN UNGRACIoUs DEPARTMENT..
Anthony Comstock, the special agent OF the Post
once Department. who intercepts obscene litera-
ture In the mails, was recently deprived by
otrenced parties OF so much OF his clothing as
would have rendered him liable to lne had he
been found In that plight in Washington. In com.
municating the facts to the Postmaster General
he does not ask compensation for damage done
his person, but requests that he be provided with
new suit Of clothes. The Postmaster General
regrets his Inability to clothe the volunteer ally OF
the department even with as much as satisfied
the modesty OF Father Adam.
NEWS LEAK IN THE TREASURY CUSTOMS p1v1-
1t is very seldom the dignity OF the United States
supreme OOuTt Is aueCC6u Oy TuuOr6 OIL what Its
decisions will be in pending cases. but recently
the entire Bench was horrlded at the publication
OF what would be the opinion IN an important
case involving, If decided against the government,
q refund OF several millions OF dollars. The Chief
Justice, as we'll as the associated justices named
in connection with the report, made complaint
to the SeIrersrr OF the Treasury that one or the
Treasury officials was supposed to have orgna ted
the story which had so completely upset the
gravity of the dignined judges. Secretary Bristov
responded by requiring the on1cial charged with
the offence to purge himself OF the contempt in
which he stood. This has been done, but
not entirely TO the satisfaction OF the
Secretary. This circumstance LED the Secretary
to look closer into the conduct OF the Customs
division, and the result has been verbal order to
Assistant secretary Hartley that hereafter oil
customs revenue matters must pass through his
hands before being promulgated oy the depart
ment. The New York Importers Association has
for some time been endeavorlng to bring this
change about, and IN what they failed Justice
Swayne has unintentionally accomplished.
CUSTOM HOUSE RETRENcHMENT
MIR. Lorin Blodgett will remain at the head OF
the Customs division ana continue the work OF
cutting down the expenses OF the important cus-
tom houses. He has already perfected a plan
by which the sum Of $780, 900 per annum Will be
saved In the weighing department OF the New
York Custom House, and large reduction In the
force and expenses Of the other branches OF that
custom House win be Immediately begun. In re-
gard to the from Ter Importation in bond, the re.
ports received show tnat the facility with which
smuggling could be carried on has not been gen.
orally known, as examination OF some OF the cars
owned by private parties revealed the tact that
the doors were 80 constructed that they could be
taken on without regard to the sealed lock-
Doubtless the revenues have been robbed to
large amount, but not near SO much as the means
afforded.
COMPLEXION OF THE LOUISIANA SPECIAL. CON-
MITTEE. -
Dispatches weIe received here to-day from re-
sponslbe parties In New Orleans that there would
be no further demonstration by the White
Leaguers until after the special committee ap.