The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-31

OF anaffs ANA say that the spring is tine most
favorable tame OF the year for the holding OF the
new election.
A Court OF Inquiry Into General How
ards Case Provided for by the HOUSE
The Right OF Challenge NOt Granted
the Accused.
The attention OF the House was mainly occupied
TO-DAY with the OF General o. o. Howard, Gen.
eral Coburn having reported under the morning
call OF committees the JOINT resolution providing
Tor court OF inquiry INTO his condact III connec
tiopwith his disbursements on account OF the
Freedmen's Bureau and other charges made by the
Secretary OF War in letter TO the Speaker OF the
House. IL appeared that while the members OF
the Committee on Military Affairs were professed
friends OF General Howard, and were accepted
such Dy him and ne had professed himself satisfied
with their and willing to have the resolutions
framed by the committee reported and passed by
the House he quietly applied to his Old associate
and friend Mr.. Frye, IN letter, which was read, to
endeavor 10 secure the adoption OF a provisO CIV
ing him the right OF challenge in courts martial
That this proposition should come so directly from
General Howard TO the House and not be limited at
to the members Of the committee at any OF the fire.
quent interviews General Howard had with them
was somewhat surprising to these gentlemen, and
made them disinclined to accept the amendment.
debate, running over Two hours, resulted in
which Messrs. Frye and WOodford eulogized Gen.
erai Howard, at least zealousy, II not wisely, and
Mr.. Wood revived the proceedings OF the Forty
first Congress, charging General Howard with in
timidating witnesses and obstructing fair inves-
tlgation and the committee OF that Congress with
making wh.ewashing report. The ques-
tion whether the Investigation should
pe military or Congressional one,
fhn
each would be likely to inspire was discussed pro
and CON, and the amendment offered by Mr.. Frye
was adopted. Although the right of challenge is
not directly accorded by the army regulations it
is held by the best writers on military law tnat,
as iDtimated by Mr.. Robbins, the right is involved
as general principle OF law and may be demanded
by the accused. The action on the part OF the
particular friends of General Howard to-day, while
1t did not therefore secure to him any advantage
he did not already possess, will not strengthen
confidence in his expressions OF q willingness on
his part to meet the fullest inquiry into anv and
all OF his acts, but Will rather give color to the
assertion OF Mr.. Wood that while max
ing such professions OF readiness he
would be constantly found throwing obstacles in
the way. The remainder Of the time Of the House
was spent in the consideration OF unimportanr
private Dllls Notwithstanding the exhibition
made In the house on last Saturday, when the
proposition was made to-day to meet tomorrow
as in Committee OF the Whole for debate only.
there was no one found willing to save the credit
of the House by Obyectlng, and the order was ac-
cordingly made permitting what is now generally
known as the Congressional Minstrel Matinee.
The President Consulting with Senators.
President Grant was at the Capitol this afternoon
on business with Senators Morrill,, OF Vermont, and
Frelnghuysen and Foreman.
Lar Tnr EFT 1ss INIT
cred in the Contingent Expenses OF the
House OF Representatfves-super
merary Employees and Their Extrava-
CANT C0mpc nsat ton for Doing Nothing.
The House Committee on Appropriations at
their meeting to-day had before them by invita-
ton Mr.. Buff1nton, Chairman Of the Committee
on Accounts, and Edward Mcpherson, Clerk OF the
House OF Representatives, The object OF their
presence was to gather from them some desired
Information respecting reduction Of the expenses
OF tie House. The nrsr subject considered was
the expenses OF the Folding Department. The
estimate here on account Of pay is 100000,
when the actual amount OF LABOR since the
abolition OF the ranking privilege has been
comparatively nothing. The committee dis
covered that. Notwithstanding the marked dlminu-
ton OF work in the folding rooms, there had been
An increase OF eight employees since the LIST Of jan
uary. The committee were considerably surprised
at this piece OF intelligence and inquired of the
Clerk how he accounted Tor it, He replied, for the
reason OF the increased number OF members OF the
House of Representatives aud the necessity Of
making places to satisfy them. Upon being asked
how the additional men were paid he stated out
OF the contingent fund OF the House.
After further consultation and inquiry it was
decided TO consolidate the Folding Department
under one mead. 1t is now under the direction
severally of the CLERK and Doorkeeper Of the House
OF Representatives. The consolidation, 1t is be-
leved by the committee, will not only simplify but
materially lessen the ex peRses OF running the
Establishment, and that Independent OF the reduced
expenditures necessarily involved in q smaller
force of folders. Under what general management
the work will be placed was not determined by
the committee, though 1t was inferred that it
would be assigned TO the Clerks ONCE. The num-
Der OF men employed in the folding rooms is
aoout sixty-four. 1t is understood that an
agreement has been entered into among
these employees, by way OF compromise among
themselves, TO deduct Tor three months one-thrd
OF the paw Of those retained in once and place it
In general fund for the pay OF the discharged
men for that period, in which time 1t is presumed
that they will be able to procure some other EN-.
ploymeni-
the next subject taken up by the conn ittee
was the Capitol police. This force at the begin
ming OF the year consisted Of a captain, three
lieutenants twenty-seven privates and eight
watchmen, maintained at the enormous expense
OF 5000 They are appointed by the Joint
action OF the Sergeant alarms OF the two houses
and the Architect OF the Capitol. 1t was
learned that, notwithstanding the desire for
trenchment, four new privates had been added to
the now overstocked corps, at an annual increased
expense OF over 5000. The Clerk OF the House
stated to the committee that he could not see OF
what use the Capitol police were, and mentioned
that last summer his ONCE was partly broken into
and would undoubtedly have been robbed but for
the timely appearance OF an empoye about the
building, but not a member of the Capitol police.
The committee agreed that they were always SIT
ting around the building in various attitudes OF
ease smoking and talking and did not seem to be
oppressed with duty; and when they considered the
fact that the captain received over 81, 400 year
and the prvates over $500 they admitted that it
Ia