The New York herald., 1874-02-24

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| WASHINGTON, Feb. %. 1874.
Adjournment OF the senate in Honor
or the First President.
| The Senate met this morning, but the House did
not assemble. having adjourned over until to-mor-
ror The Chaplain OF the Senate in his opening
prayer invoked Divine Providence to grant that
the country might ever think with reverence OF
the great and good men through whom the nation
has attained Its present exalted position, and
especially OF him who was first to defend our
country from all wrongs ana ever nrst in the af
fectlons and hearts OF his countrymen. Mr.. An
thony then arose and said that the country was TO-
day celebrating the birthday OF Washington, and
was not customary for the Senate to Sit upon such
day unless there was an extraordinary pressure
OF business. He therefore moved that the Senate
ADJOURN. The motion was unanimously carried
and the Senate adjourned.
Tho Boston CoIIectorship-How Butler
Fut His Finger In the Pie to q Pur-
Pose-Chances OF Simmons.
The Massachusetts men here and at home are
just now earlully exercised over the Cole 0orsnip
OF Boston. This lucrative position has been held
some seven years by Judge Russell, whose shares
OF moietes have satisfied his pecuniary ambition,
ana he has for some months past expressed a de-
sire to be "rotayed'' into some pleasant diplo-
matte berth. News Of this was brought here about
month since by Edward ". Kinsley Boston
merchant and "everybody's iriend,n who desired
the succession. There was no foreign mission then
vacant; 30 Kinsley went back to wait. Now, this
programme came to the ears OF Ben Butler, who
did not relish having Kinsley placed at the
Custom House as the dispenser OF the Mas.
sachusetts share OF federal patronage. SO he went
to work and arranged his plan, which was to put
In as Collector W. A. Simmons, now Chief Super.
VISOR OF Internal Revenue, who has for years been
the leader OF the Boston caucuses. Butler incl
dentally mentioned to Boutwell, and Hooper that
ne thought "Blll" Simmons would make good Col
lector should Russell resign and they responded
in the affirmative. After o while the President
concluded that he would recall Pile now Minister
TO venezuela, and Information was sent to Russell
that II the place suited him he might resign the
CoLectorship. The resignation was telegraphed
and reached here about eleven O'Clock on the morn
ing OF February 10. In half an hour afterwards
Butler recommended the appointment OF Simmons
which Richardson had made out and carried to
the President He signed it, and by one O'Clock
simmons was regularly before the Senate for con-
frmation, without the knowledge of Massa-
chusetts Senator or Representative save Butler
hooper was rather pleased, Boutwell, acquiesced
Bumnton always mods when Butler winks,
ana The rest OF the delegation were like
nest of disturbed hornets. They tried
to protest. but Butler got them in a
row with each other. Then Dawes, who had always
led the nti-Butlertes, surrendered declared HIM
self neutral, and finally started for Springfield to
confer with Sam Bowles. Meanwhile the telegraph
wires have vibrated with hundreds of messages,
pro or con, and the President has been 80 pestered
by the spokesmen OF the two Massachusetts fac.
tions that he must be ready to exclaim-"A
plague on both your houses" Thus far Butler has
DfOted aafQ nd ho 10
straight road to confirmation Now, all other
things having failed Ex-Governor Clifford and
lot OF other ponderous old Bramns OF Beacon
street have been summoned here to see If they
cannot Keep "Bill' Simmons, who never was at
Harvard, out OF the Coectorship. Butler sees that
this Is turning point for him and he Is desperate,
while his opponents hope to upset his political ap-
pie cart and to deprive him OF the services Of SIM
mons 1t Is high old fight and the end is not
yet.
Important Decision by the Attorney Gem
eral Touching State and General
Rights.
fAe Attorney General has decided that ale for
feited to State, and taken before the United
States tax Is paid from the manufacturer by the
process OF State Court seeking to enforce the
forfeiture cannot be seized by the United States
officers for the nOn-payment OF said tax while il
remains in the custody of the State officers. He
has also decided that the phrase estate banking
association" in section Of the act Of March g. 1865
providing for tax OF ten per cent upon State cir
culation, includes all associations for banking by
private agreement OF parties as well an associa-
ton organized by special act Of the State Legis.
lature.
Settlement OF Indian Indemnity Claims.
The subcommittee Of the House Committee on
Indian Affairs, to whom the subject was referred
recently, have agreed to recommend that all
claims for Indian depredations be turned over for
adjudication and settlement by the United States
Courts for the respective districts wherein such
depredatiOns have been committed.
The Geneva Award Distribution Bill.
Several members Of the House Committee on
the Judiciary say the Geneva Award Distribution
bill will not probably be ready to report for week
to come, and that thus far NO formal votes have
been taken on any OF the propositions before Them
General Butler says that in his opinion bill smi.
lar to that reported by him to the last Congress
Will be agreed on by the committee.
PardOning a ku Klnx.
Elijah Harden, Ku Klux who has served two
years OF his sentence in the Albany Penitentiary,
has been pardoned by the President.
THE ADAIR INQUEST IN NEWARK