The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-10
WA SHINCTON

Stmtus % the Financial Controversy in
the senAte-A Precarious Hope for Sem
ator sherman's Redistribution Bill.
AS the HOUSE and Senate adjourned to-day
In respect to the memory OF ex.President
| Fillmore deceased no business OF interest
was transacted either branch. The con.
| dItton OF the Senate as to a, future financial
policy Is about the same as heretofore re-
| ported, with a small majority IN favor Of an In
crease In the circulation, and II is ackno wledged
by prominent Senator In the opposition or -hard
cash" ranks that such Is a true state OF the case
But 1t is also said that Senator Mortons presence
| Is essential the success or the innatonisss.
Senators Morton and Ferry continue absent, owing
TO illness, and General Logan, the next pest cham.
pion, complains OF poor heaitl, to-day. Should the
finance question be forced to a vote IN the
present numerical attendance Of the Sem
ate, 1t might be that Senator Sherman
would carry his bill for the retransfer OF
$25,0o0,00O OF national currency but IL Ii under
STOOD that Senatorial etiquette prevents that as 1t
Is said that Senators Morton and Ferry, OF Michi-
gan, are to be present before the financial ques-
ton Is resumed. canvass OF the Senate war
rants the statement that the whole body are de-
slrous that vote shah be reached this week and
the whole question in It's present proportions be
taken from the calendar OF business
Report OF the Com mittee on Indian At
fairs Adversely to the Claims OF States
and Territories for Reimbu rsement of
the Expo OF Their Defence Against
the Indians.
Senator Morrill, OF Maine, from the Committee
on Indian Affairs, who were Instructed by a reso-
luton OF the Senate to examine and report
whether in their Judgment any obligation rests
upon the United States to reimburse the several
States and Territories and citizens thereof for ex-
penses incurred and damages sustained by reason
M orr flo JvAin
obligation exists whether any legislation looking
to such reimbursement Is practicable and expe.
dent" has submitted 10 the Senate q report on
that subject, the inquiry having been brought
ABOUT by petitions rom citizens OF Kansas praying
Congress to provide for the payment OF the amount
OF losses sustained the frontier as reported BY
the commission appointed by the Kansas. Legsla-
ture in the year 1870 The following Is Senator
Morrili's report adopted by the committee
1ne proposition submitted by the resolution OF
the Senate Is whether an obligation rests upon the
government 10 reimburse States and Territories
and the citizens thereof for expenses and damages
sustained by reason OF the incursons OF hostile
indians. The committee are not able to perceive
upon what grounds sucn obligation can be sup
posed to ARISE. Most certainly such obligation is
not assumed when the States enter the Union nor
Is 1t believed thai 1t necessarily results from their
relation to IL when so admitted Doubtless an OBJ
legation to reimburse expenses incurred IN resist
ing an invasion OF the public enemy might arise IL
duly called upon under circumstances justiiying
sucn call for aid but IL is sufficient say that no
such question arises upon the proposition submit
ted-viz., IAN incursion OF hostile Indians.u 1t is
scarcely to be presumed that the pubic safety
would become so largely involved by the ncursons
necessary ior the State to appeal to the United
States government for aid to defend it's soil or the
property or persons OF Its citizens. And If not.
certainly no such obligation as is suggested would
be imposed. The case cannot be otherwise in re-
gard to the Territories unless the expenses have
been incurred by authority Of the United states.
The duty OF protecting its citizens primarily
with the States and it is not perceived that, under
circumstances such as are supposed, that duty
could be devoved upon the United States.
The City of Petersburg Deprived OF tho
Right of Self-Govcrnment-The POSI-
biltty OF National Interference.
The Virginia Legislature, short time ago.
passed bill which virtually deprives the city OF
Petersburg OF authority TO elect its municipal
officers 1t is asserted that the reason of this
action was that Petersburg Is the only republican
city in Eastern Virginia Mr.. Plats offered reso-
luton to-day for federal Interference in this mat
ter, but it is probable that no legislation Will be
necessary. 1t is understood that Governor Kemper
VIII veto this bill.
Unpreceden Increase in the Sale OF
Postage Stamps Since the Abolition OF
Thanking.
The Third Assistant Postmaster General issued to
Postmasters during February ordinary postage
stamps valued at 1925, 6e7; ordinary stamped
envelopes, $685. s93 81; postal cards, 54,76O; off,
s362l6 So the total value OF all the issues being
81, 5e7 II, increase Of s255,5l4 9e, or more
than eighteen and half per cent over
February, 1873 Deducting the amount
received for oflcIal stamps &C., and the
increase in the ordinary Issues over the
corresponding month Of last year, the result shows
an increase Of nearly sixteen per cent. The un-
usual demand for postage stamps is largely attrib-
uted by officials Of the department to the abolition
OF the ranking privilege, as the increase hereto
fore has averaged less than seven per cent
Representatives To BE sent to Arkansas
in the Judicial Investigation of the
Western District.
General Butler, who has heretofore resisted any
motion to permit the Committee on the Expen-
ditures of the Department OF Justice to investigate
the expenditures by the judicial officers OF the
Western district OF Arkansas has at last become
convinced that that committee Is the proper one
to have charge Of the matter, and will tomorrow
himself move to lay on the table the motion to re-
consider the vote whereby the committee was
authorized to send for persons and papers 1t Is
probable that Messrs Speer, OF Pennsylvania, and
Williams, OF Massachusetts,, OF the committee, win
be sent to Arkansas to take the testimony, and
the impression IS that they Will unearth the most
outrageous frau DIS.
The Investig cation OF the Ocean VA.
tional Bank-The Testimony.
The subcommittee appointed to investigate the
affairs OF the ocean National Bank returned from
New York this morning. the examination of wit
nesses will not be resumed for several days. The
testimony already taken shows that the bank was
closed in consequence of the action OF the New
YORK Clearing House, and based upon the
report OF Its committee, and after careful
examination into the condition Of the bank, no
evidence has been presented tending to prove
that any conspiracy was formed between the
officers OF the bank and parties on Wall street to
bring about the failure, or that any person had
that the assistance OF any oGicial at Washington
was obtained in aid of any conspiracy to close the
bank. The testimony relates chiefly to the sale by
the receiver OF certain bonds OF the Portage Lake
Canal Company and complaints relative to the sale
made BY the claimants OF the bonds, who were in