The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-08


The reports generally contend that reductions
from former estimates woald be detrimental to the
service, or else submit comparatively small figures
In response to the desire OF the House for reduc-
tons thereof
No report from the Interior Department has
been received.
General sherman Before the House
Military Committee.
General Sherman was again before the Commit
tee on Military Affairs OF the House to-day, to give
his views on the subject of reducing the ex
penses OF the army. The summary OF his opinion
Is that the force or the cavalry, the artillery and
the infantry s now at its minimum, in view OF the
extent or land and sea frontier which it has to
cover and protect; that II the pruning knife Is to
be applied at all it should be only to the engineer
and STAFF corps over which he has no control, and
that with the exception of the forts in New York
and Boston harbOrs, Fort Alcatraz, in San Fran
aisco Harbor. and some Of the forts In Portland
Harbor, Maine, the other coast defences of the
country are not OF the slightest Importance, and
should not have another dollar spent on them.
He recognizes the possible contingent Importance
of Fort Schuyler and the fort at Wlletts Point, N
w. in the event OF the He'll Gate channel being
opened, but thinks that until that time no expend
ture should be made there. The Secretary OF War
and Adjutant General Townsend are expected to
give their views tomorrow.
Traits and Topics or the Present Com
and Finance in the House Yesterday.
Another ''hed day' was devoted in the Senate
to the discussion of the Salary bill, after Morton
had given notice that when the Committee on
Finance had made their report he should move his
resolution in regard to the election in Louisiana
to which stevenson added that he would move an
amendment to Morton's resolution, TO refer the
case back to the committee for action, to
take testimony OF what rranspired after cleo
ton. Mr. Sherman gave notice that he
would move action on the resolution OF the Finance
Committee before the recess the financial
question, as soon as the miscellaneous business was
finished, and desired that 1t should be SO under
STOOD that Senator'S might prepare themselves.
This Will bring on the avalanche OF colossal
speeches already prepared by them, as heretofore
intimated in these dispatches. The dies irG, on
the salary question, then opened by Senator Howe
delivering himself Of the ugubrious opinion, pref
atory of his remarks, that he was afraid he would
not survive the present debate, which may
be said to be combination OF efforts
to set public opinion right Pratt the sponsor OF
the amendment, again took up the debate, and
was caustic in the extreme, saying that sneers
and comment had been INDUCED in In the Senate
Chamber which might better take place elsewhere.
Carpenter and Logan, as well as Sumner, were up
again with their spurs, and Morton drifred in as
an eXplainer. Carpenter discussed the constitu-
tiOnality OF the question and said the amendment
was unconstitutional, in which opinion ne was
subsequently sustained by Merriman, Sherman
and Bayard He closed by saying:-"I am the
| peoples servant, and they are my masters" in
| which connection he contended that the popular
| demand for the reduction of salaries should be
heard. Stewart and Pratt then became
ptted personally and categorical crossquestion-
| ing occurred, splced with some peppery feeling;
huri If ded info a a Of auu htor
| on their taking their seats. Conkling then
| rose in magisterlal dignity, and asked that
Pratts amendment be sent to the Clerks desk, so
| as to be accessible to Senator's; to which Pratt
| assented his voice choking up little and he
| being confused. Here Conkling's anaAt ical
| and severe scrutiny was correct, and 1t was de-
| veloped that the amendment Pratt was talking
for was not the same as that printed by Conk-
| ling on his going to the desk to examine 1t.
| Pratt explained that 1t was modification
| of the amendment on which he was talking and
intended to provide for the additional contingent
| ces suggested as to new Senators, and then again
all was serene until Carpenter offered substitute
| or modification OF the amendment of Pratt, and
| the latter seemed to sink from sight. Senator
| Ferry, OF Connecticut, who has been somewhat
! invalided made some happy remarks in favor Of
the $500 salary, aud said he was shocked by
arguments he had heard in the Senate,
and especially assaied Carpenters views as
to the people being their masters. He
quoted the constitution to show that the power
of the people was delegated to Con-
sented by government and press, not simply
popular but right. Senator MerrimOn opposed the
e easa was nGt on hv ana
they knew they could not lido by direction. Mr..
Sherman then arose apparently quite disguised at
cussiOn would end. He raped Mr.. Pratt sharply
over the knuckles for interrupting him. and said
81 Mr.
| various quarters in the Senate, perhaps because
than his e less fortunate Colleagues mptons review
| was refreshing to the memory Of many Senators,
il not to their G,nour propre His reference TO
Treasury, while he pocketed nearly $500 IN each
OF his vest pockets was made in most singing
| one, Bayard, and the crooked one, Hamilt0n-were
then brought down on the subject OF indignation.
| grew innamed from reading manuscript until it
| glared so fercely as to remind one OF the days
Of
around right and left and, forgetting the INSTINCTS
of the Qtondam Methodist preacher struck like
This fstic oratory was the gem Of the day. South
ern opinion has rallied thus far under Bayard,
the Senators want to be successfully heard
throughout by their constituencies on tins cues;
Of Il an% Complain 5asE that m n 10 Ss srsS
| three days OF valuable time. wag the
street. who had been listening to the debate, said,
| as the Senate was not very numerous body, the
| increase in salary did not amount to much, and
that II the rich men Of the body would turn In their
| salaries to the government It would more than
| bring down those OF the Senators who did draw
| pay to the decreased rate OF compensation pro-
| posed to be given. A noticeable feature in both
houses is that the Southern members read their
| speeches from manuscript, the days OF i'm
| promptu Oratory seeming to have gone
| by with the men from that quarter.
| The great financial consultation, which
is expected to bring relief to the fevered condition
| OF the nation, yet remains in allegiance, while the
| sick patient trembles and groans in agony I'M
| abated. How soon the doctors will be ready can
! not be calculated, but certain 1t is that some Of
them feel that professional aid should be given at
once. The bankrupt and currency measures are
! sleeping under o treatment distinguished for mas
| tery inactivity, which awaits new symptoms
| looking, perhaps, for self cure. Mr.
Melhsh, Of New York, to-day introduced