The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-10

chairman OF the committee viii introduce reso.
luton under a suspension OF the rules asking au-
thority to insert, at the proper time. clause In
the Legislative, Executive and judicial Appropria-
ton bill providing for a 1xed rate OF compensa-
ton employees in the minis OF the United States
The effect OF this viii be reduction In the amounts
now paid for the same class OF work. There will
also be reduction in the number OF employees.
Prospect Of Reduction and ECONOMY in
the Army.
The House Military Committee, having heard
from all branches Of the army, begin tomorrow
the consideration OF the details OF general bill
looking TO considerable but careful changes IN the
direction OF reduction and economy The Chair
man is busily engaged in putting the bill in form.
The Isthmian Canal Commi ssion-The
Plan OF the Proposed Survey-Promi-
nent Engineers to Join In the Expedi-
tion.
At the fourth meeting OF the Isthmian canal
Commission Captain Sefridge, the surveyor of the
Naplpi route, was present, and gave the commits
sion four copies OF the report, maps and plans now
passing through the government press, being
detail of his survey. This completes the examina.
ton OF the officers OF the detailed surveys, which
viii first receive the attention OF the commission
The report of the route examined and surveyed by
Captain electromagnetic laid aside by
the commission until they shall have been able
to satisfactorily inform themselves regarding
the surveys at Nicaragua and Napipi
This. Is for the reason that Captain Shu-
fedt's report presents little more than an
examination of his route. 1t contains no estimates
Of the work required and doubtful recommends
ton OF its feasibility with any means short
OF national resources. The surveys OF Captains
Luli and Selfridge present complete estimates
and earnest recommendations The work OF each
nf hncn nf1N hac hnA
though civil engineer has been engaged with
each party, whose report is an appendix to their
own The commission now propose to send two
officers Of the army engineer corps to pass over
each route examine the principal engineering
difficulties, the feasibility Of each, and IN their re-
port TO the commission to make general
comparison Of the two routes. For this
purpose the Secretary OF War has di.
rected the detail of Major Walter McFar.
land, now on duty at Chattanooga,
Tenn. This officer has given great at
tention to the study of inland canals, and par
ticularly that known as the Atlantic and Great
Western Canal, IN aid of which bill was presented
to Congress to-day. He has expressed the pleasure
with which he will engage in this new work. 1t is
expected that Captain w. II. Hener win accompany
him to the isthmus. In order that the public may
have such an examination OF these projects as
would be made by men with limited means behind
them or with little capital to apply to it, and the
Inmates OF such men as capitalists would apply to
before investing in such work. an invitation has
been extended to prominent American civil en-
gineers to accompany the party. Mr.. McAIpin now
engaged with the State Capitol at Albany replies
with regret that he cannot accompany the army
engineers. lie very highly commends the surveys
made by the government and suggests that Mr..
Walton Of New Orleans an engineer of high at
tnt,, ivrh tic Ra{r
letter of invitation has been seat to AR. Walton.
William B. Fades. OF st. Louis, now in this city,
spent the afternoon in examining the reports of
survey charts, plans, &C, and earnestly advises
that the work be further pursued. He regrets that
his engagements Will not admit Of his going to the
isthmus, and at his suggestion an invitation has
been addressed to Minef Roberts, late engineer
OF the Northern Pacific Railroad q very fluent and
descriptive writer, and with an experience of forty
years in engineering and canal works. The third
invitation was addressed TO Mr.. Shandley, OF the
Hoosac Tunnel No reply has yet been received.
The commission convened - by the President do
not accompany those engineers. The officers will
be taken to Aspinwall In q government steamer,
and pass from Panama in probably the Saranac to
the Pacific opening of the NapIpi route. Two
weeks Will be spent in examining this route.
Thence the party viii sail north to Brite, the
Pacific terminus OF the Nicaraguan route, and
cross to the Atlantic, returning to New York by
the steamer which carried them to Asplnwall 1t
is expected that this entire examination will be
completed early in April.
MIR. Dawes Bill Regulating Postal
Charges.
The bill OF Mr. Dawes, of Massachusetts, referred
to the Post Ufce Committee, proposes that on all
mail matter Of the first class, including local or
drop letters and postal cards. postage shall be
ounce or traction thereof provided. however, that
no stamped envelope shall be hereafter issued.
The Salaries OF the Principal City POST
masters.
The bill introduced in the House by Representa-.
tive Platt Of New YORK, fixes the compensation Of
the postmasters named at the following rates,
viz AT New York, $4,000; Philadelphia, Boston,
Chicago and St. Louis, $4,000 each, and Brooklyn,
Baltimore and CINCINNATI, $4,000, provided that
such salaries shall be paid from moneys received
at the Post Omces from box rents, sales OF postage
stamps and other sources in excess OF the expend-
lures allowed and made thereat for rent, clerk
hire, fuel, lights, furniture stationery, printing
and the necessary incdentals.
ReOrg anization of the state Depart
ment.
The House Committee on Foreign Affairs again
discussed to-day Mr. Orths bill looking to the re-
organization of the State Department. The CON-
mttee instructed the chairman to direct Secretary
Fish to communicate to them the increased ap-
preparation Tor salaries which would be required
under the provisions OF the new bill.
MIR. HawIey Rises to Explain Regarding
New England Protection.
Mr.. Hawley, OF Connecticut, says that the inter-
given to his remarks in the House last
Saturday that New England was ready to abandon |
tariffs was not correct. In reply to the
constant intimatlons that New England desired to
protect monopolsts his argument was. that were
all protection removed, New England would be
injured, but not ruined; that protection Is more
needed for the new regions oil the West and South
than for New England, where many manufacturers
have got firm foothoold, and that, aside from
the question OF protection, an English free trade
tariff is unequal and unjust taxation
StandstiH in the Howard Case.
Contrary to published statements no desgna-