The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-13

save bureau 0fncers. adopted Dy strong vote.
Thus for the present this vexatious question was
set ct rest in the Senate, and now goes to the
House, where they can have football with It, A
conference committee will have to dispose OF 1t
finally as IL Is now materially different from the
House bill as originally offered in the Senate.
The Government Hive OF Drones Further
Investigat ed-Where the Axe or Reform
Is Needed.
The retrenChment measures Of the House Com
mittee on Appropriations are being pressed 80
vigorously that the various branches OF the execu.
tive departments OF the government are beginning
to show signs OF alarm. AS an onset to these
operations nank movement 10 contemplated bv
again bringing forward the resolution OF General
Coburn, Chairman OF the House Commit
tee on Military Affairs introduced in
the early days OF the session, which
contemplated the restriction Of the Committee on
Appropriations to the general consideration OF the
appropriations, and the assignment Of all details
to the different committees entrusted with mat
tiers Of legislation directly connected with the
business Of certain departments The Military
Committee favor this and will make the first move
looking to an invasion Of the prerogatives of the
Appropriation Committee, by attempting to have
the estimates for the army referred to them. The
Military and Appropriation Committees are at
variance on the question Of army reduction, and
the carrying Of this point will make a very mate
nal change In the manner OF dsposing OF appro-
priatiOn bills. The Committees on Post Ofices and
Post Roads and Foreign, Naval and Indian
Anatrs have direct reference to those
branches Of the government. An alliance OF
these in the House, in the campaign contemplated
by the Military Committee will give that on ap-
nrou IN iOna Npht hoy AZ M
point. The House Committee on Appropriations
to-day made another inroad upon the army.
prominent member of the committee remarked
that the Ordnance Department has for q long time
attracted attention as being an extremely close
corporation that the committee have always been
politely bowed out whenever they have mady any
attempts to investigate the internal adminlstra-
ton Of that branch of the service. At the meeting
to-day the committee determined to make a re-
duction OF $4,000 in the allowance tor the pay Of
the civil and military members OF the corps. The
Quartermaster Generals ONCE at the same time
was reduced $4,000 In the same way In the in .
vestgaton Of the clerical force Of the Treasury De-
partment the committee has discovered that not
withstanding the reduction OF internal revenue
taxes, the abolition OF the Offices of assessors and
assistants ana supernumery offices under them,
and the consolidation OF collection districts in all
parts OF the United States, thereby materially re-
ducing the expenditures for officers and clerks
necessary to the transaction Of the business out
side Of the Bureau OF Internal Revenue the force
inside Is as large as 1t was when the revenues
from this source were $100,0000O0 greater than
now. On the rolls OF the bureau, in addition to
the Commissioner and three deputies, there
are clerks In the Appointment Division;
81 clerks, 10 copyists, l messenger and
laborers in the Law Division; clerks, SO copy
lists, messenger and laborers in the Division Of
Correspondence and Statistics; 20 clerks, copy
lists, messenger and laborers In the Division OF
Accounts; 81 clerks, 10 copyists, messenger and
laborers in the Division of Distilled Spirits, As
sessments. &C.; 20 clerks, Is copyists, messen-
gers and laborars in the Stamp Division. This
makes q total OF 27s employees Of all kinds, at an
annual expenditure of nearly 100000 for sal
aries. The committee have also discovered that
the large majority of the clerks receive the highest
salaries allowed, and the copyists and labOrers
the same in their grades. The pay here is higher
than In any other branch Of the department.. As
the service has not suffered from the reductions
made within the past year in the employees OF the
various collection districts, 1t Is believed that the
same rule will work in the internal organization OF
the bureau. There is some talk Of reduction OF
as high as 40 per cent. This would make saving
Of nearly $4,000 in salaries alone. The commit
tee are much struck with the large number OF
clerks in the Law Division, and are decidedly puz-
zled to know what part Of the legal business is per-
formed by the six laborers. Several propositions
have already been presented having in view re.
organization of this bureau, but from some cause
or other have hitherto always failed. This time
the axe Of reform seems certain Of its work.
The Salary Bill, Finance and the
Bankruptcy Bill to Receive Early
Attention.
A meeting of the republican caucus OF Senators
was held this morning for the purpose OF deter
mining the order OF business. The claims for pre-
cedence Of the finance, cheap transportation,
Louisiana and other questions were brought for
ward and discussed. but no conclusion was reached
and the caucus adjourned without action. Although
no formal order was agreed upon, it was, how
ever, generally understood that the Salary bill
should be disposed Of and that either the Finance
Committees resolutions or the Bankruptcy bill
should be next in order.
The Virginius investigation.
The Court of Inquiry, in session at the Navy De-
partment to-day, examined the officers and crew
OF the virginius. The crew were Intercepted COL
lectively and fully corroborated the statements
set forth in the official report Of Captain Woodrow.
Appointment Of subcommittee ON Colin
ago and the Law ON Abrasion OF
Coin.
DIR. Linderman. Director Of the Mint, was before
the House Committee on Currency Weights and
Measures to-day, and the result OF the conference
was the appointment Of a subcommittee to con.
slider the bLl heretofore referred to that commit
tee, providing that the Secretary Of the Treasury
may issue in payment Of the net coinage value Of
gold bullion deposited at any mint or assay ONCE
certificates in sums of $40, or even multiples
thereof, redeemable at the Treasury or specified
Assistant Treasury, in gold coin or fine gold
mint bars at its option and convenience, and
the Secretary may also from time to time
transfer to the Treasury or specified Assistant
Treasury, from the bullion fund Of any mint or
assay office, refined gold bars bearing the United
States stamp OF fineness, weight and intrinsic
value, and apply the same in the redemption OF
the certificates authorized by this bill to be issued
or in exchange for gold coins at par subcom-
mittee was also appointed on the bill authorizing
coinage to be executed at the United States mints
for foreign countries, and to consider whether