The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-02
THE WORK OF CONGRESS,


Results-The Various Matters or Bust
Under Way-Thc Proposed Re-
renchments-The Indians, the Army,
the Navy, the Civil Service-The Postal
Telegraph - Cheap Transportation -
The Currency and Banking Questions
General Review.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 81. 1874.
We are within one day Of the end OF the third
month OF the session. and, from superficial exami-
nation OF the work done, IT will require at
months more to finish the work on hand. The
House has passed several Of the regular ap-
preparation bills, the Senate has passed one-the
Navy bill-and both houses have passed large
numbers OF special, private and Local bills OF no
general importance; but upon the great ques-
tons OF the currency, the national banking sys-
TEN, taxation and cheap transportation there are
no visible results. Even upon the principal ap-
preparation bills we have only the schedules of the
committees, and they are more likely to he en-
larged than reduced in their final notifications
between the two houses. Yet an immense guam
tity OF work by the committees OF both houses
IN the preparation and shaping OF bills
and reports upon all the mutifarious matters,
general, local, special and personal, domestic and
foreign, entering into the legislation OF Congress-
has been performed; for instance, on
THE BANKING AND CURRENCY QUESTIONS
The regular committees OF the two houses have
been working like beavers since the LIST OF De-
cember estimates and bills Of various kinds, and
large proportion of the members of both cham
bers have spent much time and labor in the prep
aration Of bills, reports and speeches. covering
every possible theory Of banking and currency, and
making the whole subject middle and entangie.
ment without head or tall or beginning or end.
Nevertheless The processes OF alllzation are
going on, and they point to settlement on the
called Four Hundred Million bill which means
the addition OF $46OO0,O00 to our existing
national bank currency. The coutractiOnists ap.
pear strong enough to prevent a large innation.
but not strong enough to keep back those
s46 0OoO0O and this proposition of the $40 OO 900
viii probably be the compromise between the
extremists on both sides and between the two
houses. The providing for
THE INDIANS.
The House committee on the subject limits its
appropriations to $4.sO0,OOO, which cuts down the
estimates OF the Interior Department 81, OOO, 900
and reduces the aggregate cost OF the Indian SER
vice over 100000 as compared with the expend-
lures OF the passing fiscal year. Meantime 1t is
understood to be the policy Of the administration
to gather the outside Indian tribes fast as prac
ticable into the Indian Territory, in view or the
ultimate settlement therein at least OF all the
tribes this side the Rocky Mountains The scheme,
therefore. OF white squatters and land spectators
to establish regular Territorial government over
the Indian Territory not in favor with the adj
ministration. If such government were ordered
border war for the determination OF The Indians In
the Territory, 1t is feared, would speedily follow.
1t Is probable, however that by the Indian bill Of
this session the religious snperintendencies will
be dispensed with, and that the army Officers act
ing as guards over the Indian reservations will be
given a larger authority over them than hereto
fore. General Sherman and General Sheridan are
certainly each OF the opinion that the superfnten
denotes are rather a stumbling block than sup.
port to the army in maintaining law and order
among the warriors OF the reservations.
RETRENCHMESTs AND TAXATION.
By the advice from the House committees of
Ways and Means and on Appropriations, the exc
cutive departments reduced their original esti.
mates respectively for the ensuing fiscal year as
far as they thought it expedient. The committees
have still further cut them down, to the extent
In the aggregate OF some $4,000, 900. and
yet It is believed that increased taxes to the ex-
tent OF $40 00OO 900 $50 600 will be required TO
keep Secretary Richardson's head above water.
The Ways ana Means Committee propose to this
end tax on imported still wines OF fifty cents
gallon in the cask and 81 per case in bottles. IL is
probable, too that an increased internal revenue
tax on whiskey and tobacco will be adopted with
the restoration Of small duty on tea and conee
But there will be no notifications of the tariff or
internal revenue taxes this session calculated
seriously to anect the republicans in the coming
fan elections for the next Congress
THE POSTAL TELEGRAPH.
The Senate committee on the subject are work.
ing industrousy on a Postal Telegraph bill but
retrenchment and the necessities OF retrenchment,
which act as scarecrow upor every new measure
involving an expenditure OF money, will doubtless
defeat any efforts Of the committee to secure even
deliberate consideration of the subject this ses-
sion. 1t viii go over among the unfinished bust
ness TO the next session. The same may be said OF
CHEAP TRASsPoRTATION-rHE CHANGERS.
The special House committee on the subject are
satisfied as to the fal power OF commerce 10 regu-
late the railroads OF the country but they will re-
port that it is inexpedent to legislate upon the
subject at this time. This conclusion may satisfy
the railroad kings, but it win hardly meet the ex-
pectations and demands OF the grangers. They
are not political party. but nevertheless one OF
the guild informs me that they will hold the bal
ance of power in the next Congress.
THE ARMY AND SAvY-ABsrBD ECONOMY.
Retrenchment IN both these important arms OF
the public defence and protection are carried the
extremity Of saving at the spgot TO waste at the
DuDxnOe. Inc army Is 10 De reduced ana clipped
and pruned in every possible way, when the main
tenance or peace between the whites and Indians
in our FAR Western States calls rather for An in
crease than a reduction OF our present military
force. The hundreds Of lives and millions OF prop
erty destroyed even within the last year or two on
the Mexican frontier would have been saved had
the secretary OF War been able TO add even q regi
ment Of mounted troops to the small force scat
tered along the line OF mat frontier river OF 1000
miles. And so 1t Is with the navy. From one-third
TO one-haf of the ordinary force OF workmen OF the
yards OF the peace establishment, are to be cut
OF. Ships are 60 go to waste for want OF repairs;
but retrenchment You know, is he order Of the
day The virginlus affair secured the secretary
four extra millions. Otherwise by this time next
year we should hardly have been possessed OF half
a dozen ships such as they are 1T for active SER
vice.
THE Affairs OF THE DIsrRrCr-THE INVESTIGATION.
The select committee Of the two houses ap-
pointed TO investigate the alleged abuses and cor.