The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-21
WASHING T0M
The Senate Passes the Army and
Fertilization Bills.
PROVISIONS MADE FOR ls74.5.
Economy in the Work on Public
Buildings.

The Senate Accomplished Something at
Last-Passage OF the Army and Fortif-
cations Appropriation Bills.
In the Senate quite good days work was done.
the consideration Of the Army Appropriation bill,
WITH some important amendments, was fin.
shed and 1t passed The FortIfcatlons bill was
men taken up and passed. the only material
amendment being that the appropriation shall be
a full for the fiscal year ending June 80. 1875,
which was adopted. During the latter part OF the
discussion On the Army Appropriation bill the
pniv provision which excited more than ordinary
Attention was that which provided an expenditure
81 $4,000 for the preservation OF clothing and
equlpage from moth and mildew. This was Op.
posed by Senator Merrimon who advocated q re.
AUCTION OF the amount to S., 600. and offered an
Amendment accordingly 1t was lost upon call OF
the yeas and nays, by vote OF II to % Senators
West and Sargent explained that 1t was great
reduction from former years. and that the amount
now asked WAS $4,000 less than that stated by
the Quartermaster General being required The
Senate seemed to feel quite well pleased with the
results OF the days Deliberations which were
Acknowledged to be practical work. and, after the
adoption OF q resolution authorizing the CHAIR to
Oil the vacancy In the Commit ee Of Privileges and
Elections and the Committee OF Education and
Labor made vacant by The death OF Mr.. Charles
Sumner, went into executive session and ad-
1ourned TO Monday next.
Provisions of the FOrtihcatfOns Bill.
The Fortlncations Dill, as passed both houses Of
Congress- appr0priates $4,000 for Fort Trumoull,
New London Conn 100000 Tor the tort on Will
lett's Point East River. New York; $4,000 Tor
Fort Schuyler, East River, New York; $4,000 for
Fort Hamilton and additional batteries, New York
harbor; $4,000 for fort on the site OF Fort
Tompkins, Staten Island; $4,000 Tor Battery Hud.
son. New York harbOr; SIS, 900 Tor Fort Delaware,
Delaware River; $4,000 Tor the battery at Flnn's
Point Delaware River, and $4,000 Tor new tort
opposite Fort Delaware, Delaware River
ECONOMY in the Public Buildings-COn.
illusions Arrived At by the Senate
Standing Committee.
The Senate Committee on Public Buildings and
Grounds to-day submitted a report on the Senate
resolution directing them to inquire into the ex-
pedlency Of suspendng the expenditure OF all APP
preparations for pubic buildings not yet COM
menced. and OF covering sucn appropriations into
the Treasury. They SAID the contemplated build
1ngs to which reference is made IN this resolution
are those authorized to be constructed at Albany,
N. Y; Atlanta, Ga: CovIngton, KY; Dover Del.
Evansville, Ind; Fall River, Mass; Grand Rapids,
Mich; Jersey City, N j.; Lincoln, Neb.; Little
Rock, Ark. Memphis and Nashville Tenn; San
Francisco, Ca Qor marine hOspitaD Utica, N. Y.
ror court house, &c.), and Washington City tor
Treasury archives) The unexpended appropria-
lions for these bull dings amount TO 270 $685. which
amount is distributed among more than u dozen
States, part being at State capitals, and being
less than has been appropriated Tor buildings any
one OF several OF the larger cities. 'n iact" says
the committee, "the great bulk OF all recent APP
preparations Tor public buildings will be found to
have been absorbed by the cities Of Chicago, st.
7 Aaru Xnrt
pensive buildings have seemed Indispensable"
They add That, although the government service
would not suffer much more Inconvenience by the
delay OF year in the OF the buildings
mentioned In the above list than ir mas suffered
the past year, yet the necessity for them is not
less than that which has prompted similar struc-
lures in other places AS the result OF an extended
discussion general subjects oil present necessity
for economy. the requirements for the public
vice, the different styles OF architectural construc
tons, &C, the committee arrive at the following
First That when it becomes necessary, In any
locality ior the national government to erect pub
lie buildings utility shall be the foremost considera
ton.
.second-That they snail have some general unity
oil character.
Thi,d-That they shall be stately and firm in
proportions rather than rich and unique in detail
FGtdtty-Tne committee are o. opinion that the
expenditure lOr public buildings In the present
exigency iof economy should be cut down with as
much severity as any OF the other expenditures;
but that they ought not 10 be singled out as the
least merltorious OF all and wholly denied IN q
lump.
In the course of the report it is recommended
that the following work be authorized Immediately
to be done in Washington City, in order mainly to
provide needed facilities Tor the public service and
save the large expenditures for rent OF private
buildings now used:-ihe Court OF Claims should
be removed to the City Hall building, to give more
space for the committee rooms in the Capitol, and
the City Hall should be enlarged so as to accom-
mOdate the Pension Bureau The Post ONCE De- |
partment should be enlarged. building should |
be erected Tor the Printing Bureau OF the Treasury
Department. and the east part OF the latter should
be extended. In the near future, also, provision |,
should be made Tor Congressional Library Blu
reau, and the additions recently maze to the Capt.
1ol grounds should be improved SO as to carry out ,
the design OF their purchase.
Progress of the Howard Inquiry.
The Second Auditor and First Comptroller were !
again examined to-day before the Howard Court
OF Inquiry, and General Vincent gave testimony |
the authenticity OF various records |
bearing on the case Full and complete testimony
is being obtained relative to the manner OF trans
acting business by disbursing officers and as to |
the responsibility resting on them.
The 1ndians-The Savagcs Must Stnrve |
or Fight-CrOWs Asking for Needle |
Guns Against the Sioux.
L. Edwin Dudley. superintendent OF Indian |
Affairs at Santa Fe, New Mexico, teegraphs to
Indian Commissioner Smith that If the supplies
for the Mescaleros aud southern Apaches are
stopped the Indians must starve or fight. He has
no doubt that war will result. The agent for the
Crows telegraphs here asking II the commander
at tort Ellis have authority to turn over to the
Crow Agency twenty needle guns. with ammun
ton, to protect them against the Sioux.
Confirmation of Nominations.
The Senate in executive session to-day confirmed
the following nominations Thomas Il. Van Buren,
OF New Jersey, to be Consul at Kanagawa; Fred
erick Baggs to be Collector OF Internal Revenue for
Sixth district, Indiana; Edward +. Dunno. Chief
Justice OF Supreme Court, Arizona
The Completion of the Cross Ledge and
Ship John Shoal Lights.
The Lighthouse Board has referred TO the Secre-
tary o the Treasury the matter OF the completion |