New-York tribune., 1876-02-16
CURRENT TOPICS AT THE CAPITAL.
DEMOCRATIC INITIATION PLANS.
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NA-HistsTON.
The inRationists in the House seem to have
got full Of the Democratic caucus AZ II shown by
the complexion of the Committee appointed yes
1erity OF the nine members OF the Committee repre-
sen ing lie House. Ave iHation,s ami four MONT
nally advocates OF hard money. The five niirunist-
favor OF repeal oi the Act OF 1870 requiring the
resumption Of sp cie payments on Jan ], ls13 ana "i
doing nothing They say that this II all that the
Eastern and other hardmoncy Democrats onglt Z"
expect OF them They believe in actual imitation. they
say and if they willing to forego any attempt t. pass
a positive initiation bill, the hardmoney DEMO- rats ought
to accede Ia them and not attempt To force through any
measure looklnQ 10 actual resumption The four
called hard dmoncy men on the Committee are faNoahi'
to a compromise some hing hkc Mf. Idyh'
n'u for nm accumulation Of gold, coupled with
the repeal Of the resumption clause oi Tie
act OF 1870 At first i was intended to place
"A New-York upon this Committee, and the
name of Mr. Hewitt was first suggested. Afterwari
IL determined TO place Nj lly on TIC commute
lu the in ,tioniss concluded that II would not do 10
have any with Osiiiyc hard money IDEAS upon H.
md since they coud Gnd in the Ncw-York delegation no
vino lad not such positive idc thcy refused "Pr,e
auy Representative Of that state on tine Committee The
result ~ the labors Of the Committee VIII probably hc
the reporting Of bill identical Win mat introduced py
Nj Paine, with minor anchdInents. Inc hnI' cah,''
Democratic hardlnOncy men Will probably refuse 10 sup
port II.
CONFERENCE REPORT on THE DISTRICT BILL
The Conference Committee 10 whom was re-
fored bill providing for the payment OF the interest on
the 800 District of Columbia bonds, agreed to-day upon
report This report will forbid any further Issues "i the
3GJ bonds. thus limiting the amount 10 ABOUT fl'''o"t
900 II viii also forbid the Board of Audit TO allow any
further cs except those for which new work has ac-
tually and recently been DONE and limits the total
amount 800 bonds aud Auditors certificates to T13,
100000 TGe certificates In excess Of the Sl3IOOO0O
tO be- cOnSdercg as debt OF the District ana L" DE
provided for ont no ordinary rcvenuca. The amend
nent of the Senate TO abolish tie hoard OF Audit has
bceu stricken but the clause mahins II penal
iens for any officer other person t. do any oct ny
which dent OF the District shall b. Increased II r.
'"''''' A LONG POsTPONEMENT OF PAY.
The Secretary Of War has sent TO Congress Il
deficiency estimate for SjOOOOO the pay OIL
Gers Of the army for the last half oi June ls7J The
appropriations granted two years or the pay Of the
army amounted to 81 97 463 less than the amount csti-
mated by the Paymasto, General, and $4,000 less than
that asked Ror by Secretary Of War. The figures
foliows Estimate for the pay Of the a. my &c., FOR
the fiscal year ending Jrne 30' 1872 as made by the
OF War, S397i63 reduced still further by Congress,
100000; appropriated, $ll.4o0'OO0 The army cx-
600 and officers have received their pay the ast
half OF june 1870.
RELIEF TO IMPORTERS
The House to-day passed bill which per-
mts one member of firm TO sign customhouse bonds
for importatons for the firm. THIS bill relieves the
porting public fIo1 the effects Of ruling which
stoned 30 much discussion Boston and Newiork
imnorters last Summer Since ls2J Lad been the prac
tee for importing firms to have member transact all
custom-house business. The Revised Statutes male
change by an omission, OF such character that the
Secretary OF the .1reasury ruled that all mcmbefs OF
firm were obliged to enter into these cnstGn-holso
recognizanocs This ruling was very great hardship
merchants The bill today torres me pfacilce ihal
existed before the passage Of the Revised statutes
EXPIRATION OF THE SYNDICATE CONTRACT
The contract of the Secretary of the Treasury
with the Syndicate the sale Of the five per cent fund
Ing bonds expired by Limitation to-day Representatives
OF the Syndicate, who In the city, express great
satisfaction ut their in dspOsng OF the bonds and
at the advanced rates at which the bonds
quoted the London market. They have doubt that
"a four and half PEI bond could now be negotiated
at par provided had 80 years run, and II is believed
that the Syndicate be glad To make another
tract with the Treasury Department for placing them
bill 10 increase the time which these bonds will have
10 run meets with little opposition in tine House.
aud is likely TO be passed at an early date.
GEN. COwEN's RETIREMENT.
Gen. B. r. Cowen, Assistant Secretary of the
Interior Department rendered his resignation yesterday.
to In 80 days He has long desired TO retire
from the position Of Assistant Secretary to attend TO bis
private affairs but has remained to the present out OF
Difference TO the wishes OF Secretary Chandler He
leaves for Belare, Ohio, tomorrow night but will re-
turn ia few days and settle up bis affairs in Washing
ton and will then engage IN the banking business In
Beaire HLs family Will remain IN Washington during
the Summer.
THE sCHENCK SCANDAL CORRESPONDENCE.
The subcommittee of the House instructed
to call upon the Secretary Of state for the correspondence