The New York herald., 1877-11-04
GENERAL WASHINGTON DISPATCHES.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 3, 1877.
METRIC SYSTEM FOR GOLD COINS.

The bill introduced in the Louise TO day by Represen
tatves Muldrow, OF Mississippi TO promote the esab-
lshment OF the metric system OF coinage In The gold
coins OF the United states, provides that the gold
hereafter coined by the United States contain for each
dollar OF UNCONVENTIONAL value one and one-half
grsmmes OF pure gold and shall weigh for each dollar
and twothirds grammes, the proportion Of alloy to
the entire weight being thus kept as ono to ten. 1t
further provides that such coins shall be legal tenders
IN payments arising from contracts made at any time
after the 4th day Of July, 1878.
DIRECT VOTING BY THE PEOPLE.
The Joint resolution introduced iu the House to-
day by Representative Finley proposing amend.
ment to tue constitution OF the United States pro-
poses that the President and Vice President shall be
elected by direct vote OF the people OF the several
States; that electors In each State shall have the
same qualifications electors of the most numerous
branch Of the State Legislature Ind that II two or
more persons shall each receive an equal and the
greatest number OF votes Tor President, then the
House OF Representatives shall from such persons
Immediately choose the President The resolution
further proposes the election shall be held at tho
time provided ny law for choosing the Presiden-
tal electors; that the returns be canvassed at the
time and in tho manner provided, and that the
two houses Of Congress shall be the judges, each
house voting separately; and In OF Disagree
the Supreme Court for lnai decision.
SILVER COINAGE.
The bill introduced in the House to-day by Repre-
sentative Buckner OF Missouri, authorizing the coin.
age OF the standard silver dollar and restoring its legal
tender character is duplicate OF the bill which tho
Committee on Banking and Currency yesterday au-
thorizsd him to report for passage al the earliest OPP
portunity, aud It was referred to the Committee on
Coinage, Weights and Measures. The bills introduced
by Messrs, Townshend OF Illinois, and Clark OF Mis-
souri,, OF similar character ana referred
to the same committee.
AN INVESTIGATION OF NAVY DEPARTMENT
ACCOUNTS.
Tho Committee on Expenditures in the Navy De-
partment Nr Willis, OF New York, chairmanl, called
upon the secretary Of the Navy this morning and
formed him OF their purpose to make a thorough IN
vestigaton OF the accounts OF the department under
the administration Of Secretary Robson, and espe-
ciay transfer OF funds appropriated pay OF
the navy into other channels. Secretary Thompson
assured the committee that he would cheerlully give
them every facility at his command to assist tho
prosecution OF thoir inquiries. The committee also
Informed him that they desired TO recommend a re-
ducton OF expenditures Of the department, whenever
IL may DO found practicable and the Secretary re-
sponded that he would be happy to cooperate with
them In this direction also.
conflict OF jurisdiction In regard 10 the proposed
Investigations Is likely TO arise between this commit
tee and tho COMMITTEE Naval Affairs, of which Mr.
WhiitEorne, OF Tennessee, Is chairman, and hch
several days ago voted TO investigate the causes Of the
lack oi available funds for tho payment Of navy officers
during last April May and June Messrs. Whitthorno
and willis are both members OF each OF these commit
tees. The Committee Appropriations may also claim
Jurisdiction oil tho same subject, as preliminary to
taking action the deficiency estimates which, OF
coursc, have been referred to them. The matter Of
jurisdiction discussed In the Committee on Naval
Affairs lthis morning, without any action being taken
upon IT, and there is considerable probability that
will bs brought before tho House Tor the decision OF
that body
STEALING GOVERNMENT TIMBER
The special agents OF the Interior Department. de-
tailed under the direction oil Mr. s. Protors OF the
General Land once, TO detect timber lrespsssers in
the State OF Minnesota, have collected testimony
showing that o. 0S, ,564 feet iboard moasure) Of white
pine logs have cut and removed IRON the vacant
pubic lands In that state, which, at average Of 50
per 1000 feet, would make a total valuation OF
$3os, ,642 81 w. W. Blllson, United States District
Attorney, elcgraphs TO the Commissioner OF the Gen.
orai Land Oihce IN regard TO the recent legal
against the uespassers that twenty-nine
evil suits were Instituted at the last term oil the
United states District Court at st. Paul against tres
pssser. and that the Jury returned verdcts In nine