New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-03-05

BUTLERs.
lRY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSE.I
WASHINGTON March 4.-SenatOr Sherman's bill to
facilitate the resumption of specie payments was
killed in the Senate on Saturday by postponement
until next December, polite mode of slaughter but
none the less effective. Mr. Sherman was very
onv,ous 10 have the bill passed, and it gener-
aDy understood that he would have charge of
uniting lis provisions into practice if it became
law the contest became in some sort a struggle over
the financial policy of the new Administration. The
incoming Secretary of the Treasury was defeated
bvamaiority of three the vote being 20 in favor of
postponement to % opposed. The Western Republic
cans who if they have no further leaning to inta-
tion still retain their old dread of anything looking
Ike contraction, voted with large majority OF the
Democrats to defeat the measure. The bill 1t Will
be remembered provides for issuing per
cent bonds to retire the greenoacks and for
uniting out silver coinage for the Tedenp-
ton of both fractional currency and greenbacks,
until the whole volume of silver coined under recent
laws is 9sO,OOOOO0. There were two grounds of
opposition to the measure expressed in the debate
hostility to any reduction in the volume of the
creenbacks and antagonism to a debased silver cur
renew Probably there was another motive In the
mind, OF some of the Democrats, namely unwilling
ness TO aid the new Administration to accomplish so
popular an act as the restoration of the specie
standard
III coming TO an agreement on the POst-Oilce bill
the Senate abandoned the subsidies for the emma
and Brazilian mail service without making serious
contest. The large support obtained by weeks OF
hard work by the agents of the Pacific Mail Com
pauy melted away, under the influence 10 doubt OF
the criticisms of the press, until finally only II
votes were given in favor of insisting upon
the amendment to the bill granting the subsi-
dies Along with these an important part OF
the bill was practically lost, namely the III
creased provision for railway mail service Inns APP
oropriation cut down more than one-baf Inc
revision in the Post Route bill for the fast-mail
>Ivce was sacrificed to the prejudice OF the House.
was agreed by the Conference Committee that
hs should be put TO 4 vote in both houses ana that
# either voted it down the other should concur
The House voted first and insisted on its former re-
lection of the provision and afterward Senator
Hamlin. announcing this action, said he could not
recommend a longer struggle, the Senate yielded:
The net result of this legislation is that the service
Will be somewhat improved by the employment OF
large distributing cars on the main trunk lines, but
not to the extent desired by the department, nor
Will the fast mail proper be restored.
Thar pereanial product of demagOgism, the
Bounty EQUALIZATION bill, passed in every Congress
since the war ended by house or the other, but
only once by both, when it encountered the veto OF
President Grant came to the surface again IN the
Senate last night Mr.. Logan put 1t up
to give himself a chance TO close his Sen
storial career in blaze of Oratorical pyrOtech-
MICS, displayed for the admiration OF the soldier
element. The bill was rushed through the House
last Summer by the Democrats as an elcctioneerlng
dodge Ii went to LOgan's committee in the Senate,
and lie put it on the calendar with favorable rev
port some weeks ago. Calling it up last night he
made glowing speech to the galleries about the
priceless services Of the soldiers and got round OF
applause, which the President speedily reproYed.
Mr. Norton another consistent advocate OF TINS
measure came to his aid and warned the RepuDlI-
cans of the damage to the party which the seidleIs
might inhict if the bill were not passed MI Sdr-
gent made a vigorous opposition which was par
tcularv creditabe in view of the fact that few Re
publican Senators venturcd to say a word IN de-
tense of the treasury and the taxpayers. lie and
Mr. Morrill, took task upon themselves which 1t re-
quired good deal of courage to perform. Against
tie statement Of Mr. Logan that the bill would cost
from $l3.OOO,OOO to 2O,OO0,000 they put the
Treasury estimates placing the amount at nearly
Sl00,0O0,OOO. Finally, after two hours OF precious
tine had been consumed, the bill was Indefinitely
postponed by Yeas, 81 Nays, 20.
The night session of the Senate quiet and dull
1t was long wait for the action Of conference COM
mttees on the appropriation bills. The time was
utilized by putting through a multitude OF petty
bills in which Senators felt personal interest only
the sharp struggle the Bounty bill afforded en-
tertainment to the galleries, and the throngs that
packed them early in the evening diminished TO-
ward night. Mingling with the Senators on the
hOor were all the members of the Cabinet who came
straight from the farewell dinner at the White
House without stopping TO change their dress coats
and white ties for less conspicuous attire. The
President arrived about 10 o'clock and went TO the
gaudy little room OFF the lobby, reserved for his use
Oh the last night Of each expiring session OF Con-
gess, and given up to the admring visits of rural
sight-seers the rest of the year. There he remained
signing the bills as they were brought to him. and
chatting in the intervals of this work with Senators
and Members who came in for friendly talk. He
seemed in excellent spirits, and spoke frequently
Of his satisfaction at the near approach OF
the time when he could lay down the
great burden Of responsibility he has borne for
eight years. At about midnight he left the room
and walked alone through the dimly-ghted corTi-
dors and rOtunda over to the House wing for the
purpose, IL seemed, OF getting little exercise.
Among the noticeable visitors to the Senate floor
was Benjamin Butler, who had long whispered
eonfab with Mr. Conkling behind the shelter OF an
open newspaper. re other Gen. Butler. he of HAM
pufg massacre fame, now claimant Tor seat IN
TIE Senate stalked TO and fro on the Democratic
SIDE His competitor, COrbin, occupied seat among
the Republicans The frequent appearance OF the
CLERK OF the House with bis arms full OF enrolled
Oils, and the rushing in and out of members from
TIE other wing bent upon getting Senators to push
the little schemes of their constituents, were almost
the only incidents that varied the monotony OF the
routine press of minor legislation. About o'clock
Tue Last conference report had come in and had been