The New York herald., 1878-03-30


OF his remarks that the completion of the work
would connect Long Island sound with the HUDSON
River In such way that large could pass to
and iros An immense tranic by vessels which now
mako circuit oil at least twenty miles around Man
| haitian Island would move through this short route
and thus immense saving would be effected both
In time and distance, terminal facilities would be
| indefinitely multiplied ana terminal charges
vastly diminished. An immense population
living On either shore OF the river would
be, through enlarged Communication, able
reach not only their places In the lower
end OF the CITY. thereby cheapenng sher cost OF lv
ing, but all other points whittier they might decide
to travel. There is already extensive commerce
on the river which might be increased many fold the
moment this projected Improvement becomes u real.
ty; and assuredly II the appropriation OF money for
the Improvement OF rivers and harbors DO justi
fed In any case, II like this where the expend-
ture will result in the enlargement Of commerce and
the cheapenng of Communication.
Mr.. Willis claimed that this Improvement would
reduce the cost OF transportation at
for every bushel Of grain exported pro-
portonate saving IN the cost OF transportation Of
other agricultural and manufacturing products, this
being effect export duty upon the farmers
artisans and laborers OF the whole country. II would
diminish the cost Of every imported article and
thus alleviate the burdens OF the people in another
way. New York city, with one.thirtieth Of tho
population Of the United States, and whose
commerce aone pays one-third OF the national reve
nuc, with one voice asked for this appropriation, not
only for her own benefit but for the benefit Of the
whole country, to which she indebted for her
mercia greatness and power. He also quoted General
Newton, Of the Engineer Corps, authority Tor stat
ing that his project is Of greater importance
than the He'll Gate Improvement
SHIPPING FINES IN SPANISH PoRTs-MopIFI-
CATION OF THE LAW BY ROYAL oRDER-
HOW MASTERS OF VESSELS CAN AVOID
TROUBLE.
For many years past shippers and captains in trade
with Spanish ports have suffered great ncOnvcnencs
and loss consequence of the heavy hnes prescribed
by Spanish law, Tor differences between the weight
Of cargo expressed the manifest ana the actual
weight found by examination. II the difference
more than ten hundredweight under the declared
weight, tho penalty imposed WAS equal to the duties
on the excess or shortage Occasionally, on proof
being adduced Of the OF fraudulent intent
the part Of the captain, the fine has been RENTED,
but with great difficulty. The United States Minister
at Madrid now reports to the Department OF State
that by a royal order of January Is the penalty
Is graduated, being from 10 to 1000 pesetas ($2
to $500, instead OF being fixed as before, SO
that In Of innocent error the captain
mey not be subject to heavy loss a. formerly, bu,
shall merely pay nominal nna It Is believed that
this will afford much relief In cases Of ship
ping fines In spanish ports.
II does not seem to be generally known among
shpmasters tnat by the existing Spanish law
they have It in their own power 10
avoid the imposition of these fines
on their vessels under any circum-
stances. The rule Is that where the captains maui
weight the shipmaster is nned; when the manifest
and bills OF ading agree the consignee OF the goods
must pay the ane BY requiring, is England,
that the bills of adiLg shall state the gross weight
In Kilograms the and masters Of vessols in the
Spanish trade can themselves much trouble and
expense, for then the responsibilities for dscrepan.
ces or errors In the reduction OF pounds to Kilograms
would fall on the consgnee OF tho goods In fault
REJECTED APPOINTMENTS TO BE REcoNsrDERED.
Motions TO reconsider tho action In executive
OF The Senate Thursday last bv which the nomina.
lions OF X. NJ. Reynolds, OF Alabama. as First
Auditor OF the Treasury, and Ex-Governor
Parsons, Of Alabama District Attorney
for the Southern district oil that State, rejected
have been entered by Senator Dawes In behalf Of
Parsons and Senator Paddock In behalf Of Reynolds
The effect OF this action will be to hold these nom
nations in suspense and continue the present incum-
acted the present session expires.
THE vIRGINIUs AFFAIR-ANswER OF THE PREsI-
DENT TO A RESOLUTION OF THE HOUSE.
The President to-day sent Message to the House
OF Represent itives In answer to resolution
Ing the virginius affair, and asking whether Brgadcr
General Burrel. who ordered the execution OF those
taken board that vcssel has becn tried by tho
Spanish authorities, in accordance with the agree
ment between that government and the United States
A large OF correspondence transmitted, In
cludng translation of paragraph in the Diario de
la Marina of the 18th of January last announcing
tue death Of General BurrieL
THE METRIC sYsTEM--TABLEs PROPOSED BY
MY. STEPHENS BILL.
Tho bill introduced IN the House to-day by Repre-
sentative Stephens OF Georgia. to promote general
use Of metric system after recting preamble to
tho effect that the system has made little progress
Notwithstanding great and its uthorizaton
by by virtue OF the OF Congress July 27 1885,
and which Is believed to be capable OF simplincation
remove many impediments to Its general use,
authorizes tho of the modified metric system,
and the continued use Of any system now permitted
by law is prohibited the true intent and meaning
of tho act being any particular system
but to provide for the public by adapra
ton to Its circumstances and exgencies, the metric
system being capable OF indefinite expansion TO suit
the uses OF mankind In business and scionce.
The following the metric tables proposed by the
BILL
MEASURES OF LKNarH.
100 pans make nail
100 nails make a meter.
100 meters make kiie.
MEASURES OF SURFACE.
10, 900 square meters make u great acre
MEASURES OF BULK AND CAPAciTys
100 drops make spoon.