The New York herald., 1878-02-27
GENERAL WASHINGTON DISPATCHES.


| the Board anticipate exciting scene.
GENERAL WASHINGTON DISPATCHES
WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 1878.
THE PANDORA ExpEDIrIoN-vIEws OF CAPTAIN
HowaATF.
Much gratincaton Is expressed by Captain Howgate
at Mr. JsmcsG G Bennetts proposed expedition TO the
North Polo In the yacht Pandora, taken conjunc.
tion with the proposed governments expedition from
tne Uated States this year. 1t will tho practical
bility OF the most prominent routes to tho PoIe
The Smiths Sound route, which Captain How.
gate proposes to follow, is tho American
route, while the spitzbcrgen ono is ana has
bocn advocated Dy foreign seosraphers In tho
face of tho failure Of every attempt, that direction
hitherto made. In other respects the American ex-
petition differs widely in purpose from any that can
DO sent out under private auspices, proposes an
exhaustive study Of the various scientific subjects
upon which light can only be thrown by steady re-
searches made within tho Polar The moro dis.
covcry the Pole itself is Subordinate item Of tho
whole scheme
IN CABINET sEssIoN-TRE RETURNING BOARD
CASES AND THE SILVER BILL UNDER con-
sIDFRATIoN.
Todays Cabinet session one OF great interest," as
It was devoted 10 somc extent to discussion the
important trials now In progress In New Orleans ana
also TO an interchange OF Vows the subject Of tho
Silver bill, awaiting tho action oi the Executive
Upon the topic the OF General Anderson It
is Understood that very deoided opinions
were expressed, TO tho effect that the in
teriercnce Of the government Of Louisiana In
favor OF Anderson should not be withheld So
tar can be learned, communications have been
cent from any representative the general govern.
men to the Executive Of the State OF Louisiana but
1t was remarked to-day by AN Official holding close
relations with the ministraton that this matter
there neither indifference inactivity on the
part OF the PrssldenI II ssems probable thar the
government dwats further proceedings in the New
Orleans courts before entering into the subject from
this point The general impression Is that Governor
Nichols ought to and will Interfere
Members OF the Cabinet are unusually reticent 70.
gardng the tonor OF tho discussion upon tho Silver
bill as 10 probable results. There Is, however,
ground for believing hat tho President will in q dsy
two ad drcss a messagc TO Congress in connection
with the bill now awaiting his action. Wheiher
this will be veto message or not Is yet altogether
matter OF conjecture. There be obtained no on
cia authority tor any declaration In the premises
1t is no secret that the views ol the Cabinet
were not unit on the subject OF what action should
be taken There is probability that the discussion
will bo renewed Friday next, unless In tho mean
subject 1t Is remarked certainty that tho bill
will either DO signed vetoed and that there is no
probability whatever that 1t will become law by the
expiration OF ten days
THE REPEAL OF THE RESUMPTION ACr-ACTIoN
OF THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEES.
The Senate Finance Committee met to-day aud, In
accordance with previous assignment, took up tho
House bill providing for tho repeal OF tho Specie Re-
sumption act An informal discussion OF the subject
was commenced, but was interrupted by the arrival
Of the hour fixed for a republican caucus
to nominate q President pro TEN. Of the
Senate, aud the committee adjourned to re-
the consideration OF the bill next Friday All
the reports OF action having been taken by the com.
mittee in ihe-line OF amendments TO this bill are un-
founded No amendments have yet offer ed In
the committee ana the discussion thus lar affords no
basis tor anything than conjecture rs
to what tho commttee's ultimate action will be.
IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
The Senate In executive session to-day rejected the
nomination OF William +. Wheeler, OF Helena, ~ T.,
reappointment United States Marshal for that
Territory.
The Senate discussed during two hours the nomina-
tion of Lewis h. Parsons for United States Atornsy
for the Northern and Middle districts or Alabama.
The Committee on the Judiciary had reported ad-
vcrscy this nomination. This was ono Of the cases
opposed by Senator Spencer, Of Alabama. The main
ground Of opposition appears to be that Mr. Parsons
was connected with tho Ben JackIey alleged fraud
ulent cotton claim. In reply It is said that he only
argued tho after all the prosis had been pro.
sented. II s reported that Senators Conkling and
Edmunds spoke against the nlsmaton, anu SEN
ators Matthews and Morgan In favor Of 1t. The sub
ject went over as unfinished business.
THE AMOUNT OF wHIsKEY IN THE COUNTRY,
recent Investigation OF the records OF the Internal
Revenue Oce with reference to the condition of the
stocks Of whskey in the United States, shows that on
the LIST OF January last tho amount OF tax paid spirits
IN the hands Of wholesale dealers and rcctHcrs was
IT, 1452 279 gallons But there were several districts
throughout the country from which reports
needed TO givc the exact amount.
These districts nre the following Fourth,
California and Dakota; Third, Georgia; Second,
Missouri; Filth and sixth. North Carolina; Fifteenth,
ono; Ninth, Pennsylvana; Third. Toxas, Washing
ton Territory and Wyoming 1t will be WITHIN
bounds say that the quantities returned from these
districts will not augment the number of gallons In
the hands of Wholesale dealers and rectners beyond
Is, ,000, 000
Tho department Is as yet unable 10 approximate IN
u satisfactory manner the stock In the hands OF the
1866 900 retail liquor dealers throughout the country
though It is probable that thero about TO- O00 600
gallons thus distributed. The entire stock in the
country. exclusive Of that In bond will scarcely ex
coed 2s,OOO,O00 Though this canrot DO regarded
as altogether oiciai statement, It s, neverthe-
loss, a fair deduction from tho records as shown
in the Internal Revenue Department on the
FIRST OF tho present ysar The quantity In bond Is
about 10 oO0 0oa gallons, which would bring stock
In the country 10 about Al, 600 gallons This
very low us compared with tho amount asccrtslned
TO be hold In previous years.
The report Of Commissioner ). W. Douglass iog 1871