The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-02-04


OF three army engineers and two civilians, to BIO
selected by the President TO have charge of this dis
trict, and to determine upon a comprehensive plan
for reclaimins ana protecting from overflow all tho
lands in this district; appropriacs s250o0o for tho
preliminary work, and when their survey and report
shall have been approved by Congress aud when the
States Interested shall have coded the federal gov
tho right such laws rs nay be neces
sary for the construction and maintenance of tho
cvees then the Treasury raise money by salo
OF bonds for the construction OF the whole work,
the government is to collect tonnage tax and as
sessment on lands improved when all is completed
This bill extremely crude. it covers much
ground and has not sufficient limitations; but II the
committee choose to ask the advice OF General
Humphreys ana other engineer officers who have
surveyed the river they might come to a wise con-
cusion.
THE DEBATE ON TIE BLAND BILL IN THE
SENATE.
The silver debate reopens in the Senate tomorrow,
Mr.. Bayard leading OF. Mr.. Blame, who expects to
speak about Wednesday, will, 1t Is understood, sup
port proposition In favor OF the remonetz tion
silver with dollar OF greater value than the Bland
dollar, but against Interference with tho debt past
transactions. 1t IS yet certain that Mr.. Conkling
will speak on the subject.
MINISTER FOSTER ON THE SILVER QUESTION
A LESSON TO DE DERIVED FROM MEXICO.
Minister Foster, who arrived hero yesterday from
Mexico, where he has been stationed several years.
an influential republican In Indiana, and, In CONVEX
sation With Indiana republicans here, has warned
them against falling prey TO the silver movement
He expressed his belief very positively to them
That II would be fatal to them and that
there is no political future for anybody or>party
taking II Up He has boon living In u country which
has Unlimited silver as its currency and as no points
out, better dollar than the Bland bill proposes to
the people OF this country and no says II IS uni
versaIly felt IN Mexico that silver is tho most ncon-
vencnt and the most costly and oppressive currency
that can be imagined subject to constant fuctuatons
which dorange all prices, and which force tho
merchants and dealers to add considerable
percentage to the prices of the goods they SELL
order to insure themselves against loss. He gnvo
amusing account OF the annoyances which silver it-
nicts on daily lille. II man travels he carry
valise on purpose to bold dollars for his travel
ling expenses II he goes to the bank CONNER
claI house to draw check he takes with him either
stout porter or hack or, IF the check Is for a con-
siderable amount, a wagon. Exchange between the
different cities of Mexico is very costly, ranging from
| five to ten per cent; exchange New York ranges
from eight to eighteen per cent, and tho merchants
OF course, add all this the price at
which they sell goods. Gold and silver, he says,
are both and equally loyal tender In Mexico.
but the gold has all como from tho coun.
| try; even small amount, needed by travellers
leaving the country Is got with difficulty and only oI
large premium from tour to ten per cent All com
mercal transactions are unsettled, and nobody buys
or sells without previous reference to the daily cabed
quotations OF silver tn the Lon Ion market prices o.
all articles changing rs the value of silver bullion IN
| London goes up or down.
Mr.. Foster seems to be annoyed thut 40 many pco
pie IN this country want to bring upon IL what be
lcvcs to BIO serious calamity and very costly iacon
vcnience Ho has no doubt that II silver is Introduce
nA the currency here there will DO speedily such
reaction against It MS viii cause tho political funcrai
every who has had anything to do with It, and HI
advises the Indiana republicans that they had muci
better suffer temporary defeat by opposing the Blan,
bill and the silver movement generally than TO CIV
In TO It,
PRcKARD STILL AFTER THE NEW ORLEANS COL
| Lie tbEsHIp.
| Mr.. Packard has returned here to help In sccurn.
the defeat OF General Williamson, whose nomination
as Collector OF New Orleans Is still before the Com
| mitteo on Commerce, and whose rejection is sough
| not only by Mr. Packard but also by Senator Eustis
Mr.. Packard's friends still cherish the expectation
that II Williamson is rejected the President will b
persuaded 10 nominate Packard for tho Coliectorshp