The New York herald., 1878-12-19

approval shall discharge such duties relative to the
design. construction, armament and equipment of all
vessels OF the navy hereafter to be built or extern
sively repaired. and such other general special
duties of snch office tho Secretary may
require of them. The Board is especially
charged with the duty of examining all
designs. models. plans and specifications
of all vessels of the navy. hereafter to be built
extensively altered repaired, and of the machinery
and armament thereof And their determinations
when approved by the Secretary shall be final and
conclusive, and binding upon all officers and
ployts Of the navy and shall not be varied from in
execution without the express authority or direction
OF the Secretary in writing. The Board may, under
the direction with the consent of the Sc ,retary
invite the submission of models. plans and specifca
tions for naval vessels their engines machinery and
armament from any and all sources, and may deter
mine what shall be paid TO any successful COM
petitors. and others whose models. plans spec
tcatons submitted shall be adopted for in the
navy The Board is required to take inventory of
stores and supplies, and all found to be unserviceable
to be sold. The Board is also required 10 exam
inc. to be examined all vessels not in actual
service at sea- and vessels at they shall
return to any naval station and report to tho Secre
tary such unfit for further service, or if the
same unfinished in any navy yard which cannot
be finished without great and disproportionate ex-
pense.
If the Secretary shall deem it for the best interest
of the United States to sell such vessels he shall AL
verse for sealed proposals for the purchase of the
The vessels to be sold for cash to the per-
corporations Offering the highest price
above the appraised value. Old material which
cannot be proftably used by reworking or
otherwise is to be sold at public auction.
a
which shall comprise the appropriations made there
for from time to time by Congress- and the proceeds
arising from the sale Of old or condemned vessels
and of old and condemned materials and
dcmned stores and supplies. The funds shall
be used and expended by the Secretary.
with the aid and assistance of the Board
in the construction, armament and equipment of
new vessels, and for other purpose No vessel
belonging to the navy shall be finished or
paired where the estimated cost of its completion
repair shall exceed forty per cent of the cost of
new vessel of the same size and model, exclusive of
the armament and equipment unless the Board shall
recommend such completion repair.
The Board of Assistants while serving the Board.
and their secretary, shall be entitled to the highest
pay of their rank and their actual expenses while
travelling on business of the Board. No portion Of
the permanent construction fund shall be di-
verted from the purposes of this act. and
any officer who shall knowingly and wilfully
make of authorize the of
any portion of the fund for any purpose not author
lied by the provisions Of this act shall be deemed
guilty of msdemeanor and Shall be liable thereafter
to removal by court martial or otherwise.
The section Of the original bill providing for an
annual appropriation of $30oOOOo for the construc-
ton # new vessels, &c. was stricken out by the
committee.
THE HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE LooK-
ING AFTER THE FEDERAL SUPERVISORS
The House Committee Appropriations to-day
agreed to recommend non-concurrence by the House
in all the Senate amendments to the Consular and
Diplomatic and Fertilization Appropriation bills.
They also instructed Chairman Atkins report to the
House. with favorable recommendation the resolu-
ton of Mr. Southland calling for information to the
number of supervisors and deputy marshals
poyed during the late election out what fund they
paid, &c.
AGREED UPON.
The House Joint Committee Epidemic Diseases
appointed to visit the South and ascertain the cause
OF the late yellow fever outbreak, met this morning
and formally agreed upozEthc following named per-
to be the experts to accompany, in their South
ern tour of investigation, the subcommittee ap-
pointed for that purpose:--
DR.. J. NJ. Woodwork. Superintendent Of the Ma
rinc Hospital service Washington d. c.; DIR. Coch-
rane of Mobile. Ala. DR.. William Selden of Norfolk
Va; Colonel Thomas s. Hardee. of the United States
Army; Dr. Samuel A. Green of Boston; Dr. W. H.
Randall. Of Philadelphia DR.. Jacob s. Mosher, of
New York DIR. W. II. Murs,y of Cincinnati: DIR. r.. W.
Mitchell. of Memphis: Dr. l.. A. Fallgunt, of Sayan
nah. Ga. Dr. Stanford f. Chaille of New Orleans
The members of the subcommittee to visit New
Orlca ayIx,; civ;tv
the part of the House. will probably be appointed to-
day.
THE POTTER COMMITTEE
The Potter Committee to-day agreed that the sub
committee to continue the investigation in Louisiana
shall consist of Chairman Potter, General Cox. of
Ohio. and probably one more democratic member il
another OF the majority will consent to serve They
will start for New Orleans after Congress al
journs for the holiday recess. and expect to finish
their labors within week after their arrival in New
Orleans.
THE STANDARD SILVER DOLLAR.
The House Committee Banking and Currency
to-day heard Representative Burchard of Illinois, in
advocacy of his bill to prohibit any discrimination
by national banks against the standard silver dollar
Representative Chittcndcn. the Now York member
Of the committee. made argument in reply to Mr..
Burchard. and the subject then taken under ad-
visement for action by the committee
General Ewing. Of Ohio, submitted as substitute
for Mr. Burchard's and all other pending bills rca-
tive to the silver dollar new measure embracing
three Propositions
First-That any national bank which discriminates
against the standard silver dollar shall be placed in
liquidation and have its circulating notes Withdrawn
by the government.
Second-To make United States notes and standard
silver dollars interchangeable at the Treasury.
standard silver dollars for trade dollars and the re-
coinage Of the latter into standard dollars. with
prohibition against further coinage Of trade dollars
Of the present weight and fncncss
The committee adjourned until after the holiday
without taking any action.
MIR. HEw1TTs REPORT on THE LABOR QUESTION
Tho statement recently attributed to Representa-