The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-24
GENERAL AR9HUR'S REPLY TO Mr. SHERMAN
Adverse Report from the Commerce
Committee Indicated.
WAB CLAIMS or SOUTHERN LOYAlISTS
Action of the Potter Committee on
the Cipher Dispatches.
FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

THE NEW YORK NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. SESSION
OF THE SENATE COMMERCE COMMITTEE
PROBABLE VOTE ON THE NOMINATIONS OF
MEssRs. MERRITT AND GRAHAM.
The session to-day of the Senate Committee on
Commerce was as much object of curiosity to the
politicians around the Capitol the meeting of
Masonic lodge in a country town. AS the commit
tee sat for three hours with closed DOORS discussing
the New York Custom House nominations, the ex-
pectant crowd outside delivered to all sorts or
conectures to the pending fate of Messrs Merritt
and Graham. The friends of Collector Merritt and
those of General Arthur made incon-
siderable throng, and when to these were
added the dozens of newspaper correspond
ents it will be seen what excitement pre-
vailed and what host of people gathered at the
portals OF the committee room to learn the course
decided upon. but their long waiting
grely rewarded The most that isolated men,
bers of the committee would tell that they
to meet again tomorrow, from which the inference
was taken that the committee had done nothing de-
cisive and had adjourned for another days discus
sion. But as to what took place in the room each
Senator dumb oyster.
1t is generally understood that the letters of
Messrs. Arthur and Cornell in reply to Secretary
Sherman read at length the preliminary bust
less of the session, and that discussion then took
wide range as to the action the committee should
take is believed that the replies of Messrs Arthur
and Cornell will be submitted to be read in the Sem
ate before any conclusion reached and as it is un-
likely that another executive session will be had this
week the whole question will go until next
Monday Tuesday at the earliest Collector Mer-
rift seems to think there is no chance of action
earlier than then for he went back to New York to-
night. Meantime. outside of the more enthusiastic
adherents of the administration, there is general
belief that the nominations of Merritt and Graham
will be rejected by minority vote, ranging from 80
down to Is 20 out of fun vote OF the Senate The
calculation is that the nominations will get the votes
of the half dozen protested republican friends of
administration like Senators Hoar. Dawes and Chris
tiancy, and dozen of the democrats who are
opposed TO obstructng the executive branch of the
government with partisan hostility.
SOUTHERN LoYAIIsTs' WAR CIAIMs-PLA1N TALK
OF GENERAL BRAGG, OF wIscoNsIN--REsIsr-
ANcE OF NORTHERN DEMOCRATS TO DRAFTS
ON THE TREASURY.
To the disappointment of good many people who
like to lively time in the House, the debate
which sprang up yesterday on q Southern 10y
claim not renewed to-day. 1t will probably
not be reopened at all. But General Bragg. OF
Wisconsin. who spoke for the Northern wing
of the democratic party, spoke very plainly,
anu WAS quletly supported ny MT Wauuell.
and other Southern who have indie
pendence enough not to sympathize with this South
ern loyalists' claims business.
The discussion yesterday very warm, but it
led to that kind of free speech which is wholesome
in its results 1t is the fashion to speak of General
Bragg a crochetty man, with infirm temper, but
he expressed the sense and will of the Northern
democrats yesterday. The notable words he said
were those which concluded his speech:--
have here time and again heard threat thrown
to the democracy upon this side of the House which
j have thought for a long time needed an answer.
and it came from Mississippi. have heard it said
here upon. the floor OF the House that unless the
democracy of the North is more liberal: that unless
they would open their hands and give out
money more lavishly from the Treasury the solid
South would soon so to the other side. say
OF the representatives of the democracy
North. that If there any in the South who
propose to belong to the democratic party simply
Tor the that the doors of the Treasury are to
be opened to them the sooner they so
the better for them. the better for our party:
and when the people of this country see aud
feel as they beginning to do. that they trust
the interests of the country with the democratic
party OF the North and South. then We make
recruits in the Northern States that will fill up our
ranks to the maximum.
1t should be understood that the loyalist war
claims not in this dispute the main issue. They
the mere occasion by which the difference in
opinion becomes manifest What Northern demo-
Gratis have felt to the point of irritation at this and
anxiety of many Southern democrats for large
appropriations for internal improvements and
for railroad and subsidies. The Northern
democrats have in every way economical the
expenditures; they have saved many millions to the
taxpayers by establishing a rigid and to the lovers
OF the old republican liberal expenditures, very
unpleasant system of economy. They would
have done more in this direction but
for the grip which the Senate has on
the appropriations and its constant habit of ipcreas-
ing them They have been very brave and persistent
in this work, and have had to fight off the demands
of Southern democrats for railroad and other sub
sides at every session since they came into DOS
session of the House. Besides this pressure the
loyalst claims tribe. but even these are
pressed in an irritating way. and what Mr.. Bragg
said yesterday. while perhaps IT was palmer in its
terms than many Northern democrats would ap-
prove has in fact the concurrence of the best men
In the party in both houses. and IL will not be un-
said by anybody who has authority to speak for the
Northern wing OF that party in either house.
II is not probable now that the discussion will be
enewed There is no doubt that there good many
Southern men who now act with the democratic
party who would take General Bragg's advice and
Ego over 70 the other SIDE" for they see that the
republican policy in regard to subsidies, internal
improvements aud liberal payments of the
irchsury IN general Is that which would suit them
best but the sectional spirit of the republicans repels
them and continues to make a new alliance impos-
sble to this ciaes of Southern men, II II were not
TOR the unconccaled determination of the rcpub-
iicans TO make the next year with
view to secure solid North these words
of General Bragg would have an extremely
important political result As II is they
notice on the Southern democrats that their
Northern allies do not intend to be dragged into an
Abandonment OF the policy of economy on which
they determined and for which they have risked
great deal already. That the real meaning of tho
debate Of yesterday. which it then expected
would be reopcned to-day.
1LLrTERAcY IN THE souTH-REMARKABLE STATE
MENT OF coLoRED BEPREsENTArvE--How
coLogRD SCHOOLS ARE FosrERED IN THE
SOUTH.
Mr.. Cain. one of the colorcd members from South
lima a.,