New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-12-15

on in the Washington Post Office of certain bags
of mail matter which are said to bear the frank oi
| Senator Wallace. The Post Office Committee re-
ported Mr.. Cakins resolution back to the House,
with an amendment requiring the Postmaster
General to report all violations Of the franking
privilege by members of either political party The
Republicans had no objection to this but some of
the Democrats had, and they best know why. MI.
Singleton. Of Illinois, after a speech in which he ex-
pressed his earnest desire that all the bitterness and
all the remembrances OF the late heated political
campaign should he buried moved to lay the whole
matter on the table A vote was taken, and ~
Democrats voted IN the Affirmative. The over
whelmlng negatlve vote was made up by haiI
dozen Democrats and all the Republicans present.
THE FlTZJoHN PORTER RESOLUTION ADOPTED.
Fitz-John Porter has been partially vindicated by
partisan vote of the Senate, and Will probably
within a few weeks be again eligible to " hold office
OF honor and tr1st under the Government" The bill
came up after the morning hour in the Senate to-
day and amended so as to DO away with the
Constitutional objections raised by Senator Carpen-
ter yesterday. As it passed it authorizes the Presl
dent in his discretion, by and with the consent OF
the Senate, to nominate Ftz-John Porter to be
placed upon the retired list with the rank OF Colonel
Senator Burnside made moderate speech In OPP
POSITION 10 the measure and Senator Logan made
brief but vigorous One Senator Davis OF Illinois.
usually Democrat when party questions are under
discussion, voted with the Republicans.
THE YORKTOWN CELEBRATION.
At a moetlng Of the Joint Congressional Commit
tee on tho Yorktown Celebration, to-day. the pro-
gramne prepared by the Yorktown Centennial
Commission" was submitted. Ii was found, upon a
closer examination of the Act OF Congress applicable
to the subject, that the JONI Committee had legal
authority TO commit the Government to the adcp-
ton of the extensive plan proposed and therefore
resolution passed which declares that the Joint
Committee does not feel authorized TO adopt the
plan. Hence the Congressional Committee will con-
fine their recommendations and the expenditures of
the amount appropriated by Congress 10 the three
days ceremonies III which the United States au-
tboritlcs to paricpatC leaving the private
citation TO carry ont the remainder of the suggested
project IL they so desire.
THE PRECIOUS METALS.
1t was ascertaiued at the Bureau Of the Mint to-
day that the mines Of the United States have
produced during the last seven years about
$3.50, 600 600 of gold and $271. 500 600 of silver
an average production during that time of
$40 600 900 OF gold and S3S 100000 OF silver per
annum. About 95l2 per cent Of the gold and 6Oai
per cent Of The silver found its way TO The mints
and assay offices to be converted into coin or bars.
The Director of the Mint, from "a careful COnsldera
tion OF all the data at his command, estimates that
the amount Of domestic bullion u.ed III the arts
and manufactures during the last fiscal year was
about five and one hall million dollars of gold and
four million dollars OF silver and that the total con-
sumption in all forms about ten million dollars
III gold aud FIVE million dollars IN silver.
RECEPTION TO GENERAL GRANT.
A reception under the auspices of the " Boys in
Blue" Association was gwen TO General Grant at
Masonic Temple in this city tonight. A large
number of prominent public mon, army officers and
citizens were present. General Grant arrived at
the Temple shortly after p. H.. and remained
until near 10 o'clock Soon after bis arrival ne was
formally introduced TO the audience bv Judge Jacob
Noah, private secretary to Secretary Ramsey when
he responded to the cordial reception with few
remarks.
JUSTICE STRONG RESIGNS.
Justice Strong, Of the supreme Court of the
United States handed his esignatIon to the Pres
lent to-day to take effect Immediately. The resg
nation will be accepted and a new appointment
made ut an early day. The condition of Justices
Il uut and Clifford remains about the same.