Year: 1874

In the Court of Appeals. at Albany, yester-
day an important decision affecting the Ring
civil suits was rendered. The point raised in
these cases was this: Shall the suits against
Ingersoll and others be conducted in behalf
of the state of New-YOrk or in the name OF
the C,tyf The decision is to the effect that
they must be continued in the name OF the
City. OF course, this will not affect Tweed's
Imprisonment or fines, as his was criminal
case The precise operation of the decision
on the other suits is yet to be seen.


After the admirable address OF Senator
Schurz there was feeling that further OIL
cial eulogy of the great Massachusetts senator
was superiuous. None will think so now, since
the additional ceremony has been the means
of securing the noble and tender poem from
Whittier and the graceful tribute from MT.
Curtis, elsewhere given. MIR. Curtis was IN
deed unable to speak, as the euloglst OF sum-
ner should, concerning some of the Dravest
acts of that devoted life; but his analysis OF
the ant-slavery part of tho Massachusetts,
Senator's career is well and lovingly done.
The Conference Committee on the Currency
| bill have made report which has been prac-
tically anticipated in Washington dispatches
of THE TRIBUNE. 1t fixes the limit
of circulation at $3s2,OO0,00O, and pro-
vides for retiring notes in specified
amounts until the maximum amount out
standing shall be drawn down to S3OO,OOO,OOo.
The provision for the redemption of notes in
bonds or gold does not materially differ from
that originally attached to the first House bill.
The general features of the bill, however,
show that it is nothing moro nor less than an
attempt at compromise.


The contest for successor to Senator
| Sprague, which was begun In the Rhode Island
Legislature yesterday, shows signs OF being
unusually protracted. Gen. Burnside Is
Thought to have pOlled his full strength on
the first ballot; and, although he leads all OF
his competitors, he falls far short of an elec-
ton, Gov. Howard, who was the most prob
able compromise candidate between the con-
tending Republican factions, declined positively
to have his name used. and the chances are
that after long and tedious contest, like the
recent one in Massachusetts, the choice will
fall upon some man not hitherto seriously
thought of for the position.





newspaper publishers, or it fails to cOmpre-
hend the effect of legislation. There is now
pending in the House q proposition to oblige
newspapers sent from the Office of publication
to be prepaid. This would compel publishers
to pay at once the postage on newspapers
already on their subscription books, without
leaving them any opportunity to indemnify
I themselves from subscribers. Whatever may
be done with the much-vexed question OF
newspaper postage, it would be manlfestly
unjust to compel prepayment on newspapers
already paid for by subscribers


| The House is still hammering away at the
| Geneva Award bill, and Yesterday discussed
the general proposition of making any award
to insurance companies. The problem is
knotty one; it requires great deal of states
manship to adjudicate the matter. The DIFF
ficulty now is that the question is too intri-
| cate to be decided without considerable de-
| bate; and much debate is hazardous ct this
| stage of the session. 1t is expected. however,
that the House will come to a vote on the bill
to-day. 1t will be wonder if Congress shall
now perfect an acceptable and equitable ad-
justment of this question.


The Spanish authorities in Cuba give un-
mistakabe evidence of the desperate financial
condition of the island by their wild expedi-
ents for its improvement. The Captain-Gen-
eral having resolved to designate the daily
premium which shall be paid on gold, has
succeeded by his arbitrary acts in closing the
exchange offices. A dispatch published to-day
seems to indicate that one necessary result OF
this is already beginning to be felt When
gold can no longer be procured through the
ordinary mediums an artificial scarcity is likely
to be produced, and premiums paid in advance
of what might otherwise be the real market
rate.


The Paris letter which we publish to-day
shows what little reason there is for believing
that the Septennat, either personal or imper
sonal, will be organized by the French Assem-
bly,. For the present the Orleanists and
Legitlmists appear to be united, yet recent
telegrams point to the necessity of some
action being taken before the August
adjournment, and the difficulty of q
| combination between the mOnarchists for
purposes of organizing particular form of
government will then be clearly apparent. In
the mean time the Republicans, as appears by
the telegram published to-day, are pursuing
their warfare against the Imperialists, and
making their demand for a dissolution with
an energy which is well calculated to increase
the alarm among their opponents.


The Senate failed to procure final action on
the Moiety bill yesterday. This is not sur
prsing. The majority in the Senate have
shown but languid interest in this measure
| from the first When the hill was I'm for de-