Year: 1870

s"f4 WASHINGTON, May 8, 1870.


The Republicans Preparing for the Fall Cam
paign.


senator Morton, who Is regarded as the leading
party man Of the Senate has prepared a call for
caucus OF the republican members OF the two Houses,
10 be held either this week or the beginning OF next
week. 1t has already been signed by all the repub
hcan Senators and is now receiving the signatures
OF the republicans in the House, The main object OF
the proposed caucus Is to make arrangements for the
fall campaign and to appoint committee OF the two
Houses to look after the interests Of republican
party In the several States, but more espe.
ciaily the Southern States. 1t is stated
that the general policy to be pursued by the party in
It's nominating conventions and on the stump In the
canvass win be mapped out at this meeting An
important question to be decided is, how far the
party will allow the subject Of the tariff to enter
into the campaign as one Of the party issues. Upon
ths the republicans are pretty well divided some
believing that will be best to keep the tariff out OF
the canvass, while others regard it as an issue OF too
much prominence ana Importance to be ig-
n0red. The indications are that lively con.
test Will take place on this question between
the western and Southern members on one side, and
the members from the New England ana Middle
States on the other. One OF the objects Senator Nor
ton has in getting the republicans in caucus is to
endeavor to harmonize conflicting factions and to
prevail upon them If possible to sink personal eal
ouses IN general effort to carry the Congressional
eiectons next fall for the administration. 1t is not
improbable that an effort Will be made to obtain some
sort OF an understanding among the members OF the
caucus on the measures now before Congress the
passage oil which are regarded as essential to the
success OF the party at the polls. Among these are
the Funding bill, the revision OF the Internal Reve
nue. bill, the Georgia bill, the Tariff bin ana the bill
a rtj,a
Tnc ThrIh Debate-LoSbyists ON the Floor


Interested Members Voting.


There was sharp contest In the House to-day over
the Bessemer steel section Of the Tariff BILL Next 10
pig iron, no paragraph Of the bill has met with such
vigorous opposition or has been defended with
greater pluck and pertinacIty There has been
quiet but powerful lobby at work here for some
weeks in the interest OF the half dozen Besscmer
steel manufactures OF the country anxiously await
ing the action Of the House on the recommendations
made regarding 1t by the Ways ana Means
Committee John A. Griswold, Of Troy has
been the most active agent, and undoubtedly
the most useful ON account Of his extensive ac-
qualntance with members, and his privileges as an
ex-member OF the House. While the discussion was
In progress to-day Mr.. Grlswold was upon the floor
Of the House. Eldridge, of Wisconsin, made the
point Of order that parties (meaning Criswold in
crested in the paragraph under consideration were
upon the floor Of the House acting lobbyists, and
he insisted that they should be removed by
the enforcement Of the rules. The chairman,
Mr.. Wheeler, Of New York, decided that this
was question OF privilege and that such questions
could not be raised while the House was in Commit
tee of the Whole SO Mr.. Griswold was allowed to
remain on the floor. Mr.. C0x OF New York, made
the point just before the vote taken ON The para
graph and amendments, that there were certain
members OF the House personally interested in the


matter and that they should not be allowed to vote
The Chair said the members interested must be
named by the gentleman making the charge, where.
upon half dozen members on the democratic side
called out Mr.. Morrell OF Pennsylvania. Mi. Cox
called for the reading Of the twenty ninth rule OF
the House, which says, mo member shall vote on
any question In the event Of which he Is Immediately
and particularly Interested" The rule was read by
the Clerk but it did not seem to have any eject upon
Mr. Morrell for he voted every time with the other
members Morrell is the superintendent and part
owner Of the Cambria Iron Works, al Johnstown, Pa
The Committee Of Ways and Means, in their BILL
fixed the duty on Bessemer steel rails at forty -four
dollars per ton. The present duty is forty FIVE per
cent ad ratorern. or about twenty-five dollars ton.
An effort was made to fix it at thirty dollars ton
but this failed, and the duty was finally settled at
thirtyisix dollars ton, which Is highly protective,
considering that there only six companies in the





vote to-day was decided victory for the mopopo-
lists II s estimated that it viii be worth ab least
$4,000, 900 to them for the next three years.


The Dnrien and Tehuantepec Caun!s--Un-


favorable Reports of the Enterprise.


The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations re.
sumed their investigation or the practicabiity and
cost OF canal across the Isthmus OF Darien or
Tehuantepec. Admiral Porter ana General Michler
were before the committee and threw much light
upon the character Of the country along the two
routes. The objection against the Darien route was
the want Of a proper harbor. The Tehnantepec
route has the recommendation OF being about 1900
miles nearer, but there is q range OF mountains
some a,5o0 feet high in the way. The committee,
from the Information thus far received on
the subject, do not think very favorably OF ether
project. They took no decided action to-day, though
1t Is thought by some Of the committee that the re
suit Of their abor5 this important subject will be
the Inauguration Of irregular survey Of the whole
county in that section capable Of aordng an inter-
oceanic channel One route, being about degrees
north latitude, was suggested by General Mchler The
committee have not lost faith in the enterprise, but
they certainly have lost enthusiasm in the rO utes
now being talked Of.


Tho Funding Bill to be Amended and Passed.


AS there are many conflicting rumors concerning
the Funding bill, some Of them to the effect that no
measure OF that kind will be passed at the present
session, 1t may be stated in general way that 1t s
the determination Of the republican majority in both
Houses to pass Funding bill Of some sort. From
the discussions that have taken place In the Ways
and Means Committee, 1t is inferred that they will
report In favor Of uniform rate of interest
for the entire s1,2ooooo,oo perhaps four
per cent Upon inquiry to-day 1t is ascer-
tanned that there is no truth in, the
statement that the committee decided yesterday to
retain the seventh or compulsory section OF the
Senate bill. This was of the first sections in the
bill which the committee determined to change, and
although the Secretary of the Treasury has hal fire.
quent consultations with the committee on this Sec
tton which he iavors Secretary Boutwell, is Of opinion