The Sun.
London, England, 1867-01-07 00:00:00

Miscellaneous American News.

On the 13th December, Mr. Morgan, New York,
introduced a bill to amend section nine of the act
entitled an act to amend the act entitled au act
further to provide for the safety of the lives of
passengers on vessels propelled by steam, to regu-
late salaries of steamboat inspectors, and for other
purposes, approved July 25, 1866, so that all vessels
navigating the bays, inlets, rivers, harbours, and

other waters of the United States, except vessels
subject to the jurisdiction of a foreign power and
engaged in foreign trade, and not owned in whole
or in part by a citizen of the United States, shall
be subject to the navigation laws of the United
States ; and all vessels propelled in whole or in part
by steam, and navigating as aforesaid, shall also be
subject to all rules and regulations consistent there-
with, established for the government of vessels
in passing, as provided in the 29th section
of an act relating to steam vessels, approved the
30th day of August, 1852, and every sea-going
steam vessel now subject, or hereby made sub-
ject, to the navigation laws of the. United States,
and to the rules and regulations aforesaid, shall,
when under way, except on the high siNts, be under
the control and direction of pilots licensed by the
inspectors of steam vessels, vessels of other coun-
tries and public vessels of the United States only
excepted. Provided, however, that nothing in this
act, or in the act of which it is amendatory, shall
be construed to annul or affect any regulations esta-
blished by the existing law of any State requiring
vessels entering or leaving a port in such State to
be in charge of a pilot duly licensed or authorised
by the laws of such State, or of a State situate upon
the waters of the same port. Referred to the Com-
mittee on Commerce.
Among the most important items in the new
Tariff Bill is that of railroad iron, which is put
down at the old rate of $l3 per ton, while iron
masters want $2O, but would be willing to compro-
mise on $l7. Bituminous coal and ship timber are
placed on the free list.
The American Government has disapproved a
settlement by compromise made by the American
Consul in London with Messrs. Fraser, Trenholm,
and Co., in the suit for Confederate property alleged
to be held by them, and the cases will be continued.
Efforts are being made in Chicago to establish a
Union club house, after the models of those in New

York and Philadelphia. One hundred and seven-
teen signatures have already been obtained to the
subscription list, and negotiations are in progress
for the lease of a house where the club will be for-
mally organised.
Mr. Masson (Iowa) has introduced a bill into the
House of Representatives to authorise the purchase
or construction of a military or postal telegraph,
under the direction of the Post-office department.
(Referred to the Post-office Committee, and ordered
to be printed.) The bill authorises the construction
of a line of telegraph from Washington to Boston
via Baltimore, Philadelpha, New York, New Haven,
and Springfield, with necessary intermediate stations.
The second section provides for advertising for pro-
posals for materials and construction, and prescribes
thatall shall be of the first-clas3 and quality. Bids to
be received and opened as contracts for mails' let-
tings now at the Post Office. The third provides
receiving also proposals from existing lines for the
sale of the same to the United States, at a reduc-
tion of not less than per cent. on the best pro-
posals for the construction of new lines. Fourth.
In case such a proposal of sale shall not be accepted,
then a new line to be put under contract and com-
pleted in six months after notice to contractors.
The fifth provides for its use by the public at
rates to be greatly reduced on the present tariff,
and makes the system part of the postal manage-
ment, using post-offices and their employes.
Mr. Washburne (Illinois) introduced a bill for the
construction of a Government telegraph from Wash-
ington to New York city. Also referred to the
Post Office Committee, and ordered to be printed.
Mr. Washburne's bill is as follows :—" Section 1.
Be it enacted, &c., That the Postmaster
is hereby authorised and directed to construct a
telegraph line from the city -of Washing-
ton to the city of New York, and the
said telegraph line is hereby declared to be
a mail route, subject to all existing laws in
relation to mail routes in the United States, so
far as the same may be applicable, and the said
Postmaster-General shall have power and authority
to establish the necessary offices for the use of said
line, and shall have authority and rower to procure
all necessary rooms for offices, and to procure a