Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1867-07-17
Washington City Gossip.

bill, on Saturday, July 18th. Upon there
turn OF the bill, an adjournment will take
place until November The bill viii besye-
toed by the President
Some of the Presidents friends say that
if articles of Impeachment are presented
and taken before the Senate, he will chal-
enge the right of at least four or five Sena-
tors to sit as his judges, on the ground that
they have been actively and notoriouSly en-
gagged in making up the case against him.
Others say the Radicals of the House can
not well complain of the President for ma
king appointments in the Solth without
the consent of Congress, now that they
have thanked General Sheridan and the
others fo rdoing the same thing.
The Senate, it is understood, viii pass
the House bill approrriating sixteen hun
dred thousand dollars to carry out the re-
construction act The estimate for such
expenses is fixed at two millions per year,
provided that the present State govern
ments are continued.
The Senate viii ratify at the present ses-
sion the recently negotiated commercial
treaties with Japan and the Sandwich Is
lands. The ratification of the latter treaty
is urged by a strong Pacific coast interest,
which represents that the exports from the
Islands to California will reach a million
dollars per annum.
Returns have been received by the COM
missioner of the General Land Office which
show an aggregate disposal of 109, 49l acres
of the public lands during the month of
June last, at Brownsville, Nebraska, and
Springfield, Mo. The greater portion of
the land was located with agricultural col
lege scrip, and taken for actual settlement
and cultivation under the homestead law.
The committee appointed by secretary
McCuloch to count the funds in the vaults
of the Treasury Department, have compile
ted the Investigations and the result of the
over the amount that the books called for
The amount Of national funds which has
passed through the treasurer's hands since
March, 1861, is about Sl4. 500, 900, 900.
A bill was introduced in the House to
grant honorable discharges to certain sol
diers of the army and navy. 1t exempts
from the penalties of desertion all persons
who served until the surrender of Lee and
johnson, and then left their commands and
returned home. under the supposition that
they had fulfilled their contract, the war
having closed. 1t is estimated that the
passage of this bill will enfranchise twenty
thousand men in Ohio, who are now pro-
hibited by State enactment from voting.
The Commissioner of Indian affairs is I'M
derstood to be exerting himself to induce
Congress Immediately to authorize the ap-
pointment of competent Commissioner,
who shall proceed at once to endeavor to
treat with the tribes now at war with u.s.
He intimates the cost of this war atsa mil
lion dollars weekly, and believes he can
bring it speedily to satisfactory close for
the cost of such commission.
The Paymaster General, in response to
resolution OF the House, states that no fur
ther legislation is necessary to facilitate the
payment of additional bounties, as many
paymasters and clerks are now engaged in
that branch of the service as can be prof
tably and judiciously employed.
VNf~r,r, pS,vT 7