New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-01-10


CONSTRUCTION LAWS-ALIASKA News
- xx,tsRAPH 10 THE TRIBUNE
WASHINGTON, Thursday, Jan. 0, 1865
ITO conato was in open session until 81 o'clock.
va less than IA bills, resolutions, and memorials
were uresented the disposition of which may De
fund in the regular proceedings. The morning hotr
.xnired during discussion as to whether INC
Judiciary Committee should be instructed to report
h;H abrogating the existing State Governments IN
the Rebel States Mr.. Morton spoke at considerable
length in favor of the proposition. The subject OF
contraction was then taken mp and debated py
Messrs Sherman Morrill, (of Vermont) Corbett, res
senden Sprague and Nye until the Senate went INTO
executive session.
In the House to-day most of the day spent in
discussing proposition, reported from the ways
and Means Committee TO create board of five COM
Y,issioners to whom shall be referred the question
of the selection Of q meter for liquors MessIs'
Schenck. Logan, Van Wyck. and Others spoke at
length on the subject, the first two advocating the
measure and the latter opposing 1t. NO vote was
reached. The debate took wide range, the Demo-
Gratis by their questions making politics enter INTO
the subject.
The Republican members of tho Senate Military
Committee unanimously agreed this morning to
Howard's report in the Stanton suspension Owing
however to a request made by Senator Doohttle'
who dissents from the views of tho other members
of the Committee the presentation of the report was
deferred for a few days, to give Mr. Doolittle an OPP
portunity to make minority report. The whole
subject WILL therefore, be presented to the Senate In
Executive session at early date.
The Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee
was instructed this morning to report adversely on
bin introduced by Senator Anthony authorizing the
conversion of registered bonds into coupon bonds.
As the law low stands coupons be converted into
registered bonds and it was thought by many that it
would be desirable 10 make the change recommended
by Senator Anthony. The Committee, however en-
tertained the contrary opinion, and is known that
the Secretary of the Treasury takes the view OF
the measure.
The consideration of the rights of American natu-
ralized citizens resident or travelling abroad was
taken mp to-day in the House Committee on Foreign
Affairs but definite action was arrived at on inc
subject. The State Department has been called on
TO furnish information in refereEoe to the subject.
and large quantity of matter has already been sent
in. The Committee are also awaiting the arrival of
committees from different parts of the country VINO
have been delegated to confer with Congress as TO
what course of legislation should be pursued twill
be remembered that Committee was appointed in
New-York, Of which Horace Greeley is one Of the
members.
The question of appropriating money for the pur-
chase of Alaska has been temporarily postponed.
The House Committee Appropriations are con-
sidering the Legislative and Judicial Appropriation
bill, which requires upward of S20OCOOOO. The Com
mittee are retrenchng in every point where is pos
sibe but make but slow progress, owing to the diff
Guilty of reconoiling the views of the different men,
bers to the amounts that should be reduced in the
various items There seems to be settled deterni-
nation, however, in the Committee, to bring tie
figures down as low as poss be.
There was q rumOr around the capitol to-day that
the Supreme Court was about to render decision
declaring the Reconstruction acts unconstitutional.
On inquiry however it was ascertained that the
case which involves the validity of these laws has
not yet been considered by the Court The facts are
as follows: An appeal is taken from Court in Mis-
sissippi where writ of habeas corpus was refused
The papers are now on file in Washington;
but the case has not vet been assigned a
place ON the calendar. ut is stated that the
Attorney-Genera refused 20 act as cOunsen
appear at all in connection with the matter beng
of the opinion that the laws unconstitutional,
and that the appeal is well taken. The Acting Sec
rotary of War has been requested procure counsel
to appear and argue the case when it comes on for
trial. which will be in very short time. The sub
ject exctes good deal of attention, and derives ad-
aitional interest from the fact that the Attorney
General gave it his opinion, at the New-Orleans
Banquet last evening, that the laws were unconst-
tutional and would be so declared.
The President in answer to the Senate resolution
relative 10 the disposition of the District bill strk
ing out the word white" VIII merely state that he
received the bill on certain day too late, in his
opinion for any action on bis part under the Consti
tuition.
Cant Howard who commanded the revenue-cuttor
Lincoln, stationed on the Pacific coast is in town,
and says that the statement made short time since
shat our troops under the command of BreTer MaJ6r
Gen. Jefferson C.. Davis at Stka are without pro-
visions is without foundation, as they have sufii
Gent quantity to last them six months. Sitka, now
occupied by troops, will probably be abandoned,
be thinks as the harbor s very poor He thinks that
headquarters will be removed about fifteen miles
above that point.
Several companies of troops have been ordered
from this city TO various points in the South to aid
In preserving order, &c.
Ii is stated that the official records in the War De-
paItment show that the dispatch from Gen. Baird to
Secretary Stanton relative to tie New Orleans riot
contains the words at once and that there is no in
dication that these words were interpolated suisse
quent TO the receipt of the telegram
The Ordnance Committee were in session to-day
and examined at considerable length Coils. Bailey
and Benton, both connected with the Ordnance
Bureau, relative to the proectles in use during the
war aud, it is understood, elected some very import
ant facts showing the manner in which the contracts
for this class of material were awarded.
The Senate in Executive session to-day rejected
several nominations, and among them Col Cooper,
Assistant Secretary Of the Treasury. strong effort
was made TO secure his continuation but the delega-
position
(il1tfo~ GolI Gil III