The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-23
Work o. the Congressional
Committees.
THE PACIFIC RAILROAD JOBS.
MOVEMENTS OF GENERAL GRANT.
Generals BahCOck and Porter Investigating the
Troubles in Louisiana AID Arkansas.
WASHINGTON, Dec. %, 1883.

General Grant Busy mt Headquarters.
General Grant remained at headquarters during
the whole Of the day disposng OF the business that
had gathered through the past week. But few per-
sons called to see him. Among those who had inter-
views with the General was Senator Wilson, who
held quite long conference.
Cabinet Meeting.
The Cabinet meeting to-day, which was attended
by all the members except Postmaster General RAN
dali, was quite protracted, and Attorney General
Evarts remained in consultation with the President
for more than an hour after the meeting had dis
solved.
The Pacific Railroad Jobs.
Dispatches recently published in the HERALD have
Eaved the government about million dollars. by the
prompt exposure OF o job OF about that size the
lobby had nicely sugar coated into bill So ready to
slip through the House without even the reference
10 a committee.
The exposure was so thorough that the friends OF
the JOB didn't even dare 10 call IL up for passage,
and IT is now, consequently, laid out cold on the
Speakers table Such, however, is the vitality OF
these creatures that it may make its appearance
again. with renewed life for another dash at the
national Treasury after the 9Th prox. The adroit-
ness and pcrsisency OF these railway lobbyists are
really astonishing. Taxing advantage Of the great
popularity and success thus far OF the Union Pacific
Railroad, the great through road chartered by Con-
Territorial or state Legislatures rechristen their
bantlings Union Pacifcs, with prefix or ailix.
Thus we have Union Pacific Central Branch, Union
Pacific Southern Branch, the Union Pacific Eastern
Division, and don't know how many other Union
Paclhcs with something attached oil OF them
clamorous for government aid, modestly demanding
sums varying from 100000 to sio,oooooO each.
one OF these Union Pacific" roads is projected
from Fort Riley or vicinity southwark. 1t has not
laid single rail or, think, graded five miles of
road, and as projected viii not run within 100 or 200
miles Of the Union Pacific Railroad proper; yet this
paper road styles itself the Union Pacific Railroad,
Southern Branch, and is figuring for government
ad-of course. Two other local corporations OF q
similar class have already received from the gov
eminent direct and indirect aid in bonds lands &C,
amounting, 1t is estimated, TO nearly $40o0o,0OO.
Hon. J. NJ. Howard, chairman OF the Senate Commit
tee on Pacific Railroads, has been endeavorng for
months past 10 ascertain from the Secre-
tary OF the Treasury how the aid thus gen.
erously bestowed has been used but thus
far without success All railroads. whether local or
national, receiving aid from the national Treasury
are required by law 10 report in six months to
the Secretary Of the Treasury. The nature of these
reports, If any have indeed been made the chair
man OF the Senate Committee has thus for been
wholly unable 10 ascertain.
Several members and Senators, ,he most promi-
nent Of whom are l.. Il. Washburne and Senator
Crimes are in favor OF repeating the law providing
for the meeting OF the Forty first Congress the 18th
o. March. they OF opinion thar after passing the
appropriation bills the best thing Congress can do is
TO adjourn. It is thought however thai
majority Of both Houses are opposed 10 repeating
the law, and favor session Of about month OF the
Forty-rst Congress- Nearly al the leading commit
tees o. the House are overcrowded with business,
some OF II regarded as important. The Military
Committee. Tor instance, has over a hundred bills
and resolutions before it. According to the rules OF
the House there will not be time tnis session give
some Of the committees chance TO report. Should
there he no session Of the Forty-1rst Congress on
the 4th of March many OF these measures now before
The committees win be forced 10 so over until the
regular meeting next December. IL Is said that
some OF them are OF such nature that long de-
lay would work injury 20 the public interests. This
IL used Of the arguments IN favor OF organz-
ing on the 4th OF March.
Meeting Of the Committee Appropriate ions.
Tic House Committee on Appropriations had
session to-day o I over three hours. There were
present Mcssrs L. b. Washburnc, charman Butler.
Spaldnq and Kelsey. The Diplomatic AMI Consular
Appropriation bill was the man subject under con-
sideration. II the intention OF the committee to
cut down the estimates In this other appropria-
TONS A letter, however, was received from the
Secretary OF state setting forth that the estimates
sent in were put down at the lowest possible figures
and could not possibly be abated without detrment
the service After careful consideration the com.
mi'tee came to the conclusion that but few OF The
items could be reduced. without finishing thc bill the
committee took up and considered OF the items
OF the Executive, Legislative and judicial Appropra-
ton bill. II win require some eight or ten days to
time the Indian Appropriation bill. which has been
reported TO the House and made the special order
for the 5tn OF January is disposed OF the committee
hope to be able to report the remainder OF the bills
in regular order, so as to get them all before the
House before much other business Ia transacted
Reducing tine Pay Of Army Officers.
IL Is probable that hl viii be introduced reduc-
Ing tho pay and allowances of army
officers above the rank OF lieutenant colo.
mel. it Is held that the present nav or
colonels brgadler and major generals is too high
for time OF peace and is extravagant even Ia time
Of war. The reduction proposcd-thirty three per
ccni-would 1t Is said, make considerable difference
In the Army Appropriation bill ami would at the
same time leave the chief officers OF the army not
only fair living salary, but respectable surplus.
An effort viii 10 made 10 introduce the proposed
measure before the Army Appropriation bill IL con.
siderci
Salaries Of Justices OF fhe Supreme Conrt.
The comparatively small salaries paid the lusiic -
OF the Supreme Court OF the United states IN view
OF their responsibilities and Dora has recently al.
tracted the attention OF several prominent lawyers
in Congress- aud there is some talk Of amending the
law fixing their salaries 10 Increase them each
several thousand dollars year. No complaint mas
been made by any of the justices OF the court but It
~ held that or the bench they could at least
twice their present salaries at their profession, aud
~ their positions are for life they should have at
least reasonable compensation.
Al Army Officer on the Alaskan Purchase.
Captain i. Colburn Adams, the well known author,
has permitted your correspondent to make the fol-
lowing extract from a highly interesting letter
written to him by ARMY officer Hing high rank
In the engineer corps Of the United states. The
writer is wen known and greatly respected in tins
city whnre he ucrformed valuable service during the