New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-01-26
WASHINGTON.


THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE ON THE CLAIMS
OF SENATOR HILL OF GEoRGIA-MR. TRUM-
BULLS MINORITY REPORT.
WASHINGTON, Monday, Jan. % 1907
Gen. Grant is strongly opposed to the pending Al"
pama Claims Treaty. The following is his position
nearly in his own words The treaty is unjust 10 inc
limited States because it assumes to measure INJURY
inflicted upon this country by money value OF snipS
actually destroyed whereas the chief damage 10 our
commerce was in our ships being driven from inc
seas nv AngloRebel pirates In addition to this the
svmpatbv extended by the English Government to
The soutb prolonged the war at least year. and for
all lives lost and money expended, for this time In
gland is directly responsible The treaty proposes 10
settle all these things by the payment of the palIy
value Of a few ships.
In the Senate to-day ce-Presdent Wade presented
netition from Mrs Lincoln dated at Frankfort-on
+be-Naine respectfully asking for PENSION IL was
onproDriatelv referred Mr. Stewart, from the judi
ciarv Committee made a written report on the case
ofNj~ TIu of Georgia concluding with a resolution
tIotbe he NOT admitted to his seat. The report is
concurred i'm by five members OF the committee
Stewart. Edmunds, COnklng, trehnghuyseh
ord Rice. Mr.. Trumbun, the Chairman,
submitted longmnority report and MI. Hendricks
the remaining member promised to give his views IN
onpos,top when the subject is taken up. The report
will be printed in a few days and Mr. Stewart VIII
call the matter up as soon as convenient with the
imprcssion that the Senate will sultan his report
Nearly ifnot all the Southern Senators are under
stood TO be opposed TO the admission Of the Georgia
Senators while the present condition of affairs exist
in that State. Blr. Wilson reported back from
the Military Committee his bill for the reduction
of the army with amendments, one Of which is that
no orson over seventy years Of age shall be appoint
ed Chaplain. Mr.. Edmunds, from the Retrench-
ment Committee reported substitute Tor the House
hill repealing the TenUre-Of-Ohice act, the salient
roints of which are that it authorizes the President
q remove Cabinet officers and suspend other civil
officers at his pleasure during the recess OF the senate
At o'clock Mr. sherman asked the Senate to take
ND tho Funding bill reported from the Finance Com
mltee upon which he had prepared speech, but the
Pacific Railroad lobby influence was too strong for
him. and the Senate by large majority decided to
go on with the Central Branch Pacific Railroad bill
This BILL which takes two million dollars from the
Treasury, was debated at great length, Mr. Conk-
ling made an able argument in opposition.
The proceedings in the House to-day were of an
exceedingly interesting character. After an hour
tions and bills relating to almost every conceivable
thing, the bill to grant additional subsidy to the
Union Pacific Railway Eastern DivisiOn) was taken
up. The greatest interest was shown in this BILL for
the reason that it brought to a direct test the
new issue Of strict economy in the expendi-
ture of the public funds, especially in giving
Government aid to railroad corporations. The lobby
was well represented but for the credit of the road
it is but lust to say that most of the notorious Wash
ington lobbyists were its opponents They turned IN
IS blackmaiIers and what effect their influence had
An bringing about the result to-day, it is impossible
10 say. Ii was well understood that the House was
pretty evenly divided on the BILL fact which made
the desire for a vote the greater Schenck and
Covode led those favorable 10 the passage Of
the bill and WashbuTne the opposition. Two
hours were spent in debate during which the
fact was developed that the sense Of the
House was against any further money subsidy.
The balance of power between the two parties con-
sisted of those members who while unwilling TO aid
I'm giving extravagant and enormous sums of money
10 these railroad corporations in this particular
thought iudicious cutting down would in the end
accrue to the interest Of the Government. To this
end an amendment was suggested in effect that the
Government pledge itself to secure the interest only
on the company's bonds, instead Of both principal
and interest, and as security the company should
give the Government first mortgage on its property.
Before such an amendment was proposed however,
Washburne attempted to kill the bill and begun by
moving TO lay it on the table This was looked upon
rs a test vote, and every member was secured to be
present and vote. The Yeas and Nays were called,
and Washbume's motion was beaten by vote of s.
Yeas TO 93 Nays The result made the friends Of the
bill over confident and they attempted to pass it
without amendment. But their effort failed those
members who favored an amendment, and who voted
I'LL
and voting against the passage Of the bill This gave
the floor to the Washburne men, and, after feeble
effort to regain lost ground the bin was killed for
this Congress by being sent to Julians Committee on
the Public Lands
caucus of the Senate will be held tomorrow
morning for the purpose Of considering the relative
importance of the various measures before Congress-
and determining a course of action thereon. The
caucus is more paticularly intended, however, for
The consideration Of the question of the confirmation
of President JOhnsOns nominees. The votes lately
had on the motions to go into executive session have
developed the fact that majority Of the Senators
are opposed TO making combinations except in cases
of unusual importance or where vacancies exist. and
the caucus to morrow will decide the future action
of the Senate.
The proposition Of Senator Wilson TO reorganize
the army, and his bill reducing the number of line
officers and increasing the efficiency Of the officers Of
the army, were under discussion by the Senate Mill
tary Committee to-day The first proposition was
reported but no decision reached respecting the
latter 1t is understood there is considerable oppos
ton among army officers to that portion of the bill
which does away with therank Of Brigader-G General
HE Committee unanimously decided to report
against the confirmation Of Gems Buchanan and
Gillem to be BHgadierGenerals in the regular army
1t Is understood that not only the Committee. but