The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1869-02-10

Fate cltlZenS into tile General Republl-
can National Committee on the inaug-
nration bill. Messrs. MulIett, super
vising architect, Mayor Bowen, and
several other officials, are added to the
original committee, and now all par
ties are satisfied, and the ball goes on.
The preparations indicate one OF the
Inauguration balls in our history.
The President has directed that a
pardon issue for DIR. Mudd, one of the
alleged conspirators at the Dry Tor
tugas.
The Committee of Ways and Means
have authorized Gen. Sbhenck to re-
port resolution requiring bonds to be
paid in gold, unless otherwise express
ed in law, ETC., and also in favor of le-
CALLING gold contract.
Z They also authorize a resolution, in
accordance with the Copkling and Judd
resolution, against tho sale or Issue of
any more bonds or lots by tho present
or any future Secretary Of the Treasu-
ry.
The House. Committee on Foreign
Affairs have, for want of time, refused
to consider the Alta-Vela CONTROVERSY
at this session. ga{ T5F ss@
A very important subject was dis
posed of To-day, SO far as the Senate
Pacific Railroad Committee can deter
mineit. This committee finally agreed
upon aplan for the construction of rail-
road lines to the Pacific. They pro-
vide tor Northern Pacific railroad and
an Atlantic and Pacific railroad the
latter extending from Little Rock, on
the tlirty-fifth degree Of latitude, to
the Southern border of California there
to join the Southern Pacific railroad
line, as established by California
charter, to San Francisco The bill
will provide for branch from Portland,
Oregon, southwest to q connection with
the main trunk line of the Union Pa
cifie railroad, on Humboldt river.
These companies are to issue bonds
respectively, as twenty mile sections
may be completed to the amount of
800, 900 per mile, bearing six per cent.
interest payable in, grcenbacks, run
ming thirty years. To secure the pay
ment of interest by these companies,
all dues from the Government to them
for transportation are retained, and the
title to public lands to remain in the
Government until the latter shall offer
them for sale in the usual manner. -
Each company is required to pay into
the Treasury ten per cent. of gross re-
ceipts as further security for the pay
ment Of interest.
The branch road from the Northern
Pacific, to Portland is excluded from
the above aid, as is also the eastern
division in Kansas. .as a
The preparation of the bill is commit
ted to Senator Harlan, WhO expects to be
ready to repeat it to the Senate next
Friday.
WASHINGTON, Feb. At is now au-
thoritatively. stated that Gen. Grant
has consented, in deference to the
wishes of his friends, both here and
elsewhere, to attend tho reception and
and ball proposed to be given in his
honor in the Treasury building on the
evening Of the 4th prox.
The Ways and Means Committee
have authorized Mr.. Hooper to report
a bill prohibiting the Secretary of the
Treasury from paging compensation
for sale of bonds, and requiring the
Secretary to advertise for proposals to
purchase them. Gold also to be sold
at auction.
This legislation is intended to pre-
vent, hereafter, certain alleged to have
existed in the sales Of gold and bonds.
Certain favored parties having the
patronage of the Secretary, have, in
the past four years, made enormous
sums from compensation for the sale
of bonds. There was never good
reason why these sales should not have
been negotiated by the United States
Treasurer, or some otner competent
official of the Treasury Department,
and thus would have been saved to the
public treasury a sum sufficient to pay
the entire salaries, fora year, of all the
Executive officers of the Government
An official statement of the commits
sions paid for sale of Government Sc
curities makes the amount paid to the
Sccretary's favorites near q million
dollars. Such arc some of the facts
which now move the Committee of
Ways and Means to the preparation of
the bill above named.