Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-03-04
WASHINGTON.

SENATOR sPRAGUE ACQUITTED.
WASHINGTON, March 3.-The ses-
] siOns of the Mexican Claims Commits
| sion have been resumed. Senator
Thurman, from the select committee
appointed on the motion of Senator
SpragUe, to investigate the charge
against him Of unlawful traffic with
the rebels of Texas during the war,
to day submitted a report. The COM
mittee, after examination of the pa
pers furnished by the War Depart
ment, find no evidence of any COM
plicity Of Senator Sprague in the al
legged transactions. They impliCate
Messrs. Harris and Hoyt, and pOssi-
bly, some others.
ARIZONA INDIANS on THE WAR PATH.
A private letter received from
Florence, Arizona, says the Indians
are worse in Arizona to-day than ever
before. Within the past two weeks
they have attacked and killed or cap
tured three different parties within
twenty miles Of this place. One party
Of four men, in charge of two fine
mule teams laden with barley, was
attacked, one man being killed and
the others escaping after a vigorous
fight. A day or two subsequently
the Indians attacked fOraging party,
consisting Of three men with a four
horse team, two men being killed
and the team captured. Next that
was heard OF the Indians, they had
killed two men passing on horseback
from SacatOn to Salt river,
MEMPHIS AND SAN FRANCIsCO-THE
SOUTHERN PACIFIC R.R.
In the House the report Of the Com.
mittee of Conference on the Southern
Pacific railroad bill was agreed to.
The House comedies the change in the
title Of the company to the Texas
Pacific railroad The Senate agrees
to the House substitute, with two ad-
ditiOnal sections, one providing for
similar grant of public lands in LOU-
isiana to enable the New Orleans,
Baton Rouge and NiCksbUrg Railway
Company to connect with itat its east
ern terminus by way of Alexandria,
and the other for a similar grant To
enable the Southern Pacific road by
way of Los Angeles to connect at or
near Colorado river.
LEGISLATION FOR THE UNION PACIFIC
RAILROAD.
The Senate added new legislation to
the great importance Of one amend
ment, which dispOses Of the question
of paying interest on the Union Pa
cific railroad bonds, by directing pay
ment to the road Of the amount with
held for the transportation Of troops
and supplies. This will probably be
agreed to by the House.
The amendment allowing the pay
ment Of
CLAIMS OF LOYAL CITIZENS or THE
SOUTH
for supplies taken by the army dur
ing the war was strongly opposed by
the House. A cOnferee asserts that il
would cost the Government at least
$50, 600, 600. A compromise may pos
sibly be made substituting q PROPOSE
ton TO organize a commission to eX-
anime into the claims and the proofs
Of loyalty presented by the claimants,
and report to Congress for further
legislation.
ERIE RAILROAD AFFAIRS.
Agents Of the New York and Erie
railroad were at the Treasury Depart
ment yesterday, making inquiries in
regard to the manner Of proceedings
to bond that road, under the act
authorizing the transportation of inn
ported goods, without appraisement.
BELKNAP WRITES A LETTER.
The Secretary Of War has addressed
letter to Senator Cole protesting
against the reduction made by the
Senate In the items Of appropriation
for the purchase Of horses for the cav
airy and artillery, and for the erection
of barracks and quarters. He says
without appropriations, at least as
much as allowed by the House, many
troops will have to be withdrawn from
Western posts for want of shelter and
the cavalry dismOuDted in a great
measure and withdrawn from the
frontier. The Senate has thus far re-
duced the appropriations for horses to
four hundred thousand dollars, and
for barracks TO seven hundred and
fifty thousand dollars.
INTERNATIONAL HOBNOBBING.
Earl DeGray and RipOn will give a
dinner to the American members of
the high commission. The commits
siOners will dine with the President
on Tuesday. Secretary Fish will give
them a reception on Wednesday. 1t
is reported that the American half of
the jOint high commission is to be re-
inf0rced by the addition Of George
Bates and X. II. Darby, of Boston,
who have given years Of study TO the
subject Of neutrality laws and reci-
prOcity treaties.
CHIEF JUSTICE CHASE
is expected here in a few days. His
health is considerably improved, but
friends who have seen him recently
have but little hope that he will be
able to resume his duties this spring.
He intends 10 spend the summer and
fall In Europe.
PROVISIONS OF THE GREAT RAILROAD
BILL.
The Texas railroad bill, now before
the President, differs little from the
Southern Pacific railroad bill, lately
passed by the House-land grants
upon similar terms as the main line,
and the right Of way conceded to New
Orleans, Baton Rouge and Yicksburg,
and the road must be opened from
New Orleans to Marshall Texas, with /
in five years, and to the Southern
Pacific railroad in California, from
Fort Yuma via Los Angeles to point
"A 81. g,oor To hnohahe paaand