Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-02-26
WASHINGTON.

WASHINGTON.
THE WORK OF HOUSE COMMITTEES.
WASHINGTON, February 25.-The
bills creating new judicial districts,
with additional judges, marshals,
clerks, ETC., will likely be lost in the
Senate. Senator Trumbull, Chair
man of the Judiciary Committe, says
he is opposed to making any more
United States courts. He thinks there
are already enough to transact the
business properly coming before them.
The Senator has made himself unpOp
ular with some score of gentlemen
who are ambitious to fill the offices
provided for in these bills, among
them haIfa-dOzen members of the
House who go out on the 4th Of
March.
Members of the new Congress are
arriving every day. Many spend
much of their time on the floor Of the
House, watching the proceedings and
endeavOring to get some cOmpTehen-
sion of the rules. They are almost
unanimously in favor of completely
organizing the new House by the APP
pOintment of standing committees, in
order that the necessary business may
be transacted promptly and in the
regular way, and that members may
know the work that is to be assigned
to them and prepare themselves in
their leisure vacation.
Senator Ramsey, as Chairman OF
the Committee on POstOfice5 and
Post Roads, has definitely determined
to abandon the bill twice passed by
the House, abolishing the ranking
privilege. He will for the present
take no further action on the postal
code of last year, which was amended
by the suggestion of the PostOfiice De-
Uartment experts, and at the begin
ming of the present session passed by
the House.
THE JOINT HIGH COMMISSION.
WASHINGTON, February 23.-The
English members of the Joint High
Commission visited the State Depart
ment and were introduced by Sir
William Thornton to Secretary Fish.
An informal and entirely personal
conversation ensued. They will
be introduced to the President
to-day, by Secretary Fish. A
preliminary meeting will probably be
neld on Monday, but will not organ
ize regularly until the arrival Of Mac
Donald and NOrthcOate and HOar.
Sessions and discussions of the Com
mittee will be held with closed doors.
GRANT SWEET ON PORTUGAL.
The President to day issued proc
lamatiOn suspending discriminating
duties on merchandise imported in
Portuguese vessels from a vessel other
than those which such merchandise is
the growth, product or manufacture,
on account of a similar suspension by
the Portuguese government. The
suspension takes effect on the 18th,
aud continues so long as a reciprocal
exemption continues in Portuguese
ports.
GENERAL WHITEWASHING REPORT.
Mr.. Sargent, of the Committee on
Appropriations, made report to-day
on the charges preferred by Mr..
Welsh against the Commissioner on
Indian Affairs, in letter to the Sec
retary of the Interior, containing
allegations of fraud and imprOvidence
in the conduct of Indian affairs. The
committee say that they have not
found evidence of fraud or corruption
on the part of the Indian COmmis-
siOner. They, however, criticize and
condemn the management of Indian
affairs, partly arising from the vicious
system Inherited from the past and
partly from errors in judgment and in
construction Of the statutes passed,
and the insane economy and faithless-
ness in administration. The commit
/ D. Il Of l.
ary or personal advantage sought to
be derived by the Indian Commits
siOner or any one connected with this
bureau. The committee are not aware
that anything can be done to punish
those who heretofore have extracted
money from the Indians, or aided
others in so doing, except to cause a
strict inquiry into the conduct OF such
as are still in the employ OF the
Government, and dismiss from the
service all who knowingly violate the
law.
THE NEW LOAN.
A large number of letters are daily
received at the Treasury Department
on the subject of the new loan. In
many cases parties say they are ready
to make exchanges of their tive-tWen-
ties for new five per cents, and in
some instances these bonds have been
already sent by owners to the T'reasu-
ry Department for exchange.
THE JOINT HIGH COMMISSION.
The English members of the Joint
High Commission, with the secreta-
ries, accompanied by Fish and Thorn
ton, called at the Executive Mansion
at noon to-day, and were formally
presented to President Grant, who
was assisted in receiving the distin-
guished visitors by the Secretary of
State, Attorney General, Secretary of
the Navy, and Generals Porter, Bah
cock and Dent. The interview was
entirely unofficial and had no refer
enee whatever to the questions to be
considered by the High Commission.
PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEES.
The following nominations have
been sent to the Senate Henry f.
Price, superintendent of branch mint,
Carson City, Nevada; Andrew Miller,
receiver Of public moneys, Susanville,
California;; J. s. Ward, register land
Office, Susanville, California.