Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-12-06
ITO the Associated Press. ]
SOUTHERN CLAIMS.

SOUTHERN CLAIMS.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 5.-The report of the
southern claims committee will he submitted TO
congress next Monday. About five hundred
cases have been concluded, three.fourths OF
which are in favor Of the claimants, though the
aggregate amount is reduced from 81 500 900 to
less than 100000.
GEN. sHERMAN's REPORT.
Gen. Sherman's report praises the zeal and
efficiency of the army, and expresses the hope
that congress will give the president discretion
airy power TO keep the companies up to a stand
ard ranging between sixty and one hundred
pryates, according TO the nature of the service
required. Such a measure would add very
much to the efficiency, and would rarely if ever
carry the aggregate strength of the active army
above thirty thousand men, fixed by law. He
recommends uniform system OF tactics for all
branches of the service.
THE COMMITTEE ON INsURRECTIoNARY
STATES.
In the house, to-day, debate sprung up on
the resolutions distributing the presidents mes
sage among the committees, Mr.. Wood DENYING
that there were any inSurrectionary states or
any committee thereon. Mr.. Dawes said such
Il committee was raised at the last session, and
it was proposed to refer TO it the kukluX out
RACES. After further discussion the subject was
dropped
VARIOUS ITEMS.
Gov. Noyes of Ohio, who is a native of Ha-
Is
on the floor of the senate to day
Gen. Banks has called meeting of the foreign
affairs committee for Thursday, when the Cuban
question will be discussed.
A decided effort is to be made to press the adj
.iustment of the French claims during the pres
ent session, aud with better chances of success
than heretofore.
Mr.. BoutwelPs friends co not seem to have
any doubt but that his course in the negotiation
of the funding loan will be approved by both
branches of congress.
Sunset Cox intends to call up his resolution
of inquiry about the operations of the syndicate
and MIR. BOutwelFs action in connection there
with, on next Monday, and move to suspend the
rule so that it may be passed.
The war department has ordered two hundred
recruits to San Antonio, Texas one hundred to
Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; and that all disposal
BILE colored recruits be forwarded to San An.
tonic for assignment to the oath infantry at that
place.
The Boston branch OF the woman's suffrage
association is to meet here in convention on FRI
day, and there are to be addresses from Julia
Ward Howe, Mary A. Livermore Margaret W
Campbell, Celia Bureigh, Mary P. Jackson
Col. Higginson, Rev. James Freeman Clarke
and Others.
The Georgia republicans here are urging the
admission Of Foster Blodgett as a senator from
that state, rather than Mr.. Norwood who has
since been elected and whosel credentials were
plNoCutcu gGsltiudl. 1Ht tTeuGnLldlS Oh DOtl
gentlemen are on the table of the senate.
The presidents allusion TO the Mormon diff
culties and the determination expressed TO exc
cute the laws, meet with great approval MIR.
Hooper, the Utah delegate, says the presidents
handling Of the Mormon question is not as Sc
we're as he expected, and he finds no fault with
the presidents recommendation
The presidents message seems to have given
satisfaction to all republicans, including those
who are regarded as anti-administraton. Even
the democrats speak of it as document full of
good points, and so far do not find much fault,
except with the clause referring to the zuklux
operations in the south.
Correspondence is published showing that the
navy department gave a large amount of con-
demned clothing to sufferers by the forest fires
in the northwest
MIR. Hooper will introduce in the house, and
ask its immediate passage, bill allowing an
appeal to the supreme court in all criminal
cases in Utah territory. With the passage of such
bill Mr.. Hooper is confident that the Mormons
already convicted will be cleared. and the fact
shown that the Mormons are no voators of the
laws as they now exist.
Senator Wilson and Others have been en-
gagged since yesterday in trying to bring about
reconciliation between the president and Sena-
tor Sumner, with view of placing the latter
ut the head of the foreign affairs committee. So
far success is not promising, as there is no dis
position on the part of either party TO make
concessions. The senatorial caucus for ar
ranging the committees has been delayed for q