Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-12-19
! WASHINGTON
Tho Steamboat Law.

A. HAhnlNdA0h, OoC. lOs-ecpTe6enb4tlV
Negley to-day introduced bill to ament
the steamboat law, being the amendment a
agreed ON by the Executive Committee o
| tie National Convention Of steamboat mel
st Louisville They propose IN some mea
sure to remove the most Objectionable fea
lures of present acts and harmonic con
\ iicting interest, keeping in view the mali
objects Of the law, namely, safety to life
and to relieve the steam navigation interes
Of the country from unnecessary restric
tons and burdens, and also modifying the
language of the law so that all inter
ested may clearly understand Il:
provisions. Among the amendments pro
posed, Is one that every steamer shall be
4 provided with drag or floating anchor and
chains suitable TO The vessel and trade in
which she may bs employed, and on any
tug or boW-boats, exclusively employed In
towing vessels, barges or fiat boats laden
with coal, coke, stone, lumber. or ice, the
working pressure of steam allowed may be
three-fourths of the hydrostatic pressure &C
which such boilers shall be submitted by
direction of owner or master, but in no case
shall the working pressure allowed be tense
~ strain exceeding thirteen Thousand
pounds to the sectional square inch on
boilers made of iron, or fourteen thousand
pounds on boilers made of steel, within sin
gle rivetted, and the same proportionate in
crease as already provided for within double
rivetting and drilled holes in boilers hereto
fore manufactured. Tho bill was referred
to the Committee on Commerce.
Pacific Ocean Telegraph.
A bill was introduced to-day to incorpo-
rate John f. Miller, VIM. G. Fargo, Paul
Spaford Perry, Mcdowell Collins and
others, commissioners to open subscription
books for two ocean telegraphs, one from
the Western coast of the United States to
China and Japan, and the other from the
Atlantic coast to Europe by way of the
Bermudas and Azores, or by any other
way as may be approved by the President.
The stock of the Atlantic Company is fixed
at eight millions, and of the Pacific compa-
ny at twelve millions. Referred to the
Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Contested Elections.
Cessna Myers contest from Pennsylvania,
goes over the holidays.
In the case of Bowles VS.. Edwards, from
Arkansas, the committee rejected Edwards
application for further time to take testi-
mony.
Ku-KIux Deficiencies.
The Committee on Appropriations have
agreed to report bill appropriating nearly
SIS, 900 to pay deficiencies already incurred
by the Ku-Klux Committee.
A Note for National Banks.
The Comptroller of the Currency has
called upon the National Banks for reports
of their condition at the close of business on
the 10th inst.
BlOdgett SqueIched.
In the Senate to-day Mr.. Carpenter, from
the Committee on Privileges and Elections,
to whom were referred the credentials of
Foster Blodgett and Thos. NJ. Norwood,
esch claiming seat as Senator from Geor-
ga for the term commencing March 4, 1871,
submitted report signed by all the men,
bers except Mr.. Morton, declaring that Mr..
Norwood is entitled to the seat, he having
been duly elected in accordance with the
law of Congress by the Legislature chosen
next preceding the expiration of the former
Senatorial term. The action of the Legis-
lature which voted for Blodgett is held by
Congress to have been without authority,
and they say the distinction sought to be
established by Blodgett between the words
elected and chosen in the said law of Con-
gress derives no support from popular or
legal photography.
Gen. Brice Retires.
At his own request, and by direction of
the President, Brig. Gen. Benz. w. Brice,
Paymaster General, is retired from active
service, and his name viii be entered on the
list of retired officers of that grade to which
he now belongs.
The Corruption Investigation.
Special to the Louisville Ledger.
A leading Democratic Senator in Con-
gress, commenting upon the Retrenchment
Committee, as agreed on in the Republi-
can caucus, remarked yesterday that if he
could have had the arrangement of the en-
tire programme he could not see how the
Republican party could be placed in & more
embarrassing attitude, toward reforming
abuses of the public service, than it has
now been placed by the voluntary action of
the administration Senators.
Among Republican Senators the commit
tee as constituted is still the subject of free
and hard criticism. Several who voted
against the minority proposition forget that
at least one independent Republican could
not become member therein.
Special to the Louisville Courier-Journsl.
Letters have been received here during
the last day or two by leading Republican
Senators advising strongly against the course
which they have taken during the past week
on the proposed investigation into the
charges of corruption against the admins
tration. These letters state that the peo-
pie are unable to understand the TECHNICAL
ties arising between standing and special
committee, except so far as they serve to
show that the action of the Senate has re-
stricted investigation, and in this view of it
they urge that the fullest inquiry be author
lied for every department of the public ser
vice. The country viii look upon any other
course as an evasion of the charges made
against the administration. A Republican
Senator advised the President yesterday to
take prompt stand upon this question,
and TO send special message to Congress
asking that an investigation be ord red. 1t
is not probable, however, that he will take
such course, but leave the Senate to settle
the issue in its own way. Their is uniyer-
sal opposition to the standing committee
agreed on in the caucus on Friday, and an
effort will probably be made in the Senate
tomorrow, when the question of instruct
ing the committee comes up, to change its