, 1872-12-21
WASHINGTON.
Further Details Of the Credit
Mobilier Investigation.
Ames and Alley Testify
That Brooks Had
None of the
Stock.
Introduction Of a Bill Looking to
the Direct Election Of
the Executive.
The Deficiency Bill Passed in
the Senate---The WASH
ington Appropria-
ton Restricted.
Adjournment Of Congress for lle
H0IilaVS.
Adjournment Of Congress for (he
Holidays.

DIRECT ELECTION By THE PEOPLE.
Special Despatch to The Chicago Tribune.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 20.-Representatiye Porter,
Of Virginia, introduced, to-day, joint resolu-
tion proposing an amendment to the Constitu-
tion providing for the election of President and
Vice President by direct vote Of the people;
and also 3 joint resolution providing for the
votes Of the people, both of which were referred
to the judiciary Committee. Both these propo-
sitions have grown SO rapidly in favor
Of lnte, that they will undoubtedly become
the leading features with which the
other projects for important new legislation,
they are introduced now only to bring thom be-
fore the public for discussion.
WITHOUT QUORUM.
The members who predicted, yesterday, that
the House would be without q quorum to-day,
took pains to justify their prediction by leaving
for home in the morning trains. About ninety
members we're all that mustered in the hall at
the hour for the beginning Of the session.
The want Of q quorum Was soon developed, and
forthwith. 4 majority, however, stubbo.nly in
sisted on q call OF the House, but, after two
hours spent in dilatory motions, and in voting
down motions to ndjourn, they berame convinced
there were not members enough to be found in
the city to reinforce them sufficiently to make
the number requisite to do business, and they
then consented to an adjournment.
There was some expectation that the Defcien-
cy bill would pass the Senate without amond-
ment. and one object in holding the House
order that it might be sent to the President, and
become q law next week, on the return OF the
President. Some prominent members thought
that the bill could be enrolled, and receive The
Speakers signature without the presence @ , Of ;,
''business' within tho meaning OF the rules, and
could not bo transacted unless quorum were IN
the hall.
THE DEFICIESCT BILL.
If half the stories Of distress aro to be be,
1ie1ed which arc related Of the shop-keepe1s and
contractors laborers OF the District it was
mournful crowd who watched the Senate con-
suming the last hours Of it's session, to-day,
squabbling over parliamentary, question, IS to
what disposition should be made OF the Def
cheney Appropriation bill, which was an appro-
pridtion Of 81 600 for the benefit Of the
bankrupt Board Of Public Works Of this
city. The house had been kept together
without objections, go that the Speakers sigma
turo would be obtained: when it might become
law before the holiday adjournment, having
alone the Presidents approval. In utter ,disre--
gard Of the anxious lobby, the Senate allowed
amend the bin before passing it. These amend
ments we're to the effect that the Secretary Of
the Interior Should be authorized to review all
tho claims brought forward by the Board Of
PUBLIC Works before their payment, and
and were not improvidently incurred. In
Immediately after the holiday recess, the
Board will now evidently be able to negotiate
for the relief of their more pressing embarrass-
ments and that Of their innumerable creditors.
1311a GnnAfn f.Shcf1fiyn ErERi0n. ED-GaV
1rmed the nomination of General Macarthur. to
be Postmaster at Chicago, and Of George Bliss
to be United States Attorney for the Southern
District of New York. There WAS considerable
discussion over both these appointments, espe-
cially the latter, but the Senate sustained the
President.
LOUISIANA 1AITEEs.
It is iintimated, the Supreme Court
Preadent f4E &kSp Would fGo ike to oS Sa7o s uses ice
Bradley visit Louisiana for the purpose of con-
ferring with tho judiciary there as to the 6itua-
tion, and, also, whether Durell's decision should
be brought up for review.
TILE COTTON TAX REFUSD1S6 BILLS.
The House Committees on Claims and Ways
and Means have both got jurisdiction over the
question Of refunding the cotton tax. The first
bills for that purpose, introduced last session,
we're referred to the Claims Committee, and GER
tain persons Interested in the scheme filed q
number Of documents there, and indicated their
purpose to urge the question and ask q decision.
Finding the Committee evidently hostile to the
project, they had Q bill introduced and referred
10 the Ways and Means Committee towards the
Kerr we're appointed 3 sub-Committee
to look into the subject, but no
further progress was made until few days ago,
when an attorney made his appearance before
the Committee, and made preliminary argu-
claim has plausible appearance of Justice. The
tax was certainly previously oppressive one to
put upon a people whose only property was their
lands, which had just been devastated by q ruin
the law 1evying the tax is questionable. Il to
refund the tax could benefit the plant
ers who bore the burdens Of
it, something might be said in
its favor, but the receipts for it's payments are
nearly all held by the cotton shippers and fac
tors in the principal seaports Of the South. The
planters shipped their cotton to them, and they
paid the tax and deducted it from the amount
placed to the planters credit, Or they bought it,
tax unpaid. The money would mostly 60 into
ai1ty-eight millions collected should be refund
receive anything. The concentration OF
claims in . few hands will mike
combine, and bring force to bear On Congress
to secure their payment, which there is great
reason to fear will overcome al obstacles.
THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.
The Senate Finance Committee adjourned its
session, to-day, for the holidays, without coming
to any conclusion rs to the various inancinl pro-
positions now before it. The main questions
which will occupy the attention OF the Com
mittee the remainder of the session, relate en-
tirely to an approval to resumption of specie
payments by either contracting the amount Of
currency in circulation, OF BY making it receiv-
able for customs dues; and to the proposition
submitted by the Treasury Department. to in
cronso tho present banking facilities, and to
repeal the 1aw requiring the Cunptrpue1 Of