New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-12-19
CURRENT TOPICS AT THE CAPITAL.
TWO NOTEWORTHY CLAIMS.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNRl

lBl TELEGRAPH 10 THE TaIBUSRl
WASHINGTON. Wednesday, Dec H. 1872
Tic meeting OF the House Committee on Claims was
unusually interesting this morning. An important ques-
ton in regard the claim Richard H. Garrett
OF Virginia for few thousand dollars compensation for
the destruction OF the barn in which j. Wilkes Booth
shot after ms assassination of Abraham Lincoln.
Tho Committee decided that the Government could not
be held responsible for the claim If the property de-
stroyed by the awles of soldiers its destruc
ton ordered by officers commanding troops. In the
former the circumstances beyond the control
OF the Government, and in the latter the
loss was one OF the unavoidable casualties
Of the The Committee substantially say, by this
decision that the only claims OF this nature for which
the Government responsible those in which the
property s sold and he money paid into the Treasury
This special claim unimportant in ITSELF but it
intended 20 make precedent great Of sim
liar claims for the destruction Of property by military
operations in Virginia and other Southern States and
large lobby therefore pressing it, The
Committee -, also voted, to-day to report favor,
the Southern Claims Commission four years from
the 81 OF March next, and limiting the time within
which claims could Ibe presented year from Dec.
], 1872 The petition OF John A. Suffer- the discOVerer OF
cOia California has been sent to the Committee. His
cain ioI lana ana cpredatOns upon STOCK, &C. ny
settlers protected oy the United States lie held the
by tue treaty of Guadalupe Hidago Alter gold was
dscoyercc settlers 1rom the East he asserts took pos
were protected 10 80 doing ny the Vnite9 states.
CIVIL RIGHTS AND AMNESTY.
new Civil Rights bill with a General Amnesty bin
tackled has been introduced by Representative Morley
OF louisiana Ii provides penalties for the rejection Of
any citizen by Of color from the full and
equal enjoyment OF the advantages and privileges fur
nished 10y inn-Leepers carriers theaers
mon schools and other institutions of learning sup
ported by general taxation. Private schools, colleges
and cemeteries established exclusively for white or
eolored people and maintained By voluntary eontri0u
tons are TO he iDterered with Provision Is made
f,rt he
determinations against any citizen by the use OF the
all political disabtes and it would relieve Congress
from applications for special relief bs for the
benefit OF persons whose claims may be diSalOwed
REFUNDTNG THE COTTON TAX. ~s--
The latest bill to refund the cOtJn Tax Is that of rep
resentae Mcintyre 5 GCofga, Which provides for the
Issue OF five per cent gold interest bonds TO tile amount
Of the tax collected The bonds TO be delivered to the
authorities Of the several States whose citizens paid the
tax and to be by them distributed among the claimants
The records Of Internal Revenue office show that the
amount OF collected from the several States during
the three years the law WAS in force follows:
Alabama slOsOO72 10; Arkansas g 555Ss g Caitor-
MIA $3.50 Ol Connecticut, S193 Ga; Florida, seS94 90
&c 5 TGF y cents Kansas Ss IT, Kentucky $685.
g7 45 louisiana $40 O9s5O Maryland s51.S49 C2 Mas
.9Sj os Sy y Csc ~ Ss 90
North Carolina, o595Ol 81; OHIO, s47l27 IL Pennsy-
i79 100 iG: Tenesee ST 400 II Texas $780, "a
Utah. $3.50 "a; Virginia, SsZ5,sJ6 81
THE TURKISH MINISTER AND AMERICAN RAIL
ROADS.
Rlaroue Bey the Turkish Minister resident, received
aletter recently from the Turkish Minister Of Finance
sing information in regard the several Pacific rail-
roads OF this country completed aud now constructing
their present condition and management, and the
adaptiby Of similar ones 10 Turkish commercial inter
ests The letter translated and referred TO the
Secretary of Interior, who has furnished material
from which Baeque Bey has prepared his answer. Tho
nrncpal questions answered substantially as fol-
lovys: How great are the facilities Of the Pacific rail-
rads for the transportation OF raw productst what
WAS the plan on which the different Pacific railroads
are constructed How are these roads able to
carry freight at their present reduced rates and
AZ the same time make large ganst Could
Turkey pruntably send its products TO
the United states and to China via the Pacific Rail
roadsi Bacque Bey's reply treats at great length the
ouetou OF construction and he urges the INTRODUCTION
Of tie Amenean system OF railways his OPINION as "
the cxpOratiOn Of raw products 10 the Oneu ptdtes
made rroata6Ie since. with the exception OF opium,
0un arabic and silk winch shipped chiefly TO Liver.
H. ed STATES are nearly tie same while the expense
81 transporting bulky freight across the continent would
Boy IS a warm freud OF American institutions In 1856.
While on visit home, he built the first teleeIalh 10 that
lountry expending nearly $1,000 OF his personal funds
NDr that purpose
FREE BANKING.
Ropresentative Merriam Of Eew-YOrk ardent adyo-
ate OF free banking, has bill pending In the House
Ranking Committee opening inc prlVheSeo Oh the NUtOh
Ranking system 20 all banking associations deposit
inc Eve per cent bonds security for their crcma-
ton ana complying with the law n other respects HIS
bin as originally drawn, permitted the banks TO hold
the amount OF onehalf their resources in bonds bearing
three ana sxtye hundredth per cent interest in con
sderatOn for their redeeming their notes IN
The Western members strongly oppose any provision
requiring the redemption Of notes In Ncw'ioFk
and Merriam has omitted this provision IN order
10 strengthen tie bill There IS much opposition 70
free banking law tine part OF the ndilOnaI Ddhla
aud these institutions powerful aud 80 lnnusHI h
~ Shaping legislation that there IS no reason 10 eAci
that mcTr'am's bill, OF measure intended 70 accom-
,,lish tnc purpose, viii pass this session. III u
stock. A WOdd not. however, be Just to suppose Thai
ali those members would be Influenced 10y the owner
auip Of ths stOtk 20 vote against banking, t0lc
are known TO b. u favor OF sucn bill Merfian's.
THE PRESIDENT AT THE CAPITOL.
Tie President WAS at tine Capitol for a short time
Today Tor the purpose, 70 is understood OF converane
with mebes OF Congress 10 relation the best method
ofd,inJutng tlc award OF the Geneva arbitration lie
Is said 10 favor lac creation OF Jadicia Tribunal
eolne,yat similar 10 the Court Of Claims. hear aud
determine al claims against tie award OF
to oars.laiBnS ~ Rebel cruisers, for NrfDh iC
(.cv. Court neld Great Britain responsible IL
al sua s0.ld DC created, c1nnputs would DC allowed
tDel their eases e. tho Supreme Court Tor haai dc
.!.i0s. Tus woad gi9o greater satisfaction than q
ha.e i fus * Iuiied uud passed upon ~ this Com
mission or by any u tue accounting officers u the Treas
my. , ,avss n,ep.r,,tt
President Grant visited tho Capitol this Afternoon am