Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-11-25
WASHINGTON.
The Next CORgress-RePOrt Of the Mexi-
can Outrage Commissioners -Esti.
mates OF Appropriations.
Civil Service Rules-C0ttOn Claims
Executive CIemency In a KRklux
Case-General. ~

abteHtlOu OF lne coming congress VIII
be absorbed in the passage Of bill
which proposes radical changes in the
present working Of the Supreme Court
The bill c0ntemplates an intermediate
court, which shall possess the ordinary
powers of the present Supreme Court,
and before which all cases shall be
argued. The Supreme Court proper
shall be made stationary, and Justices
relieved of all circuit duty, which shall
be performed by the Judges Of the inter
mediate court. The Supreme Court is
TO give its entire attention to passing
upon and deciding questions of law
which come before it from the interme-
diate court, The bill will also provide
that the intermediate court shall not
construe any law, but decide all cases
which come before itin accordance with
the construction placed upon the laws by
the Supreme Court. The measure is
deemed necessary, because of the accu-
mutation of cases on the docket of the
Supreme Court.
The Commissioners appointed to In
vestigate the outrage on the Rio Grande
border have completed their report,
which is very long. They spent two
hours with the President yesterday on
the subject, when he asked for many
explanations, taking a deep interest in
the matter. The Commissioners con-
fined their investigations TO a distance
of five hundred miles from the mouth
of the Rio Grande to Rio Grande City,
estimating that the Americans included
within that limit have, by Mexican
raids, suffered to the extent of thirty
million dollars, to say nothing Of the
murders committed by the Mexieans.
The Commissioners think that if they
had continued their Investigations as far
as Ell Paso it would have been discover
ed that the total losses, including those
caused by Indian raids, would have in
creased the sum to total of one hun
dred million dollars. They urge protec-
ton to the people on the border by an
increase of cavalry, otherwise a pre-
meditated war will be the result. The
appropriation for the Commission is eX-
hausted, but new one will be made to
continue the Commission in the prose-
cution of further Investigations. There
is no doubt but that the President will
urge upon Congress prompt legislation
in the premises.
A telegram was received by Acting
Postmaster-Genera Marshall, late last
night, from the Postmaster General of
Great Britain, stating that the steam
ship City of Brooklyn, which left on the
fifteenth instant with the American and
New Zealand mails, had put back into
Queenstown disabled, and that those
mails would be sent by the Cunard
steamship to-day.
The estimates OF appropriations for the
next fiscal year are now completed.
Those for the Navy Department are
smallor than last year, as are also those
of the Indian Bureau, which are cut
down one-fourth to one-half million
dollars, but there is a slight increase of
in the Legislative, Judicial and
Executive appropriation bill, rendered
necessary by increasing the number of
of the House of Representa-
tives under the new apportionment act,
and the enlargement of the number Of
cadet appointments in military and ma
val academies. All things considered,
the aggregate of appropriations will be
the same as heretofore. The Committee
on Appropriations are disposed to keep
all of them within the estimates.
A new edition of rules and regulations
for improvement of the civil service for
application in New York has Just been
issued. Several members of Congress,
and other politicians, who are opposed
to the civil service policy have been re-
erred to the Executive order issued last
April, in which President Grant says:
while the right of all persons in official
positions to take part in politics is ac-
and elective franchise is
as a high trust to be dis
charged by all entitled to its exercise,
in the employment of the gov
eminent, or private life, honesty and
not political activity, will de-
termine tenure of office"
The Court of Claims is now engaged
On the remaining unadjudicated cotton
claims, filed within two years after the
declaration of peace. Since the passage
Of the proviso referring to the Secretary
Of the Treasury all claims for cotton
seized after that date, the proceeds of
the sales of which has been paid into
the treasury, twelve hundred claims
have been filed with the Secretary. The
number is so large that he cannot posi-
bly, attend to them with the particularly
-hey REQUIRE, hence there is no doubt
that Congress will either provide that
they be remitted to the Court of Claims,
Or that they be examined and settled by
q special commission.
The report of the Secretary of the In
terror will be long document, devoted
almost exclusively to summarizing the
years work of the various branches Of
the public service under his charge. The
working of the present Indian
policy viii be set forth, and no recon-
of a change will be made
in regard to it.
President Grant yesterday directed
the issue of pardon to Reuben ].
Young, of Alabama, convicted in May,
1872, Of being implicated in the kuklux
sentenced to be imprisoned
for ten years, and to pay a fine of one
hundred dollars. Barney Woods, con-
vioted of the murder of Mr.. Cheseman,
has been respited until Friday, Decem-
Der 9Th.
George W. Childs and A. ]. Drexel,
Of Philadelphia, arrived here last night,
and are guests of President Grant.