New-York tribune., 1872-12-05
CURRENT TOPICS AT THE CAPITAL.

CURRENT TOPICS AT THE CAPITAL.
THE IIBERAL REPUBLICANS REMOVED FROM
THE COMMITTEES THE CREDIT MOBlLIEh
INVESTIGATION ARRAIGNED-rHE NAVAL IN
CREAsE-LOUIsIANA RIVAL sENATohs-"EN-
ERAL NEWS.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TETBUSBl
WASHINGTON. Wednesday. Dec g. ls72
Tho committee appointed by the Senate Admlnistra-
ton caucus peted their abors this evening ana VIII
report their revised list of the committees to the caucus
Tomorrow They were in session until late hour last
night and spent most OF to-day In the work. AS was
predicted they class the Liberal Republican Senators
with the Democrats and make no provisions for them
leaving only the customary number Of places vacant
at the tail of tho committees for the Democrats
10 fill They thus refuse recognize the existence OF
third party in the Senate, and force Messr5 IrumOu'
sumner, Sclurz, Upton, and Rice 10 look 10 the DeU
crat for places on the Committees or have none at all
Mr. Edmund, IL given Mr. Trum0ulPs judiciary Chair-
lnanship Mr.. Wudom takes Mr.. Fentons place at tne
head Of Contingent Expenses, ana MI spencer Is s1
tuted Mr Rice as Chairman OF Mines and Mining,
while Mr.. Schurz Is left oil the tOIelBh heatI'ils
the administration Senators. Mr.. Flanagan takes Mr.
stewards old place at the head OF the ficluc "a
Committee and Mr.. Pratt gets the second pace OH hc
JUDICIARY Inc report will doubt be adopted by tDe
caucus, Tomorrow, and the senate Wl 20 VI"
form OF electing the Committees, on Ihursday'
The Credit Mobilier Committee will meet tomorrow,
and the first question likely arise is whether the
Investigation shall be conducted with closed
doors or thrown open to to the public. There
is known 10 be difference Of opinion among the mein-
bers of the Committee this point some arguing tnat
nothing but the fullest publicity WIN salsl{ tc tnr
that the Committee Is doing ls WORK larry anu to
oughy. and others maintaining that II would De
let the newspapers spread abroad evidence
damaging to members OF CONGRESS "nicn SuO'0i
testimony may contradict OF explain.
The expected attack upon the Board Of Public Works
OF the District of Columbia was begun, today by Mr
Roosevelt, who offered resolution IN the House drect
ing the Committee on the District to ascertain and report
doh nd alb
incurred AMI the sum that will be required to complete
the work it Las undertaken Mr. Roosevelt said tha I'D
violation OF the organic act creating the DlSulet
Government, which provided That the ueot
OF tho District should at no time exceed
slOOOO,OOO, the Board had incurred liabilities
amounting TO s2OOOOOOO. Mr.. Starkweather, Chairman
Of the District Committee opposed the resolution WIN
the very weak argument that the debt could De ascer
tanned by body official reports while the cost oi
completing the improvements Desun oy tIe oa ~, 1 C
not be delDitcy ascerained without putting the Com
mttee great deal OF trouble He trled hard 10 1aYe
the resolution smOthered by reference to his Com
mltee and declared that there nothing to invest
gate. He failed 10 carry tho House with him. Inc
information called for by Mr. Roosevelt was so manesty
the House ought 10 have, that Mr.. otarkwea-
TIERS motion refer voted down by Yeas "a Nays
o. call of the roll The resolution was tnen adopteo
Mir. Cox got resolution passed. directing the Commit
tee Commerce 10 inquire why a sunken wreck was
allowed 10 the channel at Sandy Hook The Dill
authorize TIE construction OF ten steam soOpS Oi war
came up again ana occupied the morning hour. 1le
debate wandered away from lhe mann question
OF whether the vessels ought to be punt or not,
IT.
discussed question OF the relative cheapness and ex
celence of work done in the navyyards ana III private
establishments Drawing Oh'usons IN i ~ .i @
lie said that all the great powers OF Europe except
Russia had their best ships built by private enterprise
The construction Of five OF the proposed vessels III the
GOyernme yards and OF the lotber five by prominent
officers would he thought enable the Government TO
decide the question. Mr. Kelley also favored Mr. Hales
Ing industry Mr. scofeld representing this the views
the Navy Department preferred that all tae ten yes
.Itu ttIp ltuf in tnt
bate followed and the hour expired without vote III
regarded as almost certain that the Di WIN pass IN
some shape. The members VINO have constituents inter
ested in snp-buldIBg we satisfied that IL VIII 90
through that they are making great efforts 10
it, The interest OF the House in the sub
iect tb0ueh sill rather lauglid is evidently increasing
The days session closed with the adoption OF tue Gus
tOmary resolution appOr0nng tue president Message
among tile several Committees, and new select Com
utee of Seven ordered upon much OF tine mes
ge relates 10 the centennial celebratlon Mr May
uatft sentimental proposition TO nave the COMMITTEE
states WAS agreed Postal telegraphy came III Tor
itY Brutes discussion in connection with reference
oil the subject 10 the Appropriations Committee. Mr.
Niback remarked that although opposed TO the postal
telegraph project he did not doubt that there was
ierng in way with the telegraph companies, for
the benefit OF the people.
Mr.. Harry Lott, who was the CustOmhouse candidate
for Congress in the Ivth District of Louisiana to I'LL
vacancy which existed for year past, has arrived
in the city and his credentials presented to the
House. to-day. If he has any valid claim to the seat he
ia in an unfortunate fix. His competitor Mr.. B0remau
got day the start Of HIM, aud yesterday sworn in
Warmoth, nobody objecting AL that Mr.. Lott
can do now is to GO before the Com
session Will, in all probability expire before the
Committee can explore the teIrlDle middle
of Louisiana politics sufficiently to satisfy them.
selves who Is fairly entitled To the seat. Mr. Lott
might as we'll go home and save himself tho expense
ana trouble Of contest Ills credentials are of very
character They consist of certificate
signed by r. j. Heron secretary OF state that lie was
duly elected, aud document signed by John Lynch
+. j. Heron, James Longstreet, and Jacob Hawnns
house Returning Board. These gentlemen certify that
Lofts majority S,395, as estimated from official
other evidence file the Clerks Office of the
u s. Circuit Court. The members OF this Returning
Board appear possess surprising knack at figures To
be able To estimate majority with such exactness. In
national politics Mr.. Lott IL an Administration man, ana
Mr.. BOrean Is Liberal Republican, and was supported
by the fusion Of all elements opposed to the Custom
house faction.
The steamboat bill, which hung up In the Confer
ence Committee at the last session. will be among the
earliest of that class of legislation to up the pres
en Winter 1t will be reached. however, until after
the holidays. delegation of steamboat from the
principal Western river Cities has informed Gen. NeGy
be here in few days 20 look after
this matter. This delegation was appointed
at the meeting OF tho Steamboat Association for the
purpose OF urging upon Congress the necessity OF pass
Ing the present bill Much OF the opposition 10 this bill
will be Withdrawn Ia view Of the fact that many OF the
steamboat have already been put 10 the OF
foreclOsng the patent appliances for which preparation
made therein. The Treasury Department, however
will have many amendments and suggestions submit
for the improvement or the bill before II can become
law.
Secretary Boutwell,, Commissioner Douglas, cxCom.
missioner Rollins and Supervisor Fulton Of Baltimore
were before the Ways and Means Committee to-day.
planning bill to abolish the office OF Assessor OF In-
ternal Reyenue This measure meets with such unan
untl