New-York tribune., 1872-04-09
CURRENT TOPICS AT THE CAPITAL.

PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS-THE
APPROPRIATION BILLs-THE CUsTOM-HoUsE
INVESTIGATION NEARLY CLOSED - TIE
TRANEING ABUSE TO BE BROUGHT BEFORE
TIE HOUSE TO-DAY.
10y TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNEl
WASHINGTON, Monday, April 8, 1872.
There was unusual amount of Constitution tinker
ing In the House to-day. Mr.. Hawley introduced an
amendment making Senators elective by the people OF
the several States Mr. Poland sent to the Judiciary
Committee joint resolution decaratory of the mean
ing of Article IL Section /, which prescribes the
manner of electing the President and ViccPresdent.
Mr. COughan moved to suspend the rules TO pass an
amendment reserving all public land, except
mineral land, for homestead settlement exclu-
sively; on this the Yeas and Nays were called,
and the motion was lost by vote of 81 to a.
A great deal Of time wasted in attempting land
grant legislation MI Twichell made another effort for
the Atchison. Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad asking this
time only TO have the rules suspended so that bill
extending the time for the completion OF the road and
continuing the land grant could be brought before the
House on Wednesday There So Yeas and 63 Nays,
so the rules were not suspended. much harder fight
was made by Mr. Dunne Of Minnesota and the Michigan
members to keep alive and transfer to q company
grant in Michigan for road from Port Huron to Grand
Rapids, but their motions TO suspend the rules were
twice defeated, first for the passage OF the bill, ana,
second for Its consideration Thursday Mr. Randall
offered resolution rectng the facts in the case Of Dr.
the State Department, and declaring him to be
citizen Of the United States and entitled to the protec
ton OF our Government and that the President should
PROMPTLY demand his immediate release and the resO
ration of his property with suitable indemnity for his
unjust imprisonment The resolution went TO the For
e,gn Affairs Committee, with leave to report at any
time Two or three private bills then passed. and
the House. at O'clock went into Committee OF the
Whole Oh the amendments Of the Senate NEARLY hund-
red I'm alb to the Legislative, Executive and Judicial
appropriation BILL and spent the rest Of the day In yot
ing on concurring nonconcurrinR, as recommended
In each case by the Appropriations Committee. The
0nIv controversy was over the appropriation
for printing the laws In the newspapers. The
for their publication finally coneurred in. There was
little furry OF excitement In the House to-day, caused
nv words that passed between Messrs Brooks
and Negey on the subject Of the Pacific Railroad. Mr.
Negey asked leave introduce preamble and rcsolu-
tio stating that the road owed the Government over
providing for the appointment OF three commissioners
10 n0ure into the financial ability Of the Company to
meet their Indebtedness and to ascertain whether they
have legally and faithfully applied their assets and are
able 10 on ysthe whole any part OF their debt 10 Inc
Goyernmcit Mr. Brooks objected TO the Introduction
of % measure and Mr. Negley said he did not think 1t
in order for "a stockhoder In the road 10 interpose
an objection Mr. Brooks became ninrh efcled, ana re-
t0red that IL was not proper iOr MemDer wao was
tool and Of Wast sockj0bDcfso onef huch
n resolution. He produced u bundle Of taIefs from MS
dcsL and said he had evidence that was oherc ~
the interest OF stOcK gtmb ing speculation. Hs nhcu
10 havs the papers read. Mr.. Ncciey wninci uoWh 10
Mr. BrOokss deck aud said lac was Lot tool o any
and had not dollar Of stock IN tit Idr.hc hoaI "a
deluundeQ that the paper should Do Io'o' put 'u'