, 1872-12-28
porte, Iowa, this morning, destroyed corn-crib
containing TOO bushels Of corn. The loss is prob
ably nearly covered by insurance, which is $500
in the Farmors Insurance Company OF this city.
WASHINGTON.
Epeeial Dtspatch to The Chicago Tribune.
corrp>,-.r~-- pr.r. rarATE

GOVERNMENT REAL ESTATE.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 27.-senator Carpenters
bill to regulate the taking OF private property
for public uso as its title teads, but which as
pertaining to it's subject matter, provides for
acquiring the title Of property belonging to citi-
zens in the Uuited States, through the interyen-
ton Of the Federal Judiciary, promises to give
rise to an important and interesting discussion
when it shall come up in the Senate after the
hoiideys. 4 table is now being prepared in the
Treasury Department which shows that the Gov
ernment already has the fee simple
to upwards Of s4o,ooocoo worth
ct real estate in the sites Of
post Offices and custom houses alone, to say
nothing ct arsenats, navy yards, magazines,
dock yards, etc. It is claimed that the care Of
this immense property is getting to be 30 great,
and that, with the growth and expansion Of the
country, the demand for new official buildings is
Increasing at such an enormous rate, as to ne
ceseltate, sooner o. later, the creation Of new
department, to be known ss the Department OF
Public Works, to which shall be assigned not
to which shall clso be referred the vari-
GUS questions arising tnarefrom, including the
acquiring Of titles and Recommendations for the
construction Of new public buildings. accord
subject of eminent domain, as it is to bo e1-
pressed BY the Government, is at present
wrapped in considerable uncertainty The Con-
stitution originally provided that the Govern
ment might acquire exclusive Jurisdiction over
property ceded By tho several states and pur-
chased by the consent Of tie Legislature of tho
States aforesaid, but the Fifth Amendment to
the Constitution, by providing thnt private
property shall not be taken for public use with
just compensation, gives rise to the clem that
the Federal Government, and that the "ncces-
sity," as Senator Carpenter rhraseB it. OF the
United States eneaking around State Iegie1a-
lures for permission to buy titles is obVlatea
Senator Carpenter anticipates that. from the
mere novelty Of the thing, his bill will meot with
the most strenuous opposition, both on consti-
tutional and political grounds, and that if it
passes nt ali, Il Will ba in some modified form,
the general features alone being preserved.
TIE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION SYSTEM.
which he proposes to doliyor during the winter
ing : President. He io Of tho
opinion that the present campaign
has demonstrated that out electoral system is
thoroughly defective, and that contingencies
may arise, such as the death Of the President
elect, or q close canvass, wherein the vote OF q
single State would be decisive Of the result, and
| wherein frauds, informalities OF irregularities,
as in Louisiana and Arkansas, would require
tate revolution, extending I'll over the coun-
try. He will arguo in favor Of direct vote by
the people, with the abolition Of the Electoral
College, claiming that the latter is q cumber~
some piece of machinery, which has been long
since outgrown, and which was instituted Sim
ply because Of want OF confidence in the peo-
plo BY the trainers Of the Constitution.
ITO the associated Nress.]
PRESIDENTIAL. RECEPTIONS
| WASHINGTON, Dec. 27.-The evening recep-
| tions Of the President and Mrs. Grant will COM
mence Jan. Is, and continue jan. 20 and
| Feb. Ii.
| General Francis 4. Walker has rendered The
| President his resignation as Commissioner o1
| Indian Affairs, to take effect tho 1st OF 5anuar,
! next 1t is understood that tho resignation ha!
boen accepted, but successor will not be ap
| pointed until after the return Of Secretary De-
1ano from Cuba.
| NEW YEARS RECEPTION PROGRAMME.
The announcement is made by authority, thai
| at IL o'clock a. M, on the 1st Of January, the
President will receive members OF the Cabinet
and foreign Ministers at 11:30 q. m., Judges o1
the Supreme Court Of the United States, Sena
tors and Representatives in Congress-, Governor
OF tho District Of Columbia and suite, Judges
Of the Supreme Court OF thu District of Co
lunbia, and OF the Court Of Claims at 1:
| o'clock, officers OF the army and navy; at 1891
| p. m, heads Of bureaus OF the several Depart
nentE at 12:45 P. m, associated soldiers o.
the War Of 1872, and numbers Of the oldest in
| habitanta Of tho Association Of the District O.
Columbia, Tho reception Of citizens will com
mence ct P. m. and terminate at q P. m.
| CoLonED MURDERER.
Thomas Wright, the colored desperado ar
rested on "Wednesday night, charged with tht
murder of tie Polish pedler, Samuel Rogerski
manglel, had q hearing at the Police Court, to
day. and Wis fully committed to await the actor
| Of the Grand Jury. The evidence is so stronf
against him as to leare no doubt Of his guilt.