The New York herald., 1872-10-05
Death of the Mexican Claims
Umpire.
HE DEADLOCK IN THE COMMISSION.
Prosecution of the Officers of
the Metis.
The British american Conn
mission.
WASHINGTON. Oct. a. 1872.
Entnnglemcnt In tho Mexican Claims
COmni sstOn.

The death of Dr. Francis Leber adds to the COM
pltcations already existing in the Mexican Claims
Commission. lie had acted rs umpire since it
began its labors in 1859. The convention between
Mexico and the United States provides that the
two commissioners shall name q third person
umpire; but If not able to agree upon any one each
snail name an umpire, and all cases which the
commissioners shall be unable to decide shall be
referred by lot to the umpircs Difficulty was ex-
perienced in choosing an umpire before there was
any case for reference, no one wishing TO accept
such responsible position. William Cullen Bryant
declined 1t. After much delay Dr. Leber consented
to accept Now there are very serious questions
for the decision OF an umpire and trouble is eX-
pected in filing the vacancy.
General Wadsworth, the American Commissioner
has declared that he cannot honoraby sit with
Leon Guzman, the Me Xican Commissioner, through
whose act the business of the Commission Is at
deadlock. In the event OF Mr.. Guzman being re-
called. and Commissioner appointed who win act
fairly, 1t Is doubtful whether q suitable umpire
could he agreed upon. The United States will not
accept any OF the South American diplomats, ana
Mexico, it is said, cannot consistently ask any OF
the European nations to name an umpire In the
event OF each Commissioner naming one the dinl-
Guilty is enhanced, as Senor Marlscal, the Mexican
Minister, would probably be designated on behalf
o! his government. AS all questions referred
would be by lot the Indian cases. amounting to
S32,o00000, might fall to the Mexican umpire, ana
the interest of his country it Is contended, would
necessarily bias his Judgment. Our government,
with Its present knowledge Of Mexican diplomacy
is unwilling to risk anything more.
Good counsel Is expected from Caleb Cushing, the
agent OF the Mexican government, whose place
during his absence at Geneva has been filed by
Manuel Azpiroz ana VINO is expected here In a few
weeks.
Cabinet Meeting.
The first Cabinet meeting for q number OF weeks
past was held 70 day. There were present the
secretaries OF State and OF War; the Postmaster
General, Assistant Attorney General Hill, Assistant
Secretary Of the Interior Cowan, and Assistant
Secretary OF the Treasury Richardson.
niississ ppi md Its African Eiector.
The possibility Of the Presidential vote being gvcry
close has sharpened the wits Of the Republican
Stat, Committee OF Mississippi, who recently dis
covered that one of the electors appointed was an
alien African. The opinion OF Attorney General
Williams was asked as to his right to
naturalization papers. This onlcia declined to
give an opinion as 1t Is contrary TO the custom
of the Department for its head to give official opn-
ions to any but the President and heads OF de-
partments. The committee then presented the
question to the President and the latter called for
for some time, when it was discovered that the
act Of July IL, 1870. had anticipated this case, for
section enacts that the naturalization laws
shall be extended to aliens of African nativity as
well as to persons of African descent and the COM
mittee have been so informed.
Prosecution OF the Officers OF the Nsetfs.
The Solicitor Of the Treasury decides that the rec
ommendation Of the Board Of Inspectors who
conducted the examination In the Metis disaster,
to revoke the licenses of the officers OF that vessel
Is in accordance with the Steamboat act. 1t APP
pears that the officers were licensed at New York
and the vessel inspected at New Haven, while
Providence was her home port. There is no ques-
ton as to the jurisdiction Of the inspectors OF one
district In revoking licenses issued In another dis
trict, where the evidence sustains charges OF neg
gence or willul violation Of the Steamboat
act. The other question, as to whether
Captain Burton, Abraham Torrey, first pilot,
and william Palmer, second pilot, should be in
dicted separately or collectively, will be decided
tomorrow. Section 81 OF the Steamboat act pro-
vides that any captain, engineer or pilot by whose
misconduct, negligence or inattenton to his duties
the life Of any person shall be destroyed shall be
deemed guilty Of mansaughter and upon convc-
ton in any Circuit Court OF the United States shall
lie sentenced to confinement at hard labor for a
period OF not more than ten years. AS the charges
against these officers differ they will PROBABLY be
tried separately.
The British American Claims Commis-
sion.
The British and American Mixed Claims Commits
sion held another long session to-day, and much
business done in closing proofs on the part OF
British claimants and extending the time in
number or cases.
In the case OF George Wigg and Saul Isaacs vs. The
United States, No. 27l, demurrer was dismissed for
want Of jurisdiction. The claim was for personal
property taken by the United States army.
In the case of Michael Kelly vs. The United States
No. 3l5, claim for personal property taken and de-
stroyed, motion to dismiss was granted and the
claim disalowed.
In the case of Henry G. Bohn w. The United States
No.33s, claim for personal property taken, motion
to dismiss was sustained and the claim disaowed.
In the cases of watkins and Leigh vs. The United
States, No 400, and Dagethy, Du Cruz Co. VS.. The
United States, No. 401, demurrer was sustained ana
the claims disallowed. Both these cases were
claims for damages caused by the seizure of por
ton OF the cargo Of the Hiawatha.
An Unsuccessful Indian Hunt--The
Quita Que Trail.
The War Department has received report from
Colonel Mckenzie commanding the Third cavalry
rom his camp at Fresh Water, a fork OF the Brazos
River, Texas, which point he had reached on an
unsuccessful hunt for hostile Indians. lie had fol-
lowed the Quta Que trail across the Plains, and re-
ports that there is upon 1t permanent and excellent
water, and that there il no distance OF more than
thirty miles without water. The streams running
into the Red River on the Vale Douro route are
also reported good. Either route is better than
the Peco trails, and could be made safe to egiti-
mate cattle drovers were his personal command
used for that purpose.
The Coast Survey-Thc Work In Prog
ress.
Professor Benjamin Pierce, Superintendent OF the
Coast survey, has submitted his annual report to
the Secretary OF the Treasury In all the northern
sections parties are yet in the Geld and will so
continue until the approach OF Winter, when
transfers will be made for resumng operations In
.i.. hnr anctinns q tho IL