New-York tribune., 1872-04-01
WASHINGTON.
PROBABLE ACTION OF THE HOUSE on TIE IA
RIFF BILL-THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
ASTRONOMICAL EXPEDITION PROPOSED.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUYE

RIFF BILL-rHE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
ASTRONOMICAL EXPEDITION PROPOSED.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSEl
WASHINGTON. March 81, 1872.
The Senate Tariff bill will be brought to the House 10
morrow and ii Is understood that Mr. Dawes Will move
TO lay on the table, the ground that the Senate had
no right TO pass bill revising tho entire tarn and IN
ternal tax system amendment to House bill to
abolish the duty salt. Members who have been look
ing up Of the House heretofore Ia similar
cases say that all the precedens warrant the rejection
OF the Sherman BILL having been passed In violation
OF the constitutional provision that all bills for raising
revenue shall originate In the House Of Representatives,
some members say that they would have been dls-
posed 10 strain q point and received and refer
the BILL II the Senate had stopped aiter making the rad
ical changes the Tariff but when IL went further and
added sweeping repeal OF internal taxes there could
no longer be any question that the constitutional priv
eges OF the had been invaded The question has
been discussed in the Ways and Means Committee and
Il is understood that agreement 10 that the
bill should be Immediately tabled Neither the FrOtec
tion.ts nor the Revenue RefOrmers VIII gain or lose
anything by this course. for II the bill were received
the substitution for it of whatever measure the majority
the Committee might agree 10 as the result OF their
Winters work
Republican member OF the House Special Committee
to investigate the affairs Of the Navy Department said
to-day that the evidence thus far taken appeared TO him
TO prove that Secretary Robeson, in 1862 convened
Board of Naval officers to examine and pass upon seve
certain war vessels, which claims had been barred by
the express terms OF a statute passed IN 1865 That in
1870 paid these Illegal claims upon the approval OF
the Board amounting to S17ooo and that he paid them
from the appropriation for construction and repairs
of the navy for the current year. which he
had no right 10 use for the purpose or paying
an old claim Of any nature however proper and lawful
il may be- The member added that the force Of this tes
timony would, perhaps be weakened by the discovery
of pecedents for the secrearys actOn but that he un.
Icrstood that secretary RObeson would base his den-
"A MISUNDERSTANDING
which Sl5o TO pay inc claims OF the Secors
and that the money would be- received by them IA In full
OF all their claims upon the Government The Secretary
appears confident Of coming out OF tho investigation
without damage.
The sub-Committee of the House Committee on Com
merco began the investigation of the South Improve
mcnt Company oil monopoly Saturday. The entire
afternoon occupied in the examination Of witnesses
delegation of ten oilwe owners and oil refners from
Western Pennsylvania present, headed hy ex-Con-
gressman Gilhan Three persons representing the mo-
nopoy were attendance. AZ the request OF the
latter the Investigation was held with closed doors
They acge a Tor desiring this course to DO
taken that they understood attacks were TO be made
upon their characters which IL would DC UNJUST 10 them
to have get into the newspapers
In the District Government Investigation the testimony
on the side of the complanans closed Saturday,
and Wednesday next the Committee will commence
hearing evidence for the defense The investigation
has now been in progress for about two months, and
appears 10 have changed nobOdys opinion about the
honesty and capacity of the Territorial Government
of the District The friends OF the Territorial auhorI
ties assert that the evidence taken has not damaged
them PARTICLE and their enemies maintain that incou-
potency and corruption have been clearly demonstrated
The Investigation has spread over 50 much ground ana
cone into so many details that disnierested persons.
whose opinions alone would be worth having, nave
found the time 10 follow IT closely enough to come Ia
any conclusion.
Prof Henry aud other scientific men connected with
the Smithsonian Institute and the Naval Observatory
have united in interesting memorial 10 Congress,
urging the appropriation Of sl50000 to make extensive
and thorough preparation for observing the transit OF
Venus across the SUM- which will take place In 1874 and
il looked upon as the most important astronomical
event that has occurred for many The last tran
sit I91 and excited much Interest in the scen
tihc world that several European Governments made
liberal appropriations 10 enable their astronomers 10
in this country and will be best from the islands
OF the South Pacific and Indian Oceans lt Is proposed
send naval expeditions to those points, accompanied
by scientific parties The Governments of many or tho
countries of Europe have already taken steps 10 ths end
and there is little doubt that Congress Will enable the
OF this country TO have the same advantages
their foreign brethren.
thas last been decided that General Sces Will re-
turn to his mission Madrid hut that his stay will he
very brief one 10 is his purpose to return and take
part in the coming Presidential canvass.
The proceedings Of the Oregon state Republican Con
yention held the 10Th inst have just reached here
The Convention instructed its delegates 10 vote for
Grant and ColfaX. and nominated j. G Wilson as caii
date for Congress- The delegates Ia The National Con
Vc1tion at Philadelphia are II. ~ DoWell j. L. BOOTH
Hiram smith. Geo. Z. Holman, Thomas ridh, dnd
". Death.rsOn.
GENERAL PRESS DlSPAICHl
The Secretary of the Treasury has authorized the As
aAEll.