New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-12-21
CURRENT TOPICS AT TIE CAPITAL.
ExTRAvAGANT PLANS FOR BEAUTIFYING WASH
INGTON.
IBY qLLsGaAPH To TIE TRIBUNE.l

[BY qLLsGaAPH To TIE TRIBUNEl
WASHINGTON, Friday. Dec 20, 1872.
sOme time last sulnIBer "a Commission appointed
under an act OF ress With instructions TO examine
the water front the cites of Washington and George
town and report Plan for improving the channel This
Cosumsic, which has seat 20 the Hoase the results Of
It's labors includes OF tie members OF the famous
BoaId Of Pubit Works the body which has astonshed
the country anc alarmed tine taxpayers by the magnih
ceucc ! ts project for he improvement Of Washington
Tae Comm appear 10 have tried 70 rival the Board
The uraecs they recommend are certainly superb.
Their maiNs H. 10 narrow The calnEe OF the river
by Lldi.s ukh al . 40 feet in length and filling up
intervening gPa bel ween II ana the shore This,
tey Ia az weul CO 81 s. SC0Jl. tbsy faith to
belsvc that the oper,ll vollt result in profitable
real Estate speculation for the Government which
could realize sC6l9JjO by selling the made
au1 Al ), cents foot aud make net profit OF over
tsoaOC THE Commission number Of other minor
rroct- fr tie bonefl Dt he CITY IA which i1ey want
no Government Q" enihalk. they would ike to have
dae tdef TIC IA rs place. The Aqneduct Bridge
A. ,t1Wn ought also TO be rcmodcied they think,
Alg<andTa Osrs Sldcn passes il, and rail
rO3a aouE is ca. 1Ge aso suggest new bridge over
to enlarge tie arsl nal grounds by ning the stream
10 TOE eastward. aud Wlon this Is done they tiink II
would good thin, 20 nave he arsenal and the Navy
n 20 o. re Cs.ryiors grounds aud the building OF
. .prgid observatory. To accomplish all these
u siac-1t results t.e Commissioner estimate will re-
., .our y.ars tae and they arc modest enough 10
as tor or.. 5000 ~ % mako a ginning.
UNI TPY RS :. rs OF LEGISLATIVE DILAToRI-
MSS.
s'Th,ro ou.ht o. National Convention 10 consult
IS L. tie best of making the Senate practical
pOiy" va TensIE overheard in the gallery, to-day,
yShilc 81 grave men were for nearly two hours OF
precious timc discussing the moinentois question
whether NOTION 70 discharge Committee
hotu the further consideration Of bill is q
iaiun such a. interpreted by the rules OF the senate
ssd whether, therefore it can be entertained on the
same dsy it Is Clled. Meanwhile thousands OF poor
ple af on rho very verge Of starvation because the
hoard OF uhc Works have contracted liabilities faster
,an they have Ut pTOy sion % Them and because
Congress seer - unlikely time 10 pass bill to give
hern rollef After this legislative bubble settled
tho solat, under the lead Vi Elmunds, amended the
Deficiency 81 uud ps,sed II. The parliamentary ques-
iois raised are Of lte Consequence but the question
Sheiber the b. m It's unfinished condition, Will be OF
any e he holiday Is one Of great moment
e. those VIC will be without bread tomorrow morning
The sate ~ the case Il this: The Board Of Public
Works having exhausted their ready money have con.
.hu6d 1er Tor several mouths, employing about
1000 labOEors, without funds TO pay them fhey de-
tended. rttt Ulon ABOUT szoo3o%V Oh tax t1s
u,HOOO which the Government Is bound
vet due and theis was when the work was
dome fat Congress would make tue appropriation asked
for O. codTs the contractors could not DC paid, ana
thy IN turn could pay the iabOrcrs They did, how
give orders tho shOpkeepers but thcse III turn
Ieneta OF f6ir credit and can furnish but few more
gods nutl the money pay Is forthcoming: The blll
passed to-day cannot become law uut aIter the re-
ress bat u j. hoped tht viii take the vote IN
two Houses proof that Congress VIII nhaly pass
IL AMI cd tho Board Of Pablo Works money enough to
csuy them over II this Is not done there must DO great
suffering Ia the District within lew days.
TIE COTTON TAX KEFUNDIYG SCHEME.
tn House Committees OF Claims and Ways and Means
both Jurisdiction the question refundng the
eOttOn tax. The FIRST bills for this purpose introduced
last session. referred 10 the Claims CommI tee and
certain persons Interested n the scheme filed number
OF docunents there and Indicated their purpose 20
que the question and ask decision Finding the Com
mittee evidently hostile to the project, they had bill
Introduced and referred 10 the Ways and Means Com.
attee toward the close OF the session Fnkelnburg and
Kerr were appointed a subcommittee look into the
inject, bat no further progress made until few
egays ago, when attorney made his appearance before
ne COnmttee, ana made preliminary argument In
upport " the claim. On the surface the claim has
Ssusibe and deceptive appearance Of justice. The tax
49, certainly greyously oppressive to put upon