Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-12-20
COlfax's Editorial Connection with the
Tribune not yet Settled-He Spends
the Christmas Holidays with
his Family.
The Louisiana Citizens Committee In
terVieW the President in Relation
to the DisOrdered State OF
Political Affairs In
Louisiana.
Senate PrOeeedings-POstage Rates on
Seeds-FulI Text Of the Postal
Telegraph Bill = Rates
and Conditions.
Proceedings Of the House Looking after
"COrners' in Gold and Money
Public Works In the District
Of Columbia.


CURRENT NEWS.
| WASHINGTON, December 19.-The
report that Colfax has accepted the ed
| itOrship of the New York Tribune is er-
roneous. He has to-day replied to the
many inquiries, that the negotiations on
the subject had not resulted in any
agreement; that yesterday by mutual
consent they were regarded terminated.
| He leaves tomorrow to spend the holi-
day recess with his family in the West.
This afternoon the louisiana Citizens
| Committee, in accordance with preVl-
Gus arrangement through Attorney-G Gen.
eral Williams, had an interview with
President Grant, in his business office at
the Executive Mansion.
Judge Campbell explained the pur-
pose of their coming to Washington,
and gave a brief account of conditions
in Louisiana, in consequence of which
commerce was seriously affected and
trade generally so injured that the peo-
pie are dismayed.
This unfavOrable condition of affairs
has not only injured that State, but
other States having close business rela-
tions with Louisiana. AS there was no
prospect of a just and satisfactory solu-
ton of the present trouble by
means of the agency now at work, the
People, through compassion, asked that
in this exigency Associate Justice Brad
ley of the Supreme Court of the United
States, and Judge Woods of the United
States Circuit Court, may take charge of
the judicial administration of the Cir
cult Court sitting in New Orleans.
Judge Campbell said that when he
| occupied q seat on the Bench of the
Supreme Court of the United States, he
was twice requested by the Chief
Magistrate to perform such duty, that the
force, power and influence of the court
should be felt and respected. He also
went there twice at his own instance.
He did not know of more serious con-
dition of affairs than that which now ex-
listed in Louisiana.
INTHE SENATE.
The amendment to change the rate of
postage on seeds came up, and they were
authorized to be transmitted from two
cents for every four ounces to one cent
for every two ounces, and provides that
all mail matter of the third class must
be fully prepaid.
Senator Ramsey minnesota from the
Committee on Postoffices and Post
roads, reported the postal telegraph bill.
The bill is the Hubbard bill, with sun
dry notifications. The Postmaster
General is required as soon as possible
TO establish telegraph offices at all post
offices on telegraph circuits, and at 9TH
ers within a hundred miles thereof, at
salary of at least three hundred dol
lars per annum; and other places where
the wants of business require
charge for transmission not to
exceed one cent per word for circuits of
two hundred and fifty miles, counting
address and signature, with no rate less
than twenty-five cents, except in case
of night messages, for which one
thousand miles will be a circuit. Tel
egrams prepaid by stamps will be de-
livered within one mile of the office free.
The above mile rate is fixed by
the POstmaster-G General, the Gov
ernment messages to have priority, and
sent at rates fixed by the Postmaster
General. Press reports seventy-hve
cents per hundred words not exceeding
five hundred words at night, and one
dollar by day, with drop rates at inter-
mediate offices at fifty cents at night,
and seventy-five cents by day. Rates
for press associations not to exceed those
now paid; five cents postage to be paid
on each press dispatch. The Fourth
Assistant Postmaster-Gene to be ap-
pointed to supervise the administra-
ton of telegraph. The Postmaster
General is also authorized to contract
with the Postal Telegraph Company for
the transmission of correspondence by
telegraph as his agent for ten years ac-
cording TO the provisions Of this act,
with right to construct and provide lines
on all post routes, and to all postal tele-
graph offices, and may take possession
of the same in case of failure to perform
the service and contract with other par
ties, therefor charging said company
with the loss. The capital stock of Il e
company shall consist of ten thousand
shares of the par value of one hundred
dollars cash, paid up, and to be increased
by amount equal at par value TO the
cost of the lines, purchased or con-
structed thereafter. Telegraph COM
panies in actual operation are al
lowed to sell to this company
at valuation, to befixed by five disinter-
ested persons, two to be named by
the Postmaster-G General, two by the
seller and one by the four previously
selected. The company is also author
lied to establish offices independent of
those established by the Postmaster
General. Any postmaster may act as
an operator with the assent of the Post
master General. The company may
make special contracts with railroads,
persons, or associations to use the wires.
The Government reserves the right to
renew the contract or annul the fran
chise for neglect or failure on the part
of the company.
IN THE HOUSE.
motion of Mr.. Wood, a resolution
was adopted that the Banking Com
mittee inquire whether unlawful combi-
nations for locking up gold and money
exist, causing commercial and financial
stringency, and report legislation neces-
sary to prevent and punish such unlaw-
ful combinations.
The House at one o'clock went into
Committee of the Whole, Mr.. Schofeld
(of Pennsylvania in the Chair, ON the
Deficiency Appropriation Bill. After
some Intellectual efforts on the part of
some Democratic members to defeat the
item of two hundred and forty-one
thousand nine hundred and twenty dol
lars for the Board Of Public Works for
the District Of Columbia, the Committee
rose and reported a bill to the House,
with an amendment offered by Mr..
Holman, (Indiana,) forbidding the
Board of Public Works from unnecessa-
~ further liability on the part of the
United States for improvement of the
streets, avenues etc., beyond the amount
Of appropriations previously made by
Congress, or from entering into any con-
tract touching such improvements on
the part of the United Stated States, ex-
cept in pursuance of appropriations
made bV Congress- Amendment WAS