The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-12-15
BY TELE GRAPH
Exclusively for the Register.
By the Pacific and Atlantic Line.
Onice, IlO Main street.
WASHING TON.
Adjournment Of the National Civil
Rights Convention.

1
tional Civil Rights Convention
which adjourned sine die last night
say in an address, they take it fol
granted that action be had by Con.
gress protecting them from invidious
distinctions in the enjoyment OF
common carriers, hotels and other
public places of convenience and re-
freshment, in places of amusement,
and enjoying other civil rights, in
Guiding entrance to public schools
without regard to race. They want
denial of these rights punished.
Important Land Claim.
Mr.. Luttrell, of California, will in-
troduce in the House on Monday next
a bill FOR the repeal of the act approved
April 5th, 1872 for the relief Of Thos.
B. Valentine. The circumstances that
led to this determination on his part
show a remarkable case of bad faith
and sharp practice in land mat tiers,
The property involved in the questions
which this act is intended 10 settle, is
very valuable, embracing the entire
town and improvements Of the town oi
Pelatuma, California. Some years age
a claim was made by one Valentine, o.
the firm OF Francis & Valentine, prin-
ters, of San Francisco, California, to q
tract OF land containing 1880 acres
called the Miranda grant, based on q
Spanish title, covering a site in the
vicinity OF the town o! Pela;uma. The
property WAS both OF agricultural and
commercial value and was occupied
by about 1000 people. The grant had
never been presented TO the United
States Land Commissioners and the
time prescribed by the statute of llmi-
tations for presenting the claim had ex-
pired, and application WAS made to Con.
gress for relief, which was granted,
as follows: The statute Of limitations
was raised so as to permit Valentine to
present his claim in legal form. 1t was
provided that if he succeeded in estab"
fishing good right to the land in
question under the Spanish organlza-
ton law, he was to receive OF the gov.
ernm ent indemnity scrip for the thir-
teen thousand five hundred acres OF
land, provided that he should first Sc
cure the present occupants Of the Mi
rando grant bv executing quit claim
to the United States for all his right,
title aud interest in the lands as origin
ally claimed.
Increased Taxation.
The House Committee on Ways and
Means called on Secretary Richardson
this morning in body to pay respects
No speeches were made but some con-
versation was had regarding the pro-
posed bill to be cent to the House IA
voriug increased taxation. The Secre'
tarv will send letter to the Committee
on Ways and Means on Monday, eI'
planning his views in detail.
The Committee on Ways and Meanf
to-day called on the President to pay
respects. During the visit the subject
OF increased taxation was formally talk
ei over, but the President expressed
no decided views on the subject, pre-
ferring to leave it with the Secretary of
the Treasury and Congress.
Secretary Richardson in a converse
ton this morning, stated that no mat
ter whether Congress did or did not
pass the bill increasing taxation II
would be necessary TO issue the S44,-
600 600 reserve to meet the regular ex-
penses OF the government. 1t the act
increasing taxation were Immediately
passed by Congress and approved oy
the President, it would be several
months before the machinery for COL
lectipg such tax could be set in opera
ton, and in the meantime the neces-
sites OF the government would de-
msnd the issue OF the reserve. 1t is
not believed, however, that Congress
will pass the bill increasing taxation
but will authorize the issue OF one hum
dred million dollars in green-
backs. The southwest are almost q
unit in favor OF initiation, and are backed
by competent representatives from the
Middle States.
Public Bindings.
A resolution will be introduced next
week by the Committee on E1pen'
|
ditures on Public Buildings, providing
for an investigation of the present sys-
tenn under which government structures
are built, and also TO determine whether
the present outlay can be curtalled.
Postal Back Pay.
The mail contractors are here in full
force after what may be termed "back
paw" Their claims in the aggregate
amount 10 several hundred thousand
and the most powerful Influences vii
be brought to bear upon Congress to
pass bills for their relief. These claims
are generally based on alleged extr'
service and the failure of the govern
ment to adhere to the terms OF its con-
tract by demanding more than was
contracted for.
The Civil Rights Bill
Which the House has determined Il
report favorably upon. is an e1ac
counterpart of that which Mr.. Sumner
has go persistently urged on the Senate
That 1t will pass there seems to be no
much doubt.
The Salary Grab.
The special committee on the saIaf.
question will submit report to-mor-
row Of they can obtain the floor for tha
, purpose. They will, OF course, repor
in accordance with instructions from
the House, but as these instructions ar
st variance with the views OF the Com