New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-01-11

subject
few Republicans appeared to believe that this little Blu
reau composed commissioner and u clerks engaged
in collecting and distributing educational information is
q standing menace TO the common school system Of all
tho States and designed the entering wedge
TO open the way for the establishment of a gigantic
department that is control the education OF the people
in some despOtc way A good deal of truth said
about the tendency 10 cenraize and unusual pow
ers in the General Government but little OF IL was
applicable TO the question before the House. The Blu
reau OF Education finally came out unscathed, and the
appropriations for the Department Of Agriculture were
next considered This anomalous feature OF the Govern
ment always gets good buffeting every year. IL is
abused ridieued and saized to such an extent that
this way would think its utter determination certain
en tne IIse VOTE strange 10 say tne result ~ 10
Always large increase OF its appropriations. ~ has
never been settled whether the Department
ent of any superior aGhorltv but its head is styled
Commissioner He doesn't sit in the Cabinet, and he
gets only the pay OF ordinary bureau oicers-S30OO
year. The first Commissioner, who was not noted for
ms literary atanmens used TO say that he supposed he
there yet" Very few members of Congress have any
knowledge of what the Department does beyond supply
have general idea that il represents the agricultural
interests of the country and is popular with the farm
in spite OF all the ridicme annually heaped
on the Department To-day proposiiu on was vas made
this Mr.. Cox made funny speech, and 0her members
got of the old jokes about pumpkin seeds ana garden
sass" When sthe salary question came TO be Sc
rously consdeTed stated that the Commissioner
lives in the Department building with his family getting
his rent fuel gas free OF cost that he is supplied
with horse and carriage at the public expense and that
he has all the choice fruits and vegetables ne can use
from the Department gardens and grounds The House
thought all these perqusites fully equivalent 10 s2VVo
year, and refused TO raise the salary Inc appropriation
FOR seeds was. however, increased from $4,000 to $4,000
The last topic discussed was the appropriation 10 pay
the judgments of the Court Of CLAIMS. The House ad
journed without completing the bill
DISSOLUTION OF THE MEXICAN CLAIMS COM
MISSION.
The Mexican Claims Commission, appointed under the
treaty between the United States and Mexico, Of Jny
1865 which has been in session in this city, expires
by limitation the LIST Of next month. An agreement
was arranged between the two Governments during
Minister Nelson's visit to this country to extend
the Of the Commission two years in order that the
unfinished business before them might be concluded.
This agreement which must be ratified by the Congress
Of Mexico and the Senate OF the United states was taken
by Mr. Nelson his return TO Mexico but he failed 10
reach the capital of that country before the adjournment
can be exchanged in time and that the Commission Will
break up The claims which have been before this Com
mission which have not been adudicated, are very
great including that of Mexico against the United states
for damages from the Apache raids amounting 70 about
pany against Mexico for almost an equal amount
EFFORTS TO HAVE THE COTTON TAX RE-
FUNDED.
GENERAL PRESS DISPATCHI
The friends of the Cotton Tax Refuuding scheme are
making a powerful, and what they think will prove
successful movement furtherance of their object
circular accompanied by the arguments of Judge b. X
Curtis, Messrs hughes and Sharkey, and HerschelV V.
Johnson as wen as the memorials and resolutions of
nearly all the Southern States and cities has been signed
by all the members from the Cotton States present.
This circular, which, with the accompanying papers.
will be laid the desk of every member, Is DECLARE
On they intend to press the passage OF an act a
th session. TO refund the collected by the General
Government after the close of the late They set
forth that IN their behalf the law imposing the cotton
tax was Unconstitutional that II was unjust aud OPP
pressye n its operations that it fell essentially upon
producers and was passed when their States were
wholly unrepresented under the mistaken idea that 1t
would fall upon They ask OF Congress far
examination of the arguments submitted, which they
claim demonstrate the correctness Of their positions ana
fine reasOnableness their demand 1t Is stated that
this paper is signed unanimously by all the members OF
the House Of Representatives now present from the
politics COLOR and II Is
expected that powerful effect, and gave
dignity and force 70 the movement