New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-01-10
CURRENT TOPICS AT THE CAPITAL.
INVESTIGATION INTO THE ARKANSAS AND LOU
lsIANA TROUBLES.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRlBUkBI
w . a,,rvcrNx Tbnrcdau Ian

[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE
WASHINGTON, Thursday, Jan. Q, 1878.
The Senate Committee Privileges and Elections at
its meeting this morning discussed at considerable
length the plan OF operations to be adopted in conduct
ing the Louisiana and Arkansas Investigations. The APP
polptment of commissioners Is OF the most difficult
duties imposed upon the Committee. II they appoint
men gho are unknown to the public the public will have
no confidence in their report. If they appoint men Of
national reputation, it is difficult to find those who will
serve and who VIII not be charged with being preudiced
Again no man who is fit to serve upon such commits
sion can be expected TO do without pay,
and il the Committee should vote to pay the
commissioners salary commensurate with the actual
value OF their services the country will be likely TO look
upon 10 eXtravaRant act. The Committee VIII
probably decide tomorrow morning upon its course and
may possibly hold the investigation here sending for
persons and papers. Congressman Sheldon, who re-
turned from this morning is in favor OF an
investigation by Congress 10 determine which of the
rival parties actually constitutes the state Government
Of louisiana He says that the Senate investigation
does not propose to settle that matter and that affairs
have become 80 mixed there that an investigation Dy
resolution OF Congress alone settle the difficulty.
INTERESTING HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS.
The State Historical Society of Wisconsin asks Con-
gress TO appropriate sufficient money to purchase
tain original documents relating the early French
discoveries on the lakes and the Mississippi River
vet published The collection Of these documents was
begun when Cen. Cass was United States Minister to
time of Colbert. the French Cabinet Ministers
regarded all their official correspondence as
Of great importance were lost or preserved only by the
families and descendants OF those Ministers in France
NJ Margry has continued TO collect these documents and
has now nine volumes OF manuscript, containing goo
pages Three OF these relate 10 the discoveries OF La
sale his companons-Jontel Tonty, Gainiere and
Doller du Casson; one to La mothe Cadll-
lac, and the settlement OF Detroit; two to dis
in 1752 by De Nseviie and the brothers verandiere
Fort Du Quesne and Natchitoches and two 20 the
find publisher for these valuable documents, and now
offers print them himself and deliver 500 copies 10 the
fba Tfuifpd tate
volume. The Wisconsin Historical Society asks that
sum sufficient TO purchase these be appropriated. and
that they be divided among the principal libraries vi the
country.
ROYALTIES ON BREECH-LoADING ARMS.
Senator Harlan introduced bill to-day authorizing
the Secretary Of War pay to Gen. Benjamin s. Roberts
80 cents as royalty each breechloadDg small arm
that been made by the Government at the public
armories on the plan known as the Auin Springfield
or ordnance gun 1865 1t also directs the payment
of royalty of 20 cents each thousand metallic
ridges tapered by machinery since Aug l, 1866 The
condition CT this payment il that Mr.. Roberts shall
transfer 10 the United States all his rights
under the patents covering 'Ie5e t IN; Inc
Government employee in the Springfield Armory was for
several years the favote Of the Ordnance Bureau and
composed chiefly OF ordnance and other ohcer OF the
army formed for its manufacture. TIE gun had
little that novel in its construction the most i'm
portant devices being taken from other guns that
competed for adoption Il has s,n now been sub,
attempting % select another breech-loadng
The Secretary of War, in report
the claims for royalty on inventions used in the Sring
field musket sent to the House to-day, says that 131
muskets have been altered the Ain plan since the
Winter of The Chief Of Ordnance has repeatedly
called the attention of Congress 70 the competing
claims OF paientees set up against this gun One suit is
now pending, the Secretary says In the Court
OF Claims; another claimant has gone 70 Congress.
and other Datentees awaiting the decision
OF pending questions. The most important claim
il that arising OUT Of the suit of James
H. Ely TO restrain the commanding officer at the Spring
field Armory from manufacturing any Springfield mus
OF brecchosding system adopted by the army
an iDfringerDent EIss patents. settlement with
EIys representatives. he being dead, ~, Gen. Benap
thinks, required by Justice One dollar per gun IL
thought by the Department 70 be an equitable amount
10 divide among the several claimants, and Of this 25
cents should be paid to Ely representatives, in addition
10 the cost OF hD suit.
CHEAP TRANSPORTATION FROM THE UPPER MIS-
sIssIPPI TO THE ATLANTIC.
senator Sawyer now preparing bill which be viii
shortly introduce for reference TO the Committee
transportation 10 the seaboard providing for granting
the right Of way the Eastern and Western Railway
Transportation Company. The preamble OF this bill will
forth the important problem how TO obtain cheap
from the Upper Valley of the Mississippi
10 the Atlantic Ocean, and urging the necessity of
sructing frueass railroad, with guage four feet
eigbt and onehsf inches built and equipped with the
view Of transporting heavy freight with rspdfty and
,conomy II u proposed 70 run the new road from |
pSr BoYsi 70 PessfsT ssste Caroline, Fort LesveD