New-York tribune., 1873-03-12
CURRENT TOPICS AT THE CAPITAL.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THB TRIBUNRi
WASHINGTON ThlesdaY March IL. lR1.
PROBABLE ADJOURNMENT ON FRIDAY.


WASHINGTON. Tuesday, March II. 1873.
PROBABLE ADJOURNMENT ON FRIDAY
As the Republican Senators in caucus have decided
that they have Jurisdiction in the Of Mr. Pater
son Of New Hampshire and therefore will not consider
IL at ALL there seems to be little doubt that the adjourn
ment will not be long delayed. Mr.. Morton says the
Senate and probably will finish its business by Fr
day and at once adjourn It is thought the OF
senator Clayton will require much time.
CONTROVERSIES BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT
AND THE PACIFIC RAILROAD SETTLED.
The several laws chartering the Pacific Railroads pro-
vlded for tho construction Of railroads and telegraph
lines In building the latter the Companies have
generally consulted their convenience rather than
that Of the public and have left the general telegraph
business TO the Western Union and other Companies.
who have built lines OF their own OF purchased those
already built The result is that the Government tele
graphing Of the Missouri River except when it is
from local station 70 another one Of the Pacific
roads, goes over the Western Union wires.
and not over those belonging to the railroads.
Under this state Of affairs. the question
arose the Treasury Department touching the right Of
the Government under the acts charterng the Pacific
railroads. 70 retain Onehal the amount due these tele-
graph companies for and apply to the interest
account Of the roads The Attorney General. in an
opinion recently given decides that the telegraph com
panies are entitled To receive the il amount which
thev The controversy between the Government
and the Union Pacific railroads In regard 70 tolls
on Government freight taken across the Omaha
bridge over the Missouri River has recently
been settled. The railroad and bridge companies have
held that the Union Pacific Railroad began on the west
bank the river and that the act authorizing the Gov
ernment to withhold One-half OF the amount due the
Company Tor freight did not appySo the tolls due me
bridge company. The Acknowledgement has decided
that the Union Pacific Railroad begins on the east bank
OF the river and that onehaf OF the tolls que that com
pany must be retained by the Government and applied
10 the payment OF the interest due from tho road.
MINORITY MEMBERS OF COMMITTEES.
Another caucus Of the Republican Senators was held
to-day the subject of the arrangement of the various
committees so far the opposition representation
thereon il concerned being still unsettled During last
evening il was reported and believed By the opposition
that the caucus yesterday had decided to accord two
places on committees composed Of seven members This
seemed satisfactory but il discovered to-day that
the subject mad been merely referred back 10 the Caucus
Comm,tree. with directions TO consider the
claims OF the minority. which can only
he regarded as Just and equitable. The
caucus. to-day. however, instead OF according as
has usually been done heretofore, full percentage in
Dronrtun the strength Of the minority Increased the
number of committeeman 20 nine or the leading
Committees, and thus ungenerously neutrallzed the
effect OF a fair representation when they assume 10
accord 10 the opposition The Commtees thns lheIeaseu
are Privileges and Elections, POsIOniees, Claims PEN
sions and Appropriations. and on all the Other commit
tees the opposition will be given two members. me
Democrats will hold another caucus tomorrow, and Will
decide whether they Will accept the modinoation ana
this ls decided IN the Affirmative. the NAMES on the
jOrity.
IMPORTANT DEFICIENCY IN THE CUSTOMS RE-
TURNS.
The Secretary Of the Treasury has had his attention
called 20 that the report Of the Commissioner OF
Customs at Washington was deficient by the omission Of
returns OF the warehouse business OF Tor the
two fiscal years ending June 30 1871. and June 80, 1874
which would thus invite the broadest field
for fraud in the immense transactions OF this
branch OF the customs service. The Secretary IN
reply said the fault in the Customhouse as the re-
turns had not been received at the department The DC
partment jan %, 1873 reports the balance due the
Government on warehouse transactions on JuiF l. Io'O
S 96240. The amount due for the TWO years past can
only be ascertaned when the proper Ofncer III tne Cs
tou- house makes report 70 the department. From
the printed at the department would seem
that all the other Customhouses are behind III the same
manner
A PANIC IN TIE WASHINGTON SAVINGS BANKS.
The report OF Controller Knox the condition OF the
sayngs banks OF the District abstract Of which was
sent 70 THE TRIBUNE two weeks ago. but winch was
printed the Washington newspapers Tor the nrst time
this morning, has caused considerable panic among
depostors. and especially among those who have ac-
counts at the Washington City Savings Bank, the char
TER of which Controller Knox recommended the repeal Of
The report the condition Of this bank shows that IL
would DE able to pay all its deposltors. provided
a ras not forced 10 dispose it, securities az sacrifice.
and the hundreds who have crowded iis uoors touay
nave PAID. Notice has been gwen that oahk n9urs
,rl Ia extended for the payment OF deposits unl 10
o'clock D. m each day until the deposltors are satisfied
The laws under which most OF the SAVINGS Danks OF Is
district are organized very loose and the COntroer
recommends thai they all be- repealed ana new law
containing all the safeguards that are thrown around
smlar institutions in several OF the States DO enacted
several OF these savings banks have claims against
the Washington Board Of Public works, amounting IN
,be agpeee o more than s25OOO and is rilmOred To-
night that Mr. Knox has incurred the dspeasure OF the
so-caled " ring" by his report Inert II PIOuapy ~
for this rumor az MI Knox did only what ne
was required 10 do by special act OF Congress passed
at January The banks will probably survive the
ent run but the frequent OF panics pro-
nce, STATE of dstrist IN these Institutions which
ought not ~ exist.
FEDERAL APPOINTMENTS.
,.oX,rN ATIoNs poR THE PUBLIC sERYICE-C0N-