The New York herald., 1873-12-02
WASHINGTON NOTES.

Summer
Vice President Wilson has been very busly en-
gagged since his arrival in the city in suggesting to
republican Senators the propriety OF reinstating
Mr.. Sumner as Chairman Of the Committee on
Foreign Relations. But, while there has been
universal display Of good feeling towards Mr.. Sum-
ner and desire to welcome him back into the re-
publican fold, 1t has been thought that 1t would be
unadvisable to place him In position which re-
ceives confidential and friendly relations between
the incumbent and the Secretary OF State. 1t is
possible that the Craftsmanship Of the Library Com
mittee might be rendered to Mr.. Sumner should
Mr.. Howe be willing TO relinquish it). But IL
would hardly be accepted.
Senator Scott.
Senator Scott, who is to be made Chairman OF the
Senate Committee on Claims is well qualified for
that position by his legal training.
Governor-Elect Ames, of Mississippi.
Senator Ames Cutters son-inlaw) has returned
from his Mississippi political campaign victorious,
and VIII in few days resign his Senatorship to go
back and be inaugurated as Governor. Twelve
years ago he came here from West Point an unas-
signed second lieutenant and now he is to be
Governor OF Mississippi with a certainty of re.
election as United States Senator.
Senator Hamlin squclched.
While Senator Hamin was puflng cigar in the
the Clerks office OF the Senate during the recess
to-day he was reminded by a friend OF the extraor-
dinary fact that never before in the history of the
country had there been two former Vice Presidents
members OF Congress at the same time. After
cogitating Tor moment he remarked that he
knew he had held that oflce, but who the other
Vice President was he could not imagine .Alex-
ander H. stephens OF Georgia. late Vice President
Of the southern Confederacy,n was the answer OF
Mr. Hamlin's friend.
Northern Boundary Line OF Nevada.
The Major Brothers, employed by the Engineer
Bureau Of the War Department to determine the
northern boundary line Of Nevada have submitted
their report to the Secretary OF War.
Work Prepared.
General Negley, OF Pittsburg, will revive the bin
introduced by him in the last Congress for modif-
cation OF the Steamboat act, and has prepared
bills for the Improvement of the Ohio River, near
Pittsburg, and to carry out the project Of the
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal.
Pipelayers In the Lobbies.
Notable among the men who thronged the lob
bies OF the House and Senate to-day were the
veteran jobbers, who came down to Washington
with the hope that the prospect OF war would blot
out the indignation Of the people on the Credit
Mobier question, &C, and enable them to lay their
pipes for a successful season OF jobbery. Hard
times have contracted their resources but certified
played to those who have scruples about back pay.
Repeal Of the Back Pay Bill.
Eugene Hale, of Maine, will lead on in present
ing bill for the repeal Of the act increasing the
pay OF Members OF Congress-
Cuban Visitors.
Among the spectators in the reporters gallery
OF the House to-day were Messrs GOWN Cesnaros,
Ziminez and De Pass. delegation OF Cuban pa
triots residents OF Kingston, Jamaica, who accom-.
panied the virginius 25 miles out at sea, and who
vouch for her sailing properly under American
colors and clearance, are here to testify to such
fact.
The Attorney Gcner ais Report ON United
states Suits.
II appears by the report OF Attorney General
Williams that the civil suits the 1st of July last
to which the United States were party we're as
follows:-Customs suits, $3.50; internal revenue
suits, 1,4s2; Post ONCE suits, 142 miscellaneous
suits, 2,216, making in the aggregate 1859 suits
pending on that day. During the same year the
aggregate amount OF judgments in favor OF the
United States In these suits was 20s 4o2 and the
amount actually realized on the judgments was
$1,6ss, 133. There were pending on the lst OF July
last in Circuit and District courts OF the United
states, 6,274 criminal prosecutions tho re-
suit OF which Is given In the report.
Exhibits are also given OF the number and
results OF civil suits in the federal courts total
OF 15 1 suits OF oil classes were commenced in the
year ending with June last The total number
terminated was 1915. summary OF the business
transacted by the Court of Claims the past year
shows that the miscellaneous cases disposed OF
amounted to 1,493; cotton cases, 107 total 1,600.
The amount claimed was $7.olS,22S. the amount
awarded was as folows:-In the miscellaneous
cases. $753, 402; In the cotton cases. So, $780, 39s,
making total OF $3,sss,s00. The number
OF cases disposed OF during the year was 1900.
Those still pending amount to 4,s02. The
amount expended by the Department OF Justice
was s3,o31,o0o Information In relation to other
branches falling under the department Is given,
concluding with an account OF the suits brought
by the United States against the Union Pacific
Railroad Company and the Credit Mopilier, Judge
Hunt having flied an opinion, in which he holds
and decides not only that there is no right OF
action in the United States for the claims specified
in the act OF Congress to recover but that Con-
gress cannot give to the United States the right to
recover. Upon said causes OF action the decision.
In eject, renders nugatory the law under which
the suit was brought, therefore the Attorney
General considers 1t to be his duty to appeal IRON
this decision to the Supreme Court OF the United
States.
The Holt-Johnson Quarrel About the
Surratt Execution.
Judge Advocate General Holt publishes q long
rejoinder to ex-Presdent Johnson. Ho says Mr..
Johnson is guilty OF gross perversion In his state
ment OF what occurred at their interview just
previous to the execution OF Mrs. Surratt 1t
would be seen by reference to General Ekin ana
General Muzzy's letters that the statements were
expressed by Mr.. Johnson himself that he now
seeks to put into Mr.. Holt's mouth. Mr.. Holt
says
While, or course, assentcd then, as I do now.
to the general doctrine tnat sex is NO excuse for