New-York tribune., 1873-12-16
CURRENT TOPICS AT THE CAPITAL. .

THE MANIA FOR INTRODUCING BILLS IN THE HOUSE.
WASHINGTON Monday. Dec. Is, 1873.
There was never before such q mana for Introducing
bills in the House. The first bill day" Of the
rought 200, and the poor clerks who 1had to
register them teOk comfort while their work. in the
belief that tho members had unloaded their entire
stock at the outset and would hav more to do
for long time. The second call prolific than
the rs however, and the third tca. to-day, resulted
in introduction OF the amazng number Of $50. max
Ing grand total for the session s50 For two hours
there nothing else done but toread the titles Of
bills the pages brought them In bundles up to the
Clerks desk. Nine-tenths at least Of this raw
material Cor legislation is introduced with
no purpose except got the membersxnamestn print
who offer It, and TO enable them to mark the paragrhVs
in The Congressional Record and send them home to be
they cutting figure In Congress- and are
bills for the benefit Of their constituent There ought
each session.
THE SENATE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
The Senate was in Executive about two hours
this afternoon but very few hints Of what transpred
have escaped through the closed doors 1t is generally
believed that the nomination OF Judge Williams to be
ChlefJustice was not under discussion. but
that tho motion to reconsider the nomination OF
Alex H. Shepherd to be Governor of the
District Of Coumbargaverise to some acrimonious de-
bate. This motion was very fortunate for Messrs.
Conkllng Sherman. aud Window. who now have an
opportunity to throw their c0mDnedh influence against
atop until after investigation Of District
Affairs has taken place. In accordance with the solemn
promise they made while in the West, last Fall
1t could not learned whether these gentlemen took
any part In today's iebate or not There is doubt
that they have in their to defeat the conrma
ton, at least postpone It, general impression pre-
walls tonight that shepherd will be finally confirmed
- HOW NAVAL APPROPRIATIONS ARE USED. ~
One way In which the Navy Department gets nd Of a
great amount OF money IL by using large portion OF
that appropriated for repairs in the construction OF new
ships There arc building at various parts OF the
country addition 10 the six sloops author
lied by the last Congress- six other ves
sells larger than those authorized, and
which are nominally being repaired. The
names OF them are the Marion at Portsmouth, the Van
daa at Bos0n, the Mohican at Mare Island the Gaena
At Norfolk the Sevatara at Brooklyn and Qunnbago
PHILADELPHIA In the Marion there preserved OF the
aid yesse piece of timber larger than a could
easily carry in hts hands, aud 1t Is sad that
the amount left OF tho original vessel In the
Of each of the others, II larger The given
Yor building new vessels out OF appropriations for
repars is that Congress would not appropriate money
for nav ones and this was the only way which they
could be obtanod Each of these vessels OF 80
bur,iep except the M0hcan. which Ii 6I5 tons.
THE GovERNoRsuP OF DAKOTA.
Jobp T. Pennington, who to-day nomina by
ths presdent 10 be Governor OF Dakota Is native OF
North Csraua and at present resident OF Alabama.
Hs Ia q lawyer by profession. member OF tho recon.
struction constitutional Convention OF Alabama, a
state senstor for several yeors. aud Eector on
thu Rsoublican tcket N thas State both Ia