New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-02-07
WASHINGTON.


To-day, o bill was passed after q long and
unusually animated debate granting 5000 70
an old man in Illinois named Joseph J. Petri. who
rescued a party OF IL emigrsuts. showed Ia tho
Sierra Nevadas. in California, az long 1sis The
only ground which the appropriation was advocated
that the man had done OF great heroism st
risk OF his life and was now old and poor 10
vain that Messrs Willard and Potter argued that was
and that II all such deeds done by citizens OF the United
States rewarded with similar gifts OF money, tine
Treasury would DO bankrupt. The sympathies OF the
House were aroused by an eioquenty written report,
and by the appeals OF Mossrs Hawley, Marshall, and
other Illinois members, and the bill was passed by an
overwhelming majority
CHANGE IN THE MANAGEMENT or The CENTENNIAL
CELEBRATION DESIRED.
A change in the organization OF tho Centennial man
sgement earnestly desired by the most active friends
of the undertaking. They say that the present orsanza
ton is complex, cumbersome. and inefficient and that
II Congress makes appropriation for the exhibition.
it ought at the time, TO sweep away the waioe
machinery OF corporstors Board OF Finance, Commas
and Executive Committee, and provide for tho OPP
pointment By the President and confirmation by che
Senate OF Government Commissioners, empowered to
charge OF the entire enterprise The existing organ
izatOn ngularly complicated The first law passed
auth orzed tho appoin of Centennial Commission
composed OF member from each State and Territory
This Commission appointed aud In due time met
and elected an executive comhitee Thus far 1t war
all simple enough but the committee made the serious
mistake OF suppOsing that NJ would be possible TO raise
the money required for the Exhibition from the people
OF the country by voluntary subscriptions To carry out
this plan they got Congress to pass law creating
a corporation called Board OF Finance and naming In
tho aot two eorporatOrs from each Congressional district
In the country These corporators we're expeoedto so TO
work and solicit subscriptions They did nothing OF the
amounting to $1,000 About 100 Of them got
together, and a board of as directors was chosen
in accordance with the law This Board has power TO
Commission, through its Executive Committee has moth
inc do but to submit its plans for the buildings TO lhe
Board for approval and to wait until the structures are
completed when they TO take charge Of the Exhibi
and erect the buildings and another to hold the Far
division OF authority that already works badly and
Government Commission with fun powers would
remedy these troubles and furnish an efficient orsana
ton.
The Of the Kansas Pacific road against the Union
Pacific before the Judiciary Committee OF the House. TO
obge tho latter to discrimination against the
former the rates OF freight, ia exciting general inter
est among the representatives OF railroads here Prop
arations are making quarters 10 take earnest
part in struggle before the Committee. The Gran
gers in the Northwest interested to prevent roads
running eastward from discriminating against points on
the great rivers whence grain could be shipped south
ward TO tho Mississippi, and also against connecting
roads running southwsrdly that could IN Winter trans
port grain 10 points the rivers below the range OF
ice tits expected that all the parties IN interest will
be represented before Committee and that the con
test will be one OF the warmes had here for some time
The sentiment of the House seems to be favor OF leg
saon to forbid the evils complained o. at least so Jar
all land grant roads are concerned bl now nnder
consideration by the Judiciary Committee prohlOlts
these roads from granting drawbacks 70 one class OF
persons carrying freight and denying 1t 10 others Tor
The same article This Involves such transactions "a
that OF the Wyoming Coal Company with the Union IA
oiho road.
THE sANBORN CONTRACTS.
Thu NJ Lha declines to furnish
information to the public with reference to the now no
torous Sanborn contracts but says he has no doubt
that tho information called for by the House Will DO
ready in few days. There is a strange influence at
work which 10 thwart all efforts to reach Cue
facts in this The resolution Of the House has been
before the Secretary nearly two weeks or ten times as
long as 1t would require to furnish tho contracts the
dspositon was of ready character It seems that the
same trouble and delay attended the law officers IN
Brooklyn who had TO proceed TO extreme measures In
order copies of the necessary 10 bring
suit to protect the Governments interests. and even
then only portion the papers called for were fur
nished. The schedules yet lacking. The payment
OF $4,000 to Sanborn by the Treasury Department
claim against the Lackawanna Canal Company score
tary Richardson. in compensation says he Is serousy
OF fees moeties and rewards outside OF the regular
salaries OF officers.
THE DISTRICT INVESTIGATIONS
The District Iuvestis Committee is not popular
T.
day appointed to the place that neither MT Freling
buysen nor Conllng would have, and whose selection
yas received with much satisfaction by all who desire to
see an honest investigation declined to serve ana Just
before adjournment Mr. Sher who bas manifested
suspicious interest in impedpg the Investigation.
entered motion TO reconsider the vote by which the
concurrent resolution Of the House agreed to- The
only effect that this action have 70 postpone the
organization the Committee and 1t comes with bad
grace from the man who joined with messrs. ConknR
and Window last Fail IN assuring prominent RepuDii
can OF the West that an investigation should tako place
before Shepherd should BIO confirmed as Governor.
THE DURgLL AND BUSTED CASES.
The House Judiciary Committee will probably report
on the mpeachment case OF Judge Dure IN about ton
days The testimony taken by the sub committee 10
New Orleans nearly all in type and viii soon be FUR
nished in full TO the entire Committee, and vote as 10
whether articles of impeachment shall be reported to
the House will taken Those who have had good 0p
portunties knowing the character OF the testimony
believe there ia doubt that the Committee Will agree
60 bis impeachment unless he shall the mean time
resan contin gency which Is again regarded as very
probable The INVESTIGATION INTO the impeaGnniene
case OF Judge Busted will also be MASHED during the
next fortnight. -Four Witnesses WA arrive ito" MA
bama on Monday.
Mr.. MARsHs PAPER ON IRRIGATION.
The House having failed 10 obtain from tho Comms
souer of gricuture copy OF Mr. Marshs paper on ir
rgatlon tho Senate has concluded 70 try Mr. Morrill, OF
yermont introduced resolution to-day caug upon tho
venerable head OF socslled Department OF Agrcui
tire for the paper. and the country will await MI
wattss reply with breathess anxiety remains TO DC
whether or mol rms DepattmeDt Is l!uepehLsns VI
the Government II 10 may haYn TO try ats hani al
run ming year without an appropriation
WASHINGTON NOTES
WASHINGTON. Friday. Feb. G. 1874