The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-23

examination by board selected from the several
departments the best method 0finitiati0n or entry
into the executive service of the United Statesf"
There was an animated disc ussion on this subject
and from views expressed by members OF the CON-
mittee it was clearly apparent that the civil SER
vice examination as heretofore conducted did not
meet their approval.
Bal for the Survey, Inspection and Uni
form Registry OF seagOing Vessels.
Mr.. Houghton, OF California. to-day introduced
bill to establish inform registry OF seagOing YES
ses 10 afford additional protection to life on ship
board and to govern rebates in duties on mer-
chandise damaged on the voyage OF Importation.
1t is proposed to establish a board OF survey and
record OF shipping, TO have its office in the city OF
New York, and sub inspectors at such other ports
as may be required for the purpose Of surveying
vessels as to condition, seaworthiness and In
other respects as to safety to life on the same.
Presidential Entertainment OF the SUI
preme Justlces-Wafte's Commission.
The President will, on Tuesday afternoon, enter
tain at dinner the Justices OF the Supreme Court Of
the United States and other guests. The commits
sion OF Chief Justice Waite has not yet been pre-
pared, nor is 1t known when he will come to
Washington.
Representatives Sheldon and Sypher, ex-senator
Harris and revenue officer Pitkin, all of Louisiana,
c"iOu VII iIcsiucuL tO-uty W eApTcbS, III ih
said, their views In opposition to new election in
that state. Senator Carpenter and General Butler
also had interviews with the President. II is as-
serted that these gentlemen are on the other side
Of the question In Louisiana Ex-Governor Den
nIson OF Ohio, was among the callers on the Presi-
dent to-day.
Madame Bertinatti's War Claim.
The Senate, in March last, ungallantly struck
from the bill making allowances for Southern
claims that of Madame Bertinatti for $1l,5O0. She
was charming Mississippi widow, Mrs. Bass, who
married Bertinatt, the Italian Minister, during the
war, and thus earned diplomatic protection. She
Is here renewing her claim.
The Washington National Monument
Fund.
The officers OF the Washington National Monu-
ment Society report $23O,OOO as the amount Of
their "cOlectiOns and interest on investments.n
Now, how much did the people give toward the
completion OF the monument represented by this
sum in the treasury thereofP Good judges are
OF the opinion that enough has been donated to
have finished the work, and that it should cOnse-
quently be taken out OF the control OF its present
managers and turned over to General BabcOck,
with an appropriation from the national treasury
large enough 10 secure its completion before
July 4, 1879.
Expediicncy Of tho Annual Appropriation
for Surveys or Pubic Lands.
Western congressman say the Representatives
from the Eastern States have some queer notions
OF economy. This Is shown by the action OF some
OF them with regard to public lands. few days
ago these gentlemen wanted to vote away the
proceeds of the public lands in lump for the pur-
pose Of eking ont the late Freedmen's Bureau
funds and educating the iiterate young darkies
OF the South. Now some OF these same men wish
In hv tinrr Jnv,
annual appropriations Tor the surveys Of the public
lands, without which they would be OF no value,
could not be brought into market, and without
which no proceeds could be realized from them.
Certainly the first proper application OF the pro-
ceeds OF the public lands s for the necessary ma
chinery for their sale. Probably the next would be
to apply them In the annual Indian Appropriation
bill for payment OF the original owners After this
there would be nothing lett; but il there should be
it would be more properly applied in the develop
ment OF the new States and Territories in which
the lands are situated than to be divided among
old states whose interests in them are remote.
Tenure OF Lands Purchased OF the Gov
ernment.
The bill TO secure homesteads to actual settlers
on the pubic domain reported by Representative
Townsend from the Committee on Public Lands
repeats the presumption laws, and provides that
one years, and who is citizen OF the
United States or who may have declared
his intention to become such, shall be en-
titled to enter, by purchase with cash only, q
tract Of land not exceeding forty acres as q site
for mechanical, commercial or manufacturing pur-
poses upon proof satisfactory to the Commissioner
OF the General Land once that he Is in actual pos
session Of such premises and that no valid adj
verse claim existed at the date OF his occupancy,
and that he has occupied and held possession of
the same for such purposes for his own use and
benefit for period Of not less than one year. pro-
vided that notice OF his intention to claim said
tract shall be fled with the Register within two
onths from the date OF actual session. and that the
payment herein required shan be made within Is
months of said tling. All lands within the lateral
limits OF any railroad grant, the title to which shall
remain in the United States, whether an odd or
even section, shall upon becoming subject to sale
or to the provisions OF this act be held at the
douole minimum price Of 81 SO per acre, unless
otherwise specially provided by law. This act to
take effect from and after the LIST Gay OF September
next.
The Approaching Transit OF Venus.
The naval 0f1cers at the Observatory here have
completed the preparatory work for the Observa-
tons Of the approaching transit Of Venus, for
which our government has made liberal appropri-
atoms.
The French Embassy At Warrington.
The Marquis de Noailles has been forced to pass
much Of his time Of late in dark room, his eye
sight having been 30 seriously impaired as to In
spire serious fears among his friends. He will sail
from New York on the 7th OF February, and his ex-
qusite furniture and good wines will be sold at
auction. The incoming Minister Is o bachelor, and
telegraphed from St Petersburg that he should not
undertake to keep house at first.
The Printing OF Romantic Agricultural
Reports To BE Limited To the Demand.
The Commissioner OF Agriculture is much in
censed because the Senate will not pass the House
bill ordering the publication for gratuitous dis
tributon of 255ooo copies Of his report for 1872 and
1885, 600 Of hts report for 1873; and when Senator
intimated that the best way would be to supply
the popular demand for these books at COST rather