The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-03

| CiVH service C0minittee OF the House, ana WIN
Messrs. Beck and Foster as subcommittee OF
Ways and Means, has made reduction in hts
clerical and other force Of swenty-one persons at
an annual saving Of $2i,54o. This brings the force
OF the commissioners Office, with the exception Of
few laborers to its size before the late discharge
OF all the assessors, assistant assessors and their
clerks throughous the country, which change in
the system has greatly increased the lab0rs Of the
Washington ONCE.
The Committee OF Ways and Means and
the Customs Duties.
! The Committee OF Ways and Means win not for
several weeks to come, act definitely the various
financial propositions before them, and, therefore,
nothing reliable can be stated concerning
| their views committee, although several men,
bers have made known to the public their indi-
vidual opinions The action taken by the commit
tee the subject OF the tariff thus FAR has merely
| been to correct errors, and not with q view OF
! increasing receipts from customs. The amend
menus, however which they recommend, win have
the effect of increasing the revenue about 81 600
on silks, fruits and books. 1t is apprehended by
| some OF the members OF the committee that the
Introduction OF these amendments to the existing
laws may have the effect of reopenng the entire
| question OF the tariff
! Amendment or the Tariff Laws.
The bill introduced by Representative Melish,
amendatory OF the tariff laws, provides that the
following duties shall be collected and after the
LIST Of July next:-Raisns. four cents; chiccory
root. ground burned or prepared three cents, and
currants three cents per pound.
Bill Esta blish a Court OF Alien Claims.
Representative Lawrence's bill, introduced to-
day and referred to the Committee on War Claims,
provides, that for the purpose OF providing tri-
| bunal to hear and determine the claims OF
Aliens against the United States for cOmpen
satOn for alleged tOrts suffered through the acts of
| persons for whose dOings 1t may be asserted the
| United States should be held responsible. there
shall be established In Washington court, to be
called the Court of Alien Claims, to consist OF three
| Judges with the power to hear and determine all
| claims on the part of corporations, companies
private individuals, citizens subjects OF any for
egn Power, upon the United states. arising out OF
acts committed against the persons or property OF
such citizens or subjects during period of recog-
nized war between the United States and bellige-
rent the sovereign OF the claimant.
The Chinese indie m nifty Claims.
Mr.. Phelps, OF New Jersey, to-day introduced
| and had referred to the House Committee on For
eign Affairs bill supplementary to the act to
carry into eject the convention Of November s,
1858, between the United States and China. The
bill proposes to permit claimants against what is
usually known as the Chinese indemnity fund to
bring suit in the Court of Claims and regulate the
proceedings Of said Court in such cases.
Nomination of Minister to the Argentine
! Republic.
! The President sent to the Senate to-day one
nomination, Thomas o. Osborn, of Hi
nois to be Minister Resident of the United States
IN the Argentine Republic.
Proposed Amendments to the Postal
Laws.
The bill reported by Representative Tyner in
the House to-day, amendatory OF the postal laws
provides that newspapers and other periodicals
Dot exceeding four ounces in weight, sent from o
known Office OF publication to regular and bona
Jfde subscribers, postage shall be charged at the
following rates per quarter pound, namely:-On
publications issued less frequently than once a
week, two cents; issued once week, three
cents; issued twice week, six cents;
three times a week, nine cents six
times week, eighteen cents, and daily, twenty
one cents. And an additional rate shall he charged
for each additional four ounces weight, provided
that one copy OF weekly newspapers may be sent
| to each subscriber thereof in the county where
they are printed and published free OF postage,
and publishers OF newspapers and periodicals may
mutually exchange their publications, not exceed
ing one copy IN each exchange free Of postage.
All miscellaneous matter OF the third class,
including books, flexible patterns, samples
or ores, metals, minerals and merchandise
sample cards, Photographic paper, letter enve-
printed imprinted, and all matter not
chargeable with letter rates, or by law excluded
| from the mails the postage shall be cent for
each two ounces or fractional part Of two ounces
and tnat the maximum weight Of all such packages
snail not exceed four ounces. 1t shall be lawful
for any person to write in any book, pamphlet,
periodical, magazine or other matter Of the third
class brief form OF presentation, or write his
her name on the wrapper thereof, or the number
uOnal postage.
Charity by General Custer-RumOr OF
Sioux and Cheyenne Movement
| Against the Rees-Attack Upon the
Mail in Texas Repuised.
telegram from General Custer dated Fort Abe
Lincoln 2Sd nit. mentions that Two Bears. with
about 200 Indians, including about dozen chiefs,
arrived at that fort on the Goth ult., pretending
that they would make peace with the Rces, but
upon discovering at their council that their object
! was to beg General Custer told them they could
have no rations, upon which the council abruptly
/ terminated proving conclusvely that the ques-
! ton OF peace with the Rees had nothing to do
| with their coming. The Rees have confidence
! in these Indians, and Two Bears was informed by
the military authorities that If they visited the
post again without permission they would be ar
rested and returned to their reservations and fur
thermore that they would not be permitted during
the summer to visit the post and attack the Rees
without at the same time being considered as
attacking the white soldiers and being treated
accordingly.
The War Department has a copy OF q despatch
from Indian Agent Mofratt, dated at the Grand
River Agency, Dakota January "a, saying there is
information that war party OF Cheyenne and
Sioux intend making an attack on the Rees, at or
near Fort Abe Lincoln. They are reported to be Ia
days out from the Cheyenne agency. The agent
says there is some truth in this report as it came
from reliable chiefs at the Grand River agency and
| it may be well to keep lookout for them. In for
| warding the statement General Custer says:-"I
place no great reliance upon the truth Of this re-
port, considering the season Of the year, and, IL
true, anticipate no serious danger to parties here