The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-03-20
FROM WASHINGTON,
Cheap TranspOrtatiOn-The New Civil
Rights Bill, Etc.

Rights Bill, Etc.
In the senate, Mr.. Ramsey called u
the resolution introduced by him in re
gard to cheap transportation and ad
dressed the senate in favor thereof. HI
said there were three practical ways o
obtaining cheap transportation First
by improving the navigation of the Mis-
sissippi river from the Falls of st. An
thony to the Gulf of Mexico, which
could be easily and cheaply done, first
by damning no the waters of the lakes
IN Upper Mini sofa, storing it for the
| dry season ami Gobtaining a uniform
depth of five fes for the Upper Missis.
sippi river, by continuing the other
| improvements now under way, and by
deepening the channel between New Or
leans and the Gulf. These would give
cheap freight by barge to New Orleans
and by steamers to Europe. Second,
by deepening the channels between the
lakes, and but small appropriation
from the United States would be re-
quired for this purpose, as Canada
would do the rest, and under the reci-
procity treaty all ships could be loaded
at Duluth for Liverpool, and so have
two complete water ways. Third, all
the western states are not so favorably
situated as Missouri, with two water
routes to Europe. The western states
want and must have all rail route for
freight. The constitutional right to
charter and aid such work is undoubted.
We need reforms in present roads, and
a double track freight railroad, char
tered and controlled by congress, with
maximum rates of six mills ton per
mile. This was practicable, and with
such road competing with the water
way, by river and the lakes, would give
the west what alone should supply ac-
cess to the markets of the world to the
products of her fields now rotting In
her granaries or burning for fuel.
The senate judiciary committee has
agreed to report the civil rights bill
substantially as reported by Mr.. Sum-
ner, securing to negroes equal privile-
ges in inns, theaters, public conveyan-
ces, schools, cemeteries and benevolent
institutions supported in whole or in
part at the pubic expense. There is
also an amendment designed to make
this bill more rigorous in its legal ma
chinery.
The president has sent q message to
the house enclosing communications
from the various departments, in reply
to the inquiry whether expenses had
been increased by them for transporta-
ton of any matter which, before the al
teration of the ranking privilege, was
carried in the mails. It appears that
expenses of 1925 per month, incurred
by the signal bureau in forwarding sup
plies to stations and expenditures about
1920 by the navy department, will cover
the increase.
The civil service committee has agreed
to report the following bill to the
house with favorable recommendations
That no officer of the United States
shall directly or indirectly receive for
his own use or benefit any money or
whatever of the United States,
except his salary to be fixed by law,
and that no public property shall be
used by officials or by any person for
private purposes. That this act shall
not be construed as to prevent the pay
ment from the treasury of all actual and
necessary travelling expenses of United
States officials when performing the le
gitimate and necessary duties pertain
ing to their Office.
The charges formally presented in the
house by the speaker, affecting the eff
cial and personal character of Gen.
Baker, commissioner of pensions, were
made by Mrs. Helen L. Bernard, who
wants them examined with a view to
They we're referred to
the committee on invalid pensions.
The commissioner of internal revenue
has written a letter to memh er of con-
gress showing that the aggregate
amount of internal revenue collected |
from September, 1862, when the inter
nal revenue laws just went into effect,
up to Feb. 27, 1874, last month. is esti-
mated at 81, 1852, 555, 600. Ofthis amount
there is due from late collections $2,-
525, 169, for the recovery of which suits
have been begun.
The president has directed Coils. Sle-
5oer aud Miles, of the fifth infantry,
and George Getty, of the third artil
cry, to be assigned as members of the
Howard court of inquiry in addition to
he officer originally assigned to that
7utY.
The house committee on aPpropria-
ions has decided to report the SEN
ate amendment to the naval appropria- |
ion bill with a recommendation that the
house do not concur in some of them
md ask a committee of conference.
The committee has agreed to insert an
tenn in the deficiency bill, appropria-
ing $l1, $50 to make good to the sol
7iers and sailors orphan home in the |
District of Columbia, the loss to that |
institution through the failure of Jay |
Cooke & Co., with whom last years ap- |
was deposited. The COM
ole rronlzo o1onoIaI
on for this charity in the sundry civil |
bill for the next fiscel year.
Senator Morrill,, from the committee
N Indian affairs, has reported that no
obligation rests upon tie United States
nd territories and citizens thereof, for
incurred and damages sus~
aimed by reason of incursions of hostile
indians.
The executive committee of the ma
ional grange of Patrons of Husbandry
re mat uring plan for the formation
f q statistical bureau in connection
7ith the national grange, for the col
ection and dissemination of informa-
ion in regard to the condition of crops
throughout the country. The new bu
eau will be located at Washington, d.
J., and lie in charge of d. W. Aiken,
of the state grange OF South
;arolina Subordinate oranges will
eport direct to the state grange all infor-
nation, of interest relating to crops, and
he different state oranges will report
y telegraph, Ito the statistical bureau of
be order at Washington. The bureau
I'LL compile and summarize these re-
orts of crops in all sections of the
ountry, and will simultaneously trars-
nit report by telegraph monthly, to
II state gra ges, which in turn will
urnish it to every subordinate grange
7ithin their jurisdiction. This infor-
nation will not be furnished to the
ress for publication, it being intended
xclusively for the benefit of members
f the order.
Permanence of the Church.
Those who think the church may be
gnored or dispensed with probably
AXE q narrow view of the matter.
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