New-York tribune., 1874-02-23


Temperance candidate, will have great strength,
OWING to the feFyor existing in that State just now
on the subjects of temperance aud tobacco The
gentleman says the reports as to the movement
there give little idea of its strength, and
1t seems to be the increase. The Demo
Gratis, under the leadership Of Weston. are making
| vigorous fight and do not fail TO make
use of all the advantage that the Dominant party
have given them during the past year in Congress.
Dawess speech is being largely used, and the cam
palgn grows in warmth daily. With three full
tickets In the field the gentleman referred TO fears
that there viii be no choice before the people, but
that ,the election will go into the Legislature. He
has little doubt that in such an event the Repub
lcans will elect MeCutohins. az il will require a
| majority OF 5000 to change the Republican COM
plexion Of the Assembly.
TIE CASE or JUDGE BUSTED.
Judge Richard Busteed has not yet been able to
obtain copy Of the charges preferred against him
by the Hon. Alexander White, member Of Congress
from Alabama Tho assigned is that the
original is in the hands Of the printer. He is there
fore obliged to 90 INTO the examination before the
House Committee of the Judiciary without knowing
exactly the ofenses with which he is charged. Some
eight OF nine witnesses have already been examined
touching the question Of domicile in Alabama. The
other charge is that he used the public money ille
gally in refunding to eX-Auditor Reynolds 1888 OF
the fine Of 81 900 which Judge Busteed obliged him
contempt OF ReynOlubS
for the returned is on file in the Middle Dis
trict of Alabama. There is no pretense that the
Judge kept any Of the money for his own use. The
examination of witnesses has been directed solely to
these points Several Of the witnesses called have
testified to Judge Busteed's residence in Alabama
not only during the terms, but during the
tions, and that his absence was only during
the Summer months The Judge has no intention
OF resignlng lie Is anxious to resume hls oihelal
ing investigation, his presence in the Committee
room being required. In 1868 and 1869 the Commit
months taking testimony both In Washington and
Alabama on the charges, which embraced 81 speci-
cations bearing the ofenses. both political and
prlvare The Committee reported unanimously
against all the charges.
THE LAW OF WAR CLAIMS.
George Lawrence of Ohio, Chairman of the House
Committee on War Claims, has been at work for
several weeks q report to be presented to the
House on the subject Of the claims, thought to be
about 10000 in number, now before the Committee.
1t will be the fullest and most complete presenta
ton of precedent and history bearing upon the sub
ject that has ever been made and will also show
exhaustive examination of all laws relating to
claims. The points to be considered by him are as
follows:
First: Whether the Government is liable by the rules
OF ternatonal law for property destroyed damaged
In battle by the Government military forces
Second: Is the Government liable for damages done
Third: Is the Government liable for the temporary
injuries to or destruction OF property, real personal
caused by actual or necessary military operations in
Fourth Is the Government liable when II seizes and
destroys property to prevent It's falling into the hands
of the enemy in loyal State or elsewherei
Firm: Whether the Government Is liable fol- any In
tnry sustained by military necessity in reboous States,
even to loyal citizens.
The report will be ready to submit to the Commit
foa in hnnta faptn MI ohf
ExPATRIATIoN QUESTIONS.
For many years great trouble and many complca-
tions have arisen out of our inadequate and de-
fective laws and regulations On the subject of expa
triatlon and the election Of nationality by indi
yidaaIs. During the Franco-Prnssan war many |
cases which gave great annoyance to the sew
eral Governments, some of them having been the |
cause of prolonged diplomatic correspondence. The
President in his last message called the attention
of Congress to the shtect, and asked that it mark
out and define when and how expatriation can be |
accomplished; to regulate by law the condition of
American women marrying foreigners; TO fix the |
status of children born in foreign country of |
American parents residing more or less permanently
abroad and to make rules for determining such |
other kindred points may seem best to Congress-
In view of the facts and after full consultation with
the President and State Department, Judge Hoar, |
ex-Attorney General, decided to prepare bill for
the purpose of correcting the neglect mistakes of
the past for the consideration of the Foreign Affairs
Committee The rough draft of this bill has been
submitted TO the Committee, bat has not yet been
agreed to. The bill is long and very in
tricate points.
THE POINT LOOKOUT RAILROAD BILL.
The Point Lookout Railroad bill came up on Sat
urday as unfinished business in the House, and was
disposed of for the present by reference to the Com
mittee of the Whole 1t was strongly suspected that
there was something IN the bill than the
the City of Washington, and that the cat under
the meal" was scheme of the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad to obtain very eligible location for
station in the immediate vicinity of the Treasury
and the principal hotels If it had been question
between tue interests of the public and those of a
railrcsd company the public would no doubt have
got the worst of it,; but fortunately there is rival
road controlled by the Pennsylvania Central
that always antagonizes the plans OF the Balti-
more and Ohio. The Pennsylvania members, who
of course are not controlled by Tom Scott, were
exceedingly active in protecting the interests of the
Government from the detnment they were likely to
suffer if the new road allowed, as proposed. to
traverse the public parks and reservations along the
river front and to cross the Eastern Branch near
the Navy-Yard They were doubt right. The
road ought not to be built without greater restrc
tons being put upon it than the bill contains, and
perhaps should not in any case be permitted TO oc-
| cupy the public streets and grounds, as cOnteIn-
plated II is however, O fact worth remembering
that many of the members who opposed the measure
helped obtain for Mr. Scotts Baltimore and Potomac
Road two wears ago, o grant which has enabled it
to ruin the only ground available for fine public
| park within the city limits
| THE HISTORY OF THE COSTLY COMMA IN TIE TARIFF
BILL.
| According to the statement Of tine engrossing
| clerks of the House, the costly comma which put
foreign fruits the free list and made the Treasury
| lose about S2OOOO 900 of revenue, was put in by