Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-01-05
WASHINGTON.
The U. S. and Mexican Commission Re-
sumo Business-AmOunt Of Claims
Decided and TO be Divided.
About Reduction Of Appropriations aud
Additional 9axatiOn-PrObable
Business before Congress
To-day.
The Supreme Court Resumed-Wil.
Iiams's 5ppOintment-The Span
ish News, Etc., Etc.

WASHINGTON, January 4.-The Gni-
ted States and Mexican commission has
resumed business, and will doubtless
dispose of all cases on its docket by the
expiration of its exte nded term. Within
the last two months the commissioners
have decided at least one hundred cases,
including the adverse decision in the
case of Daniel z. Woodhouse against
Mexico, known as the Tehuantepec
claim, in which the petitioner stated
the amount of damages at over
five hundred million dollars. The
claim of Mexico for twenty
seven million dollars on account
of damages from Indian excursions, is
now in the hands of Sir Edward Thorn
ton, the umpire, the American and
Mexican ommissioners being divided
in opinion. Mexico claims that under
the treaty of Guadalouge Hidalgo, the
United States pledged themselves to
fOrcibly restrain Indian incursions into
her territory, and that whenever such
raids could not be prevented, the In
dians should be punished by our govern
ment, and satisfaction for the same ex-
acted. The United States, OF the con-
trary, insist that our government
could not promise to do far
more than it was required to
by its own citizens, and, therefore,
10 damages could be claimed. Should
as is reported, the umpire decide against
Mexico in the pending case, Mexico
will present the same principle as an an
swer to the United States for claims of
damages to citizens of Texas, growing
1ut OF incursions of Mexicans into that
State on the Rio Grande border.
There is no reason to suppose there
will not be quorum in both houses to-
morrow. The general sentiment among
fne members is that theyshould first see
to what extent appropriations can
BE- reduced before they consider the
subject of assistance to the treasury,
either in the form of additional taxa
ton or a temporary convertible loan.
The latter finds more favor than the
former mode of relief. After the morn
ing hour in the house the consideration
Of the supplementary civil rights bill
will be resumed as the special order, ana
will be debated Monday and Tuesday
until four o'clock in the evening, wnen
fhe discussion will close. Representa-
lives Stephens Ga. and Lamar Miss
are expected to speak against the bill,
which, lead by its friends, will un-
doubtedly pass.
The supreme court will resume busi-
ness tomorrow. There are no new de-
velopments with regard to the chief-jus-
ticeship, though the opinion now is that
the nomination of Judge Williams will
be confirmed.
The house committee on apprOpria-
tons have had four meetings during the
recess, and considered the army, Indian,
fortification, and navy appropriation
oils, though none of them have yet
been perfected. Every item has been
cut down to the lowest possible figure, in
accordance with the expressed wish Of
he house to make the appropriations
comparatively small.
The senate judiciary committee had
several meetings during the recess and
considered the bankrupt bill which was
the avenue Of peTfeeting and reporting
It TO the senate at an early day. The
estimates of the Lighthouse board have
been cut down about one million dol
lars, leaving them one half the sum sub
mitted at the beginning OF the session.
The coup d'ete of General PAWN at
Madrid creates much surprise in diplo-
matte and other circles, his name hav-
ing heretofore been mentioned in man
ner which would occasion not even
suspicion of such a movement.
Speculations are freely expressed as to
the future, and the general opinion is
that the Republican cause has been
damaged by the lately-reported revolu-
tionary proceedings, but official inform
alton thus far received is of SO meager a
character as to afford no basis for relia-
BILE comment. The CASTELAR, govern
ment had, during the Virginius nego-
tiations, repeatedly declared, not only
its friendliness toward the United States,
but its desire to draw still closer the rela-
tions of the two countries, and our
government evinced a like amicable
feeling toward Spain, even taking the
negotiations out of the hands of General
Sickles, in order to be in better accord
with the CASTELAR, government. The
friends of that government in congress
siOnal and xecutive circles regard the
recent events in Spain as likely to delay
the promised terms in the Antilles, and
to prevent such negotiations through
General Cushing as would tend to the
pacifieation of Cuba and Porto Rico, and
at the same time protect American in
terests in Cuban waters from arrogance
and outrage, to which they have been
frequently subjected.