New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-03-17
CURRENT TOPICS AT TIE CAPITAL.
YESTERDAYS SESSION OF THE HOUSE.
WAsHINGroN, Monday, March l6. ls1


The House was in unusually lazy humOr to-Gay.
After the introduction of the customary number OF
bills in the morning hour there appeared no business
ready that the majority willing to go to work
on. Several motions were made, but il only by
dint of much scOldng that the Speaker could
persuade a quorum TO como down and pass
between the tellers After the new Judicial
District bill for New-York had been defeated.
Mr.. Bromberg tried to get his National Quarantine
bill taken UP, but although he got considerable sup
port so many members sat indifferently in the chairs
when the vote by teers was taken that no quorum
could be obtained. In vain the Speaker declared
that there was quorum IN the hail. and that it was
the duty of every member to vote: the
members would not stir from their seats.
Nothing was then in order but to adj
journ, or to have a call of the house.
The motion to adjourn was made and voted down
by Yeas aud Nays. Mr.. Bromberg then made
second attempt with the same result as before. no
quorum voting on his motion. Finally, motion for
adjournment was carried after the whole day had
been frittcred away. How much influence the earn
est demand of the business interests of the country
for legislation to fix the volume of the currency has
upon the House, may be judged by to-days proceed
ings.
NEW PLAN FOR REGULATING RAILROAD
CHARGES.
A well-consdered bill to regulate charges upon
railways, which appears to have the merit of being
of Ohio. It provides that 10 railway company shall
make any discrimination in it's charges for
Transporting freight Of like kind for
like distances when transported from one
state TO another to from any foreign country.
In order that shippers may for themselves that
the law is not violated, every railroad crossing
State'line or engaged III transporting articles from
one State to another or to a foreign country, is
required to keep posted up in each OF
its staton-houses schedule of its rates
per mile per hundred weight; the carloads and num-
Der of carloads; and also, table Of distances. The
rates must in all cases conform to the provisions OF
the hil except for freight and mails transported
for the United States. The penalties prescribed for
violations of the law are to be enforced by the
United States District Court.
DEFEAT OF THE NETWORK JUDICIAL DIS
TRICT BILL.
The bill to create additional judicial district in
the State Of NewYork out of the counties of Cayuga,
Tompkins, and TiOga. and the counties lying west
of them, was defeated in the House to-day. Mr..
Tremain, who had the bill in charge, moved to sus
pend the rules for the purpose of passing it, Failing
in this aud finding that there was considerable
opposition to the clause increasing the salaries
of all Federal judges in the State to 5000,
he tried to pass the bill with this clause omitted,
but again failed to get the necessary two-thirds
vote. If all the members of the NewYork delega-
ton had taken active interest in the measure it
would have succeeded. None of them opposed il,
but only two three gave Mr. fireman any assist
ance 1t will still be in order to report the bill from
the judiciary Committee when the Committee Is
regularly called.
PROPOSED JUDICIAL CHANGES.
The law officers of the several departments have
been opposing the law which makes them subordi-
mates of the Department of Justice ever since that
department was created in 1870. strong effort is
making this session to the repeal of the law,
and the project has the sanction of the Attorney
General, who is willing TO divest his department
Of an important power. The Solicitor of the
Treasury is particularly DESTROYS to have the change
made, for the probably that his decisions in
revenue cases are frequently overruled by. the
Attorney General The solicitor officer of the
Treasury, naturally decides such cases in way to
get the largest amount Of revenue. while the Att0r
ney-Generals decisions are more likely to be i'm
partial At least, this is the view the importing
merchants take and they prefer that the law should
remain as il Is.