, 1874-01-06
land, regardless Of expense, great things are
expected from him

mltIee which WILL doubtless bo agreed
to by them. Ono Is, that as Southern Claims
claims from the South growing out Of the late
war, no claims from that section shall he con-
sidered by the Committee The other is. that
the bills reported by the Committee shall be
Of the Whole House, whereby they will lie over
panying them will be printed, that ali may
know just what merit tho measures may
have. !, Thus will have the effect to
Of jobs on private day. without giving tue
House an opportunity to examine them. These
positions will undoubtedly receive the support OF
the entire Committee. but there is not much
prospect that the House will indorse them.
which they are anxious to put through to con-
sent to the adoption OF rule by which tLoy
would be ventilated.
REFuEDING TIE corToS-TAx.
The cotton-tax retunding job is losing some
strength because Of scheme which is being
quietly worked up to secule for the South
ern States financial aid In the shape OF q
loan from the Cover nment. The psan Is soue-
what similar to that advocated by R. M. r.
Hunter, although it ia not Identical with it, Con-
nldcrable strength is said to hare been acquired
by it at the expense Of the cotton tax 1efundlng
scheme. Who nro aL the head Of this new and
remarkable project docs not yet appear, hut its
entire extent will no doubt be developed in
abort time.
RELIEF FOR THE WoNKNoMEN.
The bill introduced by George F. Honr in
tho House today with reference to
the capital and labor question:, is an
important one. 1t provides that tho President
shal appoint commission Of three persons
salary Of $4,000 each, whose duty it shall be to
investigate the subject OF wages and hours Of
labor; OF the division OF the joint profits be-
tween employes aud capitalists; and the social.
labovipg classes in toe Uuited States, aud low
the same are Infected by existing laws iegu-
lating commerce, fuanoe, and currency. As
Ar. Hour is great thooriet, and figures
best, as nookish man,, it is
which will not receive tho appreciation OF p1ac-
tical men, aud which will consequently fail.
TILE BAcK-PAy QUESTION
is likely to be as great bone OF contention in
the Senate as 1t WAS in the House, and as th5s
speeches, may LOOK fur au end 10 the debate
about next June. When tne Senate opened its
session this morning there we're many who
thought the question would be settled and vote
had without any great amount OF talk. This
opinion was gteatly strengthened upon Senator
Sherman taking the floor, and saying the people
expected aud demanded repeal OF the increase
of pay Of members OF Congress. and that ho
was ready to vote al once upon tho question.
But when the ponderous colleague Of Ar: Nor
sixty eheots Of foolscap, and monozonously be-
gau reading them, the friends of prompt action
lost confidence, and began a rct1cat to tie
smoking-rooms: Alr; Pratt's speech was
81 r. nasaR bede, 'aanssa suas he a
creation; and succeeded in proving that the
act Of March 3, 1873, was the most outrageous
OF all
Mr. Thurman followed, arguing in fayor of
~ {1n inc III
restoration to the Treasury ~ members OF the
present Congress Of the back-pay in their pos
sessinp- The restoration could be accomplished
by withholding the future pay OF members until
the amount Of the steal ~as made good.
a membcP Of Cohe4css bad drawn pay for ser-
riccs that money became his property, md
could not be taken away from him By law. It
was bis. MT. Thurman admitted the fact.
~ Ilen," said the Illinois Senator, II ask tho
lionnl lawyer, when ne admits my property
right to the back-pay which have in my pocket,
how he can conEclentlously pass law to de-
priye me OF mJ salary for furuEo services, in Or
der to restore to the Treasury money which be
acknowledges is my property y
It is impossible to predict what shape the Re-
peal bill will finally assume, when vote will
be had.
THE CHIEF-JUsTICESWF.
The four Republican Senators who were to
draval OF Williams name, were saved tue trouble
by His Excelleucy, who paid . visit to the Capt.
tol. He took up his position in the Presidents
room and sent for those whom be wished to see,
not notably tho members Of tho Judiciary Com
mitlee, but, as well, all others OF the dominant
party in the Senate. Tho result OF the efforts
Of tho President of the United States as o lob
byiBt remains to be scen.
When the President reached the Capitol. he
WAS in m unaniable mood He was eour and
Tf>A Cav a$rt1 1stI%1 F%1H& &rH
presence saw that tho tino had come when there
must be plain talk indulsed in that q definite
might be arrived at. They &c
cordinRly gayc, without hcsitaacy. the reasons
which moved them to oppose the confirmation.
To many OF these REASONS the President listened
apparently in utter surprise. The Senators cue
ceedcd, evidently, in giving him many facts, of
which he had been hitherto entirely ignorant.
The result of tile visit was that Grant went back
to the White House convinced that he lad made
a mistake and, before he left the Capital, he
stated that the nomination would be Withdrawn
tomorrow morning. Accordingly. whom an
effort VAS mado to 60 into Executive session
this afternoon to confirm tho nomination Of
Caleb Gushing, MessEs. Morrill, aud Cameron
objected, urged d delay untll tomorrow. That
Caleb Gushing WAS Grants first choice for
Ch.ef Justice will be remembered, as will be
also the fact that Senators have expressed their
Willingness &c confirm Williams to q foreign ap-
No positive information warrants
but it is in the racge Of probabilities.
AGAINST THE PACIFIC RAILROADS.
The bill introduced in the House by Repre-
sentative LuttreN OF California, authorizing the
to institute proceedings
against tho Pacific Railroads for the interest
paid by tho Government of tho United States
upon the bonds OF those railroads, which now
amounts to S15 $50 600 the counterpart OF bills
of sinailar nature which verc pigeon-holed in
Committee last Congress; but as the necessities
OF the present time require q reduction Of c1-
penditrircs and curtailment Of disbursements,
and this amount due f1cn these railroads is
among tho resources OF tho GoVernmont) there
is at least strong possibility, Judging by OK
oressions made By menbors Of Congress, that a
blu OF the above character will be passed by
this Congress.
TIE NAVAL APPROXIMATION DILL.
Tho House Appropriations Committee will
take up the Naval Appropriation bill so.mor--
row. Hale. OF Maine. who hes lad Charge OF
tie bill, has materially reduced the estimates Of
the Department, and the Committee will still
further cut them down. The Secretary of the
Navy has been requested to attend the meeting
Tomorrow aud explain tho various items, SO
that the Conmittee may act intelligently.
BASK1Sa AND THE CURRENCY.
The Banking and Culreucy Committee OF tho
House had meeting to-day. and issued invita-