The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-05-02

Total. ,271 800
The District OF Columbia Ambassadors
rfll's Bill OF 1867 Providing Form OF
Government To No Resuscitat ed.-some-
thing To Be Done.
The recent developments made In the District Of
Columbia affairs by the Investigating Committee
have caused some Of the members ana Senators to
cast about for some method Of relief from the ir.
Irregularities and inefflciency Of the present gov
found in q new charter, and the bill
which Senator Morrill,, Of Name, matured
in 1867 for the government OF the Dis
trict 10 being looked over and favoraby discussed
1t provides for the appointment OF three commits
siOners, In whose hands the management Of AFFAIRS
shall be placed. They are to be appointed by the
President and confirmed by the Senate. Senator
Morrill, worked over the bill for upwards OF three
months, and 1t is thought that 1t will be adopted,
something nearly like 1t. Another bill has been
prepared, appointing five commissioners, who are
to be nominated by the Speaker and Vice Presi-
dent jointly and also to be confirmed by the Senate.
Senator Ferry, OF Michigan, and Representative
Wilson, OF the Investigating Committee, are look
ing into the former bill, and, 1t is thought will
wise it somewhat, when 1t viii be introduced into
both houses, relatively, BY them. The latter bill
has great many friends in the District, and 1t is
to pass one or the other, thus doing away with
the Board OF Public Works and the Legislature.
The latter institution with die hard, because the
small fry politicians can, through that channel
ventilate their noisy and ungrammatical buncombe
ana do the jobbing for the conniving contractors
In using their influence ana making 1t felt as cor
rupt legislators.
Important Amendment to the Geneva
Award Bill.
The House Judiciary Committee to-day agreed
TO an important amendment to the Geneva Award
bill, to the effect that payment Will be made to
the mutual insurance companies for all losses sus
tanned by the vessels for whose depredations we
made claim against Great Britain, provided no
member OF q mutual insurance company shall re-
cover for any war premiums paid to such COM
pany for risks. In other words, they will be paid
for all losses and cut on from war premiums The
amendment further provides that they shall dis
tribute the money 80 paid them among their
members who contributed to pay the losses.
Close OF General Howard's Defence.
The testimony for the defence in the Howard
case closed to-day, and the Judge Advocate onered
rebutting testimony, which the Conrt declined to
receive. General Howard submitted q written
statement. The Court then adjourned until Tues
day, ar eleven O'Clock, when the counsel for the
defence will mnxe final argument. On the fol-
lowing Thursds! the Judge Advocate will close the
case In behalf of the government, after which the
Court will make up Its decision and the whole
matter will be referred to the President
The Nomina ton Of an Eminent Ex-Con-
Tolerate Confirmed by the Senate.
The Senate to-day confirmed the nomination of
Philip Clayton, Of Georgia, to be Consul at VAL
paraiso. Mr.. Clayton was Assistant Secretary OF
the Treasury to Howell Cobb, under Buchanan's
ADJ
the same time to take part In the rebellion. Mr..
Clayton occupied the position OF Assistant Secre-
tary OF the Treasury under the Confederate gov.
eminent for about year, when he resigned. He
voted for Grant In 1868, and has ever since acted
with the republican party.
The Senate was occupied nearly two hours on
the further discussion OF the nomination OF General
McCook to be Governor Of Colorado, but reached
no conclusion.