Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-12-03
The Appropriation BIII.


Special to the Cincinnati Enquirer.
The unpleasant fact has transpired that
the appropriation bills have been prepared
without the aid or supervision Of any Of
the Democratic members of the Committee
on Appropriations, except Mr.. Swami, OF
Maryland, who has not been able to give
continuous attention to the subject. Messrs.
Marshal, of Illinois, and Hancock, of Tex
as, both Democrats and worthy gentlemen,
are members OF this committee, but for
some cause or other are not present in their
places. The result is, that, when these
bills shall come up next session, there will
not be single Democrat of the committee
acquainted with their details and able to
point out the jobs and rascslities they may
contain.
williams 60 be Investigated.
There win undoubtedly be move made
early in the session to have printed the tes-
timony taken last spring in respect to At
toney General Williams expenditures,
embracing the landaaiet matter and other
transactions.
ReesganixatioD Of the senate Com.
mittees.
An effort is on foot to call caucus of
the Senate early in the session. with view
to reorganize the Senate committees. THIS
is direct movement 30 displaee Cameron
from the head OF the Foreign Relations
Committee, and also fill that of Education
and Labor with a more fitting chairman
than the illiterate Flanagan, Of Texas.
The latter committee comprised, during
his life, Sumner, and still retains Morton
and other prominent Senators. Owing to
tbs manifest ignorance of its chairman, no
meeting of the committee as it is now con-
stituted has ever been held or ever will be
while Flanagan is at the head of it.
An Agricultural Incubus.
1t is understood that an attempt will I've
made early in the session 10 abolish the
Department Of Agriculture, upon the
ground that It IL Unnecessary. Its chief
function Is to distribute seeds, and the
monthly reports are inaccurate. The ex-
cellent organization of the Patrons of Hus-
bandry, and the facilities for getting and
distributing information in respect to the
crops, render the Departments effort a work
of supererogation.
Special 70 tie Cincinnati Times.
Southern Congressman are urging, with
much persistence, favorable action on the
project for a ship canal at the mouth of the
Mississippi, and alleging that this will extend
the relief to farmers of the West so much
desired. Some Of them are confident that
the President will faver the proposition.
The Unfinished business of Congress.
Special to the Chicago Times.
The order of business in both branches
of Congress, for the opening of the session
on Monday next, has been made out, and
sent to the printer The calendar of the
House iPciades at least 200 private lis,
notwithstanding the very large number dis
posed of at the end Of the last session,
The Civil Rights bill remains the first
thing on the Speakers table, and after it
comes the bill for the relief of contractors
for war vessels; extending the Bayfield, and
81. CrOix land grant, and the Senate
bill to protect troops in the United
States reservations. At least 100 bills aD-
pear in the list referred 10 the Committee
of the whole, nearly every one of which is
as good as dead. Among these are Mr..
Dawes bills for the repeal Of the taxes on
bank checks and friction matches; Mr.. Gar
fields bill to consolidate and revise the
legislation relative to appropriations; the
postal savings bank bill; Brombergs quar-
anime blk Woodford's bill for the reor-
ganiEation of the customs service; bills for
the reorganization of the State and Treas
Ury departments; and last of all, the bill
RENTING duties on goods destroyed in the
Boston fire.
In the Senate the "Little tariff bill,n
which was voted down in the House, near
the end Of the last session, stands at the
head of the order of business, the question
being on asking a further committee of
conference with the House. 1t will be
passed over and never heard from again.
The list of general orders embraces some
200 bills, most of which are of 4 private
character. At the head of the list are Mr..
Sherman's bill to authorize the organiza-
ton of national banks without circulation,
and the general amnesty bill, passed by the
House last session. Mr.. Carpenters bill
to restore the rights of the State of
Louisiana stands 18th on the list, but,
should action be taken on it, the first ques-
tion will be on referring it to the Privileges
and Elections Committee. Among the
more important bills on the calendar are
the bill for the payment of the French
spOliation claims, which has been reported
fayorably upon by the Foreign Relations
Committee; the bill to reOrganize the gen.
eral land Office, the postal telegraph bill,
the bill to establish bureau Of internal
commerce, and bills for the admission Of
Colorado and New Mexico as States.
Expenses Of the Army.
The House Appropriation Committee
disposed of the army bill to-day. This
bill appropriates the same amount as last
year, and makes a considerable reduction
from the estimates. The Secretary of War
sent in estimates for force of $4,000 men,
the fact that Congress
last winter directed the reduction of the
force to $4,000. He evidently considered
the reduction as temporary, while the COM
mittee consider it as permanent, and have
fixed the appropriation for next year on
that basis. The present number of the
force is 27,001, but large number of en-
listment soon to be discharged will bring
the number down to 5000, as directed
last session.