Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-02-24
WASHINGTON.



The Senate Appropriation Committee
viii propose the abolition ofthe postal car
sygtem on railroads, and the repeal Of the
clause providing for the free delivery of
letters, the latter on the ground that large
sums are thus spent for the benefit Of. resi-
dents in few cities, which the people at
large are taxed to pay for. 1t estimated
that such changes would well nigh cover
The S7,000,000 estimated as the deficiencies
Of the postal department for the ensuing
year.
Repeal OF War legislation.
The House Committee on the Judiciary
report that as all other property and rights
Of property of persons engaged in the late
rebellion have by general acts of amnesty
and the laws of the United States been ex-
empted from eonfiscation there can be no
reason for now retaining on the statute
book such acts and parts of acts as were
very properly enacted TO prevent aid and
comfort TO the enemies of the United States
during the war, which by their impedi-
ments TO creditors of the United Strtes in
receiving their just dues amounts to confis-
cation thereof, and also such acts to the
same effect as were passed 10 hinder and
prevent disioyal persons, whose disabilities
had not then been removed because of their
participation in rebellion, from making
any claim against the government for debts
due and Claims not arising out of the re-
belliOn, prior thereto, should also be repeal
ed. The committee, therefore, report a bill
repeating the joint resolution Of March 2,
1867, prohibiting the payment of debts due
by the United States before the war, un-
less loyalty is proven, and repealing the
oath.
A Move to Abolish Letter Carriers.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 23.-The Appropri-
ations Committee will propose an amend
ment to the postal laws, so as to provide
that after June 30, 1864, the conveyance in
the mails of samples of merchandise, pack
ages of clothing, seeds, cuttings, roots,
scions, samples of metals, ores, and mine
ralOgIcal specimens and bound books shall
cease, and all laws authorizing such con-
veyaDces shall be repealed.
a portion of the committee, if not
majority, favor the abolishment of the post
al car and free delivery systems, the latter
on the ground that large sums are spent for
the benefit of residents in a few cities,
while the people at large are taxed to pay
for it. Ii is estimated that such changes
would nearly cover the amount specified in
the deficiency Of the ensuing year.
wanted-Free Trade In Brains.
Strong efforts are making to have the
Secretary of the Treasury reconsider his
decision, that pilots and engineers of steam
boats, employed upon the great lakes must
be citizens of the United States. The plea
is there is not asufficiency of these officers
in the United States to answer the require
ments of business interests in that section.
1t is not probable any change will be made
in the decision.
The Alabama Claims.
Several members of the House Commit
tee on the Judiciary say the Geneva award
will not probably be ready to
report for a week TO come, and that thus far
no formal votes have been taken on any of
the propositions before them. Gen. Butler
says, in his opinion, bill similar to that
reported by him to the last Congress will
be agreed on by the committee.
The Indians-COnsequen Damages.
The Subcommittee of the House Com
mittee on Indian Affairs, to whom the sub
iect was referred recently, have agreed to
that all claims for Indian dep
relations be turned ever for adjudication
and settlement by the United States Courts
for the respective districts wherein such
have been committed.
The outstanding legal tenders are $751;
33O,329.
The "COurting'' of Myra and Caleb
To day in the Equity Court, Judge
Wylie decided the case Of Mrs. Gaines
against Caleb Cushing, continuing the in
junction in force, and directing the title
papers to remain in the Land Office for the
present.