New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-04-21
CURRENT TOPICS AT THE CAPITAL
THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.

WASHINGTON, Monday, April 20, 1874
An important triumph was won by the friends oil
the Centennial to-day, in obtaining two-thirds
vote in the House in favor of Mr.. Kelleys motion to
take their three million Appropriation bill from Its
place at the foot Of the calendar of the Committee
of the Whole, and make it special order Tor the
9th of May, to the exclusion OF all other business
While q number of members voted for this motion
who will oppose the appropriation when it comes up,
it cannot be doubted that the very large vote OF 14
Yeas to 66 Nays by which it was agreed to- is fair
indication Of its final passage great deal of work
has been done for the measure within the last fort
nigh. by the Pennsylvania delegation and the COM
lnittee of prominent Phladelphians who have been
here for some time diligently labOIing to create a
more favorable feeling towards the celebration These
gentlemen are naturally eXultant tonight over their
success Considering the obstacles which they nave
overcome in the way OF indifference ana active nos
tiv 10 the project. II must be admitted that they
have worked wonders. Their purpose now IL to urge
tlie immediate passage by the Senate OF the Rouse
llll authorizing the President to extend an othcal
invitation to foreign nations 10 participate III the
exhibition. In view Of the TACT that the OoveIh-
ments of nearly dozen countries, believing them
selves invited by the notification OF the Secretary OF
State have formally sgniied their acceptance, the
Iassage of this bin would seem to be unnecessary
The object is, however to commit Congress more
fully 90 the support of the Exhibition, 40 as TO es
tdblsh a better claim TO the Appropriation asked
for.
THE PRESIDENT AND CIVIL SERVICE REFORM
The President to-day sent the following message
20 Congress-:
70 he Senate and House Of Representatives.:
Herewith / transmit the report Of the Civil Service
Commission authorized the act OF Congress OF March
g. 1871. and invite your special attention thereto II
by Congress have no doubt the rules can,
after the experience gained, be improved and en-
forced sin materially TO benefit the public
vice. and relieve the Executive, members Of Congress,
and the heads OF departments from influences preu-
dical 10 good administration. The rules, as they
have heretofore been enforced, have resulted bene-
finally az is shown by the opinion Of the members of
the Cabinet and their sabordnates in the departments
and In that opinion concur. But rules applicable to
officers who appointed by and with the advice
and consent Of the Senate In great measure i'm
practicable, except in far as they be sustained
BY action OF that body. These must necessarily
unless the direct sanction of the Senate is gwen
TO the rules advise, for the present only such appro
praiOns may be adequate to continue the Its
present FORM and would leave TO the future 10 deter
whether the direct sanction OF Congress shall be
given rules that may perhaps be devised for regu
lating the method of the selection Of appOntees
portion Of them who need be confirmed by the Sen
ate. The amount appropriated last year would be
adequate for the coming year, but think the public it,
rest would be promoted by authority in the Executive
for allowing small compensation for special service
performed beyond the usual Office hours under the act
ofl persons called the service OF the
ment. u. S. GRANT
Ezecutire Mansion, April 49, 1874
EXPEDITIONS LEGISLATION.
singular piece Of legislative work was accom-
plished by the House to-day in the passage, after
only five minutes debate of bill appropriating
100000 TO build military telegraph along the north
and north western frontiers of Texas as a means
of checking Indian raids The curious feature in
III a., Il.
peared 10 know all about the merits of the measure
by intuition, and jumped up to support it as if pulled
by one string before they had heard word in its
explanation. The bill originally appropriated
$4,000, and the statement made by Mr.. Gunckel
that,the Military Committee had investigated the
matter and had learned from Gen. Reynolds that
the line could be built by the soldiers for $4,000 did
not appear TO have much effect. The opponents of
such an unceremonious way of voting money from the
treasury only able to a call Of the Yeas
aud Nays While this was in progress, Mr.. Giddngs
who had charge of the BILL fearing that it might
not get the requisite twothrds, offered to cut down
the appropriation to $4,000 This compromise was
agreed TO, the TOll-cal was stopped, and the bill de-
clared passed. He had the recommendation of the
Secretary of War and of Gen. Sherman IN its favor
and II sdoubtess mertonous measure. but the pre-
cpitancy with which so many members came 70 it's
support raised suspicion of lobbying influence In the
minds Of those who did not know how industrlously
TIE Texas delegation had lab0red In Its behalf for
The past two or three weeks. Knowing that no ade-
SuSte time could be obtained for discussion, they
haG worked up the House by explaining the bill
!" RECOMMENDATION with the members
HE BILL FOR ISSUING ARMS TO THE STATE OF
NEBRASKA
Senator Buckingham has aroused the indignation
VI those Senators whose States have Oh their Dor
ue'' uneiviized Indians and of many Others, by
OShg 10 amend bill to authorize the issue of arms
'ne authorities Of the State Of Nebraska, for the
settlers on its frontier, by providing that
snail also be distributed TO Indians, 20 enable
I'm protect themselves from the raids of the
Ne'ut& lie fact IL il nIoInlnent citizens of the