National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-03-11

e =. : & E:
TSs som4ittss then rose.
AssssA DAwns, TYHrR WHnlIKn and Cor
nit: 70 ssssd IN. shs Of
President FILLMORE, and Messrs SwAsN, MAG
DoueAn1, sAYL.a, of Ind, and Bass were ap-
pointed b their placed.
The HOUSE then, q AS, adjourned.
CAPITOL AND DEPARTMENT. .
REORGANIZATION OF THE LAND Of
FICE.
The House Committee on Public Lands hsvs
submitted to the House the following report On
ne PHI for the reorganization Of the General Land
| That the business Of the General Land Once has
that 'o o a;s Or
:: s: IL ~
II: s.sSni.nlT rapid s.tsas!cn Of tn. business
ten 70 seventeen, The land ofices from iftv'thr.c
| to ninety, the asres surveyed from l,O06,OOO TO
3 1ns e, annual am .nd cost sSs Of surveying nom
posed Of from aooo, 900 to Ii 900, 900 per apnum
This great increase Of the business arises from
quantities Of public lands TO railroads. from The
from the mining laws, swamp land grants, dons,
acquisition OF Mexican 1ands, oil frequently in
| volving difacult questions Of the most important
character to the settler and to the Government.
All the increased labor arising therefrom isnow
performed By fewer clerks than were allowed to
the Land Once whom the population was only
and when the land annually surveyed and dis.
posed Of was not more than one half of what Is
annually thus disposed Of now. This augmenta-
ton OF business without . corresponding increase
OF clerical force has occasoned large arrearage
Of business: and retarded the settlement Of drcult
q a. Ensn Are an
force viii allow, and which settlement the parties
interested await with impatience-not under
standing why the ONCE should delay.
When We consider the fact that the titles held
by settlers upon such large part Of the public
curacy Of the operations and transactions of the
Land once, 1t Is Of great importance that its
clerical force should be sufficient in number to
and that the officers should be men Of sufficient
integrity and knowledge Of the land laws to settle
| title that are continually presented with fidelity
and according to law.
In this matter the hardy pioneer. the home
seek to make . home on the public lands arc
deeply interested.
ties and require men of experiences and ability,
and to retain them In its service the General Gov
ernment must allow them an adequate compensa-
ton.
The other Departments are better provided for,
both in respect to the number and compensation
Of their officers, compared with their work 70 be
Land Office in good working order, 1t should in
crease the clerical force; and If It desires to have
the talent requisite to settle and adjust the dim
cult questions Of titles to lands alluded to above
1t should pay to the clerks who have those impor-
tant duties in charge suficient compensation to
they receive to serve elsewhere.
II 10 proposed to increase the clerical force from
one hundred and seventy-on to one hundred and
compensations Of some Of the most important
clerks to q sum that will be fair compensation
now paid the force is S271. 500 and when adjusted
to tho PROPOSED schedule it will be s259 240. Tho
committees think that the interest OF the Land
tion and that the additional expense incurred
therein will be in the direction Of wise and sound
economy. For the reasons above set forth, and
Drummond, they recommend the passage Of the
CONSTRUCTION OF PACIFIC RAILROAD
LAWS.
The report Of the Senate Judiciary Committee
railroad laws, was made in pursuance of Senate
resolution offered by Mr.. Conkling last spring. d.
recting the committee to inquire, and report at
Railroad Company, or any other company. author
lied to build branch road to connect Herewith,
or any assignee Of such company will be entitled
may hereafter construct. The Investigation dis
closed the fact that the Central Branch Union
PACIFIC Railroad Companyis the only one making
such claim, and the committee therefore confine
themselves to this claim.
After giving an extended history Of the claim,
made that the senate Should not undertake to
decide upon the questions involved, but should
rather provide for leaving the whole matter to
day occurrence for Congress to declare the true
intent Of an existing STATUTE ard they know Of no
thsgs poRR tns Il
reason, long enough q subject for examination
aud denomination, for discussion and rediscus-
comment in the press and forum, and should DO
set at rest by the earliest and most authoritative
action, and especially because, IL the adverse
Congress cannot interfere Herewith, nor effect
their standing before judicial tribunals.
elaborated In the report The committee eHnress
their unqualified belief that the clam OF this
conpany to be entitled 10 lands and subsidy for
an extension Of its road some 2s miles to connect
with the Union Pacific road at or near tne one
hundredth meridian Is not warranted by the Law,
and they therefore recommend the passage of .
bill declaring that by the Pacific railroad acts Of
1854 and 1868 lands and bonds were granted to
said company for 100 miles next to the Missouri
copy of that introduced by MI Wilson, Of Ind,
In the House Of Representatives. last December.
SHIP BUILDING ON THE PACIFIC.
A strong company has recently been organized
to conduct extensive ship building operations on
the Pacific coast. The principal parties recently
met In this city to perfect their plans. Among
Cushing, brother Of Caleb Cushing, Of NeWbury.
port, Mass, and leading New York ship-builders.
Erastus Bartlett Of California, is also connected
with the enterprise. The company has not yet
determined whether to establish their works at
Puget Sound or Port Oxford Oregon. They In
coal mines. They will sell ships. and cargoes in
foreign ports.
CABINET MEETING.
The Cabinet session yesterday was very brief
All the members were present excepting Secre-
taries Fish and Robson. The former is suffer-
ing from severe cold, and the latter is still alb
was represented By Assistant Secretary Davis.
No business Of any kind was considered.
FINANCIAL EXHIBIT.
The following is the financial exhibit of tho
Treasury Department at the close Of business
yesterday: Currency, g. 33 All special deposit Of
post, Isl 40 900: COIN Sss,iss, sss including coin
certificates, 81 900; outstanding legal tenders.
The receipts from internal revenue sources yes
terday were 20, 3A2E.
THE HOWARD COURT-MARTIAL
The Howard court of inquiry rsassembled &C
noon yesterday, with the following members pres
emit: Gen. Sherman, Gen. Mcdowell, Gen. Meigs,
Gen. Pope, Col. Reynolds, Col. Miles, and Maj.
Bss MAJ Gem Getty, fSrd artillery did not
ceive his order in time to be present yesterday but
Will possibly feecn mere In time 10 Do present When
the court meets to-day when the proceedings will
be read to him.
Gen. Howard and his counsel were present, viz:
Mr.. Alex. p. Ketchum, of New York; George W.,
Dyer and Henry d. Bean, Of Washington. Mr..
Edgar Ketehum, Of New York, IL also of his
counsel, but has not yet appeared.
There being NO objection 70 any member present
the court was duly sworn.
The Judge advocate then laid before the court
the Communications from the Secretary Of War to
the House Of Representatives, with exhibits on
which the action Of Congress providing for the
court was based. The rsmainder Of the session
was devoted TO reading these papers ~ showing
the scope Of the Investigation; after which the
court adjourned Sstfl noon to-day.
THE MILITARY ACADEMY PILL. r..
The House Appropriations Committee yester-
day began tho confederation ofthe West Point Mil
Itary Academy bill Ths ball ID not very lengthy,
and will DO eomplsteG to-day. The committee
.l.o pave An andieses % dslsgasion from Phila-
dslphi., Who are hsgte uxxs De establishment
II hghtho1ss % 19Ikheafs Point, m the Della
garA This matter was, however, referred
g the SECRETARY Of the Treasury for report as 70
he necessity for Light ct the place named.
SENATE COMBINATIONS.
The Senate yesterday in executive session con-
lrmed the following nominations Cassius q. Eos
or, United States district judge for Kansas; p
enlloefoR NJ - Ala1ka. >. u, MOf-