New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-01-30
CURRENT TOPICS AT THE CAPITAL.
THE ALADAMA sENATORIAL CONTEST.

WASHINGTON Thursday, Jan. 20, 1874.
Mr.. Spencer lie firmly settled in his Senatorial
look with indifference upon the investigation
which the Committee Privileges and Elections pur
pose making. The counsel for Mr.. Sykes. Gen. Morgan
Of Alabama read to the Committee to-day o brief OF
his case basng Mr. Sykess claims for admission on the
ground that the State House Legislature, 80 called
which elected Mr. Sykes, the legal Legislature He
named also number OF witnesses whom he desired to
call TO prove that quoram Of the body was legally
elected He did not refer to Mr. spencer's
conduct during the election, to any OF the
circumstances attending It, After he had concluded
Mr. Spencer and counsel, WIN. E. Chandler, asserted
that they could prove that Gov Lindsay and prominent
Democratic members Of the State House Legislature
proposed to him that IL he: would break up the Court
house body they would elect Hun to the Senate. Gen.
Morgan replied that he had not proposed to prosecute
the claims Of his client. Mr. sykes,by evidence OF any
kind I'm regard TO corruption in the elections Mr. sykes
claimed That he was chosen by tho legal Legislature
and therefore entitled to tue seat 10 prove
Mr. Spencer guilty Of fraud would not help
Mr. sykess case rs both not chosen by the same
body but II Mr. Spencer wished to go into those ques-
uons he was willing to do SO, and could name the
reputable witnesses who would prove that Mr Spencer
went to Democratic members OF the state House Lsgs
and offered TO break up the other body by prng
ing negroes whom he CONTROLLED provided tns s
would elect hun This they refused TO do I. - re-
existence would damage Mr.. Spencer geady shond
It be printed. The Committee postponed the matter
THE ENGINEER BATTALION.
Gen Nelson H. DAVIS, of the Inspectors General Of
the Army, in late interview with the House Military
Committee, defended the engineer bastsiion, which
Gen. Sherman recently spoke 30 disparagingIy Of He
said: . .r...l ..r ui. D1 ,..A'.'T al '.. '.-
made an inspection OF wlleSs Point, and of the bat
talon OF engineers there last Fall IL is commanded by
Major Abbott of the engineers, Brsvet Brigaderene-
rail- consider this corps efficient and indispensable to
the interests Of tho service. do not think 1t could he
dispensed WITH The men are instructed not only ~ ts
pertaining 70 the Engineer Department ana me o9ndi
ton Of the post and the result o. ner aD0r S0sa 81
factory. consider that. for the defense of our sea
placed H py the ' same Kind Of intelligence efficiency
without much greaterex pense than 1t would be to re-
neerng duties the of torpedoes for harbor and
river defense is established and being pet1ected AT
Willets Point. The great proficiency TO which II has
already arrived reflects great credit Major Abbott
and his corps and think on the country consider II
one OF principal elements OF defense for our harbors
and rivers aud, understand this torpedo system
there principally on the defensive against attacA-
are offensive propclnDg torpedoes for tue attack Of
ships aud that has been given TO the Navy more espe
cialy. .l l- .. II - 49, '..
| THE NAVAL APPROPRIATION BTTL.
The Naval Appropriation bill. It VIII I've reported by
Mr. sargent from the Committee on Appropriations,
compares rs follows with the bill as passed the House
The Com nittec consented to reduction OF abont
IN the appropriations for the civil Lists OF the
various NavyYards, and to the section cutting down
the number privaes In the Marine Corps from 1900 TO
15oo men, ana TO all other reductions made by the
House. except In the appropriations for some of the OPP
eratiye bureaus which liked at about the amount OF
the revised estimates. The Committee also report pro-
vision abolshing the grade Of Brgldier General in the
Marine Corps vacancy occurs. The bill as
now reported total Appropriation or about
$1,000 900 less than the original estimates aud about
bree-auarers OF million less than the revised esti-
mates the total being increased by the Senate Commit
tee between 100000 and tiO0u in order 10 avoid other
wise inevitable deficiencies. ... f.. '.
THE FINANCIAL MEASURES or THE BANKING AND
CURRENCY COMMITTEE. f.
The various financial measures Of the House Commit
tee on Banking aud Currency to-day reported TO
the House, The bill originally prepared by Mr. Merriam,
providing for FREQ banking and resumption summary
of which has been heretofore printed In THE TRIBUNE
and which agreed to IN the Committee several day
avo was refereed the Committee OF the Whole and
viii come MP for consideration fortnight hence. Tie
convertible 36J Bond bill OF NJ Kelley, which
badly beaten III the Ways aud Meaus aud Banking aud
Currency Committees, was reported back adversely