New-York tribune., 1874-04-24
CURRENT TOPICS AT THE CAPITAL.
THE VACANCY ON THE BENCH OF THE COURl
a. Il 4
WASHINGTON, Thursday, April %. 1874.

OF OLAlMo'
WASHINGTON, Thursday, April %. 1874
In the contest for the vacancy on the bench OF the
Court of Claims created by the death of Judge
Milligan, Horace Maynard appears to have the best
prospect of success A great number Of members OF
the House have signed recommendation for his
appointment. His transfer from the House to the
Court would accomplish two desirable things. 1t
would put upon the bench an honest man of suhi-
cient capacity to deal with the questions which
come before that tribunal and it would at the same
time relieve the Committee on Banking and Cur
rencv from the chairmanship of who thinks
that the only thing necessary to be done to make
the currency of the country perfect is to take the
promise to pay off the greenbacks aud substitute
debased silver coins for the fractional notes. An
Eastern member, who called OH the President this
morning to recommend constituent TOR the
vacancy. came away with the behet that the noml-
nee had already been determined upon. MIR.
Mavnards friends are confident that his name VIII
be sent n unless the President means TO get rid or
Mr. Richardson by giving hm the once once ana ana thus thus
dignity as the Probate Judgeship from which Mr.
Boutwell, took him. That this has been taxed OF at
the White House is highly probable, but 1T Is
rnmored that the President hesitates to appoint Mr.
RICHARDSON because his confirmation cannot be
depended upon.
THE MOIETY SYSTEM.
The Waysvand Means Committee considered to-
day their bill in regard to Custom-house moieties
ton. 'favor the complete abrogaton of the moiety
system, aud the bill agreed upon provides that all
informers' fees, fines penalties and forfeiures re-
covered by any means, shall be turned into the
Treasury, the Secretary to reward such persons as
shall have been instrumental in the collection AL
cases are to be reported by the Secretary to Con-
press at the succeeding session with his action Inc
Secretary has the power TO designate those VINO are 10
receive the rewards and suf1clene sum Is W 70 sp
propriated each year TO make the payments instead
of the present provision by a Eases sromd
is excluded the bill provides that 1t shall De the
duty of the Judge to submit tue ~
for the merchant to suffer severely for simple omis-
sons in his returns, when 1t can be made 10 appear
that they were not prompted by any intent TO de-
frand The bill contains provisions looking TO the
aaverer punishment of certain classes OF frauds but
9Ss machinery is 30 guarded to afford protection
70 ali merchants who attempt to deal with the Coy
ernment In good faltn.
SECRETARY RICHARDSON'S PROSPECTS.
Secretary Richardson was to-day interrogated
with regard to the rumor prevalent for some days
past that he was to be appointed to the vacant judge
ship in the Court of Claims, but from his response
il appears that the office has not yet been rendered
him. The Secretary contemplates absence from
the city for the benefit of his health. which is some
what impaired by close attention TO official business.
Rumors continue TO prevail OF his retiring from the
Cabinet but they cannot be traced directly to 81
official source Members of Congress of both parties
however confidently say that they have doubt he
will retire. and that this Is mere question of tlme
The same persons assert that 1t is not improbable
| foreign mission will be rendered him, as there VIII
| soon be two vacancies one at Berlin and the other
at Vienna. In view of the reported probable reslg-
| nation of Judge Richardson, several Senators have
| openly declared that whoever may be appointed as
his viii undergo the closest scrutiny by the
| Senate.
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