New-York tribune., 1874-03-31
Board of Public Works should have the privilege Of
selecting one more engineers to accompany him.
CURRENT TOPICS AT THE CAPITAL.
THE TRANSPORTATION QUESTION.
II L.. o.

WASHINGTON, Monday, March 80 1874.
There are ae vet no indications of an early con-
sdcration of the Transportation bill in the Senate
Some of the opponents of the measure assert that
the leading railroad men Of the country desire its
passage on the ground that it will lead to the as
sumption by the Government of complete authority
over all the railroads of the country, whether inter
State or local and that il will be far easier for the
companies to deal with n single Government Com
mission than with thirty-seven different state
Legislatures. The Commission, 1t Is argued, would
be removed from the influence OF the Granger
movement, which begins to exert such power In
the Legislatures of the Western States as TO trouble
the railroad companies There wculd be no difficulty
in making the provisions of the bill apply to nearly
all the roads. because every one running through
freight or passenger destined TO cross State
line would come within the terms Of the bill, and
would be free from the annoyance OF hostile state
legislation by placing itself under the authority OF
the Government Commission. The passage of the
bill by the House is still spoken Of as a buncombe
performance, with no significance, except as show
ing how anxious the Republicans are TO curry favor
with the Grangcrs.
The bill TO regulate transportation on railroads
introduced in the House of Representatives by Mr.
Shoemaker Of Pennsylvania, provides for the ap-
pointment by the President Of three Commissioners,
at q salary of $3.50 per annum, to serve for one
year whose duty it shall be to classify the different
classes of freight on which the several railroads
required to fix their tariff of freight, giving pub
hcty to the same by cOnsplcuOusly posting the
same in the Offices and depOts and change shall
be made in such tariffs without thirty days notice
of such change by posting such notices as aforesaid
any deviation from the regular rates being punish
able by fine of not less than 800, nor more than
SlOOJ The Commissioners are also required to ar
range a general code of railroad signals and the
railroads to adopt the same. The bill was referred
to the Committee on Railways and Canals.
THE CORRUPTION AND EXTRAVAGANCE IN
SOUTH CAROLINA
The Delegation of South Carolina Taxpayers are
engaged IN holding interviews with leading Repub-
lican members of both Houses. They get from all
quarters assurances of sympathy, and find that the
unbridled corruption and reckless extravaganza
which has characterized the administration of their
State Government since Reconstruction, is severely
condemned by every one with whom they talk
They also find more general information among pub
ic men upon the condition of South Carolina affairs
than they expected. At the same time, when they
have presented their grievOus case, and ask of the
leaders Of the dominant party whether there is not
some way by which Congress can intervene to pro-
tect the ax-payng minority against the rapacty Of
a band of public punderers, kept in power by the
votes of the nOntaxpaylng majority, they get only
dubious shakes of the head in reply decided mega
Five answers Those who deal most frankly with
them that they must work out their own isalya-
tOn. TO this the delegates reply that they peheye
they could do so if the National Government would
give them its moral support or at least not throw
all it's influence in South Carolina against the efforts
of the citizens to accomplish reform. The delegation
will probably conclude to ask for an investigating
committee to go to South Carolina and make report
upon the state of affairs there. number OF menu
bers have promised their support TO resolution 10
raise such n committee.
THE LOUISVILLE AND PORTLAND CANAL BILL.
The entire day in the House, except the hour
devoted to the introduction of bills, spent in the
discussion of the Louisville and Portland Canal bill,
which reapproprates an indefinite appropriated
last year, said to amount 81 OoOfor the payment
of the Indebtedness upon the canal so rs to give the
United States entire control Of the work The pur-
pose of the bill is to relieve the commerce Of the
Ohio River from the present burdensome toll of so
cents per ton upon all vessels passing through the
canal and throw it open practically to free naviga-
ton bv charging cents per ton only, to detray the
ordinary expenses of maintenance and repairs The
money appropriated was not used last year on
account of some doubt to the full surrender of the
interest of the State Of Kentucky in the canal The
bill was opposed to-day on similar ground The
State has agreed to dispose of her interest but has
not made formal provision for snrrendenng urlsdic-
tion over the work to the United States Mr.. VIII
lard of Vermont took tho broader ground that the
Government had no more right to spend the money
of the taxpayers upon an artificial water channel
no matter how important il might be 10 commerce,
than to build railroads turnpikes for free trans
portation. No vote was taken to-day.
THE EANNUAL'APPROPRIATIO BILLS.
The following is the present condition of this
years Appropriation bills: The Naval Emergency
Extra Appropriation bill, and the Army, Navy, and
Fertilization bills have passed both Houses and be-
come laws. The Legislative Executive. and Ju-
dical Appropriation bill is now under consideration
bv the House. The Indian and Military Academy
Appropriation bills have been reported, but have
NOT vet been reached for action. The Deficiency
bill will be reported this week, and then the Pen
sion. Postal Consular and Diplomatic, River and
Harbor and Sundry Civil Expenses bills will be pre-
pared by the Committee and reported to the House
in the order named. In the bills already reported
there has been reduction of between Sl1,0OO0OO
and S12 100000 from the revised estimates OF the
Denartments and the Committee confidently eX-
meet 10 he able to effect aggregate saving OF
S25 600 600 in the total appropriations tins year, as
Compared with those of the last session.
WASHINGTON NOTES.
WASHINGTON Monday, March 30, 1874
Representative Kelley tried to get unanimous consent