Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-01-23
Pinchback Let's the Cat Out 10 Merton,
and Morton Wants New EIec-
tiOn In Louisiana.
Secretary Richardson before the House
Committee on appropriations
Senator DaWes's Bill on
'Legal-Tenders.
Nominations by the Presldent-The Sec
Teiary Of War to Control the
Mouth Of the Mississippi.
Lett r Of the Secretary Of the Treasury
on the CustOms-PresidentO OTtOn
on the POstal-TeIegraph-
Etc., Etc, Etc.

GtN's AtOss LtCs
WASHINGTON, January eat is re
ported that Senator MOrtOn's actor
with reference to Pinchback's seat il
the senate was based upon the eonfes
sion of Pinchback himself CT question
able practices in securing his election by
the Louisiana legislature. 1t is said thai
the damning reports about the election
having reached Senator Morton, he SEN
for Pinchback, who made a clean breasI
Of il, whereupon Senator Morton aban
dOned the policy Of seating PinehbaeE
on prinlQ f0cie case, and asked that Il
be carried to the committee on privileges
and elections to investigate the condue
Of Pinchback. The latter, it is said, il
very angry at his treatment, declarel
for a new election and threatens dam
ages. The disclosures regarding tbs
operations of Louisiana politicians il
his case are said to be the cause of hi:
exclusion from the benefits and privi
leges Of the Kellogg ring.
Representatives Shelton and Sypher
Ex-senator Harris, and Revenue Office
Pitkln, all of Louisiana, called on the
President to-day TO express, it is said
their views in opposition to the election
in that State.
Senator Carpenter and General Butlel
also had an interview with the Presi.
dent. 1t is asserted that these gentle.
men are on the other side of the ques.
ton.
The commission of Chief-Justice
Waite has not yet been prepared, nor is
it known when he will come to Wash.
ington.
Secretary Richardson and Mr.. Conant,
chief of the warrant bureau, were before
the house committee on appropriations,
explaining the items coming under the
head Of permanent appropriations,
which relate not only to salaries but to
commissions and expenses relative to
loans.
The following is the text of the bill
reported to-day by Senator Dawes, from
the committee on ways and means:
WHEREAS, the existing uncertainty as
TO whether the amount of legal-tender
notes, now authorized by law to be kept
IN general circulation, is three hundred
and fifty-six million dollars, or four hun
dred million dollars, is calculated to de-
range the business of the country, and
unsettle values; therefore,
Be it eldctsd, etc., That the provisions
OF law existing prior to the passage of
the act approved April II, 1866, entitled
an act to amend an act to provide ways
and means to support the government,
approved March 8, 1865, be and the same
are hereby declared to be in force, SO as
TO authorize the amount of legal-tender
notes Of the United States to the amount
four hundred million dollars, to be kept
in general circulation, and the total
amount Of United States notes issued or
to be issued shall never exceed four hum
dred million dollars.
The examination of applicants for
promotion to first-deputy commission
ership of internal revenue has been in
definitely postponed, pending the action
of congress on the resolution to abolish
that Office.
The President sent the following nom-
nations to the senate to-day: POstmas-
ters Games NJ. Comfy, Columbus, Ohio;
John w. Rogers, Decatur, Michigan I;
George w. ClaptOn, Ludington, Michi-
gan; James Hall, Oconto, Wisconsin ;
Henri E. Wells, Maline, Illinois, and
A. A. Howard, Yankton, Dakota.
Secretary Richardson, SAYS the reports,
that he will soon tender his resignation
as secretary of the treasury, are abso-
lutely false.
The senate committee on commerce
to-day agreed to report favOrably Mr..
VESTS bill giving the secretary Of war
full control over the channel at the
mouth of the Mississippi river, where
dredging by the United States govern
ment is in progress. The bill author
izes him to prescribe binding reguIa-
tiOns, any violation of which will be
punishable by the United States courts.
Senator West of Louisiana, Senator
Window of Minnesota, and Repre-
sentative Stanard of Missouri, appeared
before the committee and explained
the necessity for enacting the bill. They
stated that the Tow-boat association of
lower New Orleans, in order to secure a
continuance of their present monopoly,
are in the habit of sinking vessels and
otherwise blockading the bar so as to
impede, and sometimes wholly stop the
work of excavation.
Mr.. Thomas presented in the house of
representatives., to-day, a protest Of the
general Indian council of the Indian
country, organized under the treaties Of
1856 against the establishment of ter
ritorial government in that country.
Outstanding legal tenders, three hun
dred and eighty-two thousand sixty
two dollars and thirty-six cents.
The secretary of the treasury has
written q letter to Senator Chandler,
secretary of the senate committee on
commerce, stating, by invitation Of that
committee, his views on the subjects
covered by Senator FentOns bill to
regulate the customs service and the
disposition of fines, penalties, and for
FIXTURES. Secretary Richardson goes into
an extended discussion of these and
collateral subjects, and recommends the
following measures: First, a revision
and consolidation Of the tariff acts;
second, substitute as far as practicable of
specific in lieu of dd UdlOrem duties;
third, the abolition of the present system
Of moities, with one exception, tO-wit:
that where attempts at smuggling are
detected, or where the act of smuggling
is accomplished, and the goods are af-
terward seized, the seizing officer or Of
ficers, and the informer or informers of
any such, shall be entitled, in equal
parts. to one-tenth of the proceeds; or.
IF there be no infOrmers, the seizing Off
GERS to be entitled to the whole of said
one-tenth; fourth, thst provision be
made for special fund, to be applied;
under suitable restrictions, to the COM
pensation of private persons af-
fording information. which shall en-
able the government to detect
aud punish frauds upon the customs rev.
enue other than those involved in the
act of or attempted smuggling; fifth,
that the law authorizing the seizure of
books and papers be so amended as to
afford due protection to the rights of pri-
vate parties; sixth, that no compromise
of any fine, penalty or forfeiture aceru-
ing from violation Of the navigation or
customs revenue laws shall be unlawful
until after judicial investigation of the
facts; and, seventh, that the eompensa-
ton of customs-officers be graded in ac-
cOrdanee with the Importance and re-
sponsibility of the respective positions.
The committee on pOstoffices and post
roads of the senate beld another meet
ing to-day, to hear the continuation of
William OrtOn's argument sgainst the
postal telegraph scheme. He spoke un-
til the adjournment Of the con- mittee,
which meets sgain tomorrow to hear
further from President Orton. G.. @.
Hubbard, Of Massach.. 81, tho is d
friend of the proposed NJ un was pres
ent, taking notes, and w.li PROBABLY re-
ply 10 President orton.