The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1874-02-05
FROM WASHINGTON.

Inc DreblNtHu Illus hpl'loN't viz bl'l
repeating all parts of the salary act of
March, 1873, except such rs increase
salaries of the president and the JUS
tices of the supreme court, thus restor-
ing the compensation of members of
congress and others to its former
status.
The committee on ways and means
have prepared and will report resoln-
ton to fix the amount of greenbacls at
four hundred millions, including the
reserve, thus keeping it within the linn
its of the law prior to 1866, They
deem it just to the country that the
limit should be absolutely fixed.
The national board of trade thinks it
not worth while for congress spendany
money in building through railroads
for the purpose of solving the transpor-
tation problem, and regards AZ equally
hopeless any attempt to settle 1t by
prescribing fares and rates by law.
They favor the passage of laws b. state
legislatures to compel railroads trans
porting grain in bulk to deliver the same
quantity they received.
Mrs. DIR. Guthrie was heard before
the house committee on judiciary last
week, in opposition to the enfranchise
ment OF women in the District of Co
lumba and elsewhere. She said the
ballot in the hands of women would de-
meralize society, undermine the state,
and tend to detract from the finer quail
ties of the sex, and consequently destroy
woman's usefulness as mother and
citizen. This lady made several at
tempts to be heard in Lincoln Hall
during the recent suffrage convention.
She alluded to the fact, and thanked
the committee upon concluding her re-
marks, for according her a privilege
which had been denied by her own sex.
Cheaper transportation is to be got,
according to the plan of the transporta-
ton convention at Washington, which
has Just adjourned, by state laws regu-
lating the railroads, but not fixing their
rates, by throwing the roads open to
all who are willing to pay for the use of
the tracks, by improving the water
ways from the interior to the ocean,
and by the construction of roads and
canals by the federal government, to
be used bv citizens on the payment Of
tolls. A national bureau IS to be es-
tablished, the members of which are to
look after the passage of state laws
preventing excessive charges and unjust
determinations. The abolition of the
free pass system and the subsidy swim
die are other meaus to the same end.
The senate committee on commerce
have agreed to report favorably Vests
bill giving the secretary OF war full con
troll over the channel mt the mouth OF
the Mississippi river, wheredredging by
the United States government is in pro-
gress. The bill authorizes him to pre-
scribe binding regulations, any viola
ton of which will be punishable by the
United States courts Senator West, OF
Louisiana. Senator Window, of Mime
sofa ard Representative Stannard, of
Missouri, appeared before the com
mittee and explained the necessity for
enacting the bill. They stated that the
Tow Boat association of New Orleans,
in order to secure continuance of
their present monopoly, are in the habit
of sinking vessels and otherwise block
aiding the bar so as to impede and some
times wholly stop the work OF excava-
tion.
Thcsecretary of the treasury has writ
ten n lettertoSenatorC Chandler, chairman
of the senate committee on commerce,
giving, by invitation Of that committee,
his views on the subjects covered by
Senator Fenton's bill, to regulate the
customs service and the disposition OF
fines, penalties and forfeitures. Secre-
tary Richardson goes into an extended
discussion of these and collateral sub
iects. and recommends the following
measures: /. A revision and consoli-
daticn of the tariff acts. 2. The sub
stitution as far as practicable OF spe-
cific in lieu of ad valorem dntles. 3.
The abolition of the present system OF
moieties with one exception, to.wit: That
where attempts mt smuggling are de-
tected, or where the act OF smuggling is
accomplished and the goods are seized
afterwards, the seizing officer or officer
and inf0rmer or informers, if any, shall
be entitled in equal parts to one -tentl
of the net proceeds, or if there be NJ
informers, the seizing officer TO be en-
titled to the whole of such one.tenth
4. That provision be made for spe
clal fund to be applied under suitable
restrictions to tie compensation of spe
cial persons affording information which
shall enable the government to detect
and punish frauds upon the customs
revenue rather than in the act of at
tempted smuggling 5. That the law
authorizing the seizure OF books and
papers be so amended as to afford due
protection to the rights OF private par
ties. 6. That no compromise OF any
fine, penalty or forfeiture accruing from
violation of navigation or customs
revenue laws shall be lawful until after
judicial investigation of the facts. 7
That the compensation of customs off
GERS be graded in accordance with the
Importance and responsibility of their
respective positions.
Hon. w. Orton, president OF the
Western Union telegraph company, who
has recently been before the senate
postoflice committee several times, the
Hubbard telegraph bill being before
them, concluded last week his argu-
ment, maintaining the following pro,
positions: |. Congress has no right to
pass the bill, because it would indirectly
take private property, for telegraph
purposes, without Just compensation
and furthermore, the passage OF the bill
would be violation of the contract
established between the government
and the telegraph companies, now exist
ing under provisions OF the law of 1866.
9. II there were no constitutional OBJ
iections or any violation of the contract,
1t would be impolitic to adopt the Hub
bard scheme contemplated by the bill,
because it constitutes partnership be-
tween the government and a private
corporation, to be conducted by 10th
official and private agencies at the same
time. under which there III to be &