The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-04-21
WASHING ToN.
Uncertainty as to the Presidents FL
nancial Action Increasing.
RUMORED CHANGE OF HIS CONVICTIONS.
Message to Congress on
the Civil Service.
LOUISIANA IN THE SENATE.

WASHINGTON, Ap ril 90, 1874.
Uneasiness among the Marplots OF WASH
ington as to tho Fate Of the Senate
Finance Bill-Change OF the Presidents
Convictions.
There appears to be great deal of uncertainty
here tonight as 10 the Presidents signing the
Senate Finance bill. Among those who are very
high in his confidence and who have ready access
to him it is given out that there is great change
In his convictions. But his possible course since
last night as to the signing OF the bill now before
him continues enveloped In doubt.
Message of the President to Congress ON
tho Civil Service II An Appropriation
Recommended for the Continuation or
the mission.
The President to-day sent the following message
60 Congress =
TO THE SENATE AND House OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Herewith transmit the report OF the Civil Ser
vice Commission authorized by the act OF Congress
OF March u 1871, and invite your special attention
thereto. II sustained by Congress l have no
doubt the rules can. after the experience gained,
be so improved and enforced as to still more ma
terialy benefit the public service and relieve the
executive members OF Congress and the heads or
departments from influences preJudicial to good
administration. The rules as they have heretofore
been enforced have resulted benehcialy, as is
shown by the opinion Of the members or the Cabi-
net and their subordnates in the departments,
and In that opinion concur But rules applicable
TO officers who are to be appon ted by and with the
advice and consent OF the Senate are in great
measure impractcable, except ns so far as they
may be sustained by the action OF that BODY.
These must necessarily remain unless the direct
sanction OF the Senate is given to the rules. ad-
wise for the present only such appropria-
tons as may be adequate to continue the
work in It's present form, and would leave to
the future to determine whether the direct
sanction OF Congress shall be given to rules that
may, perhaps. be devised for regulating the method
OF the selection Of appointees or portion of them
who need to be confirmed by the Senate. The
same amount appropriated last year would be
adequate for the coming year, but think the pub
Lie interest would be promoted by authority in the
Executive for allowing small compensation for
special service performed beyond the usual office
hours under the act OF 1871 to persons called into
the service OF the government. q. S. GRANT.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, April IS, 1874.
Official Announcement to the Govern-
ment of the Popular Ratification of
the Revised Constitution of Switzer-
land.
The following official despatch was received
yesterday at the Consulate General OF Swtzer-
land, Washington, relative to the revised consti.
tuition submitted to vote of the people and can
tons Of Switzerland:-
Revision accepted by the people and cantons-
FEDERAL POLITICAL DEPARTMENT.
The Counter Reports or the Committee
ON Elections I'm the Sykes-Spencer
Election Contest.
The report OF the majority OF the Senate Com
.mittee on Privileges and Elections on the Sykes
Spencer contest Tor seat in Congress from Ala
bama gives detailed history of the circumstances
under which the contest arose.
The committee conclude that Spencer is entitled
to his seat in the Senate, ana cannot properly be
Ousted therefrom.
The minority, consisting Of Messrs. Salisbury
and Hamilton (of Maryland), take issue with the
conclusion OF the majority OF the committee, and
insist that Mr.. Sykes was elected by Legislature
organized in conformity with the constitution and
laws OF Alabama, and, therefore, report that he is
entitled to the seat In the Senate which is now
held by Mr.. Spencer
Vhe Bill TO Abolish Moieties and Seizures
OF Books and Papers.
Representative f. w. Roberts, of the sub-Com-
mittee on Ways and Means, made report to the
full committee to-day on the subject OF seizures of
books and papers. 1t proposes to repeal the law
which gives that authority and to place
the seizure OF books and papers OF merchants
on the same ground that such seizures are made
to other classes OF citizens; also to repeal all
provisions OF law under which moieties OF any
ines, penalties or oreitures, any share therein
are paid to informers or officers OF customs, or
other officers Of the United States and
requiring the proceeds OF all fines, penalties
and foreitures to be paid into the Treasury. The
Secretary OF the Treasury is authorized TO make
suitable compensation to iniormers and other
persons aiding in the detection OF smuggling and
other offences against the Customs Revenue laws
or aiding In convictions OF the same
Important Confrma ton.
The Senate in executive session to-day
confirmed the nomination of Thomas Rus.
SELL of Massachusetts,, to be Minister Resident to
the Republic of Venezuela ptce William A. Pile re-
signed.
Death OF the Hon. Samuel MilIigan,
Justice of the Court of Claims.
Hon. Samuel Milligan, one of the Associate Jus.
tees of the United States Court OF Claims died
here to-day. He was native OF Tennessee and re.
viewed his appointment In 1868.
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS.