New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-03-02
CURRENT. TOPICS AT THE CAPITOL.

THE HOUSES On A Mailer Or Sl,SOO.
WASHINGTON, Monday, March /. 1875
The Legislative Executive, and Judicial Appropri-
alton bill has been upon the point of passage several
times, but it nevertheless hangs between the two
Houses The only difference between the House and
Senate is in the matter of the pay of certain clerks
in the Lower House. 1t has been o subject of the
most liberal etiquette between the two Houses that
each should regulate the pay of its own employees,
the other cOnsenting "a matter of course Follow
ing this CUSTOM the Senate has uniformly fixed its
rates at a much higher figure than the House. Thus
the Senate pays its committee clerks 81 20 a day.
while the House pays its committee clerks only
81 Sc a dav. The Chief Clerk of the Senate. with
less TO do than either the Chief Clerk the Journal
Clerk of the House, receives $4,000 a year, while
the two last named receive but $500:
The House in the present bill provided
that its committee clerks should receive 50 day.
and that the Chief Clerk aud Journal Clerk should
each receive $4,000 year. The Senate agreed to
the whole bin but that portion relating to salaries
of the House. To that it nOn-concurred and con-
ference committees of the two Houses were APP
pointed, but no agreement was arranged, both com
mittees adherng 10 the action or Their own body.
These committees were discharged and others APP
pointed, but thus far they have not agreed The
House seems determined to stand firm and regulate
the salaries of its officers and the Senate seems
determined to reduce the rate. The difference be-
tween the two Houses is about $780, and this
temptible sum divides Congress On bill amounting
to about 800 100000
TIE DISTRICT TAX BILL CRUSHED BY ITS JOBS.
The District Tax bill has been so loaded down
with jobs, some of which were exposed in The
TRIBUNE few days ago, that it cannot possibly
be passed in its present shape. The BILL as originally
drawn by the Commissioners of the District and
placed in the hands of the Committee on Appropria-
tons was a pretty fair measure. and if the Appro-
priations Committee had reported it to the House
and pressed it to VOTE instead of sending 1t to the
Committee on the District of Columbia, the House
would no doubt have agreed to it but when the
District Committee got possession of the bill the
members of the old Ring had everything their own
way. They reduced the rate of taxation. They
added section to provide for the election of Alex
r. Shepherd to be delegate in Congress. They pro-
posed to restore the salaries of the Board of Public
Works engineers who were responsible for the false
measurements, to what they were before Congress
cut them down and finally they inserted an ambig-
nous reference to the part Of the act of last year
levying tax of three per cent which the Commits
sioners of the District think may be construed to
peal that tax. But they have overreached them
selves and sadded the bill with MANY riders that it
cannot possibly pass the House. The Commissioners
will probably prepare new BILL simply levypg
tax and containing few other necessary provisions,
and this Will be passed under suspension of the
rules,
THE UTLER-POLAND ALTERATION.
Gen. Butler is anxious that some member of the
House who witnessed his alteration with Judge
Poland shall make some public statement which
may be interpreted denial that the report of it
contained IN THE TRIBUNE of Saturday was correct.
One member VINO heard the whole conversation de-
siIes 10 have it stated that Mr. Lamar not pres
ent and did not make the offer ascribei TO him.
Careful INQUIRY in regard 10 this matter discloses
the fact that there a mistake TO the person,
but not rs TO the fact. While the alteration
going on Gen. Eppa HuntoD went over and took
seat near Judge Poland, and was ready to assist him
should the occasion arise. The next day. when
Judge Poland was Informed Of this fact lac said that
he was greatly obliged TO the gentleman from Vir-
gnia but that he bad need OF assistance in this
case, rs he was a hghtiDg man himself.
A CONGRESSMAN TO BE APPOINTED TO DIS
TRICT OFFICE.
The statement is made that Gov. Dennison Of
OHIO one of the District Commissioners, is to
resign bis Office and return to private life. There is
q ell settled CON- ictiOn that he will be succeeded