The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-02-16
WASHINGTON.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15.-It is stated tn
President favors the Caucus bill, and threaten
IT Congress fails in its duty, he will not fai
in his. Should Congress adjourn without act
ing, it might be necessary for him to proceed
to greater extremes than mere suspension O
habeas corpus.
The subcommittee will report to the full
committee. The three Republicans will join
in the report, which is said will favor recog-
milton of Kellogg, and it is somewhat bitter in
its denunciaton of the White Leaguers.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1.-THE steamboat BILL
as reported back to the Senate to-day. is
changed by the Committee On Commerce in
in the following particulars: 1t is amended
SO rs to prohibit the carrying of explosive
and dangerous materials on any and all pas
senger steamers, Except ferryboats, whether
there are other means Of conveyance on the
same route or not. Life-preservers must be
capable Of sustaining twenty-four pounds
each, instead of eighteen pounds.
clause is inserted requiring at least one
locked up safety valve on every vessel The
sections OF the bill requiring q hydrostatic
test of boilers, and regulating the manufac-
turs, stamping and inspection of hulls and
boilers were all stricken out. SO as to leave the
present law in force. The committee also
strike out the provisions relating to the
licensing and employment Of ma 'es and other
the navigation of vessels meeting or passing
each other, the inspection and licensing Of
vessels and thu liability clause of the House
bill, leaving the present law unchanged on all
these subjects
The pilotage section is modified so as to
provide merely that vessels trading between
district and district or engaged in the fisheries
shall not be compelled to receive or pay pilots |
The new definitions Of the various classes of
vessels are also omitted. Aproviso is added
that one-half of all the penalties not specif-
cally otherwise provided for shall be paid to
the respective intormers.
MIR. Merrimon's bill to prevent vexatious
seizures OF property ETC., provides that Fed
eral taxes or other dues that are not clearly
defined by the statute, shall not be collected
by distress until the construction of the
statute shall be judicialy determined by an
action instituted in the United States Circuit
Court by the head of the department claim
ing the same, provided that a bond shall be
given to abide the final decision of the court;
and provided. also, that in rendering judy
ment the court may increase the amount by
the addition of ten per cent, if it shall
clearly appear that the defense has been !
made merely for the purpose of delay.
MIR. Dorsay's bill to regulate the transmits
non OF registered letters and money packages
through the mails, directs the Postmaster
GENERAL to establish a uniform syste of re- y
,istration at all post-ofices in the United :
States prescribes 10 cents as the registration !
ZEE; Furnishes the stealing or destruction of 8
my registered package by fine and imprison- = =
nent not exceeding $4,000 aud five years, and Z
my delaying of their transmission by $500
inc or six months Imprisonment and =
'rovides that if any registered matter 2
70 lost, stolen, destroyed, rifed or er- l
oneously delivered by reason of the e
arelessness or neglect Of any post =
flee employee, its value may be >
from him. The bill also provides o
hat any person falsely claiming to have in Z
losed money or articles ofvalue in registered 81
'tters, or not to have received them, shall BE- !.
finished by fine and imprisonment, not ex- ie
eeding one year and one thousand dollars
inaly, the Postmaster General is required I,
prepare locks OF special design for the "
'gistered letter service, and is authorized to q
nploy a chief of division and five clerks -
lerefor. u
The Committee Of Conservatives are max ID
lg satisfactory progress in their negotiations :,
u compromise. Definite results cannot be o oa
,ached for few days. %