The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1876-01-28
WASHINGTON NOTES.
Centennial Appropriation not at all
satisfactory TO the Commission.
Investigation into llendcrSOn's Dis
mlssal q GrOundlesS RumOr.
-
The Work of RetrcnChment and Econ
Omy Fairly Inauguratcd.
Public Lands Being Rapidly Appr0prl'
atcd by q PlratIcal Ring.

WASHINGTON, January 27.-The Sem
ate is discussing the bill to pay the in
terest on the 1866 bonds of the District
of Columbia
The House held personal question
raised as to the offensive remarks made
the other day by Mr.. White, of Ken
lucky, against the clerk of the House.
The committee on education and la
Dor have considered the bill for reim-
bursting the college of William and
Mary in Virginia for its buildings de-
stroyed during the war. IL Is probable
the committee will report favorobly.
The appropriation is not asked as a le-
gal war claim, but is based on the pol
Icy of sustaining historical institutions.
1t is understood that special meetings
of the committee will be held to frame
hill applying proceeds of the sale OF
public lands to educational purposes.
Sentiment in both the committees
on Indian and on military affairs seems
strongly in favor of transferring the
Indian bureau to the War Department,
the private opinion of those people
well informed in these matters is that
the change will be economical. The
committee on military affairs have
agreed to address n note to four officers
of the highest rank in the army, ask
ing expression of their views on the
subject. Similar letters will be sent al
30 to subordinate officers on the from
tier.
The agreement in committee to cut
down salaries of members from five
Al ~ nd N.
dred dollars, is in accordance with the
general understanding to reduce all
salaries in both branches of Congress
and in the different departments, the
only exception to be made being that
of cabinet officers, and clerks receiving
not more than twelve hundred dollars
salary. Clerical forces are also to be
reduced one-tifth in number, and hours
of wook increased from six to eight
hours. Several salaries of clerks in
the House were increased last year,
and these will be put at the old figure
and then reduced ten per cent.
The new bill agreed to by the House
Judiciary committee, providing that
criminals tried in the United States
courts may testify in their own behalf
lust as they can now In the State
courts, may have some bearing on the
whisky cases, If it should become a
law before their conclusion. Objection
was made to the bill In the committee
on that account.
The Centennial bill passed is not at
all satisfactory to representatives OF
the Centennial commission, the
amendment providing that assets re-
naming after the exposition Is over
shall be turned over to the United
States, and no division made to stock
holders until the entire appropriation
of one million and a half is refunded,
being the Objectionable feature. Cen
eral HaWley said on the floor OF the
House that he would just as soon have
no appropriation at all as take 1t IN
that form; that the commission could
easily get half million from some
rich men and mortgage the centennial
property for the remainder.
Mr.. Hill, of Georgia, did not speak
on the passage of the Centennial bill as
reported. He voted for and was solic-
itous among his friends for its passage
but did not address the House. Inc
speech of Lamar has won him new
laurels, and was listened to with wraptt
attention by the entire house ana
crowded galleries. Republicans are
not at all anxious to circulate 1t as a
campaign document, as they propose
with Ben HilPs.
Careful inquiry fails to develop any
basis for the rumor industriously circu-
lated for two or three days past to the
effect that an effort will be made to
get an Investigation ordered into Gem
eral Henderson's dismissal. There has
been talk Of such thing more or less
all the lime since Congress met, ana
little more than usual during the last
few DAYS, but leading Democrats are
decidedly opposed to any such move
ment. They think it Is best to
let well enough alone, and are disposed
to let the whisky trials go on undis-
turbed as long as things continue MS
they are.
The committee on public lands have
taken ND the resolution introduced last
week by Mr.. Bland, Of Missouri, In re-
lation to the alleged ring OF land specu-
lators who are said to be rapidly appro
priating the public lands OF the coun'
try. 1t IL. charged that these Land
pirates have been aud are still procur'
Ing by fraud and otherwise the transfer
of the lands allowed as additional
quantities to Union soldiers to make
up the amount OF one hundred and SIX
ty acres In railroad limits and Other
privileges secured by acts Of Congress
approved June s, 1872, and March y
1873. In other words the agents OF tht
public land ring, after getting the form
Of entry made by the soldiers, for actua
settlement, have bought them for
mere song; in some cases they nav a,