The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1876-02-03
CONGRESSIONAL LEGISLATION.
PRESERVATION OF TIMBER.

PRESERVATION OF TIMBER.
Representative Dunnell, of Minnesota,
has offered bill for the appointment of
a Commissioner for inquiry into the de-
struction of forests, and into the meas
ures necessary for the preservation OF
timber. it being asserted that the supply
of timber within the United States is rap
idIv diminishing, and that great public
iniI1ry must result from its continued
waste unless adequate means are taken
for its preservation and production.
REORGANIZATION OF THE JUDICIARY.
Mr.. Knott, Chairman of the House
Judiciary Committee has reported bill
for the reorganization of the judiciary
Of The United States. 1t provides for
the establishment and defines the juris-
diction of the Circuit Courts in every dis
trict where no such courts now exist
and creates Court of Appeals for each
Circuit, to be composed of the Supreme
Judge assigned to that Circuit, the Cir
cult Judge, and the several District
Judges in the Circuit, with appellate
jurisdiction of cases arising In Circuit
and District Courts.
RETREEcHMENT IN THE ARMY.
Mr.. Banning, Chairman Of the House
Military Committee, offers bill pro-
viding that the pay of all general officers
of the army shall be limited to pay
proper. It fixes the salary OF Gen.
Sherman at $13, 500, Sheridan at $11 900,
Major Generals eli So, 800, and Brigadier-
Generals at 800. No change IS pro-
posed in the pay OF field officers, except
the reduction of Communication of quar-
tiers from $18 to So month. Among
the line officers the Second Lieutenants
are to have their pay reduced $500 per
annum. The pay of officers on special
duty is to be limited to the pay of their
rank, while no officer below the rank OF
Brigadier- General can receive longevity
rations or communication IN excess of
$4,000 a year. The forage account also
is reduced, making altogether a total OF
100000.
THE POSTAL BLUNDER RECTIFIED.
One of the blunders of the closing
hours of the Forty-third Congress the
failure to detect the real meaning and
effect Of the snuggled-in amendment IN
creasing to one cent per ounce the rate
on third-class mail matter-has been
rectifed so far as the House is concerned.
The bill restoring the old rate OF one
cent for every two ounces or fractional
part thereof of third class mail matter,
has passed that body without division,
and if, as may be confidently expected,
the Senate hastens to undo the mischief
which it originated last winter, the ex-
press companies will loose a bonanza,
and the people who want to send tran
sient newspapers to their friends will be
no longer compelled to pay outrageous
postage.
10, THE POOR INDIAN.
Representative Seelye, of Massachu
sets, has matured plan for gradually
changing the status of the Indian from
that of a ward of the nation to citizen
of the State in which he resides, with all
the powers, privileges, and responsible
ties Of citizenship. 1t is proposed to
commence with the wholly or partially
in New York, Michigan, Wisconsin, and
North Carolina, and to transfer their
control to these States, provided the
States will accept the trust. 1t is not
intended to apply this policy to the saw
age Indians within the boundaries OF
Kansas, Nebraska, and Texas, as they
are In no condition to exercisethe rights
of citizenship. The plan meets with
much favor in Congress, and will prob
ably be adopted.
THE PROPOSED MONEY UNIT.
Senator Sherman, of Ohio, has pro-
iect for assimilating the gold coin and
the money account of Great Britain and
the United States, and has introduced III
+ha Sanata q resolution. looking to that
end. The chief features embraced in
the plan are as follows The standard
for gold coin isto be nine parts pure
metal and one part alloy, and the mon
etary unit of the two countries is to be
the gold dollar. The United States is to
reduce the value of the present gold
dollar about e per cent, which will make
five dollars the exact equivalent OF the
present sovereign or pound sterling.
The gold coins OF the two countries are
to be legal tender in both countries, and
the decimal system of notation is to be
adopted in Great Britain. The adop-
ton by the two countries of the pro-
posed system will obviate the necessity
for the frequent recoinage of each
others coins.
TINKERING THE CURRENCY.
Several currency bills have been IL
troduced in Congress within week or
two. Mr.. Morrison, Chairman of the
WAYS and Means Committee, has offered
bill which, briefly stated, provides that
the Treasury of the United States shall
hold and retain a certain amount of gold
annually until it shall accumulate in a
sum equal to 80 per cent of the out