New-York tribune., 1876-02-03
CURRENT TOPICS AT THE CAPITAL.
THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE SHIPPING
WAsn1NGros. Mednesday. Fen. 2. 1s76.

WASHINGTON, Wednesday, Feb 2, 1876.
The sub Committee Of the Committee on
Commerce to-day at 10 o'clock in private session TO
hear statements from Messrs G. A. Brett John Zitosen
DR.. Norvell, the Hon. W. K Beehe, and Col Hncken,
representing the New-York Ship Owncrs' Association ;
from James J. Ferris representing the in favor
of the Ward amendment and from shipping Com Is
aioners G. G. Duncan, r. p. Buck. tho Rev Samuel IL
Hall, and Vim. Booth, in favor of the present shipping
act and representing the Seamons Friend Society.
Nearly all OF these gentlemen made speeches Those OF
the ship Owners Association and the representative OF
the seamen charged improper administration Of the law
and that the Shipping Commissioner had applied
to his own use the moneys that should have
been paid into the Treasury OF the United States
The Commissioner had received from SGOOOOto 100000
q year. and some OF tins money had been pad salaries
to officers the Seamens Friend Society the Rev. 8. H.
Hall receiving $1,000 They charged further that
the Office of the Commissioners too far from the Gus
toIuhouse and that the law unconstitutional be-
administration left 10 the Judiciary instead
Executive department of the Government They
urged that the law be changed that the Commissioner
may he saaied officer that all fees he turned into the
Treasury, that the appointment Of Commissioner be
given to the Secretary Of the Treasury instead of vesting
the appointm mt with the Judge Of the United
States Circuit Court, aud that the fees of ship
masters be reduced from 81 to SO cents.
Mr. Duncan took the ground that was impossible for
him to carry on the business the office cheacer
scale, and notwithstanding the collection OF large
OF money he had for years been in debt for
expenses The law. lie cOntcDded was good one ana
should not he amended II had stopped the eStorion OF
sailor clearinghouse fnen The crews Of vessels had
been put aboard sober In every instance ana many
difficulties between shpowners and sailors had been ad
justed by him free of cost thus doing away with eXpen-
sve litigation. There great deal of earnest feeling
expressed ON both sides and not only the suhConnl'ee
-Messrs. Ward, Piper. and Rossbut other members OF
the Committee on Commerce, including the Chairman,
much interested iii the proceedings
NO INSURANCE AGAINST INDIANS.
A great number of bills have been intro
duced in the House this session for the relief OF
persons who have suffered from Indian depre-
datioDs. Although Congress has never fairly adopted
policy of paying these claims, certain number
Of them have ut every session been allowed, and
the aggregate thus taken from the Treas
ury has been considerable This session claims OF this
nature an INT 10 many mi lions of dollars. one single
b Of this kind providing for the appropriation OF more
than 81 100000. The House Committee on Indian Az
fairs in considering this subject has agreed TO resou-
ton which will prevent II from reporting any OF these
bills favoraby. At its meeting yesterday Prof se"ye
moved that the OF the Committee that No
claims for Indian depredions ought To be paid except
in cases where the United States made Responsible
Tor them by treaty siipulatohs. iIls Iesou"n' aVer
passed Tue theory which this action Is based Is ta
the United Government il IN no sense all insurance
company that persons VINO set,e upon lhe ,i"eI u'
knowing ri-k they mCur AMI because they ehrct
be rcmuneaed for any loss or suffering TO which they
he subjected In t's respect hey are IKE persons
who settle in miaSmatic swamp. or VINO IN othrr way
incur risks of life or PROPERTY In certain cSS, Inums %
who have been placed on reservations nave pceh prom
ise in treaties made with them, protection from cepIe
dtous by other Indians, and Jew such cases 90 THESE
may be made exceptions the rule adopted by the Com
mftee ThI- action the Committee, II Will be seen
will make II wholly use for any Interested IN one
of these claims for Indian d-uedations TO attcmp to
press il before Congress al this session.
THE PACIFIC ROADS ARGUMENT.
Mr. Storrs appeared to-day before the House
Committee on ParGc Railroads in behalf Of the Southern
Pacific Railroad W California, confnng himself to the
law points involved. Col Scott said II the Southern
Pacific Road would open the line between Fort Yuma
and gan Gorgono Pass TO the Texas Pacific and LET Con
ess control the that piece Of road the Texas
Pacific would 1t aud build no parallel line. MI
Huntington agreed to this and said he would do 70 on all
the eopthern Pa,inc Road II allowed 10 build east 20
meet the Trxns Pacific Road Mr.. Redned OF Arkansas