Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1878-04-03

&C. !. 49, 81 :! d & 49, Il Q - !!
1 W,shin6 "a dispatch * March
oath statee that Alexander 81. Stephens
has introduced bill providing for m
;rcrease of the supreme court Of the
limited States from nine members, a. at
nresent constituted, to fifteen members,
Who are to be divided into five sections,
~ three each, and shall divide the bust
ness of the court among the Sc, eral
sections as follows One taking all
cases involving commercial law, bank
inc. and conflict of laws; the next tax
ING cases of admiralty, criminal cases,
claims upon foreign governments, and
;nsolyent laws; number three taking
all cases involving patents, wills,
estates, copyrights, ejectments, pub
Lie lands; number five taking all
cases involving taxes, chancery, federal
duties. and revenues, uses and trusts,
mandamus practice. Under Mr.. Ste
nhens bill, all cases exceeding $500 in
volyed can be brought to the supreme
court: all cases of original jurisdiction,
oftreaties under the laws and authority
of the United States, in which the United
States or any of the states may be a
marty, or any appeals from state courts
On constitutional questions shall be ar
gued before the entire bench of the
fifteen Judges, as at present. Mr.. Ste
nhens has submitted his bill to the JUS
ices of the supreme court and they
have promised an opinion upon it.
THE BANKRUPT ACT.
A. .,ooo;okoJ ,,roSS I;oDo<o1, JotoJ
March 9th, states that the present con-
gress will likely repeal the bankrupt
act The senate judiciary committee
today reported the following bill for
that purpose:
Be ii enacted, etc., That the bankrupt
law approved March 2, 1867, and all
acts in amendment or supplementary
thereto, or in explanation thereof, be
and the same are hereby repealed;
provided, however, that such repeal
Shall in no manner invalidate or affect
any case in bankruptcy instituted and
pending in any court prior to the day
when this act shall take effect, but, as
to all such pending cases and all future
proceedings therein, the acts hereby
repealed shall continue in full force and
effect until the same shall be fully dis
posed of in some manner as if said acts
had not been repealed.
THE LOG-STEALERS.
Atelegram at the interior department
reports that Gill and Platz and A. ].
Perkins, who claimed over three-fourths
of the $4,000 logs seized in Calcasieu
Parish, La, and interviewed for in the
suit of the United States VS.. Joseph
Hampton ct al, confessed judgment.
All the defendants except one have
confessed judgment.
THE WHISKY TAX.
The Senate Finance committee to-
day decided to recommend the passage
of the House joint resolution extend
ing to three years the time for the pay
ment of taxes on distilled spirits. Sew
eral members of the committee res erv-
ed the right to oppose tn e measure in
the Senate.
PENSION AGENCIES.
The house invalid pension committee
have Endorsed the bill of the appropria-
tons committee to abolish all pension
agencies and pay pensioners direct
from the treasury. The bill provides
that pensioners send vouchers to the
treasury, and a draft for the
pension be returned, the draft pay
able at any money order post Office.
The bill will have the support in the
house of the appropriation and pension
committees. 1t is claimed 100000
can be saved annually by this plan. 1t
now costs 100000 a year to maintain
pension agents, and it is estimated that
100000 will pay for the additional
clerks necessary in the treasury to
operate the new plan. Gen. Rice,
CHAIRMAN OF the pensions committee,
says the treasury officials approve the
Plan and say they can operate it with
lOO additional clerks.
THE TARIFF BILL.
Associated press dispatches from
Washington under date of March Goth
state that Congressman Wood expects
TO report the Tariff bill to the House
tomorrow, and to ask the House to
make 1t the special order for Thursday
next alter the morning hour, to the ex-
cluslon of all other business except prior
SPECIAL orders and Appropriation bills.
Inc point of order will probably be
raised at once that it is not in the power
OF majority of the House to make
special order except by a two-thirds
vote. The friends of the Tariff bill
Will insist that a majority can
DO it and will refer to the
ruling of Speaker Blaine in the
lorty-second congress, when Mr.. Dawes
reported tariff bill, to sustain their
position. 1t is understood that Speaker
randall has not fully made up his
mind as to the correctness of that ruin
ing, and, in view of the delicate position