Daily Los Angeles herald., 1878-03-13

Treasury. Their support would be
mostly among Democrats and their
opposition among Republicans.
Among these were the Indian and
Mexican pension bill, which would
require three to seven millions an
nually; the Giddings claim for
Southern contractors, involving the
payment of millions; the Texas-Pa-
cific, representing sixty millions;
the Mississippi levee bill, twenty
five millions; the bill refunding the
Cotton tax, sixty millions and
others.
Singleton mentioned the five
millions Canadian fishery indem-
nifty paid fer Hale's constituents.
Hale said, although that was not
pending legislation, he would af-
firm that the strongest opposition
to the bill would come from a
Northern State. There were four
hundred of these claim bills and
whoever presented one or reported
one from the Committee would de-
clare that he regarded it as just and
right. The radical trouble was that
some members were clamoring for
cheese-paring economy. Mem
bers on the other side made call
for and a pretext of economy, by
reducing clerks, by cramping Con-
suls, and by turning out Minister'S
but whenever they were confronted
with any of the classes of claims to
which he had referred, it was as
clear as that water runs down hill,
they would vote for them and
advocate them and, if they did not,
they would not dare to 20 home.
Whitthorne said if he had any
doubt about supporting the bill the
speech Just made would have Ie-
moved that doubt.
Donnell defended the Consular
system, which was not only self
sustaining, but actually brought
$500, 900 this year into the treasury.
He characterized the pending tar
if bill as the wooden horse looking
over the walls and threatening the
prosperity of the country. 1t was
great on agricultural interests and
got up in the interest of some two
penny manufacturing institution.
He declared himself ready to vote
$500 or 100000 for an Ameri-
can steamship line TO Brazil as
having tendency to revive Amer
lean commerce.
VisaIia Desert Land Investigation
Proposed Speeches ON tho chi.
nese Question Ben HeIihday's
Claim.
WASHINGTON, March 12.-Sec-
retary Schurz has referred to AS
sistant Attorney General Marble
the report and evidence recently
received from o. p. G. Clarke,
Chief Clerk of the Pension Bureau,
who was detailed to conduct the in
vestigation concerning the desert
land entries in the Visalia Land
District. Clarke's report consists
of the recital of his proceedings.
He does not make any recommen-
dation nor does he attempt to
weigh the evidence or decide
whether the lands in controversy
are truly desert lands within the
meaning of the law. Clarke sent
copies of the assignments of entries
to J. II. Redington, A. A. Bennett,
Geo. l.. Evans. Jos. A. Johnson,
and others and copies of the agree
ments for irrigation and improve
ment between j. B. Haggin and
various persons for whom he made
payments to the land Office. The
design being, in Clarke's opinion,
to vest title In Haggin and Others
for more lands than they could ac-
quire individually.
Senator Booth is preparing a
written speech on the Chinese
question, which he expects to de-
liver in the Senate some day this
week. Senator Jones, OF Nevada,
also intends to speak on this sub
ject at an carly day.
The action of the Senate in rec
ommendlng Ben Holladay's relief
bill, with instructions to the COM
mittee TO report what amount was
due him, was taken in accordance
with the desire of the claimant and
his friends, authority being also
given to the COLI mittee to send for
persons and papers. This course,
they say, will result in speedier
settlement OF the matter than would
be possible if the claim had to
await the courts adjudication and
subsequent appropriation by
Congress to pay the judgment.
The Snow Biock ade Isaised-Ioss oi
Life.
CHEYENNE, March 18th. The
snow blockade on the Union Pacific
is raised. Assistant General Super
intendent Clarke, from the East,
met Superintendent Davis in the
long cut east of this city at noon
and cleared it, when two trains,
No. 8, which, in anticipation, had
started from Sidney, soon passed
through, arriving here at and 5
this evening. Two more will ar
rive at IL tonight. The combined
forces of these two officers immedi-
ately proceeded westward and, not
withstanding the heavy drifts, sue
ceeded in clearing every obstacle,
some of the cuts being 25 to 80 feet
deep, and tonight they met the
party from the west at Sherman.
To make assurance doubly sure,
their respective trains will pass
over the ground early in the morn
ing and subsequently all the de-
layed trains will start from Chey-
enne and Laramie. Passengers
from the west state that they had
abundance of provisions, aud that
they were we'll cared for by the
railroad people. The track is now
clear from Omaha to Ogden.
The Colorado Central and Denver
Pacific are still snow bound, the
former with fair prospects of clear
ing the track to- morrow, their
train having returned to Denver
awaiting that event. Telegraphic
communication is open northward