The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1878-03-21
CURRENT NEWS.
WASHINGTON.


missioner Of Freedmen's Bureau, have been
decided in his favor, on the ground that the
funds in question were in the hands Of CIV.
Balloch, detailed officer, and the defendant
was therefore not responsible.
The House Judiciary Committee will re-
port against approving the special legislation
of the Legislative Assembly OF Arizona,
granting right Of way across the Territory
70 the Southern Pacific Railroad, on the
ground that the Territorial Legislature has
no power to grant special privileges. This
is reckoned as one point scored for Col.
Scott's Texas Pacific scheme.
Among the Postmasters recently confirm
ed is d. G. Potts at Petersburg, Va. Potts
was opposed by many Republican Senators,
on the ground that he was a Democrat, but
his appointment was finally confirmed by
six majority. 80
The nomination Of Thomas C. Smith, at
present Treasury Clerk, as Paymaster in
the Army, is meeting with considerable OPP
position among Senators, and the Senate
Military Committee has laid over the nomi-
nation for further investigation.
The Senate Committee on Pacific Railroads
recently gave hearing to r. S. Spofford up
on the bill looking 10 the completion Of a
Southern Pacific Railroad by the extension
TO FL PasO Of the Galveston, Harrisburg and
San Antonio Railway, there to connect with
the Southern Pacific Railroad to California
The San Antonio Company do not ask for a
land grant or for any Endorsement OF bonds,
but thata contractmay be authorized where
by the War Department shall mske advances
as the road shall be built, not to exceed So
900 per mile, these advances to be reimbursed
TO the Government in military transportation
and postal service.
Recent publications of private letters
written by McGarrahan, who has been
around Washington for a dozen or more
years seeking to secure from Congress some
recognition Of his claim TO the New Idria
quicksilver mine in California, are attracting
great attention. The names of a number of
Senators and Representatives are mentioned
by him as having been the recipients Of
stock in the company, several thousand
shares OF which were distributed around
where it was thought they would do the
most good. l"rl.G#H ... .Hl ...--
The bill introduced by Senator Kellogg in
aid of the New Orleans and Pacific Railroad
Company proposes TO give it the right Of
way via Alexandria, through public lands
between New Orleans and the eastern ter
minus of the Texas Pacific Railroad, togeth-
er with grant Of the same number Of alter
nate sections of public lands per mile as the
Texas Pacific Company has been granted In
the State Of California. The bill also pro-
vides for declaration of forfeiture of the
land grant and other privileges heretofore
conditiOnally conferred by Congress upon
the New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Vicks-
burg Railroad, it having failed to comply
with the conditions.
The Committee on Ways and Means have
finally disposed of the income tax question,
10y agreeing TO report bill exempting all
incomes up to 5000, leyying tax of per
cent from that amount to 5000, per cent.
thence to $4,000, and per cent for all IN
comes in excess of that amount In the
computation of incomes, rents and all taxes
are exempted.
The President has nominated Robert NJ.
Reynolds, Of Alabama, First Auditor Of the
Treasury. r#' a..
The House Committee On Railways and
Canals have agreed TO report a bill in favor
Of the Government assuming control Of the
Des Moines Rapids Canal, making it free. 1t
is estimated that the cost of maintenance
will be about $4,000 per year, 1T is pro-
posed to place the canal i'm charge of the War
Department. ..
DIR. Linderman, Director of the Mint,
stated before the Committee on Coinage,
Weights and Measures, that the present ca
pacity of the Mint for the coinage OF the
new silver dollar was $4,000, 200 year, and
that for 900 or $40 900 the New Orleans
branch could be put in working order, so as
TO turn out million a month, which, added
TO the coinage at Philadelphia, San Fran
cisco and Carson, would make S42, 600, 900
per annum.
The Committee on Post offices and Post
roads of the House have nearly completed a
bill for the classification of mail matter and
rates Of postage thereon. Mail matter is di-
vided into four classes; First, written mat
ter; second, printed matter of two kinds,
privileged and ordinary; third, other print
ed matter; fourth, merchandise, The rate
now existing will probably not be changed,
but the classification is simplified. The bill
will prohibit the carrying Of mail matter
outside Of mails, and authorize the Post
maSter-General to use return postal cards
and combined letter sheet and envelope.
The committee is divided whether any dis
tinction should be made in the rates on sec
ond-clsss matter, and the probabilities that
the law viii remain as it is, making the
rates two and three cents per pound.
The Committee Of Banking and Currency
have agreed upon a bill providing for the is
suing of silver bullion certificates. The bull
lion is TO be counted as its equivalent in
coin, less the mint charges and the cost Of
transportation. The certificates are to he
issued by any silver coming mint or assay
Office, and to be redeemsble at the assay
office in New York and the mint in san
Francisco. The certificates are TO be Legal
tender in the payment of all Government
dues. H s.- l. t.." A s.-.t
Prof. Sylvester Waterhouse, of the Wash
ington University, St Louis, has been APP
pointed by the President Assistant Commits
s;oner to the Paris Exposition. g.Tr n
The House Committee to whom was re-
ferred the charges against Doorkeeper Polk,
by vote Of seven TO two have decided to
recommend his removal on the ground of
loose management of his office in the matter
Of appointments.
The Deficiency bill, recently reported, APP
propriates $4,000 for. constructing, repair
ing and charging, and renting vaults and
\ safes for the use Of the Treasurer and As
sistant Treasurers of the United States; for
repairs and preservation of public buildings
under control of the Treasury Department,
$4,000; Custom house and Sub-treasury,
Chicago, Sl00,000 Custom house and Post
office, Cincinnati, 100000; Custom house
and POst-office, st. Louis, 100000; Custom
house, Court house, and POst-office, Nash
vile, Tenn, SO, 900; Courthouse and Post
office, Parkersburg, w. Va, $1,000; for trans
portation of army, etc, 81 200 900, being de-
ficiency for the fiscal year ending June 3Oth,
1877. Total sum recommended by the bill,
s, $50, O65. -..-.r i. Lee
Judge Leonard, Representative from Lou
isiana, who went TO Cuba few weeks ago,