The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-29
GENERAL WASHINGTON DISPATCHES.

GENERAL WASHINGTON DISPATCHES.
WASHINGTON, Jan. %, 1870.
MENDED BY THE SENATE FINANCE CON-
MIrTEE.
The Senate Finance Committee this morning by
vote of five to four. decided to recommend reduc-
ton of the tax on tobacco from the present rate of
twenty four cents per pound to twenty cents per
pound aud it decided to add to the House bill
provision admit free of customs duty all liquorice
paste and quorice rolls, these articles being I'M
ported almost wholly for use in the manufacture of
plug tobacco The committee took no action to-day
in regard to the taxes cigars and cigarettes and
snuff.
THE LEGISLATIVE EXECUTIVE AND JUDICIAL
APPROPRIATION BILL AS REPORTED TO THE
HOUSE.
The total amount of the Legislative. Executive and
Judicial Appropriation BILL reported from the
House Committee to-day is SIS 165 5s2 61 which is
SOFAS 50 less than the appropriation of last year.
and s041 1886 90 less than the department estimates.
Section 2 of the bill provides that the present
coast and geodetic survey, with supervisory
and appellate powers the same. authorized by
law is hereby transferred from the Treasury to the
Interior Department, to be hereafter known as the
coast and interior survey; to have charge Of all
coast and interior surveys except the special survey
necessary for geological purposes the survey of the
Northern and Northwestern lakes now under the
direction Of the War Department local surveys for
river and harbor improvements and surveys for mill
tary purposes, in accordance with the plan of
the National Academy of Science. The Offices
of Surveyors General abolished, to take effect
June 3d. 1879. and the work will be hereafter done
l,xyt ha GIN ;pfo IF md Tptar
Survey. Oficers of the army and navy. when not
otherwise employed may be detailed by the sccre-
ry of War of the Navy to take part in the opera
tions of the coast and interior survey The heads of
the several departments authorized to make
QUESTIONS upon the Postmaster General for postage
stamps for the use of their department. not exceed
ing the amounts stated in the estimates.
The pay of assistant messengers, fremen, watch
men and laborers is fixed uniformly at 500 per
rum for the first three and $500 per annum for
aborers. reduction of $500 is made in the salaries
Of the sub-treasurers at Baltimore St. Louis Chicago
and Cincinnati.
The estimates for the support Of life saving sta
lions are reduced from s2O4OO to sG5oO and the
ond and third sections Of the act of June 49, 1885, to
organize life saving stations repealed. The
tons repealed are those making available unexpended
balances and applying the proceeds of sales Of old
stations. equipments and condemned material in
building or improving and equipping stations.
ANOTHER RAID ON INDIAN LANDs--pRoPosED
NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE WARM SPRING,
UMATIILA AND OTHER INDIANS.
The House Committee on Indian Affairs this morn
ing considered the bill authorizing the Secretary of
the Interior to negotiate with the Warm Spring.
Umatla, Chippewa. Ute and certain other tribes of
Indians for the cxtnguishment of their title to the
lands occupied by them. and for their removal
to and consolidation upon certain other reservations
established by law. The bill proposes general
consolidation of the Indians forty
four reservations, covering &c SIG acres, ten
reservations. covering in the aggregate 5.44l.104
acres. Tho number of agents. which is twenty
SIX it is proposed to reduce to ten. corresponding
with the reduced number of reservations.
1t is claimed by the friends of the bill that it will
open to settlement twenty million of good
agricultural lands practically uncutivated. tho
proceeds of the sale of which to settlers will
than pay the cost of quictng the Indian title and
moving the Indians while by n close consolida
ton the Indians can be better looked after
On the other side. it is maintained that the
smaller the band Of Indians the greater the civlizng
influence Of the surrounding whites and the danger
from sudden outbreak emeute is very greatly
diminished. Messrs. Roberts and Stickney, of the
Indian Peace Commission. present in their indi
vdua capacity and not of the Board
but were not prepared to give decided opinion on
the merits of the BILL the consideration Of which will
be resumed at the next meeting of the committee.
THE SEWARD INVESTIGATION.
Tho House Committee on Expenditures in the
State Department to-day heard the argument of
counsel for the prosecution on the subpoena duces
tccum issued upon Mr. Seward. Each side is to
occupy two and half hours. the opening and clos
ing having been given by the committee to the prose-
cution. At the conclusion of this argument the
committee will proceed to determine whether not
Mr. Seward shall be compelled to produce the books
in his possession called for by the subpoena.
THE FISHERIES CLAUSE OF THE WASHINGTON
TREATY.
The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations to-
day agreed to hold special meeting next Friday for
the consideration of Mr.. Elmunds' resolution, which
requires notice to be given of termination. by our
government. of the Treaty OF Washington so far as
il relates to the fisheries.