New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-12-23
CURRENT TOPICS AT THE CAPITAL
wAsuNoroN. wednesday, Dec. 90. 1850.

| TIE SANDY HOOK IMPROVEMENT SCHEME
Previous TO adjournment to-day, Speaker Randall
| laid before the House executive document from
| the Secretary of War accompanied by report of
the Board of Army Engineers. The report gives the
results of an investigation by them of the feasibility
of the plan for providing permanently deep and
| safe channel through the Narrows into New York
Harbor, as embodied in the bill introduced at the
last session of Congress by Representative Muller
of New-York. 1he plan contemplated tine building
| of sea wall outside the channel at Sandy Hook,
the top to be at depth of from forty to seventy
one feet below the surface of the water at mean low
| tide The report concludes as follows: "Afer a
careful examination of this scheme the Board are of
tie opinion hat the proposed wall Will not improve
the navigation the bar or form harbOr of
| refuge for any class of Vessels" The report il
signed by all the members of the Boan of Eng-
| neeTs for FOritlcatlOns and River and HarbOr lm-
| provementS.
JUDGE WOODS CONFIRMED.
Judge Woods confirmed to-day Forty Sena-
tors voted, tbirty-nine being Several of
the Democrats who opposed confirmation on yester-
day refused to vote to-day, but others, who were
paired with absent Republicans. came IN, and voted
in order 10 make a quorum. The Grant Parish
charge of Judge Woods, to which Senator Jonas al
Iuded yesterday Is really of the most credit
able official acts of Judge Woods's career in the
South, and proves hin to be- not only fair and inn
his charge he invited counsel upon either side to
correct hlm if ne stated, a conceded fact, any
thing which was disputed. He then detailed the
whole story of the Colfax massacre. Mr.. Jonas com
planned because Judge Woods sent Offenders these
cases, " worthy citizens of Louisiana" 10 jail.
MISSISSIPPI POLITICS.
Private information from Mississippi has been re-
ceved to the effect that on the 14th inst the Grand
Jury returned a number of indictments in the cleo
ton cases. and among them two against the election
commissioner of De Soto The jury is still examn-
ing witnesses Republican resident of Mississippi
well known in Washington as a thoroughly trust |
worthy man. says that the election of George to the
Unted States Senate ought to be contested He |
says if the Senate will send committee to inquire
into the election of members of the Legislature
elected him he will never be seated. In my part |
Of the State" says this gentleman, seven or eight
members returned to the Legislature never we're |
elected and the proof OF the fraud can be easily pro-
duced-"
AMENDING THE BANKING LAWS.
Mr. Bayard introduced bill to-day to amend the
National Banking laws The bill proposes to amend
the Revised Statutes so that any banking associa-
ton making the required deposit of bonds shall be
entitled to receive circulating notes equal to. but
not 10 exceed 90 per centum of the par value of the
bonds deposited. and that at time shall the total
amount of circulating notes 30 issued exceed the
amount actually paid in of its capital stock. 1t is
also proposed to repeal section 5176 Of the Revised
Statutes. which provides that no ban king assOcia-
tOn organized subsequent to july IL, 1880 shall |
have q circulation in excess of S500.O
PROTECTING ITALIAN MAILS.
The Foreign Mails Department has been advised
by the International Bureau under the Postal Union
that oil dnuable articles aud jewelry, received ln
Italy and after January l. 1881 by mail. will no
confscated by the Government. The Department
has also been informed that by decree of the
Italian Department of Justice any correspondence
restve TO foreign lotteries is prohibited and will DO
seized by the authorities of that Country.
INSPECTION OF STEAMBOATS,
Supervising Inspector of Steamboats, Dumont has
ust completed a statement showing that from 1873
10 1876 inclusive. the average number of steam
boats inspected annually was $3.50 and the average
contingent expenses per annum $4S,543 o. while
rom 1877 to 1880 the yearly average of steamboats,
inspected numbered 1886 with On annual average
If contingent expenses aggregatiDg $50. l24 e5.
DREARY DEBATE IN THE SENATE.
Senator Morgan called up his resolution of last {
esson to-day, declaring that the President of the
senate Is not invested with the right to count tho
'otes for President aud Vice-President, and made
dreary speech upon It, Senator Edmunds con. i