The National tribune., 1882-12-21
What is Going on at the Seat of
Government.
CRIMES AND CASUALTIES,
A Summary of Recent Events
all Over the World.

70
of August Z, 1852, to relieve certain soldiers
of the late war from the charge of desertion,"
what changes in the former law have been de-
cided by the War Department TO have been
made by said act, and what classes OF soldiers
charged with deseTtion have been considered
by the War Department to be embraced by the
said act, and, further, what additional leglsa-
ton is deemed necessary to enable him to carry
out the provisions of the first and second sec
tions of said act, the Secretary of War has trans
Initted communication, in which he says that
"the act was so changed as finally passed by Con
gress, so that instead of authorizing, as 1t did
when it first passed the House, certain action in
particular class of cases for which authority
did not before exist, it directly prohibited such
action. No other conclusion has seemed to me
possible without ascribing to the crime of de-
sertiOn, as referred to in this act, some element
as yet underlined, in addition TO those which
have so long, without question, been held to
complete the offense. l find no authority In
the act for so doing"
Representative Rice, of Missouri has been
instructed by the Committee on Invalid Pen
sions TO report to the House, as a substitute for
all pending bills of the same character, bill
which has been adopted by the committe TO
grant pensions for service in the Mexican and
sundry Indian wars. The bill provides for
pension of eight dollars per month, as follows: !:
To ali soldiers of the Mexican, Black Hawk,
and Florida wars who served not less than
thirty DAYS, or who, in connection with their
service kave been mentioned by name by Con-
gress, widows of soldiers, who have not since
married, provided that they were married at
the time of the service of the soldier through
whom they may claim pension. The bill pro-
vides fer equaliZing this class OF pensions by
increasing to eight dollars those which are now
of less amount. The only persons excluded
from the benefits of the bill by reason of hav-
ing taken part in the war of the rebellion, are
those who have since failed to take advantage
of the act of Congress providing for pardons,
or who are by that act expressly excluded.
Mr.. Rice was instructed TO ask suspension of
the rules for the passage of the bill OH the next
committee suspension day."
The joint select congressional committee
on American shipping has adopted a propo-
sition prepared by the San Francisco Board
of Trade. which Is embodied in bill in
troduced in the House to-day by Mr.. Page
1t is TO the effect that the builders of vessel
for the foreign trade of materials produced in
the United States shall receive from the Gov
ernment sum equal to the duty that would
have been collected if the materials had been
imported from foreign countries. Should this
become law the bounty on an iron ship of
1000 tons would be about 900 or $4,000.
The President has sent the following nomi-
nations to the Senate: Robert c. Campbell, of
Louisiana, to be United States consul at Mon
terey; Henry II. Jessup, of New York, to be
charge d atfaires and consul general of the
United States at Teheran, Persia; James Hun
Ter to be surveyor of customs at st. Joseph,
No. Green G. Chandler, TO be United States
attorney for the northern district of Mississippi;
Samuel ]. Hilbern to be United States attorney
for California, and Thomas H. Medford to be
postmaster at Cambridge, Nd.
The Canadian postal department has in
formed the Postmaster-General that at the last
.session of the Dominion parliament, an act was
passed exempting from postage all newspapers
mailed from the Office of publication in Canada,
addressed to subscribers in that country, under
the terms of the postal convention of 1875.
This exemption extends to newspapers mailed
from Canada and addressed to subscribers in
3he United States.
About 240 of the Southern matrimonial and
patal associations have been placed upon the
black list of the Post-Ofice Department by Or
Ter Of the Postmaster General and the post
masters at the places where these societies
bxist have been instructed to return to the
lenders money orders addressed to the associa-
Gons. The order is based upon a number of
inspectors reports showing the associations to
be fraudulent institutions
The bill introduced in the House by Mr.
Joyce to protect the interests of pensioners
proviieS that in each case in which fee is
charged by pension attorney the amount to
be charged shall be such as the Commissioner
directs. not to exceed $25, and not to exceed SO
If the claim originated prior to March 4th, 1861
The bill also provides a form for articles of
agreement, to be signed by the claimant and
the attorney, and to be filed at the office of the
Commissioner of Pensions.
A decision was rendered by the Supreme
Court on Monday, in the case of Major n. VI.
Curtis, who, while a special agent of the
Treasury, received contributions for political
purposes from employees Of the Government,
in violation of the act of August 10, 1876
The question at issue was whether the act Of
august Is, 1876, is constitutional. Chief Justice
Matte delivered the opinion Of the Court, sus-
aiming the cOnstitutionality Of the law.
The President will spend the Christmas holi-
days at the Soldiers Home with his family.
He has virtually given up his proposed visit
60 New York at that time. The White House
viii not be ready for the President until day
or two before New Years Day. The deco
Tative work in the Blue, Green and Red par
1ors, the state dining room, and the main vesti-
bule is nearly completed.
The Senate judiciary Committee, which has
been considering the resolution of Mr.. Ed
munds relative 10 acquiring a proper and
legal title to the Arlington estate, will. it is
understood, report in favor of appropriating a
reasonable SUM to pay for the same, provided a
satisfactory understanding can be arrived at
with General Custis Lee.
The Finance Committee of the Senate do not
expect to be ready to report tariff bill before
the middle of January. They are holding
daily meetings. generally both morning and
afternOon-and are making good progress in
the general discussion and analysis of the
schedules proposed by the tariff commission.
From the expressions Of members Of the
Committee on Ways and Means with reference
20 the tariff, it may be regarded rs tolerably
well settled that the committee will adhere
closely to the recommendations of the tariff
commission in framing their bill.
At Bellaire Ohio, on Monday, the Democratic
Congressional convention of the Seventeenth
district nominated Ross J. Alexander for the
vacancy in the FOTty-scventh and Forty eighth
Congresses, caused by the death of the Hon. j.
Il. UpdegraT
The jury in the star route trial was com
pleted last week, and Mr.. Bliss finished on
Tuesday, the opening argument for the Gov
ernment. The taking of testimony will begin
this week.
The case Of William Dickson, foreman Of the
star route jury, is still On trial. The Govern
ment concluded its examination of witnesses
on Tuesday, and the defense is now proceeding.
The army bill, as reported to the House, re-
duces the number Of aidcs-de-camp from thirty
seven 10 twenty-five. The whole amount APP
propriated is S24,6oL700, being nearley $1,000
600 less than the estimates.
The President on Monday appointed John f.
Omstead, a leading real estate rian Of Wash
H.