Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-02-09
TARIFF REVISION.
New York Democrats Preparing to An
tagOnize the Ways and Means
Committees Tariff
Commission Bill-The AppOrtiOnment
Bill - Indian Affairs - The
Geneva Award.

| WASHINGTON, February S.-The majority
/ report OF the House Judiciary Committee on
| the Geneva award recommends the pass age
of their bill, which provides for the pay.
ment, fret, OF exculpated cruiser claims; and
second, for war premiums. IL also provides
that the balance shall remain fund for the
future action Of Congress.
Indian Affairs
The House Committee on Indian Affairs
agreed TO report, with favorable recommends
ton, Representative Washburn's bill author
izlng the secretary of the interior to ascertain
and pay amounts due citizens of the United
States for supplies furnished the Sioux In
dians subsequent to August, 1860, and prior
to the massacre of August, 1862. The claims
must be presented within two years from the
passage of the act. Representative Deering' s
bill will be favorably reported, giving the
Creek orphans $25l ,055, and also Interest at
five per cent. on Sl76,755 from April 6, 1872,
due them under the treaty of March "a, 1882
Forfeited Land Grants.
A prominent member of the House Com
mittee on Pacific Railroads, on the subject
OF the proposed compulsory forfeiture of
land grants by the various railroad COM
psnies which have not complied with the
law, says: at is quite probable that the
Pacific Railroad Committee will not act in
the matter until after the Judiciary Com
mittee has decided as to the power which
was vested in the respective railroads by the
issuance of the land grants" The gentleman
added: "To compel the railroads to give up
these land grants would undoubtedly work a
great hardship, and the question is one of
great importance"
The Way Senator Pugh Would Do II.
Senator Pugh introduced to-day bill to
regulate the hearing Of causes by the Su-
pre- me Court of the United States. The bill
proposes to divide the court into three di.
visions, with three justices in each, to be
known as tn Federal equity, and admiralty
and law divisions. The several divisions are
empowered to sit separately for hearing
causes, and all causes are to be heard in the
first instance by one division, except the
causes in which jury is required, and these
must be heard by the court en- bdnc. The bill
authorizes each division to hear causes as a
separate court under the rules now In force
in the Supreme Court, the decisions and
opinions to be passed upon by the court en-
bdRc, and if Endorsed by a majority Of the
court, they are to stand, but if not satisfac-
tory to the majority, then the cause shall be
heard by the court en- baRc.
Poor Show for the ApPOrtIOnmsn MT Bill.
Indications point very clearly to the re-
lection of the pending apportionment bill in
the House in its present shape. The Demo-
publicans are openly opposing it. Repre-
sentative Blackburn says it is an unjust
measure; that it ignores the rapidly growing
Western States, and gives an increase in rep
resentation to Eastern States that are declin-
ing in population. He says il will be re-
jected by forty msjority. Mr.. Page says it
is founded upon injustice, and 1t will be
beaten badly. Mr.. Blount says it is an in
famous mode of apportionment; the way it
ic ha5a TO- la aafi
be beaten. Mr.. Pound feels sure the bill
will be rejected. Mr.. Sparks is opposed to it
and predicts its defeat. 1t was supposed, as
the bill conferred the increase proposed upon
the larger States, that it would get the
support of the delegations from those States
but this is not so. Several members from
Pennsy lvania now do not think the bill
ought TO pass. One substitute that will
be offered for the pending bill will propose to
fix the membership OF the House at three
hundred and twenty-one, as that would dis
tribute the representation, it is claimed, more
equally among the fractions than any other
number. The Democrats generally favor
smaller number, and it will be proposed from
their side to keep the House at its present
fgure-two hundred and ninety three.
Some of those who have studied the drift OF
opinion think three hundred and seven will
be the number finally adopted.
The New York Democrats in the House
are preparing TO antagoniZs the tariff COM
mission bill adopted by the Ways and Means
on the ground that it is a mere
framed and intended to perpetu-
ate the present protective system. They in
tend to make an issue on this bill, if the
party can be brought together. A caucus
will be held to mark out line OF action. A
prominent Democratic leader of the House
said this afternoon: 'Our policy is to show
the mic uities OF the protective tariff system
and to expose the sham that is presented in
this bill. 1t is nothing more nor less than a
scheme to quiet the demand of the people
for tariff reform by a pretense Of doing |
The Democrats should take a |
determined stand and maintain it courage |
Dusly. But the trouble is, we have got few |
black sheep among us who are just strong |
enough to prevent our doing any thing. There |
are a Jew Democratic members who |
are subservient to Mr.. Kelley and |
he protectionists, and they will, |
Of course, attempt, as they have done hith- |
erto, to handicap the Democratic party in |
Congress and prevent it from making a rec
ord in favor of tariff reform. l don't be- |
ieve they can succeed this time. For my part |
am determined that l shall not be muz- |
lied" 1t is evident that there will be a |
'trong Democratic opposition to the Kasson
he House in favor of compromising upon a |
.arif commission, provided the power to |.
,reate the commission snail be vested in |
Congress, or that the commission shall con-
list OF members of Congress.
Minor Mention.
The resignation of Ward Hunt as justice |
If the Supreme Court is before the Presi-
lent.
Edwin H. Webster, for collector of customs
1t Baltimore, was confirmed by the Senate
The names of Commodore John c. Febiger
or rear-admiral, and Captain John L. Davis
or commodore, were sent to the Senate yes
erdsy.
The President signed the commissions of
leopold Markbr as assistant treasurer of
he United States at Cincinnati, and Henry
Booth as receiver of public moneys at Larned,
Kansas.
The fve-cent Garfield postage-stamp will
,e ready for issue March LIST. The stamp is
to be the truest likeness of Gen