Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-01-06
THE FEDERAL CAPITAL.
A QUIET DAY IN BOTH HOUSES
OF CONGRESS.

Mississippi Improvement - What the
Work Would COst-New Steel Cruisers
River and Harbor Estimates-Awards
Made by the French-American Claims
Com1nissiOn-NomIna
WASHINGTON, Jan. 5.-In the Senate.
large number of petitions were pre-
sented asking for an increase of pensions
to one armed and one legged soldiers, and
asking for the passage of the bill for the
admission of Dakota as State.
Bills were introduced as follows:
By Mr.. Kellogg-To establish floating
hospital in the port OF New Orleans; also,
to provide for the completion of the i'm
provement of Bayou LaFourche, La; also,
TO authorize the Board of Health of LOuisi-
ana TO establish quarantine.
On motion of Mr.. Malone a resolution
was adopted directing the Secretary of
the Treasury to send to the Senate state
ment showing, first, the number and size
OF the FARMS or plantations in Virginia
4 sold, under the act OF 1862, for the cOllec-
I tion of direct taxes in the insurrectionarv
I states; second, the amount for which
each of them was assessed and taxed. the
amount of tax collected from each and
the amounts for which they were bid off.
and by whom; third, what amount of
money was covered into the Treasury
taxes, and how much of such money is
now in the Treasury.
The Presidential succession bill came
/ up as unfinished business, and was dis
cussed by Messrs. Hoar, Garland, Nor
/ gan, Edmunds, Jones of Florida, Blair
and others. Several amendments were
offered, but none were acted upon.
After an executive session the Senate
adjourned.
HOUSE PROCEEDINGS.
Private business having been dispensed
with, the House, at :35, went into COM
mittee of the whole Mr.. Houk, of Tennes-
see, IN the chair on the District of Co
lumbia appropriation bill. The bill ap-
prOpriates $3,443,S47, being $S1, ,642 less
than the amount appropriated for the cur
rent year. After the bill's being amended
in committee in few minor particulars
the committee rose, reported the bill to
the House and it was passed. Adjourned.
THE MISSISSIPPI IMPROVEMENTS.
General COmstock, President of the
Mississippi River Commission, was before
the special committee yesterday morning.
After explaining the outlay of the first
appr Jr1ation of $1,000,000, he said that of
the $4,00O,00O allotted from the appropria-
tlon of last year, there would be 81, 900 900
left at the first of next July, as the work
at the several plants is now progressing.
To-day he resumed his testimony on the
same subject. The questions related to
the original estimates of expenses.
to the actual expenditure, and
the probable sum necessary for completion
of the work. His explanation of the ex-
penditure at Plum Point reach may stand
for all the points gone over as they were
similar in results. The estimates for this
point in 1880, when it was determined to
begin work on this plan, were that a
roach ~ 1Oilnc in
S599, 900 and the other expenses in connec-
ton Herewith $137, 900, making $736, ,000for
the initial work and probably as much
more for the permanent improvement at
that point. Gen. COmstOck said 81, ,250, 900
had already been expended at Plum Point,
and he estimated that $2,OOO,OOO more
would be necessary to complete the work
there, which would make $3.35O. 900.
To this, he said, there would prob
ably have to : be added $1,S69, 900
to the river banks. On being asked
the estimate of the commission to COM
plete the work of improving navigation
the entire length of the river on this plan.
he said the com mission had estimated
that the cost would be $33, 600, 900. When
asked if he did not believe that this would
be as much exceeded when it came to
actual work as had been the case at Plum
Point, he said he did not believe the entire
river could be improved for less than $685.
100000. This estimate had no regard to
levees.
NEW STEEL CRUISERS.
The House Committee on Naval Affairs
agreed to recommend to the Committee on
Appropriations to provide for the con-
struction of the following ships of war:
One steam cruising vessel of war of be-
tween 5000 and 5000 tons displacement,
to cost 81, 700, 900; one steam vessel of war
of not less than 1000 tons displacement,
of full steam power and not less
than two-thirds sail power, armed with
ritied cannon of great power and with
macine guns, to cost $1,576, ,S54; three
steam cruising vessels of warlof not less
than $500 tons displacement, each full
steam and not less than twO-thirds sail
power, armed with rifled cannon and with
machine guns, to cost for all So, ,093, ,635;
one dispatch boat or clipper to be
armed with breech loading rifles
and revolving machine guns, to cost $780,
900; one cruising torpedo boat, 100 feet
long, to cost $3s, 900. All these vessels to
be constructed of steel and provided with
effective steel armOr. If, in the opinion
of the Secretary of the Navy, it shall be
deemed practicable one, half of these
vessels, as far as practicable, shall be
constructed at the navy yards and the
rest by contracts awarded after competi-
tive bids.
CIAlMS.
The French and American Claims Com
mission has made the following awards
in cases against the United States: In the
case of Julien Prevent an award of 5000,
with interest at per cent. from Novem-
Der /, 1868. In the case of Helene Plante
an award of 1862 80, with interest at
per cent. from October 80, 1862. To the
widow and heirs of F. H. st.
Cyr an award of SO, 400, with interest at 5
aorf
claims of the following persons against
the United States were dismissed for want
of jurisdiction: Catharine A. Grimmer,
David ROos, Daniel Haas, executor; Sal
lie E. Loeb, K. d. Weisz, Caroline Pier
ront, V. Basile, Catharine Dantagan,
Pierre Wiltz, administrator; p. Louis
Cabran and George A. Bancker. The
United States was disallowed.
RIVER AND HARBoR ESTIMATES.
The President to-day sent to the House
a report from the Chief of the Engineer
Corps of the army estimating at $5,000,000
the probable amount of appropriations for
the river and harbOr improvements re-
naming on hand at the close of the cur
rent fiscal year,
TAXING oUININE.
The two Philadelphia quinine firms have
had their influence on the Ways and
Means committee. That committee IN Its
proposed tariff schedule has put duty of
10 per cent. on prepared quinine and the
same ON chincona bark.
NOMINATIONS.
The President to-day nominated to be
Postmasters Lyman W. Hamlin at Cedar
Keys, Fla; Robert W. Boone at Newberry
c. H., S. c., and Alonzo Webster at
Orangeburg c. H., S. G.
CONFIRMATION.
Robert W. p. Morris was confirmed yes
terday as Postmaster at Lyhchburg, Va.
Another Move Against Gould.
NEW YORK, Jan. 5.-Frederick Bill, of
Grnfnn Comm. who owns 91A shares of the