Omaha daily bee., 1883-02-17

tAAo SNAAAb
quantity of the present crop that
as O whole -oascs, was ~unusuaIlv
I favorable. Returns are nearly unapi.
1 nous In declaring this staple longer
than usual, whittier and comparatively
free from trash.
FOREIGN FISHERIES,
i WASHINGTON, February 16.--The
senate committee on foreign relations
have agreed to recommend, and the
house committee on foreign affairs to-
day authorized a joint resolution to
give notice of termination of the
fisheries article of the treaty.
EMoRIA AND PETITIONS.
Senator Grover to-day presented in
the senate Il memorial Of the Oregon
legislature asking an appropriation to
pay additional expenses of the Indian
war of 1856 and 1856 in the territories
of Oregon and Washington. He also
presented a memorial asking for the
Incorporation Of the Nicaragua canal,
and General Rosecrans presented In
the house to-day petitions of dealers
OF mines of San Francisco, asking for
extension of the period of holding
spirits In bond The petition says
that the neglect or refusal of congress
to pass the bill asked for will ruin
many houses In the wine trade and
bring widespread contraction tf credit
and eight months consideration of the
matter.
THE JAPANESE INDEMNITY.
The conference committee appointed
last session have agreed on the differ
ence between the two houses In re-
gard to the Japanese indemnity bill.
The senate refused to pay the In.
%terest, while the house wanted to pay
the interest and principal. The agree
ment reached provides that only the
principal shall be paid. This Is the
greatest possible disappointment to
those who have been urging the pas
sage of tho bill for so many years and
ono of the leading lobbyists of the
bill said to a correspondent tonight
that he had been working for eighteen
years to get the bill passed as his fee
was contingent upon securing the in
terest. He said, II am to-day having
given eighteen years of work to the
damned bill and get nothing In re-
turn" As there was n number of
others who depended upon the In
terest for their fees. There Is much
complaint.
HAzEN's INVESTIGATION.
WASHINGTON, February 16.-The
secretoryo of war has written Gen. Hszen
q letter calling his attention to the
grots discourtesy of Mr.. Hszen's let
ter Of yesterday In asking the senate
to appoint q commission to investigate
charged by Representative Bellxhoov-
or In regaad to Hazen'e mismansge-
of funds of the weather bureau. He
reminds HAGEN that he should have
asked the war department to investi-
gate the matter, or the house commit
/, ten, in which body the charges or
, iginated. HAGEN refused to allow q
correspondent to see the letter, al
, though the secretary Of war said he
was perfectly willing 1t should be
made public IL HAGEN desired to. 1t
| Is understood that the charge Of Bsltz--
s hoover will be investigated through
! the medfiop"Iy % L-.h,cb
. p saasH ate. There does MT ssem VI
be any other way Of settling NE matter.
: LINCOLN TO HAzEN.
|, WASHINGTON, February 16.-Gen.
Hazsn yesterday addressed the score
tary of war, to which the latter re-
plies: "SIR-I have the honor to
acknowledge the receipt of your letter
of the 18th inst, In which you refer
to the statements made by Hon. Mr..
Beltzhoover, of Pennsylvania, in a
speech printed In the Congressional
Record, and ask that the president
and senate be requested by a resolu-
ton to appoint o committee of the
members to thoroughly investigate the
matters alleged in that speech, and on
, any other matters that n person
| may see fit to bring up relating to the
signal service.
81 am unable to consider your re.
qnest favorably. l am not advised of
a precedent for an application by the
chief of o department of q bureau,
either directly or through the head Of
q department, to one OF the houses of
congress for the appointment of q
committee to investigate charges of
official misconduct made In q debate
by members. Your request is, how
ever, subject to q still more serious
objection, in that you wish the senate
|, to appoint q committee to investigate
charges made In a debate by members
in the house Of representatives. The
mere consideration by the senate of
your application would involve q vio-
lation of a general rule on parliament
8 airy practice, which can be found In
Jeffersou's manual. In speaking of
, she separate branches Of Legislature,
, 1t is there said: 'They are,
: therefore, not to take notice of any
bills or any matters depending Or
of votes that have been given or of
: speeches that have been made by the
members In either of the other
o branches of the Legislature until the
Hame have been communicated to them
Q In the usual parliamentary manner. 1t
. Is believed that any one of the admin
istrative departments of the govern
|: ment is able to investigate thoroughly
i the charges Of misconduct brought
: against officers, but however that nay
be when the officer whose conduct is
questioned Is an officer of the army 1t
would not seem necessary to resort to
n tribunals other than those provided In
n the articles Of war. 1 have the honor
Is to be very respectfully your obedient
l. servant.
10 [Signed. ROBERT LINCOLN.
/, Secretary of War.
W