Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-01-17

NACu ue has gut lTOu lue railway COlu-
panies whose lines reach from the Pa
cific shore eastwardly. By favorable
terms of carriage exclusively his
he shuts out others from fair competition
with him over the country west OF the
Missouri, and when he meets other deal
ers east of the Missouri he is able. to some
extent, to underbid them there also.
But do not perceive how the
provisions of the treaty, as they
have practical operation among deal
ers in sugar, contribute to this result.
'This department is not aware of any
other complaint of the operation of the
treaty on the business of this country.
and it appears that the principal thing
complained of is the successful rivalry of
the Western dealer. / do not see that
his success is in any great measure an
effect of the treaty or that it would be
abated by an abrOgatiCn of the treaty.
Therefore l am not prepared to say that it
would beneficially affect the business in
terests OF this country to abrOgate it.
every respectfully,
''CHARLES j. FOLGER,
Secretary"
A communication sent by the Secretary
of State to the House Committee on For
eign Affairs to-day, on the subject of the
Hawaiian reciprocity treaty, was treated
as confidential matter, and was therefore
not given out for publication. 1t is under
stood, however, that it does not differ es-
sentially from the letter on the same sub
ject sent to the committee by the Secre-
tary of the Treasury, except that it treats
the topic mainly from political stand
point, while Mr.. FOlger discusses it from
a commercial point of view. The abuses
which have grown up under the reci-
procity arrangement and the method
by which they may be corrected are
also said to be prominently treated in
Mr.. Frelinghuysen's letter, it being un-
derstOOd that he deals with this branch
fthe subject with much vigor of express
sion. His conclusions and recommends
items are described as being practically
the same as those of Mr.. Folger.
THE HOUSE TARIFF BILL.
The tariff bill reported to the House to-
day is accompanied by a brief report,
covering only three pages of letter
paper, which states that as soon
as the report of the Tariff Commits
sion and its several schedules
proposing notifications of schedules and
rates of duty, and of the admin
istrative provisions of the law embodied
i'll the existing tariff We're received by the
committee from the printer, they entered
assiduOusly upon their consideration, and
have carefully examined all the sug-
gestiOns of the commission. The result is
the bill submitted to the House. The re-
port states that in a matter involving so
many distinct propositions as tariff bill,
touching as they do the existing invest
ments of capital hope Of unanimity of
opinion in so large committee as that of
the Ways and Means could not be enter
tanned, and that the bill is not the unani-
nous report of the committee.
FRENCH-AMERICAN CLAIMS.
The French and American Claims Com
mission met to-day, and made an award
in the case of LAdmirault VS.. the United
States of $500, with interest at per cent.
from November Is, 1864. The case of Will
liam Ogden Giles VS.. the Republic of
France was reOpened by the commission
for the purpose of proving certain orders
of General TrOchu during the siege of
Paris, and also to locate the property of
the claimant between the lines of fortifi-
cation. The Commissioner for France in
trOduced to the commission NJ. Jules
BOeufue as Secretary on behalf of the
French Republic, A motion was made by
counsel for the United States to dismiss
the case of Bertrand Hibas VS.. the United
States, on the ground that the claimant is
not a French citizen. The commission adj
jOurned to Friday next.
NAVY YARDS TO BE CLOSED.
Secretary Chandler stated to-day that
upon information received from members
of the Appropriations Committee in re-
gard to the appropriation to be made for
the naval service, it will be necessary to
close four of the navy yards on the 3lst
of March, but that he had not determined
upon the ones to be closed.
1t is more than likely, however, that the
yard at Mare Island and the one at Wash
ingtOn will be kept in operation, together
with one Northern and one Southern yard.
1t is understood that the appropriations
Committee has agreed to report in favor Of
a deficiency appropriation of about $32,-
900 to enable the four yaIds selected to be
open till the end of the present fiscal year.
THE WAR ON GENERAL SHELLEY.
The subcommittee of the Committee on
Elections reported this morning in favor
of authorizing the sending of committee
to the Fourth Alabama district to inyesti-
gate the charges of fraud in the election,
out of which grew the Jones-Shelley con-
test. On Friday Mr.. Shelley will be heard
in opposition to the report.
COMBINATIONS.
The Senate to-day confirmed the nomin-
atiOns, to be POstmasters, of Abram
Davis at Franklin, La, RObt. f. Boone
at Newberry Court House, S. c., and
James II. Ramsey at Salisbury, n. c.
THE NAVAL BILL.
The naval appropriation bill, as report
ed to the House to-day from the Commit
tee on Appropriations, recommends a
total appropriation of $15, ,209, 100 for the
fiscal year ending June 80, 1884.
THE PENDLETON BILL LAW.
The President to-day signed the civil
service reform bill.