Omaha daily bee., 1885-02-13
WASHINGTON NEWS.

WASHINGTON. February 1.-THE president
to-day transmitted the memorial Of the United
States commits sioners of the New Orleans ex-
position, requesting an additi onal appropria'
ton to extinguish the deficit in its accounts
and asking authority to reopen the exposition
during the winter of 'S5-5. The president in
his message transmitted says: "a failure on
the part of the management to carry out the
original intention in regard TO the
exposition might reflect on the honor
tincs twenty-one foreign nations and forty-.ix
states aud territories have joined in the enter.
prise through faith in the sanction OF the gov
eminent. In view of this fact and in consid.
| Grafton of the vast exposition to the cause of
material progress and general education, l re-
spectfully submit the report mentioned for the
favorable consideration of congress-"
The senate committee of foreign relations
to. day reported an amendment to the sundIy
civil bills to appropriate Sl5, 00) to enable the
president to bestow testimonials upon these
| officers and subjects If the Russian govern
ment who aided the survivors of the Jeanette
execution, or who aided the sea oh parties
sent after members of the expedition. This
was also recommended in order that the
president may convey to the government and
people of Russia al expression OF the high
appreciation which the United States holds
the services rendered.
The house committee on foreign affairs, to
which was referred the various resolutions
| relative to the recent dynamite explosions in
London, to-day decided to report it unbecom-
ing the dignity of the house of representatives
to assume that American citiZ m had been in
any way connected with the. crime, where no
che rye had been ma lie, and that the commit
tee was unwilling to request any officer of the
government to search for the proof of guilt
where there was no charge,
| The senate commit'e on Indian affairs,
which recently investigated the leasing of
lands by the Indians to cattle men. will make
q partial report in q few days recommending
sub-committees to be appointed to visit the
Indian territory and Mont ana during the
summer TO investigat the policy OF the In
dams leasing their lands.
The committee will also report that the otfi
cials of the interior department, except GER
tain Indian agents and traders, have not bsen
guilty of improper conduct i'll connection with
the leases of the Indian lands. Two agents,
Townshend and Pollock, it will say, interest
ed themselves in leases while government Of
ficials contrary to law.
When the committee on appropriations con.
yenes tomorrow to consider that portion Of
the navy appropriation bill relative to the
proposed increase of the ravy, Randall will
move the adoption of the following:
The President Of the United States be
hublOTthcu w tppoiuS q u VI Elm Niha
who shall be skilled in wood or iron c~cnstruc'
ton. in ship building or engineering, the sec.
rotary of the navy as the seventh member Of
the bead end to act as chairman. The board
shall meet in Washington and issue circulars
to those prominent in and having knowledge
in ship building, asking for information in re
lation to typer vessels, or other metterf
pertaining to the naval affairs or to the ma
tional d~efences. The board shall on receipt
of replies determine the general classes anC
character of the vessels to be constructed, and
on approval by the president the board shall
coll for competitions in designs for such yes
sells to be first constructed. The board shall
make awards for designs for each class Of
vessels, and for each meritorious ex
hibit OF parts of the came a,
may be deemed worthy of adoption
for the service. For the best of each class tbs
award shall be $50, 600; tbs second best, Sl5,
900; land foi the third best, $40, Geo. On,
vessel ofeach type shhllbe built bycontract witt
the lowest responsible bidder. If after on,
months trial at sea it ahall prove sati, factory
it shall be adopted as the standard of its class
and thereafter if any constructor shall, at hi
own cost and rsk, produce an equally good o
better v, ssel, it shall be purchased by the sec
rotary Of the navy at the same cost as tn
first, or with such additional bonus as tn
secretary and congress may determine.