Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-01-26
General Washington Notes.
lBy Telegraph 70 the DIspatch.l

lBy telegraph to the Dispateh.l
WASHINGTON, January 25.-The
Court Of Claims to-day decided the
case of the Choctaw Nation against
the United States, and rendered judg-
ment in favor of the Nation for $780,
COS. This case was sent to the Court
of Claims by an act Of Congress Of
March 3, 1881, providing Z" for the as
certainment of the amount due the
Choctaw Nation" The claim resulted
from violation by the United States Of
certain treaties entered into with the
Choctaw Nation in 1880, 1855,
and 1866. The principal subject Of
contention resulted from the fail
ure of the United States to Sc
cure to the Choctaws in severalty
the lands which the United States guar
anteed to them by the treaty Of 1880.
They did not receive these lands, but
they were sold by the United States in
violation of the terms Of the treaty,
and the amount received was paid into
the Treasury more than fifty years ago.
In 1859 the Senate of the United States,
under authority Of the treaty of 1855,
awarded the Choctaws on account Of
these losses $2,9Sl, 900. This was sub
sequen,ly recognized by Congress by
an appropriation in part payment there
of, in 1861, Of $4,000. Since that
time fourteen reports recognizing
the validity and conclusiyeness of
that award have been made by
committees of both houses. The Court
of Claims now holds that the award of
the Senate in favor Of the Choctaws was
set aside because the Choctaw Nation
availed itself of the provisions Of the act
Of 1881 and brought its suit under the
terms Of that act in the Court of Claims.
The judgement is based upon consider
atoms independent of the award Of the
Senate.
In announcing the decision the Court
declared it to be the most important
case it had ever been called upon to de-
eide.
The case will now 90 to the Supreme
Court on appeal by both sides.
The House Committee on labor to-
day appointed Messrs. Grain, Lawler.
and Buchanan a subcommittee to draft
a bill amending the eight-hour law so
as to provide that eight hours shall con-
stitute days work for men employed
by contractors on Government work.
The members of the Labor Committee
say that as a result Of the conference
between the subcommittee Of the Com
mittees on Agriculture and Labor bill
will be reported by the former COM
mittee making the Commissioner of Ag-
riculture Cabinet officer, and providing
that the department shall be known as
The Department Of Agriculture and
Labor"
The Senate Committee Oh Public
Buildings decided this morning to re.
port favorably bills making appropria.
tons for public buildings as follows:
Huntsville. Alabama, 100000; jack
sonville, Florida, 1926, 900; Augusta,
Georgia, $3.50, 1000; Vicksburg, Missis-
sippi, 100000; Wilmington, North
Carolina, sl5O,OO0; Greenvillc, South
Carolina, $4,000; Norfolk, Virginia,
s2j0,000.
The Senate to-day confirmed the
nomination Of Charles j. Canda to be
Assistant Treasurer of the United States
at New York.
In executive session to-day Mr.. Ed
munds, in behalf of the Committee on
the Judiciary, reported a resolution
directing the Attorney-General to fur
nish TO the Senate copies Of all papers
and documents on file in his depart
ment relating to the administration of
the Office Of the United States District
attorney for the Southern dis
trict of Alabama. The resolution was
agreed to without debate. II is
understood that these papers are desired
by the committee in connection with
IFS consideration of the nomination of
Jno. ID. Burnett rice Geo. Baskin. 1t
is also understood that the request
recently made by the committee to
the Attorney General for the papers
was returned with the statement that
the Attorney. General had not been in
structed by the President to furnish
them.
The House Committee on Pensions
to-day added an amendment to the
bill, introduced in the
House by Mr.. Wolford, Of Kentucky. |
and directed the report of the bill to |
the House as agreed upon in committee.
The bill authorizes the Secretary of the
Interior to place on the pension-rolls,
at the rate Of IS per month, the names
Of all surviving officers, soldiers, and |
sailors who served in the Mexican war
for any period during the years 1S45,
1916, ls47, and 1913, or their sur
yiyiDg widows. Secondary evidence Of |
honorable discharge may be received
in the case of the loss Of the official
document, or proof of the receipt Of q
land-warrant lawfully procured shall
be sufficient evidence Of an honorable
discharge. No soldier whose political
have not been removed
shall be entitled to the benefits of the