New-York tribune., 1896-02-04
IN AND OUT OF CONGRESS.
A BILL TO IMPROVE THE CURRENCY AND
RETIRE THE GREENBACKs.

APPROPRIATION BILLS IN THE sENATE-sEcRE-
rARY HERBERT CALLS FOR MORE MONEY
SMUGGLING CUT DIAMCNDs-SOME ST.
PREME COURT DECIsIoNs-LIGHT-
HOUSES ON THE MICA
RAGUA COAST.
Washington, Feb 3-Mr. Hill Rep.. Comm or
| fered In the House to-day bill amending existing
laws so as to permit National banks to issue cur
! rency to the par value OF bonds deposited When
! currency is issued to the banks the Secretary OF
the Treasury is directed redeem and cancel
corresponding amount OF legal tenders should no no
legal tenders be presented a 1e an9 cancel notes
issued under the Sherman act TO carry rd OUT t1e n
Of this t S he SeoG psysbe in twenty
years to be s9d as occasion SIC regob ot per cent
the tax on National bank circulation.
The Senate Committee Appropriations this
morning ordered the Pension and Military Academy
! Appropriation bills 10 be reported tomorrow Inc
estimates for the Pension bill amounted to s4l'SS-
So and the House passed 1t with an appropriation
| OF Slf32J.SD The Senate Committee increased IT
by 80 the two items of increase being $4,000 for
fees and expenses Of examining surgeons and slIU
for rent of pension agencies AS it will be reported
to the Senate the bill will carry sliS75,5so For the
current year sl4l.3sj70 Appropriated AS this
bill passed the House 1t provided that during
the fiscal year 1891 whenever any claim for pension
under the act of June 90 1890. has been or should
| be rejected suspended or dismissed and new ap-
| plcation shali have been hei and pension mas
been or snail hereafter be allowed IN sucn claiin.
| such pension shall date from the time Of the filing
OF the first application. provided the evidence IN
the cese shall show pensionabe disability 10 nave
existed at the tome OF fling such first application.
anything IN any law or ruling Of the Department
to the contrary notwithstanding. The Senate Com
mtee struck out the limtato combining such acton
to the fiscal year 1871 and made the provision ssh he
wisdom Of Congress, be repealed \ net increase Of
The Military Academy The estimates called ior
slsl69 ana The appropriation for the current year
Thq items OF Increase are scc, for repairs % the
up the ordnance museum in the new academy build
ing The senate struck sa2, Tor pay Of two new
ens,ei i1'ri''n mon % Of the the eavaTy detaehmsn,.
The Speaker laid before the House to-day COM
| munication from Secretary Herbert requesting
appropriation Of $4,000 TO he Immediately available.
for the repair and construction of naval vessels.
The original appropriation for this purpose is nearly
exhausted. only $4,000 Of 1t remaining for work al
ready 20 be hereafter authorized. A letter from
the Secretary OF War was also laid before the House
| payment for land at the Fort Ethan Allen Military
Reservation. the appropriation Of 5000 already
| made being inadequate.
Chief Justice Fuller to-day announced that the
Supreme Court Of the United States had granted the
petition OF the States OF Missouri and Iowa. in their
! original action begun in that court. and had APP
| pointed Peter Dey. Of Iowa: James Hardy. of Mis-
souri, and Dwight c. Morgan. Of Illinois, to relocate
| between the nf,ieth and nfty-nfth mileposts as
DESIGNATED in ~ BY Sandershott and Minor. Com
! United States at that time.
The Treasury Department has instituted in
vestgati)n as TO the falling OF Of receipts from
imported cut diamonds The Appraiser at New-York
| reports that little. II any, revenue IL derived
| from that source. He says however that diamonds
more plentiful and cheaper than they have
| been FOR many years and he expresses the opinion
that the smuggling OF the precious stones IL carried
! on more successfully now than heretofore. Under
| the present construction OF law. cut diamonds
| du,iahle al The rate OF q Der cent ad valorem
| Under the former Tariff law they We're dutiabe at
the rate OF 10 per cent and during the last year OF
the operation OF the old tariff 10000 In duties
| cut diamonds. representing value of 100000 i'm
ported. was collected at the port OF New-York
Mr.. HUH. OF Iowa. chairman Of the Committee on
| Military Affairs. IN his repor, TO the House on the
Army Appropriation BILL makes the following refer
ence to the recommendation changing the law so as
| 10 provide that hereafter appointments TO the pay
| department OF the Army shall be made from the
| line OF the Army:
Your committee recognizes the staN appointments
as the most desirable positions. and thinks the OIL
GERS OF the Army should have reserved the right TO
| receive the appointments % all vacancies III the
staff The officers oi the Army are restricted 70 one
line OF ambition and your committee believes II un-
Just TO permit appointment, from ciy lite 10 any
adopted. IT will leave only The judge advocates de-
pariment open 10 appointments from civil life
| The SUGAR bounty cases will be argued In the
Supreme Court Of the United States when the
court reconvenes the first Monday in March.
There are two OF them, appealed by the United
States from the Circuit Court for the Eastern Dis
,rlct Of Louisiana. involving about 5000 and $500
respectively Upon an agreed state or facts me
Court there gave Judgment for the planters. upon
certificates from the internal reyenue dyi, rh
sion that they were entitled 10 the bounty Inc
Courts decision affirmed the cOnsttutionallty OF
the Legislation by Congress The case VIII 4e ar
by Joseph H. Choate for the sugar planters, and
probably by Soicltor-General Conrad for the Gov
eminent.
The appointment OF Mr.. Justice Peckham to
seat on the Bench Of the Supreme Court OF the
United States made necessary partial reassgn,
uent Of Justices 70 the several circuits. and the
following changes were announced to-day by the
chief Justice: Mr. Justice Peckham ID the second
Circuit. vice Brown Mr Justce Brown TO- 1,l,, the
to the Sixth Circuit this original circuU
Admiral Walker appeared before the Senate Com
mite. ca Coast Defences this morning and pre-
sented many arguments in favor Of the immedi-
ate carving out OF plans for efficient coast de-
,erccs lie urged that the work OF building up
nvincible navy go hand in hand with the con-
structlon OF great defences on land, for by such
combination only could this country, win us
enormous coast line. successfully Withstand attack
BY any great maritime power
The Supreme Court OF the United states to-
day disposed OF few eases. Justice Gray announced
the opinion and Judgment of the Court upon the
appeal OF George f. Belknap. an officer of the
United states Army from the Judgment of the
Circuit Court for the Northern District of Call
fcrnl. in favor Of George T.. Schlld et al. The
latter were owners OF patent caisson gate used
by B,lknap In prosecuting Government work with
! ont permission OF compensation 10 the owners.
and they sued for Injunction ana an accounting.
| The Court granted the injunction and master re-
norteI the damages at $4,000 Justice Gray stated
that the Invention being used By an officer OF the
limited States for the common defence and gen
eraI welfare injunction could lie against him.
and that the only damages proved being those in
behalf OF the United states for which he could
NOT he held liable the Judgment OF the lower court
must be reversed with Instructions TO dismiss the