Rensselaer Republican, Volume 14, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 March 1882 — WASHINGTON [ARTICLE]

WASHINGTON

Sunator Van WycK, of Nebraska, has introduced a bill in the Senate, the object of which i 4 to compel the railroads to pay State taxes on unpatented lands donated to them by the Government. One condition of the land grants is that the railroads 'shall pay all costs of surveying the lands. The raitroad companies ho’d lands throughout the West which they have not yet surveyed and patented, and the courts have held that the States cannot tax these lands, because the United States still holds an interest in equity in them .by reason of the fact that under the conditions imposed by the grant the lands might revert to the Government through the failure of railroads to comply with these conditions. It js claimed that the railroads leave the lands unpatented to avoid taxation, and Mr. Van Wyck’s bill releases and quit-claims to any State that proceeds against these lauds for the collection of taxes, all interest in equity of the general Govern oaent. It “is thought this will encourage the State to collect theoe taxes. The biggest surprise of the sea ■•on is the nomination of Roscoe Conklmg for the Supreme Bench, and A. A. Sargent, of California, for Minister to Germany, just sent to the Sena e. Until within twenty-four hours-past, it has been believed that Edmunds would get the Supreme Bench, and Sargent would go into the Cabinet. Indeed, a member of trie stated privately four days ago -that Edmunds would go on the Supreme bench within a few days. Last evening, however, the President stated that Edmunds would not be appointed, but so well was the secret kept that nobody was prepared for the surprise of this afternoon. Of the sixty or more Senators present when the name was sent in, probably not a half-dozen had dreamed of such nominations. An audible buzz of surprise ran all over the Senate and the gallersies when the fact became known, and the news quickly spread to the House, which was busy with the private calendar. The general impression is that there will be no delay in confirmation, as the Senate seldom refuses to confirm one who has been a member of tbat body. Many people believe that Conkling will not accept, and that the nomination is simply a move in a much large game. But the cooler heads think he will ac cept the position, which may be considered the highest honor from a lawyer’s standpoint, and SIO,OOO a year for life. Sargent’s nomination is also a surprise, but attracts little attention beside the more important nomination of Conkling. Mr. Allen, member from St. Louis, continues very ill, and there is little prospect of his recovery. The report that he had sent m his resignation is stated to be untrue. His disease is connected with the bladder.

Representative Hawk, of the Fifth Illinois District, is preparing an amendment to the Hennepin Canal bill, to protect those of his constituents who enjoy water-power from the Fox river in Whiteside county, below the point where the feeder is to draw off the water for the canal. Mr. Hawk is heartily in favor of the canal, hot persons having large investments in factories, etc., on the river, fear the drawing off of the water will ini' -e them, and demand protection. To meet this, he will present an amendment creating a commission to examin into the question of damages, and report to Congress what sums, jf any, should be paid these persons for damages—the Commission to consist of three competent persons, .me appointed by the Secretary of War, one by the parties affected, ami the third by these two. Mr. Hawk doesn’t want to stand in the way of the canal, as he is greatly in favor of the project, but feels that he must protect his constituents. TUeJoill of Representative Smith, of the Bloomington (111.) District, providing that the government shall distribute pure vaccine virus, through the Surgeon General, at cost, will pass the House, amended to make the distribution through the State and municipal authorities, and ‘physicians. It has already passed the Senate. Mr. Smith takes particular interest hi this subject, having recently lost a beautiful child by the use of what proved to be impure vaccine virus. Captain Eads made a fine argument before the Committee on River Improvements this morning, advocating his theories foi confining the current by levees and deepening the channel. The nomination of William F. Tuck er, Jr., of Illinois, /Senator Logan’s son-in-law, to be Major and" Paymaster in the army, has evoked muchcriticism. It has not been an uncommon practice since the beginning of President Grant’s administration for

Presidents to appoint Paymasters from civil life, but Mr. Tucker is on§of the *' very few men appointed from civil life who have seen no military service. He. is a young man under thirty years of age, and, army officers declare, without military experience of any kind. Of the twenty-five Paymasters appointed from the beginning of President Grant’s administration to the date o the issue of the last Army Register, only three of them were men who had not seen service either as regulars or volunteers, and one qf these, |Mr. ftniffen, had been a clerk in the army, and so had some knowledge of military matters. With these exceptions the Paymasters who have been# appointed from civil life during the time mentioned have been men who had served in the war for the Union. This appointment, carrying with it the rank of Major, will put Mr. Tucker over the heads of 120 Captains of cavalry, 60 Captains of artillery, aud 250 Captains of infantry—or in all 430 officers—many of whom fought on the battle fields of the iate war, and most of whom have probably been twenty years in the service.