Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-12-30
WASHINGTON.
gen. Ord to Change Places with
fNhE Gen. Mcdowell. n.

]
NKw YoRK, December 30.-The Times
special says the removal Of General Ord
| is explained by the fact shat it was made
at the suggestion of General Grant, who,
while opposing any changes in the other
districts as injurious to the progress Of
reconstruction, has been of opinion some
time that both the military and civil
administration of the 4th military dis
irict would be improved by change OF
commanders. The President acceded
TO General Grants request, and included
General Ord in his order of removal.
Ord will proceed at once TO California
TO relieve General Mcdowell, who will
assume command of the 4th military
district on his arrival from the Pacific
coast. 1t will take about two months to
accomplish this change.
Thad. Stevens has so far recovered
from his recent indisposition, that he is
engaged in the preparation of speech
in favor of the Alaska appropriation,
He insists that his health is not as poor
as either his friends or enemies think it.
The statistics elected by the Ways and
Means Committee, in the investigation OF
whisky frauds, show that the Govern
ment has collected only eighteen cents,
instead of two dollars, per gallon.
Senator Henderson has prepared a
substitute for Senator Sherman's finance
bill, which be will present to the Senate
as soon as an opportunity Offers He
will also propose, at an early day,
complete system for remodeling the en-
tire Revenue Department Of the Gov
eminent on basis which will make it in
dependent in its action, and not subject
to political influence, and which will in
volve the refilling of every office in the
Department.
A Herald special says that number
of leading Conservatives have proposed
to the Legislatures of States which re-
Gently went Democratic to repeal their
resolutions ratifying the fourteenth arti-
Gle Of the Constitution. If New Jersey,
Ohio and California we're to do this, tits
believed this article could not be grated
upon the Constitution.
Gen. Howard proposes to meet cases
of distress in the South by liberal
application of the surplus funds under
his control as head of the Freedmens
Bureau. In the case of some South
Carolina planters who had nc money to
commence the operations of raising
cotton last year, Gen. Howard, though
not legally authorized to make such dis
position of the Bureau funds, ad-
vanced $4,000, taking lien on the
crops for repayment of money; when
planters sold their crops the entire
amount was liquidated, and Gen. How
ards benefeent course greatly appre-
ciated. In the case of Mississippi
planters who lost everything by river
inundation, it is proposed to adopt
similar considerate plan Of action and
relieve the immediate distress among
working people. As suggested, depOts
of provisions will be established at points
convenient to the districts where the
greatest want prevails.
Secretary MeCulloch has had a state
ment prepared, showing the amount
of money furnished by the several
States for the equipment of troops,
ETC., during the war. From this
statement it will appear that $4,000
600 were advanced by States; that
claims for about thirty millions have
been adjusted, and that Of the remain
ing ten millions claimed, about 20 per
cent be allowed by the United States
The TIibune's special says that not
outstanding the abrupt termination Of
the correspondence between Secretary
Seward and Lord Stanley on the Ala
baama claims, it is understood that the
new English Minister, Mr.. Thornton,
comes empowered with full authority to
reopen the question with view Of effect
ing an easy and amicable adjustment OF
the difficulties il possible.
The public debt statement will not be
ready until the 9Th Of January. The
exhibit will be more favorabls than that
Of last mouth, except in the item Of the
gold balance, which viii be lover, owing
to the payment Of thirty million dollars
Of coin interest, Cue January lst The
Secretary would have retired The four nil
lion dollars per month for the last month
aud the present one, had il not been ioE
the House suspsnding bis authority TO CO
50
General Hancooks request 70 employ
the unemployed blacks to repair the re-