The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-02-08
LATEST FROM WASHINGTON.

LATEST FROM WASHINGTON.
| Special kilograms 10 the Dispatch.
| er WASHINGTON, January 7, 1870.
General Robert Williams to be Trans.
ferred to Virginia.
The general army order, to be made pub
lie in few days, changing and transferring
numerous officers throughout the country,
transfers Adjutant- General Robert Will
hams from the War Department, where he
has been Assistant Acknowledgement for
seven years past, to the department COM
manded by General Candy, headquarters
ct Richmond. General Williams is of
course we'll known throughout Virginia, his
native State, before whose Legislature he
was recently prominently named for Uni
ted States senator.
The Bill Forbidding congressman
from Recommending or Soliciting
the Appointment OF Federal OH.
GERS.
The bill before the Senate reported from
the Judiciary Committee, and which was
called up to-day, is timely, and comes to
the relief of the executive departments
most opportunity, if it shall pass. There is
continual difficulty arising out of the GUS
tom of permitting congressman to desig-
nate, and therefore substantially appoint,
collectors, assessors, postmasters, and other
Federal officers whose appointment the law
really vests in the President. The bill
pending before the Senate is intended to
put On end to the pernicious custom, and
forbids congressman from recommending
or soliciting the appointment of Federal
officers.
A case in point is at this moment giving
trouble in the Treasury Department and
Internal Revenue Bureau. An excellent
collector in New York-one whose record is
that of an efficient, honest, faithful officer,
and withal q staunch Republican, originally
appointed at the request of the congressman
| of his districts to be removed because he
| will not be of special service to the member
| OF Congress in securing the latter's renomi-
milton. The Commissioner of Internal Re-
venue has no complaint to make against
the present incum bent. On the contrary,
| he says he is one of the best collectors in
the country; but the member Of Congress
is getting weak with his constitute nts
in one Of the counties in his district,
and, to make himself strong for the rcnomi-
nation in the county, proposes to give the
collectorship to citizen thereof, thus
making the good of the public service sub
servicnt to the personal ambition and sell
fshness of an individual. The member of
Congress will regard the Executive as op-
posed to his renonin alton if he shall be
refused, and, urging this point, demands
the change. Now, if the bill before tho
Senate to-day were at this moment law
there would he no danger Of losing al
honest and efficient collector of the revenue
merely to aid in securing the denomination
of politician.
News from Mississippi.
j. L. Morpheus, representative elect from
Mississippi, reached here tonight, accom-
panied by Messrs. Hamilton and Duncan
two prominent Republicans of that State
They say the people throughout the Stat
are anxious for admission to the Union, tina
they may go 10 work improving their agri
cultural and manufacturing interests.
No action Oh tile House Bill to Admi
Mississippi.
The bill is favored in the executive de
partments. As the Senate Judiciary Com
mittee has not been put in possession o
official information that Mississippi ha
complied with the reconstruction acts NJ
action has been taken upon the House bill
to admit that State to representation. Al
the required official documents arrived to
day, and will be placed in the hands of tn
committee tomorrow, when it is probabl
the House bill may be reported to tn
Senate.
The Grounds of Opposition to Revels
| Opposition to Reyels (colored senator
taking his seal has been suggested upol
several grounds, but all are expected to b
abandoned save one-namely, that he ha
not been citizen of the United States TO
the period of nine years, as required b,
the Constitution. Whether this will be urge'
pertinaciously is not so certain. The ques
ton is already anticipated in the answer tina
by the terms of the fourteenth amendment
all persons born in the United States or
citizens thereof. ReTels was born in tn
United States. The fourteenth amendmen
was adopted only two years ago. The Of
frmative argument is that Reyels has onl
been citizen two years, or from the dat
of the adoption of the amendment. Til
answer is that the proper construction q
the Constitution is that Revels's citizenshi
dates from his birth.
Georgia.
Judges Robert II. Brown and B. Conley
of Georgia, are here assisting GoTerno
Bullock in urging the admission of Geor
gia. They have parlors at Wizards wit
Governor Bullock, and there receive visi
tors.
The Income Tax.
The Ways and Means Committee favor
continuance of income tax in modified form
probably three per cent, but no income les
than two thousand dollars to be taxed.
No Spirits-No Arnss.
The President, upon the suggestion O.
Secretary Boutwell,, has issued an orde
prohibiting the expectation of spirits int
the district Of Alaska and firearms into thu
Isl,nde of 81 pau1 and St George.