The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-02-20

800 each. '.'N '.''
CONGRESSIONAL BUSINESS.
The business Of Congress Is so filr be-
hind that earlier day sessions will be held
next week, with frequent evening sessions
The House has not even disposed Of the
appropriation bills, while the Senate plods
away on them nj dreary rate, taking Il
whole day on single amendment. Prob
ably the appropriation bills will get
through by March 4, but 1t is quite cvi'
dent that Il good deal OF legislation which
will fail now will be acted on in the For
ty-sccond Congress.
ALI ABOUT THE M'GARRAIIAN CLADI.
To-day Is assigned to the consideration
Of the reports Of the House Judiciary
Committee on tho McGarrahan claim.
The minority consists of four members OF
the Committee: MGSsrs Bingham, But.
Ter, Mass Cook, and Eldridge, General
Butler does not ngrecc with the other
three in The. full extent Of their conclusions.
They hold tint AIcGArpllan has u good
title to the land claimedby him. General
Butler subsCribcs to but one part OF their
report, namely, that concerning the pat.
cnt alleged TO have been signed and re-
corded during the administration Of Pres
ilent Lincoln. The statement on this
point is substantially ms follows; On the
l4th of March, 1868, patent was made
and au engr0sscd copy was signed by
President Lincoln's Secretary, in charge
OF that busin, So This patent was re.
corded in the proper record book, and the
record marked and Examined" The
datc was filled in, and the signature also
recorded. The testimony shows that the
records Of the patents were never mark
ell examined" until compared with the
original, and found correct and perfect
This record remained intact and unchal-
lcnged until within two years, when coun-
sci tor the Ncw-ldria Company drew
pencil lines across the lace of the record,
and with pencil wrote across 1t the words,
"Not signed" 1t remained in this condi-
ton until it and the original patent were
called for by the Judiciary Committee in
the progress Of the examination. Upon
tho production of what was claimed
to be the original parchment, itappeared
never to have been signed or dated.
This patent WIS written out on five seper.
atO sheets OF parchment, stitched to-
gcthCr with ribbon. On examination it
appeared that the last sheet Of the original
document, on which were the date and
signature, had been taken of, and another
sheet substituted ON which was neither
date nor signature. Through the four
original sheets were the holes made by the
former stitching, the new sheet having
been attached by independent sewing
When in April last, the Chairman of the
Judiciary Committee called for certified
copy of the record us it appeared there,
Secretary Cox ordered 10 be written on
the same the words, "This patent has
never been signed or executed, md Is of
no validity, and the record is Cancelled" !"
thus, MS Is claimed, assuming to certify to
u fact seven years old, OF which ho could
have no knowledge, and to alter the
record. The minority Of the Committee
therefore, report resolutions requiring
that the patent shall be ngain reported .Ns
il stood on the 4lh OF March, 1868; that
McGarrUhan be conceded to have all the
rights which such n record would give
him, and the President be authorized TO
take whatever steps hc nlny deem cXpe.
diCnt to ascertain the validity OF McGar.
rahan's title. Gen. Butler still holds the
opinion announced last fall, that neither
MCGarrahan nor tic New Idria Company
has II valid title, but that the title is in tile
United States; hut he COncurs with this
portion Of the minority report, because
he holds ii dangerous TO admit TINT an
executive officer may order or permit the
alteration Ot the records OI the depart.
mcnt for any purpose whatever.
. OPENING OF THE CARNIvALL TODAY.
The carnival, which Is now in the bud,
will burst into beauty all lis own on
Monday. Everything has been done to
enhance pleasure and command interest
There will be masks that Outmask nature;
frogs playing lcap.lrog with ono another
asses on two legs who cannot fail 10 imi
tate their fellows, especially II they bray;
bears that undoubtedly will ovinco their
native propensity to hug nice little arm.
lul of swCUtmGat; the elephant can be seen
on that day for sure, and every other ami.
mule representing Noah's iamilC, iamili,
lamilOrum will move along in the ever.
changing panorama OF wonders, all on
two legs, harlcqums, knights, peasants,
kings, and marquiseS will mingle promis
cuOusly without regard to ranks In the
procession; every nation, tribe, and Coun-
try, will be represented; squashcs, cab.
'b6gGs, and pumpkins will walk about, not
appropriately perhaps, on human feet.
There will be fast driving, fast trottiDg,
tandem drving,exuisite flyers, s,stylish four.
in.hands, majestic skies, dear little ponies,
md oil sorts tho tirst.bGst class, besides
n grOat race for the amusement Of the jn.
veniles, and dogs that nothing can get the
start Of. There Is TO be sack race, where
some one is sure to get sacked. Pennsyl.
vania avenue, newly paved, will be hung
with calcium lights, so everybody is
bound to shine. Arches trimmed with
wrcaths and garlands will hover over
the streets. A pageant q Ia mi'itdHc, re.
vivcd by Gen. Sherman, will be an impos.
Ing feature Of the day.
Agrand tournament, in which ladies
will participate. and contest for the ring
and The prizes, will be hold on the 21st.
The irrcprcssiblo Fisk, with his sweet,
inimltablc hand, will be on hand. On the
evening Of tho Goth, the President will
hold u public reception ut tho White
House.
The avenue has been pretty well
cleaned at very heavy expense, and to.
nighta rain has set In Seats have been
erected on reservation fronting on the
avenue, to be let out at dollar day and
an arch thrown across the avenue 1T the
National hotel, decorated with tri-colored
Chintz, Is getting wet. n 81 N
lLAFEh-The big arch of the carnival,
opposite the National hotel was blown
down about 3!rM.
LATER NEWS OF NH. sylNER's CONDITION,
WASHINGTON, February 10.
Although Senator Simmer ls reported