The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-12-21
CONGRESSIONAL.

A commission has been appointed by the
Senate, composed of seven members in con-
formity to the Presidents recommendation
in his annual message, to consider the
question of providing cheaper transporta-
ton from the West to the Atlantic seaboard.
The House adopted a preamble and reso-
luton, that no measures be taken to re-
move from the Army register, and regi-
mental colors of the United States, the
names of the battles of the rebellion.
Revenue assessors and assistant assessors
will sooE be done away with. The bill pro-
viding for the abolition Of these offices has
finally passed the Senate, that body reced-
ing from its amendments. The law takes
effect next July. Resolutions were adopt
ed istructing the Judiciary Committee to
inquire into the power of Congress to re-
gulate railroad fares and freights.
The House passed the bill providing for
the transportation, through the mails, of
seeds, cutting, bulbs, roots, &C., at the
rate of two cents for every four ounces, the
package not to exceed four pounds.
Mr.. Banks introduced a bill appropri
ating one hundred thousand dollars, to be
expended for the proper representation of
the inventions of the country at the Wen
ma Exposition. Mr.. Brooks made speech,
on self defense, in the House, in the Credit
Mobiler SANDER. He showed Col. McComb,
who procured the publication of the out
rageous ISLANDERS concerning Mr.. Brooks
and other members of Congress in the New
York Sun, to be an adventurer who had
figured in Washington in 1864 as bounty
swindler, in the Louisiana Legislature some
years later as lobbyist and briber, and in
Wall street as stock gambler. The whole
Credit Mobilier story was proved to be false
in every suggestion.
SCRIDNER's HOLIDAY NUMBER.-The
third installment of DR.. Hollands new
novel, "Arthur Bonnicastle." appears in
the January holiday number Of SCRIB-
NER's, accompanied by very beautiful
design from the pencil of Miss Hallock.
The same number is rich in short stories
and sketches, the most striking of the for
mer being Sake Holm's "One Legged Dan
GERS" The list of names in the table of
contents is altogether the most interesting
and distinguished yet given. William
Morris, George Macdonald, Bret Harte,
Phillip Gilbert Hamerton (author of
"Thoughts on Art, ''The Unknown Riv-
en-" etc., Charles Dudley Warner, Ed
ward Eggleston, Christina Rossetti, Ed
mund G. Stedman, G. S. Calverley (author
of "Fly- Leaves"), Edward King. and
William c. Bryant contribute characters
tic poems, stories, sketches, and essays.
Particular attention should be called to
Mr.. Morgis's poem 1--WE believe the longest
he has ever published in an American mag
azine); MacDonald's exquisite rendering
of spiritual Song" from the German of
Nevalis; MIR. Stedman's scholarly essay on
.'Victorian Poets;' Col. Higginson's i'm
portant suggestion in the matter of 'In-
tercollegiate Scholarships the splendidly
illustrated article on Virginia; and Mr..
Kings graphic account of the "Finding of
Livingstone" Mr.. Warmers ''Night in the
Garden of the Tuileries," and Mr.. Eggles-
tons "Christmas Club" are both rather
marvellous stories, but we suppose will not
lack believers.
In "Topics of the Time" DR.. Holland
discusses the Popular Capacity for Scan
dial; Criticism: and the Free Church prob
lem. The 'Old Cabinet" contains A Nisi-
tor; Relics; and Something l found in the
Cars. In "Home and Society" we find
Rank and Raiment; Window Gardening;
and Listen! Mature and Science tells
of Substitute for Coal, ETC.. and in "Cul-
ture and Progress" besides the Book Re-
views, there are notices of the Late Opera
Season and Thomas Moran's Water color
Drawings. The Etchings are particularly
good this month. They are by Hoppin,
and are entitled, ga Matrimonial Stock
Operation"