The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-04-19
WASHINGTON.
The Geneva Conference.

The Geneva Conference.
WASHINGTON, April lS.-It is thought
here that the protest presented by Lord
Tenterden to Bancroft Davis on the
occasion of the exchange Of thecounter
cases at Geneva precludes the possibil-
ity of any further diplomatic dodglng
OF the question at issue, and that If the
United States agree to acquiesce in the
arbitration after this notice it is sur
render Of the present cause OF contro-
versy, which will not be made more
graceful by any argument intended
to prove that the treaty covers these
pretensions
Nomination.
The President to-day nominated VIM.
Wells fo1' Collector of Customs for the
District of Vermont.
Minister Catacazy.
Authentic information has been re-
ceived in Washington from St. Peters
burg to the effect that NJ. Cstacazy's
justification OF himself has been con-
sidered attentive!y in the Council OF
the Empire. He is utterly disgraced
and has lett st. Petersburg for Paris
with a pension OF 1000 roubles. The
pension is so settled that it will be
withdrawn If NJ. Catacazy makes any
publication or gives any new cause o'
offense.
The Disafeeted Republicans.
The statement that overtures had
been made to the disaffected Republicans
with the intention Of bringing them
back within the party is pronounced
false in administration circles. The
President in conversation to-day, allu-
ding to this subject, stated that he knew
nothing OF such overtures being made,
and said that il any such movement
was on foot it was without his knowl-
edge and certainly without his consent.
The Case OF General Siannard.
The papers in the case of General
Stannard, the defaulting collector OF
customs, OF Vermont, were placed
before Secretary Boutwell, last evening
and at noon to-day a new collector was
nominated to the Senate. The amount
of the defalcation is $4,000, which, it
is said, will be paid by his bondsmen.
COnseq Damages.
The House Foreign Affairs Com
mittee, at their meeting this morning,
considered Mr.. Peters resolution in
relation to the claim for consequential
damages, in the American case before
the Geneva Board, which was offered
in the House on the twelfth inst. Itis
understood that the committee were
unanimous in favor OF reporting the
resolution to the House, but at the
suggestion Of the Chairman OF the COM
mlttee, the matter was postponed till 1t
comes up in regular order, so as to
enable the committee to communicate
with Secretary Fish on the subject. The
belief is strong tonight that the reso-
luton will be reported to and passed
by the House, and that the Government
will then consent to withdraw the claim
for consequential damages.
The Robson Investigation.
The Robson investigation was
resumed tonight. Chief Engineer B.
+. Isherwood was examined at length
in relation to the manner of giving out
contracts during the eight years that he
was Chief Of the Bureau Of Steam En-
The custom was. except
under great exigency, to call for bids
through the newspapers and award the
contracts to the lowest bidder. The
contracts when made were always &C.
by detailed drawings and
specifications, the latter being very
minute and including everything down
to the last screw to be put in the work.
The witness gave full account OF the
Curtiss claim aud Of the Board of Vol.
nnteer Experts organized by Secretary
Wells during the war to test boilers.
Witness knew nothing about the Ten
nessee. Witness said he knew nothing
about the Secor claim beyond the
impression that it was paid in full
Turing Secretary Wells administration.
the Roche contract for new
engines for the Tennessee, witness said
the Fowler wheel was to be used
in one OF the torpedo boats
now under construction. Under test
With q screw wheel, in the New York |
Navy Yard, it made but six and halt
knots, while the screw wheel made eight
and a quarter knobs, showing that it
would take two and one-half times as
much power to produce the same result
as with a screw wheel. If speed is TO
be the object, the Fowler wheel is a
failure; but iior facility in handling it is
q good thing. The former practice in
the Navy Department was to sell old
and useless engines at public auction.
In reply to several questions from
Mr.. Sargent, witness said that Mr..
Dana called on him in New York since
this investigation was ordered, and he
gave Dana information concerning the
practice Of giving out contracts under
his administration of the Engineers
Bureau. He never knew Dana before
nor anybody connected with him, and
never gave him nor anyone else in
formation upon which any OF the arti-
cles were written containing the charges
against the Secretary OF the Navy.
Witness estimated the value Of the
machinery on board the Tennessee
which Roche will use in his contract
for her new engines at $4,000. This