The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-11-15
WASHINGTON.
Brigadier General Cook to be Re.
tired.


WASHINGTON, November 14.-Briga-
dier General Philip St. George Cook
will probably be retired soon, being
now nearly two years beyond the age
required by law. He has been in the
service for nearly forty-five years.
General Meade's Successor.
1t has been left to General Sherman
to select successor to General Meade.
Generals Meigs, Howard, Burnside,
Ord. Candy. Terry and Secretary
Belknap are all sspirsnts, and their
friends are actively urging their claims.
1t is understood that in case General
Meigs is appointed to the vacancy, that
Rufus Ingalls, will be promoted to the
position OF Qusrtermaster General of
the army.
1t is known that Secretary Boutwell,
will not apply any part of the legal
tender reserve fund to purchase Gov
ernment securities held by insurance
companies who were losers by the Bos-
ton fire. Mr. Boutwell, will not make
use of his power in regard to using this
fund unless an extra ordinary occasion
should seem to demand it, and he does
not believe such an occasion is presented
now. He thinks that relief to holders
Of securities, who wish to dispose Of
lth h1,,k ha,pv ot th Nff fh
stock speculators, can be given without
further expansion of the currency.
Solicitor General Bristow
is expected to return tonight from
Kentucky and his resignation will be
accepted Immediately.
Interview with the President.
Senator Lewis, of Virginia, Horace
Maynard, Of Tennessee, and VIM A.
Darling, of New York, had interviews
with the President to-day.
Pardohed.
The President has. upon the recoma
mendation of Colonial Forney and
others, pardoned Percival Smith, OF
Philadelphia, who was convicted Of
forgery and sentenced to three years in
the penitentisry on the 25th Of March,
1871.
P. B. Spear, who was convicted of
forgery in Philadelphia, Pa, in March,
1871, was to-day pardoned by the Pres
ident.
DisaIIOwed.
The following claims against the
United States, which have been pend
ing before the British and American
Claims Commission, have been disal-
lowed: John Gammer, Francis Alsop
Annihal Mcguire and John n. Trook,
Administrator, and the following claims
have been allowed: George Oldam,
$40; John Kater, SAIL; Timothy
Dowllug, $j69S; James McCabe, $3.50;
Thomas Mcdowell, $7442. payable IN
gold. These cases are principally for
use yearly.
| Treasury Balances.
The following were the Treasury
balances at the close OF business to-
day: Currency, IS 634 1890; coin, $72,.
1874 900, including $23, l30500 iu coin
certificates.
TheSa Juan Award.
The official copy Of the award in the
San Juan question was served on the
State Department to-day.
The Vacant Major GeneraIshtp.
There Is quite diversity of opinion
as to the power of the President to 60
outside of the list Of Brigadier Generals
in making an appointment to fill the
vacant Major Generalship cause1 by
the death of General Meade. There is
no law bearing directly upon this SUBJ
iect, and the President undoubtedly has
the right to appoint any one he pleases,
no matter whether he be in the army
or not at the breaking out OF the rebel
lion. In 1861 President Lincoln ap-
pointed General Halleck and General
Fremont to the grade of Major General
in the army from civil life, but there is
not an instance on record of the APP
pointment of 8 Major General from
civil lie during time OF peace. The
law, az passed in 1851, was that no ap-
pointment to the grade Of Major Gen
eral shall be made until the number OF
officers of that grade is reduced below
three, after which the number OF Major
Generals shall not exceed three; that
no appointment to the grade of Brlss-
dier General be made until the number
of officers of that grade shall be re-
duced below six, after which the num-
Der of Brigadier Generals shall not ex-
coed six. 1t was already the intention
OF Congress to reduce the number OF
both Major and Brigadier Generals
but that this reduction could only be
made by Casualties, as the number
then exceeded the eight Brigadiers
named in the act, and the President
would only be carrying out the instruc
ton OF Congress by appointing the new
Major General from the grade below
and thus reducing the number. The
President has already had the claims
o. various persons presented, but has
referred the whole matter to General
sherman and will be guided by the
opinion OF that officer.
The Capital Publishing Company has
bought out the Patriot printing estao-
lishment, and it is rumored that they
will publish daily edition in addition
to their present Sunday edition.
r.. pht,adelpbtn POstmas tership.