Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-12-16

source to- day were Sls2, AS.
THE DEATH of ex-Justice Nelson was an
nounced in the Supreme Court yesterday,
whereupon that body adjourned for the day in
respect to the momoTy of deceased.
THIS is rHKDAY appointed for the surrender
Of the virgnins and the survivors of her crew
and passengers. Havana has recovered from
her indig nation. GAN is quiet on the Gulf"
in executive session several hours yesterday af
ternoon on the nomination of Geo. H. Williams
to be Chief Justice, and adjourned without final
action.
THE STATE or Massachusetts, is to be divided
into two separate pension districts, and Genera
Kimball, formerly Adjutant General of the
state, will be appointed to the additional once
OF pension agent in that state.
THE House Committee on WAYS and Means
this morning agreed to report bill recon-
mended by the commissioner of internal rev
enue relating to certain details OF minor i'm
portance connected with bonded distilleries.
THE House Committee ON Appropriations, Of
their session this morning, had before them
Postmaster General Creswell, who made state
ment with regard to the proposed revision OF
departmental estimates.
GENERAL SPINNER battles like hero with
the sickness from which he has suffered for 30
many months, and is to-day erect at his desk,
working with characteristic vim. He will leave
this latitude for Florida shortly after thu holi-
days.
PROMOTION IN THE NAvY.-Mr. Archer IL
troduced in the House yesterday a bill provid
ing after the passage of the act, that no Com
modore in the navy shall be promoted to the
grade OF Rear Admiral unless recommended by
a board composed Of the three senior officers or
the active list on duty in the navy.
ANOTHER BANK FOR TIE DisraIcr--Ir
the Senate yesterday Mr.. Hamilton, of Mary
land, introduced bill authorizing the Citi-
zens' National Bank, OF Hagerstown, Nd, to
change its location to Washington CITY. d. q.
with the privilege OF increasing its capital stock
to 500, 600.
THE House Committee on Foreign Affairs this
morning held their first regular session and dis
tributed the business before it, including the
resolutions for the recognition of Cuban bellig-
erency, and bills looking to the payment of the
French spOliation claims, to various sub-com-
mittees.
WHILE SENATOR MORTON was making his
speech this afternoon in favor Of the admission
of Mr.. Pinchback as Senator from Louisiana,
Mr.. Pinchback himself was an interested lis
tener, and occupied a seat on one Of the sofas
outside the railing. The Senator spoke with
his usual force, and attracted large crowd to
the galleries.
THR WEST VIRGINIA CONTESTS. Judge
Nee5on, Of Richmond, Virginia, made an argu-
ment before the House Committee on Elections
this morning in favor of the West Virginia
October election, and to the claimant for seats
from that state under it, Messrs. Martin and
wilson. The arguments in connection with
these contests will be resumed tomorrow.
The SPECIAL AUTHORIZATIONS FOR TIE
NAvY.-The Senate Committee on Appropria-
tons held meeting this morning and consic-
cred Horse bill 49,, "making appropriations for
extraordinary expenses OF the raval service"
The committee agreed to report tie bill to the
Senate without amendment 1be bill asks for
S4,0C0, eco.
Postmaster GENERAL CREswELL appeared
before the House Com mittee on Post Ofiices and
Post ROats this morning, and exhibited data
70 show that since the at olishment of the frank.
ing privilege it had been a matter Of economy
for the government, aud that the mails were
less numbered with public documents than prior
to its passage. 1t is understood that he Is moi
IN favor or eny modification OF the law as 4,
now stands.
1T HAS BEEN CHARGED that the Rev. Byron
Sunderland, the rev chaplain Of the Senate, is
object'onab to many ursodly members of the
Senate on account OF his long prayers. After
an observation of the manner in which the rev.
erend Doctor discharges the duties of his posi-
ton we are able to pronounce the charge wholly
uDwarranted, and probably malicious. Thus
far his invocations have been models of brevity-
much shorter, in fact, than those of his prede.
cessor, Chaplain Newman. II any special credit
IS due to the maker of short prayers, DIR. Sur
derland is certainly entitled to 1t.
AN IMPORTANT DECISION was rendered yes
terday by the Supreme Court. The UEion
Pacific railroad company tried 70 evade the
mn of fow tba
passes, on the Plea that the government has
such interest in its property as to take it out OF
the operation Of state laws, and exempt it from
state taxation. In the case of the Conn lnv VS..
Permission, treasurer of Lincoln county, Ne
baska, this court has laid down an entirely d.
terent doctrine. 1t holds that although the
tary and postal, its property is not exempt from
state taxation on account OF such relation.
THE EXECUTIVE MANSION is to-day closed to
II visitors, and no cabinet meeting will be held
or any other official business performed by the
President either to- day or to- morrow, on ac-
couDt of the sad but long -looked-for death OF
Col. +. T. Dent, the Presidents father-iu-law
i Aons callers have appeared at the White
illness of Col. Dent, were painfully surprised a.
seeing the mourning badge suspended from the
door-bell Col. DENTS remains will be taken to
81 Louis for interment, attended by the Praei-
dent, Col. Casey, Q. $. Marshal sharpe, ard
other members of the family of the deceased.
Gen. Babcock will accompany them.
INVESTIGATION OF THE CHARGE AGAINST
GENERAL HowARD.--The House Com miltee On
Military Affairs held a meeting this morning
and discussed the resolution of MIR. Wood, re.
feTred 10 them by the House, with reference TO
the alleged defalcation of General Howard in
connection with his administration of the affairs
OF the bureau Of freedmen, refugees, and
abandoned lands. A resolution was adoptcd in
sfructiDg the chairman to issue notices to Gem
eral Howard, Secretary Belknap, and General
Vincent to appear before them tomorrow morn
ing with view to begin preliminary investi-
CATION Of the subject, and to guide the commit
tee in recommending what definite action should
be taken upon the letter Of the Secretary of War
submitted to Congress.
HE House Committee on Road and Canals
held their second regular session to-day. A
resolution was adopted dividing the committee
into the following sub-c0mmittees LIST. To
consider bills relating to canals and railways.
end appointing Messrs. Stone, Hurlbut and
Bass. I'd. To consider bills relating to COM
merce and existing lines and railways, Messrs
Hear, Arthur and Lewis. Sd. Bills relating to
the charter Of new lines Of inter state com
merce, Messrs. Hurlbut, Sherwood and Taylor
9Th. Bills concerning the rights and duties Of
common carriers and miscellaneous bill, Messrs
Hcar, Smith and Wolf. a resolution Vas
adopted relating to commerce between the
states and the rights conferred In Congress by
the csnsitution to regulate the same.
In VIEW OF THE FACT that many paragraphs
during the recess Of Congress and since the
-