Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-04-24

TIE CABINET SESSION to-day was only of
about an hours duration. The Arkansas dis
pute was talked over, but no new features OF
any kind were presented,
THE SECRETARY OF STATE was before the
House Appropriation Committee to-day ex-
planning the consular and diplomatic appro-
priaiion bill.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL has decided that
where a contractor to carry nails abandoned
his contract the Postmaster General could
not relet the route without advertisement
THE Senate Committee on Mines and Mining
at their session on Monday next will hear an
argument from Judge Jere S. Black, of Penn
sylvsnia, on behalf of what is known as the
SutIo amendment to Senate bill 10.
COURT STRNosRArBERs.-Mr. Frye was d-
rected by the House Judiciary Committee to-
day to report bill authorizing all circuit and
district courts of the United States to appoint
stenographeIs, who shall be officers of the
courts and WHO shall receive compensation of
IS per day.
THE Ways and Means Committee further con-
sidered to-day the bill they are preparing rea-
tive to moieties. They also agreed to summon
feur more witnesses to testify relative to the
SanbOrn contracts Two of the witnesses will
be examined to morrow morning, and two at
the session OF the committee on Monday next.
THR CASE of which Mrs. Belva A. Lockwood,
of this city, is attorney was called a day or two
since in the Court Of Claims, and a demurrer
vas filed by the Assistant Attorney General.
Mrs. Lockwood not yet having been admitted 20
practice before the court, the case was ad-
jOurned until Monday next, when, il is under
stood, the motion TO admit her will be argued,
previous TO the trial of the claim, by MIR. A. u.
Riddle, provided the court is disposed to hear
arguments.
JURIRs IN UTAH.-The House Judiciary
Committee, at their meeting this morning, fur
ther amended Judge Polands bill to regulate
the selection OF juries in Utah, so to provide
for the appointment of commission by the
governor to make up list of all male citizens
of lawful age who have been citizens for one
year, who are eligible TO Jury duty, and from
this list the names Of grand and petit jurors
shall be drawn in open court.
MRS. GAINES AND GEN. CUsHIye-The
Secretary OF the Interior to-day transmitted to
the House a letter from the Commissioner of
the General Land Office stating that on the
l4th OF April, 1873. he transmitted to the Secre-
tary, to be sent to Congress, list of six private
land claims reported TO his Office in favor of
Mrs. Myra Clark Gaines by the register and re-
celver at New Orleans, and that he has since
learned that claims Nos. /, 2 and in that list
were confirmed to Caleb Cushing by the Su-
preme Court of the United States-the mandate
OF the court being dated December Is, 1873.
DEFICIENCY APPROPRIATION WANTED
Among the executive documents received 10
the House to-day was a communication from
the Secretary OF the Interior asking that the
following item be inserted in the deficiency bill
"For the payment of navy pensions to widows
and others, s, 5 600, to be available upon the
passage of this act" The Secretary explains
that this deficiency ts mainly the result Of re-
cent legislation by Congress, whereby the PEN
sioDs granted to widows of naval officere are in
creased on account OF minor children, and OF
the adjudication OF IN unusual number of origi-
nal navy pension claims.
A CORRESPONDENT OF the Milwaukee SsntiaeI
writes from Washington:
"Mis. Winnie Ream's receptions are amongst
the most recht rche entertainments OF the sea-
son. She Is famous for her fine attractions,
socially as well as artistically, and her recep-
tion-rooms are crowded weekly by the most
rennec and elegant people in Washington, who
ind double pleasure in her beautiful sta nary
and her own sw eet self. She endeavors to m Ike
her entertainments as informal Is possible, and
thereby wins mem bers OF both House aud Sena'e
snd their wives to her charming levees, who are
tired of etilted, meaningless fOrmslty. She is
gem in her way, and 10 as bright and refreshing
rs q new blown rose. The model OF Farragat,
as executed by her, in the public room OF
the Capitol, under the eye OF the members il
pronounced by Mrs. Farragut as the only true
representation of her husband. She is genius
worthy OF patronage, and deserves it, As she
uses her income in the laudable way OF sup
porting her aged father aud mother, as well a.
widowed sister.
THE "MKh's" AND THE TOUR OF IsspsC-
TIoS.-The "mem's" turned out in force this
morning at the rooms Of the Joint Special Com
mittee investigating District affairs. Not only
was Columbus Alexander and his counsel pres.
emit, but bakers dozen of his sOreheads in
propTid persona, including Concrete Smith, GEN
eTal A. Grant, Marceilus West, and others.
They all looked a. II they needed ventilation,
and didn't object to taking hack ride at some
body else's expense. Says Columbus, Gwen
chow them the handiwork Of this wicked board "
.'Where will We take the committee?" says
General Grant "Show 'em nv concrete in
the Agricultural department, chimes in
Smith. "Oh, don't show them that bed OF
mush," says Grant "Take 'em up to look
have been ruined by the improvements"
Marcellus West thought it would be a good
idea to show 'em the John Boldin church which
don't pay any taxes; Brook Msckall thought IL
would be wise to 60 first to the Biadensburs
road, as they would have an opportunity to pass
graveyard, and probably the committee could
be thus solemuized. Alexander ruled all the
suggestions out OF order, and proposed an
amendment that the committee be taken over
some road where IL would be convenient to
upset the hacks and dump the occupants in
the road, adding that Ii was clever way 20
suggest TO the mind Of not only Congressman,
but any body else, the inconvenience of bad
roads. "Oh, te," says Christy, that wontdo;
for in less than week the board will issue
orders to improve any such road and steal q
million by the operation Democrat Davis
didn't care ID where the committee were
he would pay no share of the assessment for
hack hire, as ne had already been assessed for
other purposes until his heart bled.
The GAS QUEsTIoN.-In the Senate to- day
Mr.. Morrill,, of Vermont, chairman Of the Com
mittee on Public Buildings and Grounds, made q
report on the subject Of the supply OF gas to the
government buildings and to the citizens OF
Washington. The report, which is quite volumi
nous, contains elaborate statistics relative
TO the quality and price of gasin different cities
and the appendix which will probably be
printed with the report, will embrace the tea
timony OF many experts on the gas question. In
connection with the report Mr. Morrill, pro.
seDted q bill which provides for an inspector
and assistant inspector OF gas. at salaries OF
$4,000 and 600 respectively, who shall be APP
pointed by the President and confirmed by the
Senate, and whose duty IL shall be TO make
frequent tests Of the gas furnished and to
regulate its constituent parts in order that
citizens and the government may receive
gas Of good quality. Tho laboratory
IN hich these tests are to be made, together
with the necessary apparatus, Is to be furnished
BY the company furnishing the gas, but the iu-
spectors are to be paid by the general govern
ment The bill further provides that all meters
hereafter put in shall be inspected and sealed
bv the iQaDecf0r hat fhoso oil DIV In