The Portland daily press., 1874-01-09
WASHINGTON.


WASHINGTON, Jan. 8.-The House Commit
tee on Revision of the Laws, of which Judge
Poland is Chairman, will be next called in reg
ular order. They will present the revised stat
utes as cOdifed, which will m ike volume of
upwards OF 1900 printed pages. They will
recommend numerous amendments, the consid-
Grafton of which and the reading of the revised
statutes, even if the latter are enacted in a
lump, VIII necessarily occupy so much time,
that special evening sessions will probably be
ordered for the purpose.
Withdrawing a Land Grant.
Mr. Page will shortly introduce bill to for
felt to the United States all lands hitherto
withdrawn under the grant for the Atlantic &
Pacific Railroad, which failed to comply with
the conditions of the law requiring that fifty
miles OF the road be built every year. The
enactment of this bill will restore to the public
domain forty sections of land per mile from the
western boundary of the Indian Territoy to
San Francisco, including millions of acres in
California.
Treasury Balances.
The following are the Treasury balances to-
day :~Currency, 1881 ,09l; special deposit of
legal tenders for redemption of certificates of
deposit 1913, 100000 coin, $S4 528, SOL, including
coin certificates H $4l 797 900; outstanding legal
tenders, S379,681. 002. =
The Sinking of the virginius.
The Board of Enquiry to ascertain the cause
of the sinking of the Virginus in session at
the Navy Department. consists of Rear Admit
raj c. N. Davis, Rear Admiral Worden and
Commodore j. c. Howell, with Capt s. B.
Luce as Judge Advocate, The Ossipee with
the survivors of the Virginius on board is hour
ly expected at the Navy Yard.
Combinations.
The Senate in executive session to-day con-
frmed the following nominations: John c.
Caldwell of Me- min lister of Uruguay and Par
aguy; Edward L. Baker, consul at Buenos
Ayres; Jas. Codd, collector of customs at Nam
tucket, Mass.
Letter OF Attorney General williams 10
the President.
The following is the letter of Attorney Cen
eral Williams requesting the withdrawal of his
nomination to the Office of Chief Justice:
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE,
Washington, ID. c., Jan. 9TH, 1874
To the PreSident:-Sir:-You were kind
enough, without my solicitation or any knowl
edge on my part that You, contemplated such
a thing, to nominate me as Chief Justice of the
Supreme Court of the United States Since
that time the flood gates of Calumny, in all di-
rections, have been opened upon me. My
abilities have been discouraged and my integri-
ty brought in question, and it seems to me that
public opinion adverse to my appointment has
been created, which might hereafter embarrass
your administration and perhaps impair my
usefulness upon the bench With perfect
consciousness that l have performed with
clean hands and an upright purpose, all the du-
i
have been called and trusting to time and a
great public, when better informed for my vim
dication, respectfully ask you to withdraw
from the Senate my nomination of Chief JUS
tice.
have the honor to be with great respect,
Signed, GEO. Ell. WILLIAMS,
Postal Savings Bank.
Postmaster General Creswell was before the
House Committee on Banking to-day, and ex-
planned the plan for postal savings banks.
There is reason to believe that the majority of
the committee were opposed to Creswelp s
plan.
Various Matters.
Internal revenue receipts Thursday $22S,
218
The death of James Brooks will be officially
announced in the House tomorrow. Mr.Dawes
will deliver the principal eulOgy.
The House Committee on Appropriations
this morning, completed the fertilization APP
preparation bill, cutting down the estimates
mort than two-thrds.
The House Military Committee heard Adju-
tant General Townsend on the subject of the
proposed reduction of the army which he
strongly opposed by numerous cogent statisti cs
and arguments.
The Presidents message withdrawing the
nomination of Williams for Chief Justice of
the Senate was read in the executive session of
the Senate. No action on it is necessary.
The President has recognized Jacques Bert
schmann as consul of the Swiss confederation
for Maine New Hampshire, Vermont, Massa-
chusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut and New
York, to reside at New Yor k.