Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-12-21

Aug, l7S0, be extended to the widows and lineal
descendants of all officers embraced therein, who
died in service at any period during the war Of the
revolution. 1t also authorizes the accounting Off
of the treasury to adjudicate all such claims
| and provides that the secretary Of the treasury
may in his discretion, issue stock of the o. s. for
such claims said stock to be redeemed in 20 years
from date and bear interest at the rate Of 8 per
cent per annum. 1t also pledges the faith of the
U. s. for the payment of interest and redemption
Of the principal of the stock which may be issued
under the act.
Court of Claims.
The aggregate amount allowed by the Commits
sioners of Claims, in their reports for the last
years, is upwards Of three million dollars settling
about 5000 claims for property taken from loyal
citizens by the U. s. army during the late war in
the Southern States.
The Committee Appointments
After the House adjourned, Immediately upon
the announcement of the committees, to- day,
there was quite general interchange Of opinions
among the members in regard to the selections.
Those who had been we'll provided for, commended
the Speakers judgement or said nothing. But
the prevalent expression was one OF dissatistac-
ton. The Speakers friends account for this by
the fewness of the prizes and the preponderating
number of competitors for them. On the other
hand there are many among the democratic menu
bers who severely crtcise his selections for con-
siderable number of the prominent positions as I'M
suitable and as unfair to congressman Of extended
service, who have been passed over in the distri-
button of chairmanships and important committee
places to make room for new men without legisla
tive experience. The AZ "chairmanships" exclu-
sive Of the committee on Rules, of which the
speaker is exoiclo chairman, "a given to Wes-
tern members, 10 10 Southern and l3 to the Mid
die and Eastern States. Of the latter IL, are of
I'd rate Importance, being committees on Expen-
ditures in the various executive departments &C.,
and of the chairmanshjps given to the Western
members, arc of the same description. or Of
the Southern chairmanships are also unimportant.
The West, therefore, holds the first place in the
number of chairmanshps of the first and second
class committees. Out Of the total A, Ohio and
Missouri have each charmanships; Illinois, 4;
Kentucky, 4; Indiana, 2, and Tennessee 2. Vir-
ginia and Pennsylvania have each. North Caro-
lima has 2, and other State has more than one.
Treasury Clerks.
The secretary of the Treasury, in letter dated
Dec. H. 1875, ia answer to an inquiry whether 1t
it is his purpose to make a re appointment Of the
clerkships in the Treasury department among
States and Territories on the basis of population,
states that he does not construe section two OF the
act of March Sd, lS73 as directing the appoint
mcnt to the extent of dismissiIg clerks from
States, which now have an excess OF appoint
mcnts, but only as direction to the secretary
with reference to future appointments.
Decision Rendered.
The secretary of the Interior, to-day, decided
upon the appeal of the long contested case Of the
heirs of Murray Mcconnell vs. the Chicago and
Northwestern Railroad Company, involving title
in land lying on the north, at the mouth OF the
Chicago river, upon which the depot of the com
pany now stands, and which the reputed value is
several millions the decision being in favor Of the
company and to the effect that their title to the
land is valid.