The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-12-15
WASHINGTON.


WASHINGTON, December l4.-To.day
the HouEe Committee on Commerce heard
Frederick Frauley, President Of the Na-
tional Board OF Trade, Charles Randolph,
Secretary Of the ChicSgo Board Of Trade,
and Hamilton Hill, Secretary OF tho Bos.
ton Board Of Trade, Ia advocacy Of legis-
lation for the creation OF Bureau or
Department Of Agriculture and Manu-.
iaciure, to be specially devoted 10 the
protection and promotion OF American
trade, commerce and agriculture. They
argued that the Treasury Department Is
now Ovcrbusdened with general business
10 an extent which prevents proper At.
tention being given 10 tho objects stated.
Further arguments will bs heard 10.
morrow. ,..
I u VENEZUELAN CLAIMS.
The House Committee on Foreign
Affairs to-day took testimony on the
Venezuelan claims, tue object being to
understand the entire subject before
bringing it before the House.
DESTRUCTION OF COMMITTEE WORK.
The House Committee on Appropria.
tion has made the following distribution
OF the work remaining on hand: Tho
preparation OF the Legislative, Executive
and Judicial Appropriation bill, Is as.
signed to MeSsrs. Holman, Waldron and
Atkins. The Army Appropriation bill
TO Messrs. Atkins, Wells and Foster. The
Navy bill TO Messrs. Blount, Hale and
Clymer. The Indian Appropriation bill
to Messrs. Wells, Foster and Holman.
The Military and Academy bill to Messrs.
Clymer, Foster and Bloun.. The Consu.
lar and Diplomatic bill to Messrs. Single
ton, Wells and Hale, and the sundry
Civil bill to Mcssrs. Holman, Atkins and
Hale.
ELIcTIoN cOMMlTrEEs DISCUSSING THE
Z -.. .s., Law. 80.
The Senate subcommittee Oh Privil.
eges and Elcctlons,-Messrs. Morton,
Logan and Kernan,-were occupied this
morning in an informal discussion on
the questions Of law relative TO the late
election in Oregon and New Jersey. To-
morrow, they will continue the inyesti-
CATION Of the case OF the alleged ineligi-
Bic Presidential elector OF New Jersey.
The House Committee on Elections
was called up this morning but had no
quorum The first case before the COM
mittee was that Of O. W. Butz, OF South
Carolina. He has no contestant, but his
credentials were referred 10 the commit
tee on account of the protest from his dis
trict. Butt has o certificate Of the Board
Of Canvassers and the regular credentials
from the Governor, which are satisfactory
to the Republican members Of the com:
mittee, but the Democrats demand
that he should exhibit the pro-
ceilings OF the South Carolina Su-
preme Court. A transcript Of these he
has obtained. A member of the commit
Ice demanded to see them this morning,
but Judge Harris, chairman Of the com.
mittee, said that they were yet the pri.
yate property Of Butz. Il is Understood
that tue Democrats are willing to recog'
nixe the certificates Of the Supreme Court
as sufficient 10 seat him; but he has not
yet been advised by his counsel TO submit
the papers, as they might be deemed an
Acknowledgement on his part Of the val
idity Of the action Of the Supreme Court
inthe matter.
MESSAGE PROM THE PRESIDENT.
Tho following 10 tho Presidents mes.
sage received by the Senate: -
70 DE Snatecfthe Uaaed StatsI:
In answer to the resolution Of tho
Senate OF tho 9Th Inst, requesting inior.
nation as to whether troops Of the United
States we're stationed at Petersburg, In
the Stale OF Virginia, on the 7th Of Nov,
1876, and ii SO, under what authority and
for what purpose, / submit the enclosed
letter from the Secretary OF War, to whom
the resolution was referred, together with
the report Of the General oi the army and
the accompanying par err, switch with these
enclosures will give all the information
called for by the resolution, and conf.
dently believe II will justify the action to.
ken. 1t Is well understood tbA. the pres.
e1ce Of troops at the polling places, never
prevents q full exercise Of the franchise
by any citizen Of whateyer political faith.
II they have had any effect upon the ballot
cast, il has been to insure protection 10
the citizen casting 1t in giving 1t to the
candidate Of bis unbiased choice without
fear and thus securing the very esSSuee
OF liberty. L may be that the presence Of
The U. S.soldiers under command Of Cap.
tain and Lieutenant quartered In the
Custom House at Petersburg, Virginia,
on the 7th Of November at considerable
diltancel from any polling place,
without any interference on their part
and without going nearer the polls dutlDg
the election, may have secured differ:
eut result from what would have been
obtained II they had not have been there
10 maintain peace. II such is the case 1t is
only proof that 10 this ono Congressional
dlsirict In Virginia the legal and conStl.
tuuonal voters have been able TO return
o. elected the candidates Of their choles.
o. 8. GRANT,
Ezesxiirs Aan,isn, Dee. II, 1875,