The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-03-23
LATEST BY TELEGRAPH.
WASHINGTON NEWS.

WASHINGTON, March 20.-The President
to-day nominated Joel D. Harvey collector
of internal revenue of the first district of
Illinois; VIM. II. Doolittle, of Minnesota,
assistant commissioner of patents; Phillip
ArnhOlt, of Missouri, pension agent at st.
Joseph, and John NJ. Coogrile, of Cali
fornia, chief justice of Utah Territory.
WASHINGTON, March 20.-The Star says:
Richard II. Dana, jr., after asking to be
heard by the Senate Committee on Foreign
Relations, has mounted his high stepping
Harvard horse and published a letter in
Boston, which, had plebean written it, it
would have been styled impertinent. He
evidently wishes to be made a martyr of,
and he will be gratified. Dana is an ac-
complished, high-toned gentlemen, but he
lacks common sense, and Ben Butler is too
much for him.
Mrs. L. G. WATSON writes, and says, at
great peril to herself, that the Georgia pen
itentiary convicts are dashed and strained so
that several have died. Pierrepont sent a
letter to Senator Clayton, saying it affects
United States prisoners. The senate Judi
ciary Committee will investigate Mrs. King
Man, wife of T. Q. Kingman.
The lifetime correspondent of the
Charleston Courier is dead.
The north gallery of the House, known
as the smallpox gallery, was not opened
until after prayer. Admission to the other
gallery, by ticket, was easily obtained by
deeently clad people.
No Southern nominations.
Ex-senator Stewart, of the Emma Mine,
is here.
Marsh and wife are at Arlington.
The contracts for fine government print
ing paper show about cent per pound de-
cliIe. ~
The Treasury will receive fourteen tons
of silver this week. The silver coin in the
Treasury vaults is now $50, 900; fractional
currency in the vaults, 50, ZOO, 900.
a resolution was adopted unanimously by
the Committee on Elections, to the effect
that all the Congressional districts of the
United States must be composed of con-
tinuous territory, and, as near as may be,
| of equal populations, and that the Legisla-
ture of South Carolina, now in session,
| ought, at once, to correct the illegal con-
struction of the Third Congressional Dis
trict of that State, now represented by J.
l.. Hoge. 1t is very well understood that ii
was intended to allow the State the oppor-
tunity to correct the error herself, but il
the State persists in this unfair disUricting,
there is no doubt that the committee will
feel bound to take the whole matter into
their own hands, and will act with prompt.
ness and decision.
WASHINGTON, March 20.-Secretary Bris-
tow voluntarily appeared before the Com
mittee on Expenditures in the War Depart
ment, to-day, and made a statement, under
oath, in relation to letter which appeared
in the New York Herald of Saturday, dated
Louisville, March IL" in relation to q
mule case. He said he had reason to be.
! lieve that the letter was not written in
J Louisville, but IN Washington. Having
| been advised, some weeks past, that the
statement would be made, he ought to say
he did not deem it any part of his duty tC
undertake the prosecution of the case
! the duties IL which he was engaged being
merely professional. In the way of argu
ment, he never had the slightest reason tc
suspect the fairness of the case or integrity
of the party in whose behalf it was prose
cuted. The parties were citizens of Ken
lucky, residing IN Clark-county, and re
mote from his place of residence. One oil
the claimants has since deceased. He haC
intimate aud pleasant reeollections with
him, having served with him in the Ken
lucky Senate. Harrison Thompson tn,
secretary, was here in the spring and sum
mer Of 1878 on business, hsvine no connec
ton, At that time, with the government
having resigned the Office of Solicitor Gen
eral in 1872. Ben Groome was engaged t.
argue the case, and gave him a sIatemen
of it, saying his firm were engaged il
stockraising and had invested much
money in the purchase of mules, bu
owing to the collapse of the rebellion
the government refused to take the animals
In consequence of this firm having mastaines
heavy loss, having invested 5000, 900 o.
account of the purchase, Groome said the
would pay him no fee il he did not sue
coed in procuring the payment of the claim
AZ all events, they would pay him only
small fee. The Secretary said 20 Groom
that it was not his habit 20 accept eont1n
gent fees, but in view OF the dilemma /
which the ffm found itself and the de
sire TO have his professional services, tn,
would argue the case before the Court o
Claims. or before the Supreme Cou1 il
should so there, on GroOme's agreeing {