Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-11-29

WASHINGTON. November 2S-No business of
Importance was transacted by the cabinet to-day
topic of conversation, but action was taken
concerning If, or In regard to any other matters con-
nected with the recent election,
Randall Setting Ready for work.
Representative Randall writes from New York that
he will be here tomorrow, at which time It Is ez-
pected that complete estimates will be received from
the treasury department, and tnat quorum OF the
house appropriation committee Will be IN attend
ance to commence the work Of preparing the annual
appropriation bills OF the members of the com
mttee, MesSrs. Holman, Wells, Blount, Foster al'i
Waldran are now here and Mr.. Atkins sexpected.
Report OF the Chief Of Ordnance.
General Benet, the chief of ordnance, I'm his an
nlal report recommends large increase of appro-
priaons for the use Of the ordauce department for
the next fiscal year over those for the present year
He says the limited appropriations made by congress
much below the estimates submitted by this bu-
reau-haye, in many instances, pIeyeAted tle sup
plying OF the army on the frontier with tlat Supe
riOr quality of ordnance stores which the nature OF
such service demands, and In the attempt % utilize
the material remaining on hdnd nom the late wal
every care and effort has been exercised In It's selec
on and preparation to meet the wants OF the troops
from the size of the old material and obsolete pat
terms. Explanations to this effect have had to be
made to the officers in command of the troops In
defense of the action of this department where the
responsibility for the limited appropriations cannot
rest. The report recommends the retention of the
Benecia arsenal on the Pacific, Rock Island arsenal
in the Mississippi valley the national armOry at
Springfield Massachusetts; the Frankfort arsenal in
PENNSYLVANIA, and the erection OF arsenal in the
vicinity of New York out of the proceeds of the sales
of those not required. The Allegheny, WateTlelt,
WatertOwn and Washington arSenas should be sold.
The Indianapolis, kennebec, Fort Monroe, Augusta
and San Antonio arSenalS should be retained as
places of deposit repair and issue. Upon the sub
ject of small arms General Benet says he deems It
OF the most vital Importance that the manufacture
of arms be steadily continued in quantities sufficient
to render gradual accumulation OF them in store
certainty. That a better arm than the Springfield
may some day be invented Is not at all improbable,
yf tKIti H.,hf a pE
the future; but until such arm, suitable for the
military, has been perfected and approved, reserve
stock of SpringiledS Is necessity. necessity
for an Increase OF the appropriation for arm
ing and equipping the militia Of the country
is represented. Under the head Of armament
of Notifications an estimate of nine hundred and
fifty thousand dollars Is submitted for the next fiscal
year. The conversion of smOOth-bOre guns Into eff
cient eghtnch rifles has progressed satisfactorily
The coled WfOught-irOn tubes used In the COnVer-
sion have been imported, but trial of a gun with
tube of domestic manufacture has given the best
suits and proved cOncluSively ihat our product is
equal to the imported, notwithstanding the long eN-
Derience In such work In English shops. Depend
ence can now be placed on the private enterprise
and skill OF our own people for the tubes for eight
inch rifles, and in the preparation OF guns Of that
nature the material. labor ana machinery will meet
all our requirements The eight-lnch rife, with the
American tube, has successfully WithStOOd over five
hundred rounds, with batterng charges. and re-
mains in servceable condition. Up to date three
guns of this class have been tested with the most
satisfactory reSultS-tWo eight-lnch and one nine
inch caliber-cOnveTted from teninCh smOOth-bOTes.
The congressman Assembling.
New York World.
WASHINGTON, November 24.-COngTessmen are
beginning to come In slowly though the meeting Of
congress is little more than Il week off. About a
dozen are now in the city. A Democratic caucus
will be called for a week from tomorrow evening to
nominate a candidate for speaker There Is. of
COURSE nothing as yet to indicate a choice. The
names of MeSsrS. Randall, Cox SayleT, Hewitt,
Blackburn. Lamar and Morrison have been men
toned BIZ their friends for the nomination. but it IS
well known that some of them have not consented