The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-05-23
WASHINGTON.
Important Cabinet Changes.

Attorney General PierrepOnt Appointed
Minister 10 England, Judge Taft Aitor-
ney, and Don. Cameron, Secretary of
War.
WASHINGTON, May 22-The President today
sent to the Senate the following nominations:
Edwards Pierrepont of New York to be Minis
ter to England; Alphonze Taft of Ohio, now
Donald Cameron Of Pennsylvania, to be Secre-
tary of War.
As soon as the Senate went into executive
session the nomination of Perrepont was re-
ferred to the Com mittee on Foreign Relations;
that of Taft to the Committee on Judiciary,
and that of Comeron to the Committee on Mil
itary Affairs. Senators Cameron, Edmunds
and Logan, the respective chairmen of these
committees, soon thereafter made favorable
report on the nominations which were confirm
ed by the Senate without debate. The recep-
ton OF the nominations from the President,
their reference reports thereon and final action
thereon occupied less than an hour. These
nominations were surprise to almost every.
body, especially to Don Cameron, son of Sena-
tor Cameron. The nomination of Pierrepont
is stated to be in the place of Mr.. Schenck, re-
signed Mr.. Schenck was in Dayton on Satur-
day.
Judge Pierrepont will take immediate steps
to depart for England and Judge Taft will
without delay take charge of the Department
OF Justice. Pierrepont will probably arrive in
England before the termination of the cores
pondence with the British government on the
Winslow extrad ton case.
Mr.. Cameron is too much indisposed to leave
home, but hopes to be here in few days.
The Settlement With Mexico.
The convention between the United States
and Mexico for the settlement of claims, pro-
vide that the amount of compensation to be
paid to the umpire shall be determined by mu-
tual consent at the close of the commission, but
necessary and reasonable advances may be
" frnuQ ant fhn ,N,v
ommendation of the commission.
Sir Edward Thornton, the umpire, having
formally declined to receive any compensation
for his service, Secretary Fish has written
letter.suggesting that, by the consent of the
two governments, some fitting testimonial be
given to Sir Edward in acknowledgment of his
services.
The committee concur in this view and will
take action accordingly.
MIR. Blaine Still Hi.
Representative Blaine being still confined to
his house by sickness, the sub committee ex-
amined no witnesses today on the charge affect
ing him.
The Emma Mine Report.
Representative Hewitt today read to the
Committee on Foreign Affairs his report on the
Emma mine case. 1t will not be made to the
House before Thursday, the Committee on
Foreign Affairs not having today concluded its
consideration.
nc AOufsIau8 1nves1aXatIOn.
In the investigation into Louisiana affairs to-
day d. d. Foley of Washington testified that
as lawyer he was engaged in the prosecution
OF large claim for Peruvian guano involving
$100,000,000. During the prosecution of that
claim he learned that JAS Casey, P. +. Herwig
and Nicholas Casey were interested in the
claim, having paid DR.. j. f. Landreau, owner
of the claim, $2800 and promised to aid in the
prosecution of the case. Witness had CONVEX
sation with Casey after Thomas resigned, and
Casey told witness that Gibbs would be ap-
pointed, but the appointment would not be
ma made I'll after the executive session Of the
Senate had adjourned. This was in March,
1875, and 10 about week after the Senate adj
Journed Gibbs was appointed. Casey told wit
ness that Secretary Fish opposed the appoint
ment of Gibbs. Witness was a lawyer. DR..
Landreau and the latter wanted witness to go
to Peru as secretary to Gibbs so he could better
prosecute the case, and that was why he held
the conversation with Casey. The United
States were prosecuting this case in diplo-
matte way. but had no pecuniary interest in
the matter.
Witness said the Caseys being government
officers violated the statute in buying an inter-
est in claim in which the United States was
party. Witness waited nine months for DR..
Landreau and then Landreau sold out his
claim to Henry d. and Jay Cook without pay
ing witness for his services.
The statute was hunted up and read and the
committee told Mr. Foley that the law had not
been violated at all as the government was act
ing as arbitrator without having cent of in
terest in the proceeds
Mr.. Thomas, minister to Peru, resigned and
then Casey used his influence to have Mr..
Gibbs appointed in his place. The Caseys and
Herwig were to receive 30 per cent. of the pro-
ceeds of this claim.
The Jurisdiction Question.
When the Senate resumed the consideration
of articles OF impeachment against Belknap to-
day Mr.. hBarnum the new senator from Connec-
ticut was sworn in as aimember of the court.
The discussion on the question of jurisdiction
was then continued and Mr.. Mitchell of Ore
gon made lengthy argument in favor. He
was followed by MIR. Logan in opposition.
A New Torpedo.
The exhibition at the Washington navy yard
OF the practical working OF Lays movable tor
pedo, built by order of the Secretary of the
Navy, attracted very large company includ-
ing Secretaries Taft, Chandler, Gen. Sherman
and other high officials, both Of the army and
navy, members of Congress, and representa-
tives of foreign government. The experiments
were conducted with complete success. the
movements of the torpedo being perfectly con.
trolled by the operator through an electrical ca
BILE. The exhibition concluded with the blow
ing up of a large raft.
A board of naval officers have approved of
the torpedo as ''a valuable implement of war
fare" and pronounce it ''the best movable tor
pedo known"