The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-05-26
WASHINGTON.
Nominated by thc President.

Nominated by the President.
WASHINGTON, May 25.-Thc President
has nominated James s. Rulan, OF Penn
sylyania, ito be Consul at Herent Italy
vice, Witt Sykes, withdrawn;. George w
Patton, q. s. Marshal for West Virginia
Robert p. Richardson, postnMter, 81
Joseph.
POSTAL AFFAIRS.
The House Committee on Postoilicei
and Postroads to-day examined John L
French, Chief Clerk Of the contract di'
vision, regarding the system Of awarding
contracts and especially as TO fraudulent
bids smuggled Into the postofiice depart
ment by the aid Of false seals and collud
ing clerks during the spring lettings las
yea9g He said he nor his family had new
er received present from the contractor
for any act Of his in the department. He
admitted having acted as solicitor Tor ar
insurance agent and had obtained from
the mail contractors applications for pol
icies Of life insurance, but he usually at
tended to this business after Office hours
and denied that he had ever favored any
contractor in the consideration Of HIS TAX
ing out policy.
The Senate Committee on Postoliices
and Post.roads to-day agreed TO report q
bill to restore the franking privilege fot
all letters or packages sent on purely
official business by the heads Of bureaus
and executive departmehts, or bySenatprs
and members Of the House Of Representa-
tiyes. The biilswill contain severe pen.
alties TO prevent the misuse OF official
franks.
SALARY REDUCTIONS.
The Senate Committee on Appropria'
tions to-day struck out Of the legislative,
executive and Judicial apdroprihtiOn bill
the sections providing Tor ten per cent
reduction OF all the salaries OF the clerks
in the executive department, prohibiting
political assessments, requiring the Sec
rotary Of the Treasury to make rcduc.
tion OF ten per cent in the salaries Of all
customs officers and employees, and pro-
hibiting the employment Of any persons
except those for whom specific approprl-
ati6ns arcmade.
r'Eil SILVER CURRENCY
The Banking and Currency Committee
to-day unanimously agreed to report and
recommend the passage Of Representa-
tive Randall's bill authorizing the pur-
chaseof silver bullion to the extent Of $50,
00O,O00 With any money in the Treasury,
and issue the resulting silver coin, pro.
yided that not more than 81 100000 OF
money .hall be used at one time in
the purchase OF such bullion.
a. .THE BLAINE INVESTIGATION.
The econimittec investigating the Blaine
bond business met to-day, when resolu.
ton offered by Mr.. Hurd was agreed
10. 1t is TO the effect that the resolution
Of the committee authorizing snb:com.
mittee to conduct the investigation did
not authorize any investigation 'of the
question whether the corrupt use ol the
bonds was made to secure legislation un'
less it related 10 the Little Rock d
Arkansas bonds which came into the pos
session OF the Union Pacific Company.
On motion OF Mr.. Lynd the committee
thereupon resolved that the objection
made by. Lawrence to Sykes answering
the question in dispute was well taken
and must be sustained,
The Senate confirmed Robert p. Rich
arlsou as Postmaster at St, Joseph, Mo-
CIVIL SERVICE INVESTIGATION.
tx. Commissioner OF Pensions Baker
told to the Civil Service Committee to.
day his side Of the story in the matter Of
the Chicago pension agency. lie told
Miss Sweet when he visited her Office
that the deficit must be made good to the
government, and Il it was he would say
nothing about it. He did this and took
other action ont Of friendship to Miss
Sweet and told her she must not pay any
more money on Campbells note for hei
appointment. he denied Miss Sweet
testimony to the effect that he in company
with Blakely visited her Office and de-
| mandcd payment Of the deficiency in one
day. Witness expressed surprise whcr
told that Miss Sweet had made a payment
on the note as late MS April, 1876.
Dispatches from Blakely, in Vermont
to Miss Sweet, saying. "Baker is all right
do not worry" etc., were read to wit
ness. He said: "Whatever Blakely
saws in these dispatches is an assumption
on his part"
| sCHESCK WRITES A LETTER.
| Con Srhencl, has sent The Committed