The Portland daily press., 1877-11-14
Washington News and Gossip.
THE ARMY BILL.

THE ARMY BILL,
The army bill as finally passed by the House
contains Mr. Clymers proposition limiting the
army to twenty thousand and requiring four
full regiments to BIZ stationed on the Texas
frontier. Had the Texas Democrats adhered
to their original position in which they were
secured by the Republicans, the reduction of
the army and the Democratic majority in the
House would have been defeated AS soon,
however, as the Democrats, in order to save
the bill and escape disaster in the House,
offered the Texans cavalry protection for the
frontier they yielded all the advantages which
they had gained and allowed reduction amend
ments to b0 attached to the bull On the fnsl
vote, however, Messrs. Schleicher, Mills and
Giddings, who had made the most eornest op-
position to Democratic reduction of the army,
voted with the Republicans. The vote on
Clymers amendment, which was that on re-
ducing the army, was very close, only one Re
publican (ex-Goverpor Bragdon Of North Caro-
lina) sustaining the amendment The Senate
Will probably disagree to the amendment, and
the reduction of the army is by no means cer-
tain. An amendment prohibiting staff officers
| assigned to staff duty receiving any pay higher
| than that of actual rank, aimed at Fred Grant,
who is a second lieutenapt-colonel on Sheri-
dams staff, was defeated by aid Uf the Demo-
cratic vote.
THE PRESIDENTS APPOINTMENTS.
1
In the executive session of the Senate Mon
day the first open opposition to any of the
Presidents appointments was made. When
| the nomination of John L. Stevens of Maine to
| be minister to Norway and Sweden was reached
| Mr.. Window of Minnesota made an earnest
defence of the present incumbent, @. @. An
| drews, urging that minister's fitness for the
| position, a satisfactory record in office, and
the general theory of the Presidents civil SER
| vice should secure his retention. Mr.. Ham
| lin sustained Mr.. Stevens and replied to Mr..
Window that diplomatic appointments were,
| by long established custom regarded as person.
| al to the President, and that he sIould be. al
lowed full discretion in the selection of foreign
representatives Of his administration. Upon
| call of the yeas and nays six senators vote d
| against confirmation, but all the Democrats
sustained the appointment. The incident is
| significant as establishing the future policy of
| the Democrats. The Presd- ut has determined
Dot to appoint Judge John E. King collector of
| New Orleans, and it is said vii give the office
| either to Ex-Governor Packard or Effingham
| Lawrence. law partner of ex Governor War
moth. The appointment of Ex-Governor
| Hlliard of Georgia to the Brazilian mission
| was made by the Presidents own motion and
| noG at the solicitation of any one.
THE LOUISIANA sENAToRsHIP.
| In6 otHdto COmuitI6o Oh privileges duu e1eC-
| tons devoted another meeting to the Louisiana
case, and appointed subcommittee OF one
from each party to lay out the field of inquiry
upon which testimony would be taken. 1t is
| notexpected that much time will be required fol
| thus, aud all the evidence necessary will prob
| ably be obtained from the testimony taken and
| published by Senator Howe's committee to
| Louisiana last winter. Senators Wadleigh and
| Hoar are making very thorough examination
of the merits of the case, and the report of the
| committee will be strongly depended on in the
i Senate. The report of the Senate committee,
i of which Mr.. Cameron of Wisconsin was
| chairman, is nearly ready and will be presented
in few days. 1t will not touch the merits oi
the Presidents policy in the South, nor tht
| contested election between Corbin and Butler
but the accompanying testimony will contain
many facts damaging to the latter.
ASucABLE ADJUSTMENT.
The difficulty between Speaker Randall ant
the Pacific Railroad committee, growing ou
of Clarkson Potter's resignation of the chair
manship, has been settled harmoniously. The
speaker notified the committee that be con
siders it his right to appoirt a new chairman
| while the committee asserted their right to Sc
lect one. The speaker finaly waived the priv
ilege and the result is that Mr.. Throckmorto'
of Texas will succeed to the Craftsmanship o
the committee