Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-04-05
General News Summary.
FROM WASHINGTON.

A RECENT Washington dispatch says the roll of
the lower house of the Forty-ffth Congress- as
prepared by the Clerk, shows membership of
138 Republicans and 153 Democrats, two cases
in Louisiana beng doubtful, but which would
probably be decided in favor of the Democratic
claimants Eight seats will be contested by Re
publicans and three by Democrats.
THERE was much conversation in Washington,
the 25th, about written pledges said to have
been given by President Hayes closest friends
and advisers, during the progress of the Electoral
count, to certain Democrats. The facts
said to be, in substance, that Senator
Gordon, before the completion of the
count, went, in company with John
Young Brown, of Kentucky, to Representatives
Foster and Stanley Matthews, of Ohio, and de-
manded written pledge that the Hampton and
Nichols Governments should not be distuxbed
whatever might be the result of the count 1t
is alleged, and denied, that some such pledges
in writing were given by Matthews and Foster.
A WASHINGTON Associated Press dispatch of
the 26th says, concerning the alleged assurances
of the President to Southern gentlemen, involv-
ing the withdrawal of the troops from the Capt.
tails of Louisiana and South Carolina, that there
authority fsx saying that the President had
given no assurance of immediate action on that
subject.
SECRETARY SHERMAN issued regulations, on the
26th, by which disappointment and employment
of persons in the Treasury Department are to be
governed. First-No greater number of persons
will be employed than Is warranted by the act
ual demands of the service. Second-Those en-
pIoyed can expect better pay than is allowed
heads of bureaus must keep a vigilant
eye upon their subordinates, and report
from time time as to the needs
and efficiency of their various charges. Fourth
As regards the matter of extra clerk-hire such
extra force must be measured strictly by the
necessities of the case and tho tenure of such
appointments must be denominated in the con-
tract.
THE regulations allowing the United States
Treasurer to furnish silver coin on certificates
of deposit of the Assistant Treasurers and Ma
tional Bank depogitaries have been modified to
permit shipments of silver directly to parties
making deposit. The expense of transportation
is paid by the Department to points in the
United States reached through established ex
press lines by continuous railway or steamboat
communication. Deposits are to be in sums not
less than 81 900 or its multiple, and not exceed
ing $4,000.
THE Secretary of the Treasury, on the 9th,
issued the forty-fourth call for the redemption
of $40 bonds of 1865, May and November.
The call is for $40 ZOO, 900, of which So
500, 600 are coupon and $500000 registered
bonds. The principal and interest will be paid
ut the Treasury on and after the 9th day of
a,,l ir+a thaTd dau
On the 28th, the Secretary of the Treasury
said that he believed the entire four and one-half
per cent loan would be taken up before the
meeting of Congress in December. Already
s130000000 had been placed.
A WASHINGTON telegram of the 23th gives the
composition of the Commission to visit Louisi-
ana, as follows: Judge G. B. Lawrence, of Illi-
nois; ex-Gov. j. G. Brown, of Tennessee; Gen.
Joseph II. Hawley, of Connecticut; Gen. John
III. Harlan, of Kentucky, and Wayne MoYeigh,
of Pennsylvania.
THE Treasury Department issued circular,
on the 2Sth, recommending increased vigilance
on the part of customs officers in the matter of
the Importation of livestock, to provide
against the introduction of the rinderpest, which
was pronounced infectious as well as contagious.
panied by Senator Gordon, of Georgia, and
Atty-Gen. Conner, of South Carolina, had an in
terview with President Hayes, on the 29th. The
President had previously had conference with
Gov. Chamberlain. The conversation with Gov.
Hampton related primarily to the question to
the probable condition of the State in case the
troops should be withdrawn. committee APP
pointed by the Charleston Chamber of Com
merce had an interview with the President in
the evening" and read to him an address setting
forth the condition of affairs in the State
and alleging that if Hampton were
recognized confidence would be restored, money
employed and all trades revived, but if not soon
done it would be too late. The interests of the
whites and blacks were said to be the same,
After some other remarks, the President stated
that he had invited Messrs. Hampton and Cham
berlain to Washington as persons most likely to
be able to give an intelligent statement
of affairs, and was confident that a salts
factory solution would be found. 1t was
said to have been positively ascertained, on
INQUIRY at the Executive Mansion in the
evening, that there was no truth in a report that
the President had directed an order to be ISSUED
withdrawing troops from Columbia, and it wa'
further stated, on the same authority, that as
both the Governors had been heard no Execu
tive action would be taken until after the mos
deliberate consideration.