The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1877-12-20
CURRENT NEWS.
WASHINGTON.


The New York Custom-house appoint
ments were finally disposed Of by the SEN
ate on the 18th, after an executive session Of
nearly six hours. In conformity with the
report Of the Committee on Commerce,
Merritt was confirmed as Surveyor
and the nominations Of Roosevelt
rs Collector aud Prince as Naval
Officer were rejected. Mr.. Conkling, Chair
man Of the Committee on Commerce, OPEN
ed the debate with a brief statement Of the
reasons why, in the opinion Of the majority
OF that committee, the two last named
nominees should not be con-
hrmed. These were, in brief,
that no charges, either OF corruption or
ineficiency, had been made against the
present incumbents; but that, on the con-
trary, they were conceded TO be faithful,
honest, experienced and able officers. Mr..
Bayard then followed in an extended argu-
ment, maintaining the right of the Executive
TO make changes, which; his opinion, would
be for the benefit Of the public service, he
being responsible for the execution Of tina
laws and entitled TO select his agents sub
ject to confirmation Of the Senate, but with
ate with statement OF his reasons.
Messrs. Herman, Hoar, Matthews and Gen.
Gordon also spoke in favor of sustaining the
action OF the President. A vote being taken,
the two nominations were each rejected by
a vote Of Is 10 30. Senators Eaton, Dennis,
Whyte and MaXey, Democrats, united with
she great body Of Republicans, against con-
frmation, and Senators Burnside, Chris
tiancy, ConOver, Dawes, Hoar and Matthews,
Republicans, sided with the mass OF Demo-
Gratis in favor of confirmation.
The President has nominated J. C. Ban
croft Davis, of New York, foF Judge of the
Court Of Claims, vice Loring, retired.
Gen. Ord, in his testimony before the
House Committee on Foreign Affairs, ex-
pressed the opinion that the cessation or
dimnU ,iOn OF Mexican raids on the Lower
Rio Grande was attributable to the presence
OF a large American force, and that the re-
vocation Of existing orders would elate the
dangerous elements in Mexico, cause more
raids, and be made an obstacle in the nego-
tiation Of treaty.
Mr.. Hewitt of New York has been ap.
pointed TO FL the vacancy in the House
Committee on Pacific Railroads caused by
the resignation of Mr.. Potter, Chairman.
. Mr.. Throckmorton succeeds TO the Chair
manship OF the Committee. As at present
constituted the Committee is said to be de-
cidediy favorable to the Texas Pacific subsi-
dy, and it is expected will report favorably
upon some OF the numerous bills that have
been introduced. The following members
have been appointed a subcommittee on
pending bills in relation to the construction
of a Southern trans continental railroad:
Messrs. Morrison, Chalmers, LuttreH,
O'Neil, Blair and Cole. Messrs, Chalmers
and O'Neil are favorable to the Texas-Pa
cifc project; Messrs. Morrison, Luttrell and
Blair are opposed, and Mr.. Coles position is
not defined.
Senators Conkling and Gordon had some
hot words during debate in executive ses-
sion the other day, which threatened to end
in personal encounter upon the field of
honor. The difficulty was amicably settled,
however, through the Intervention Of mutual
friends, and a full record of gthe adjustment
was, by the unanimous vote Of the Senate,
and with the consent Of both parties inter-
ested, officially entered in the journal pro-
the kind made in over 40 years, the only pre-
cedent being in the case Of Senators Poin-
dexter and Forsyth, where Henry Clay
served as mediator and effected an amicable
settlement Of personal quarrel.
Gov. Richard c. Mccormick, Of Arizona,
has been appointed Commissioners General
TO the Paris Exposition.
The President and Mrs. Hayes viii cele-
brate their silver wedding at the White
House on Dec. 80.
Senators Conkling and Blaine, between
whom for many years there has been feel
ing Of enmity, have finally become reconciled
and are now said to be good friends.
The Senate Special Committee to inyesti-
gate the Mexican border troubles is COM
posed Of Messrs. Conkling, Hamlin, Howe,
Jones Of Nevada, Cameron of Pennsylvania,
Eaton and MaXey. The House sub-commit-
tee Of Foreign Affairs, to which was referred
the Mexican question, is composed of
Messrs. Schleicher, FOrney and Williams of
Wisconsin.