Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-06-19

Il.
now filled by G IN. Meredith Read, and
all of the second secretaries of legation.
This includes England, France, Ger
many and all first-class missions. Several
gentlemen have Just been appointed to
these places. The position of CONSUL
general 10 Constantinople, now held by
Eugene Schuyler, who is here. was to-
day offered to Stewart, present consul to
Leipsig.- Stewart declined it, preferring
Bordeaux. 1 ass
THE SIXTEENTH AMENDMENT.
The senate committee on privileges
and elections have agreed, by vote of
6 to 3, to report against the sixteenth
amendment to the constitution, grant
ing women the right of suffrage. Hoar,
Mitchell, and Cameron, of Wisconsin,
favored the amendment, and Wadleigh,
Ingalls,, Mcmillan, Salisbury, Merri-
mon, and Hill opposed it. ,r.t
IMPORTANT DECISIONS.
Washington advices under date of
June 10Th. state that two important
cases were decided to-day in the United
States court of claims. The Union
Pacific Railroad Company brought suit
in this cour. for half of the transport
tation moneys withheld by the govern
ment, and the latter set up in an offset
claim for per cent. of the net earnings
of the road since its completion. The
quit raised two questions: First, as to
when the road was completed; second,
as what constituted the net earnings.
The decision is that the road was COM
~ %l,o
commission Of eminent citizens made
their report, and net earnings are to be
computed by deducting from the gross
receipts operating expenses only, and
not interest on the floating or bonded
debt, or any other expenditures. Judg-
ment is rendered against the company
for $774,OS9, against which the COM
pany holds prior judgement for trans
portation earnings of about the same
amount. The case goes to the United
States supreme court, on appeal.
THE OTHER NOTEWORTHY JUDGMENT
rendered by the court was one in favor of
the Pacific mail steamship company
and against the United States for 81,
666 for the trip of the City Of Peking
from San Francisco to China and Japan
and return in March, 1875. This deci-
sion affirms the validity of the ten-year
contract of the company for carrying
the mails, which was terminated by
congress after the Peking sailed, in con-
sequence Of the disclosures of r. B.
Irwin relating to the expenditures of
money by the company to procure a
subsidy.
THE RAILWAYS.
The committee of conference on the
post-ofice appropriation bill have
agreed. They will recommend that the
senate concur with the house in provid-
ing for reduction of per cent. in the
present rates of compensation for
railroad mail-service, and that the
amounts in dispute, aggregating about
s250,OOO for various branches of the
postal service, shall be about equally
compromised.
FEDERAL APPOINTMENTS.
The president has appointed Ernst
Dichman, of Wisconsin, minister resi-
dent to the United States of Colombia,
S. A; Benjamin f. Potts, of Helena,
governor of Montana; Peter Neglev,
United States assistant treasurer at Bal
timore.
THE LEGAL GROUNDS.
Washington advices under date Of
June 18th state that the Judiciary COM
mittee of the house has instructed one
of Its members to prepare a report on
the Kimmel Blair bill The report, it
is understood, will be adverse to ques-
tioning the validity Of the presidential
title, and on purely legal grounds.
THE MATTHEWS COMMITTEE.
Mr.. Edmunds, chairman Of tie select
committee recently appointed, on mo-
ton Of Stanley Matthews, reconsidered
his intention of asking to be released
from service, and will act as chairman.
Representatives Davis (Ill.), White and
Jones Fla, will also remain on the
committee. 1t is probable that the ses-
sions Of this committee will not con-
tinue more than four days after the ad-
journment Of congress. The committee
will organize tomorrow, but owing to
the pressure of public business in the
senate, there is very little probability of
an investigation being commenced till
congress adjourns.
THE POWER OF The 44TH CONGRESS.
The House Judiciary Committee to-
day, by vote of to l, decided to re-
port resolution asserting in substance:
That the 44th Congress was a properly
constructed body to count the votes
and declare the result Of the Presiden-
tial election, and no subsequent Con-
gress has the power to revise the
action thus taken, nor can Congress
confer power on the Supreme Court, or
upon any other tribunal: to reopen the
question which has thus been settled.
The committee meet tomorrow to con-
slider the preamble to the resolution.
The vote was as follows: in favor of the
resolution, Observation-Disclosures. Harris,
Hartridge, Singer, Mcmahon, Culber-
son; Republicans-Frye, Conger and
Lapham. Mr.. Knott, Chairman, dis
sented. Messrs. Butler, Republican
and Lynde, Democrat, were absent.
THE INTERNATIONAL SILVER CONFERENCE.
Washington advices under date Of
June 18th, state that Secretary Evarts
has received cable dispatches announc-