Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1878-12-11
TOPICS AT THE CAPITAL.
RETIREMENT OF ATT0RkeY-GeN-
ERAl OEVSNS.
TsSas Pacific Railroad BilI-Defectiye
Patent Laws-The Louisiana Mud
dle-James River Canal
Potter Committee
The Indians.
Edmunds' Speech.

tcntiOn. lht crit OF LlnuntS arSu-
ment, stripped ot all its verhiaSc and
covert design, was that the next Senate
and House being Democratic, in case Of
another contested title to the Presiden-
tial offic', the Democrats might repeat
the tacticr which the Republicans had
impos ID on them. Democratic Senators
are not inclined 10 oppose the passage
of the bill with amsndments which will
he offered, because they do not believe
n can be passed in both Houses this
session, and for this reason think it 4
waste TO spend much time i'll discussion.
Matthews Texas Pacific Bill.
WASHINGTON, December l0.-The
Texas Pacific Bill will he called up
Thursday by Senator Matthews. Advo-
Gates of the measure are anxious it
should pass the Senate before the re-
cess but it is doubtful, although the
vote will he closer than the opposition
calculate. 1t is now known that Sena-
tor Bayard will oppose the measure,
although friends of the road have been
counting on his vote when the pinch
came. His reason for opposing is
Democratic doctrine against internal
improvements.
Imperfections of Patent Laws.
WASHINGTON, December lO.-Senator
Window Yesterday made formal
speech for the purpose of pointing out
imperfections in the patent system, and
urging Congress 10 revise the patent
Laws He illustrated its imperfectionS
by relating the history of what is known
as the Cochran patent for purifying
middlingS, which was Introduced into
this country from France, and used al
most universally among millers, until
some one who was not its inventor re-
ceived a patent for il for specializing
an hlackmalinG purposes, and secured
a decree Of the Supreme Court, affirm
ing the validity Of the patent before the
mi.lerS of the country were aware OF the
action OF the Patent Office, not Knowing
what particular process had been pat
ent,d. This affects millers in the West
peculiarly, as each i compelled To pay
ROYALTY for using the almost universal
process, to one who had nothing 10 do
with its invention.
Attorney General Devens' Retirement
WASHINGTON. December l0.-Attorney
General Dcvens will retire from the Cab
met i'm few days. certainly by the end
vi the month. 1t has been known for
some time that the position was dis
tasteful to him, but he has remained on
account oI the urgent request OF the
Hresident and some of his fellow Cabi-
net Ministers The President not only
urged him TO remain until the end 0f
the term, hut got others to urge the case,
bu: Mr.. Dcvcu> i not we'll satisfied
with his position and It's duties, and
wishes 10 be relieved. The veXations
AMI complications growing out of
Inc Southern troubles have annoyed
him not little. Last week
he told the President that he was deter
mined to retire. The President re-
gretted 10 hear Oi this final determine
ton, but had known iur some time that
the Secretary wished tO 60, and 1t Is be-
heved that on this account the vacant
Federal Judgeship in Massachusetts, has
not been filled.
Mr.. Dcyrns will be appointed 10 this
position, which is more in harmony with
his tastes and inclinations.
As to who will fill the Attorney Gen
erals chair in the Cabinet there are
many rumOrS. but nothing authOrita-
tive, and will not be until after the Cab
met meeting Tomorrow. At the White
House it is said there has been an ap-
plicatiOn from hall the States in the
Union, from friends Of distinguished cit
iIenS.
The Potter Committee.
WASHINGTON, December l0.-Thc Pot
ter Committee to-day. decided that the
Subcommittee should continue to in
ye-tigatc in Louisiana in case further
yrant OF money is made 10y Congress
Chairman Potter will be one 0f the Sub
Committee, and will select second
Democratic member before Thursday,
when the Republicans will name the
third member.
Mr.. Springer and Mr.. lliscock were
au,horizcu to open and report upon
some documents obtained from Florida,
bearing upon the questions OF the valid
ity Of the courses of several Justices of
thr Peace, &c, who testified 10 the cor
regnes, of certain election returns.
The Louisiana Muddle.
WAsmNGTnN, December Ex-senator
Kellogg called on the President ycStcr-
dav and indicated 10 him that, sofarashe
kellogg was personally concerned, the
President was fOot-lOOse to remove all
the Federal aprointccs now holding OIL
hre in Louisiana. The President is in
clinrd To turn Jack Wharton, Collector
Smith and Collccturuf Internal Revenue
Marks out 10 grass Charges have been
fled rgainst each that they lent the lnfi-
ence Of their positions To assist Demo
cratic Congressman i'm the recent can
Yass, and more especially the bucoIlc
Acklen.
Slightly Premature.
WASHINGTON, December lO.-Gencral
Ewing has returned from Richmond.
lie SAYS that the announcement that the
bargain for the purchase by capitalists
ot the stock Of the james River and
kanawha Canal had been completed Is
premature The danger ui the whole
thing falling through i that the holders
q! stock, in view OF the anticipated pur-
chase, NAV run il up 10 a figure at which
II" capitalists will not buy. Before the
lat became known oi the contemplated
construction OF q railroad along the canal
i"H-path the stock was on the market at
Two and half cents on the dollar. 1t
-'''' i'ON E''llt up
The Indians.
WASHINGTON. December lO.-Gencra!
Lyon Of the Purchasing Commission OF
The Board uf Indian Commissioners ana
Barclay White, representing the society
Of Friends at the Winnehago agency,
spoke to-day against the transfer OF the
Indian Bureau to the War Department.
The Missing Hot Springs Clause.
WAsHINGToN, u. c., December 10
r. y. Hill, testified to-day before the
investigating committee that he knew
nothing about the abstraction or Omls-
SION ol the Hot Springs clause from the
Sqntry Civil Bill Benson approached
Inn on the subject knowing he had OPP
posed the measure, and when he found
what Benson was after, he detcrminedto
100! him. During the three
weeks Benson was working with