Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-02-19

GOVERNMENT RECEIPTS TO-DAY.-Internal
revenue, sls1,657 customs, $5s6,030.03.
HOLIDAY.-The President this afternoon di
rected that all the government departments
be closed on Washngton'S birthday, I'd inst.
Mr.. COLUMBUS ALEXANDER was to have had
a hearing before the District of Columbia COM
mittee this morning in support of the charges
he has filed against Judge Taft, but no quorum
OF the committee put in an appearance.
RAILROAD DECIsION.-The United States
Supreme Court decides in the case of the Ohio
and Mississippi railroad company VS.. McCar-
thy that the company having contracted to
forward cattle from ea st st. Louis TO Philadel-
phia, it is responsible for the transportation
of other companies as upon its own, and that
railroads, unless forbidden to do so by their
ments the entire distance the freight is to be
carried over connecting lines.
PRESS PRIvILEGEs.-A resolution was intro
duced in the House yesterday and referred TO
the committee on rules: THAT the committee
on rules be instructed to consider the expe-
diency of so amending the rules as to provide
that one representative OF each public journal
that employs Il telegraph correspondent for
reporting the proceedings of Congress may be
admitted, 1T the discretion of the Speaker, to
the halls and pasSage-ways adjoining the Hall
OF the House
NOMINATIONS AND COMBINATIONS The
Senate, in executive session, yesterday con
tirmed the following nominations Alfred V.
Dockery, of n. c., to be L. 5. consul ut Leeds ::
John Z. Smith, of Ohio, 10 be consul general
al Montreal: Benz. j. SpOOner. L. S. marshal
for Indiana; collector of customs, John L. Col
Inns, for the district of Brunswick, Ga. The
President sent the following nominations to
the Senate yesterday: John Il. Frothingham
William Kent. and James q. Howard. to be
assistant appraisers of merchandise for the
district OF New York.
THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RE-
LATIONS heard an argument day from Mr..
Kennedy on the subject of Chinese immigra-
ton. He spoke in favor of the adoption of
Mr., SarGpnt'S bill The committee in eyecu-
tive session. also agreed to report fayora bly,
tie nominations of Bayard Taylor to be Minis
ter To Berlin. and Colonel GOOdlOe to be Minis
ter TO Belgium.
THE DISTRICT BILLS passed by the House
yesterday We're presented To the Senate this
morning and referred to the Senate District
committee.
WILL WE HAVE To FIGHT SITTING BULL
THIS SPRING:-It has been the opinion among
the prominent officers at army headquarters
all this winter that there was not the slightest
Tear OF Sitting Bull s recrOSSing the line before
spring, notwithstanding the reports to the
contrary. They said that the renegade chief
was too Shrewd TO throw away what little
chance he might have of withstanding the
United States forces by recrOSSing into our
territory in mdwinter, when he would be un-
able to- travel without great suffering from
cold and want. But. on the other hand by
waiting until spring had fairly, set in, with his
forces increased and the weather suitable for
rapid marches, he might pay us a visit and
cause good deal o: trouble This, it is thought,
he. viii do. As stated yesterday. sixty more
lodges of Sioux have crossed into Canada and
Joined his band. 1t is thought, too that more
discontented Indians, who have left the
agencies, will gradually make their way to
Sitting Bulls camp and that that is one thing
he IS waiting for. The opinion is fully eX-
pressed that when spring has fairly opened
Sitting Bull will cross the line and sweep
eEerythlng before him, until the authorities
1ofcementS To make a stand against him.
PROMOTION FOR MERIT is now become an
established part of the system of consular ap-
pOintments. During the past few months va
cancies occurring at Bradford, Berne Rio de
Janelro, Leeds, Lyons, Ponce, Dunfermne.
Nottingham PeSth, Madrid, Ottawa, Algiers
Venice and Milan-have all been filled upon
this basis.
URCOMMERCIAL INTERESTS-TH National
Contention Of ErpOrterS.-The National En-
port Convention, which aims to obtain the
revision of our commercial treaties by Con-
gress, the carrying of American mails by
American vessels, and legislation encouraging
direct trade with South America, held its first
meeting to-day at Il O'Clock in Tallmadge Hall.
A large number of gentlemen tabOut 20O), rep
reSenting nearly every branch of our CONNER
clal and industrial interests attended. Mr.
j. ID. Hayes, of Detroit. was appointed chair
man, and Mt. j. Nannote, OF Pittsburg. tenn
pOrary secretary. A committee on credentials
was appointed, and while this committee was
in session the temporary chairman addressed
the convention. He suggested that the name
OF OH the S convention implied that it should deal
states with the whole world. The untiring
and ScrupulOuS care of England in reference
10 her commercial and shipping interests,
which has made her the mistress of the seas,
was pointed out and impressed by examples
Our own resources and opportunities. which
if properly developed and utilized, would
make this country her successful rival, We're
then ABLY described. The establishment of q
department OF commerce. embracing also the
bureau OF agriculture, with a Cabinet officer
at It's head, would help TO place our CONNER
clal interests on a sound basis and give us
our proper position in trade among the ma
tiOns Of the world. The creation of such a de-
partment was strongly advocated At the
close of the chairman's remarks the cOnven-
ton took recess of ten minutes.
raat Alter afnars reassem6ing, the following perma
Henry Iippett, Rhode Island; Vice Presi:
dents, Gen. +. +. Beale, Cal: VIM. Frew.
PiltsbIg; P John Hogan. Mo. Henry d; Welsh,
HnssG 1s TupBef n ii
Mimi. A. NOrcroSs, Mass: W. ID. Chipley.
Fla: :: f. b. Cherry, Ohio: 5. p. Smith, n c.:
81 1dS uduS, DEL w. II. B. Allen, NeD.
Alex. Lewis, Mich. Secretaries. VIM Van
note. Pittsburg c. R. Flint, n. Y; and VIM.
Gulager.
REPEAL OF THE RESUMPTION ACT-The
Senate committee on finance at its meeting
to-day discussed the bill for the repeal of the
resumption act. Some half dozen amendments
will be offered to the bill. The amendment on
which large number OF reSumptiOniStS in the
Senate will favor, leaving the act as it now
stands, simply striking out the date for re-
take vote on the bill at its meeting next
Tuesday. There are five members OF the COM
mittee who favor a repeal Of the act. and four
members are opposed to it.
EX-SURGEON GENERAL HAMMoND.-The
Senate committee on military affairs agreed
to-day to report favOrably the bill for the
relief of WIN. A. Hammond, late Surgeon
General of the Army. The bill authorizes the
President to review the proceedings of the
court martial which tried Mr. Hammond, to
annul its proceedings, and set aside the
sentence of the court martial and 10
place Mr.. Hammond on the retired list as Sur
geOn General. The bill does not give Mr.
Hammond back. present, or future pay or
allowances Of any kind.
THE SILVER CHAMPIONS are all anxious to
control the silver bill in the House. All efforts
to get it up to-day failed, because Judge
Harris, of Virginia. cut of the morning hour
by calling up the privileged report in the con-