The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-02-20
WASHINGTON.


WASHINGTON, Feb. 20.-In reply to the
senate resolution inquiring whether any
person has been appointed to the army
since July 28th, 1866, contrary to the
provisions of the 2Sth section of the act of
that date, the secretary Of war states that
three persons have been appointed who
had been in military service of the con
| federete states, namely, j. d. b w.
Gardner and VIM. B. Davis, appointed
assistant surgeons by the last admiDistra
ton, and Theo MoshRr, Jr., appointed I'd
lieutenant 22d infantry, by President
Hayes; the secretary states the depart
ment was not at the time the appointments
of Gerduer and Davis were made in pos
session of any information showing that
either of them served in the confederate
army. Lieut.. Mosher was appointed
under authority conferred by the act
approved March Sd, 1877.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 20--The National
Convention of the United States export
trade this morning passeda resolution
declaring that all the interests Of the coun-
try demanded the establishment and main
tenance of steamship lines between the
United States and all places that can offer
a market for our products, because the
products of our forests, OF our soil, Of our
mines and of our mills demand the largest
outlets that can be obtained for them.
The president has appointed as honorary
commissioners to the Paris Exposition
Osborn r. Heath and John NJ. Gregory
of Illinois.
The house committee on elections -day
referred the contested election case oil
Frost against Metcalf from Missouri to
subcommittee consisting of Cobb, Chand
Ter and Hiscock. with instructions to ex
anime papers and report whether or moi
these are sufficient grounds for contest.
House committee on railways and canal
, to- day heard the closing arguments on th'
, bill providing for an appropriation of ;
million dollars to make ship canal of thu
/ dismal swamp canal iu Virginia and NORTH
Carolina
The house committee on military affair
to day examined adjutant general Town
send regarding the reduction Of the army
The subcommittee of seven members o
the house committee on Pacific railroad
charged with preliminary consideration O
the various measures respecting south
ern transoontinental railroad communica
ton, to day, reported to the full committe
substitute for all the pending bills
embodying all the main features of til
bill introduced by Stephens in aid Of tn
Texas Pacific railroad company. 1t pre-
vides the eastern terminus shall be on tn
: east bank of the Mississippi river nc
: further north than Memphis, nc
It below Vicksburg. No provision
u is made for any branche:
n From Fort Worth to Sandiago the gov
: eminent is to be guaranteed payment {
V five per cent interest on bonds to be issue
: to an amount not exceeding $4,000 pt
= mile for 1850 miles, and not exceedin
2 $35, 900 per mile for the remaining %
1 miles of road traversing mountaionot
country. The sub. committee make pr
vision that 100000 acres of land
Arizona and New Mexico heretofore gran
) ed to the company shall revert to Il
United States to be sold by the COVER
ment, half of the proceeds together with 8
|, net earning of the road and amour
y earned for the government trasportatio
of all description, to be retained in the [
s. treasury for the payment of intere
3, and the creation of a sinking fund.
The house committee on public Ian
has agreed to report favorably a bill fc
feiting ali land grants to number
=, railroads whose agreements have not be
fulfilled. If the bill passes, about
,I1OO. DOC. 900 acres will be restored to &
~ public domain.
Southerick Guthree, for Is years cas-
IS Ter of the U. S. treasury, has resigned
request.