The New York herald., 1878-03-29
GENERAL WASHINGTON DISPATCHES.

0CNeNAI WRoHIN1I ON OCSFR| (Ncos
WAsHISGroS, March 2s. 1878.
THE MASSACHUSETTS CONTESTED RLECTIoN-
Mr.. DEAN SWORN IN.
In the House to-day the resolution declaring Mr.
Dsau, the contestant In the Massachu casc en-.
tslsd 10 tha sea adopted by o vote OF l24 l23
Beiore tho announcement tho Speaker claimed tho
right 10 cast his and voted tho alr native.
Mr.. Butlor, OF Massachusetts, voted Ia the afrma.
tive with tho democrats. and the following democrats
in tho negative with che republicans: :-Mcssrs Cut
er. OF New Jersey; Hartridge. OF Goorgia; Her
bort, OF Alabama; Henry, OF Maryland; Potter,
OF Nov York; Rea. OF Missouri; Stenger,
Of Pennsyivania; Walsh, OF Maryland, and
Williams, OF Delaware. Mr.. Gambler. OF Georgia. who
would have voted In tho negative, was absent and
paired. Mr.. Jones' Of Alabama, who yesterday voted
In favor OF seating Field said that ho had DO.
e.use he thought that according 10 Massachusetts
Field entitled 10 the seat; but tho House having
decided against that OF the law this
seating Dean would vote aye
Mr.. Dean was then sworn in, taking the iro n.clad
oath.
THE DUTIES OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL-MR.
DEvINs DECLINES TO RENDER A LEGAL
OPINION AT THE REQUEST or THE HOUSE
or representatives,.
reply 10 the HOUSE resolution oil March 16. 1878.
requesting tho Unised States Attorney General TO In.
iorn the House OF Representatives whether in his
opinion the annual appointments OF ten cadets large
made BY tho President respectively to tho Military
aud Naval academies have been in pursuance OF law
by custom, and, II ny CUSTOM how long II has been
construed establishing such power OF appointment
the Attorney General to-day sent 20
the House, IN which he says:-
understand that the object OF this resolution
TO elicit tho facts connocted with the appoint
referred TO In H. as, so. would no doubt have
been addressed ~ the Wur Department. means OF
psrtment. II ~ therefore desired, as understs nd,
that should RENDER lcyal opinion upon the subject
lnust reply that am not Ut liberty to furnish the legal
opinion contemplated The authority OF the Attorney
General 10 render his official opinion is limited by tho
laws which create und define his Office and docs not
permit him 10 give advice ut tho call Of
Congress or OF Congress ITSELF but only to tho Pro.i
dent or tho head Of the executive department OF the
government. The absence Ot authority TO respond to
calls tor legal cp,nlons coming from sources other
than those prescribed by early tho history
OF the government suggested To tho House Of Repre-
sontAtivcs by the then Attorney General, Mr.. Writ,
made BY tho law creating the Dcpartm ont Of Jus.icc
The thus taken has boen invariably observed by
my prodecs.sors including Attorney Generals Taney,
Critteudcn, Bates, Evarts aud Williams. | feel that
neither my hign respect Tor the express wish your
honorable body nor my earnest desire comply win
auy request that II might make would warrant q de-
parture the from law aud pre-
codsuss which have heretofore been established.
STOCK AND FARM SUPPLIES FOR THE sIoUx-
AN APPROPRIATIONS RECOMMENDED.
The Secretary OF tho Interior sent the Houss OF
Representatives to-day, with his ndorsement, u
letter OF the Commissioner OF Indian Affairs recon.
mendng an Appropriation OF $25O.0OO for providing
stock. cattle, farming implements &c., ior tho Red
Cloud aud Spotted Tail Sioux Indians. lately removed
from Nebraska 10 the Missouri River lilo says sa
effort should be mado to encourage industry umon:
hem ~ " thnCt noaaa
ment Is powerless. Tho Indians ANXIOUS that tho
govern mont should fuai It's promises aid them 70
become seli-suslaining which be bciter accom-.
pished in this manner than by any o,hor.
THE METRIC sysTEM-vIEws OF OFFICIALS or
THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
Tho Secretary OF tho Treasury to-day replied tho
resolution Of the House OF Representatives tho
views OF tho several departments Un the proposed
metric systom
Tho Secretary sncoses the views Of Captain Pattor-
son, Superintendent Of tho Coast Survey, doubts
whelhcr tho international VI measure viii over
wholly take Tho place OF all othYSs Ia our domestic
TRANSACTIONS.
J. X Upton, Chier Clerk Of the Treasury Depart
mont. says u notice oi two years Will DO sufficient TO
enable the governmont 70 prepare Tor the adoption
tho system 10 sll Administrative transactions, and
that notice Of ten hfteen years will be suiciont
IN transactions boIween individuals.
h. II Elliot Chief Clerk Of the Bureau OF Statistics
says seems the metric system should DO MADE oDIi.
gatosy Ia certain government trAns4ctons chieny IN
those OF an instruiucnta character. such the as
ssssmcnt OF customs duties imports for purposes
Of coInago and Tor postal purposes. He thought
That this might 60 into effect July l. 1872 does
not think II advisable TO make Tho metric system
obligatory la transactions between Individuals bus
moss of private hc in tho future. The War.
Navy. State aud Post Onics departments heretofore
gave their views.
DUrIABLE ARTICLES CONTAINED IN SEALED
ENvgLorEs-CInCULAR FRoM TIE TREASURY
DEPARTMENT.
Tho folio~ing circular has been addressed by tho
Secretary OF the treasury to collectors customs aud
othsrs-
Article No. ls2 Of the regulations Of ls74 is hereby
70 amended as ~ require the officer OF tho customs
who examines lettor bug. brought by vessel from
foreign country to demand OF tho master all
letters not IN bags brought by tho vessel,
aud after marking ~ follows, suspected to coo-
tain dutiaoo ARTICLES" all OF such Iottcrs on ex
animation without opening, he may suppose to con-
tain any article OF merchandise, 10 place them an
envelope, with the cus,oms seui Affixed anu deliver
them TO tho master, VINO VIII procure from the POST
master aud deliver the Collector OF Customs ~.
cc'pt In the manner aud form PROVIDED for by said
article la tho case Of other letters.
COMBINATIONS AND BEJLCnoNs BY THE
SENATE.
The Senate, IN executive session to-day, confirmed
the following nom, ,naiions: :-Genni W. Scohcld, OF
Psnnyvsna, W DO Register OF the Treasury George