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, Damely, j. D. B w.
Gardner and VIM. B. Davis, appointed
assistant surgeons by the last admiDistra-
ton, and Theo. Mosher, Jr., appointed I'd
lieutenant 22d infantry, by President
Hayes; the secretary states the depart
ment was not at the time the appointments
of Gerdner 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. 2O.--The National
Convention of the United States export
trade this morning passed a resolution
declaring that all the interests Of the coun-
try demanded the establishment and main
tenanee of steamship lines between the
United States and all places that can offer
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 to-day
referred the contested election case Of
Frost against Metcalf from Missouri to q
subcommittee, consisting of Cobb, Chand-
ler and Hiscock. with instructions to ex-
anime papers and report whether or not
these are sufficient grounds for contest.
House committee on railways and canals
to- day heard the closing arguments on the
| bill providing for an appropriation of a
million dollars to make ship canal of the
dismal swamp canal in Virginia and North
Carolina.
The house committee on military affairs
to day examined adiutant general Town
send regarding the reduction of the army.
The subcommittee of seven members oi
the house committee on Pacific railroads
charged with preliminary consideration oi
the various measures respecting q south
ern traDscontinental railroad communica.
ton, to day, reported to the full committee
a substitute for all the pending bills.
embodying all the main features of the
bill introduced by Stephens in aid of tht
Texas Pacific railroad company, 1t pro
vides the eastern terminus shall be on tht
east bank of the Mississippi river no
further north than Memphis, no
below Vicksburg, No provision
is made for any branches
From Fort Worth to Sandiago the gov
ernment is to be guaranteed payment O
five per cent interest on bonds to be issues
to an amount not exceeding $4,000 pc
mile for 1,l50 miles, and not exceeding
$35, 900 per mile for the remaining 25
. miles of road traversing a mountaionou
country. The subcommittee make pre-
vision that 18,000,000 acres of land i
Arizona and New Mexico heretofore grant
ed to the company shall revert to th
United States to be sold by the govern
ment, half of the proceeds together with a
net earning of the road and amount
, earned for the government transportation
of all description, to be retained in the Il
S. treasury for the payment of interes
j, and the creation of sinking fund
The house committee on public Ianc
has agreed to report favorably a bill for
feitipg ali land grants to number ,
. railroads whose agreements have not hee
fulfilled, If the bill passes ahomt
! 100, 100000 acres will be restored 70 n
public domain.
Southeriek Guthree, for Is years cash
5 ier Of the L. ;. treasury, has resigned /
request.