Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-12-10
PROBABLE RETIREMENT OF ATTORNEY GENER-
AL DEvESs FROM THE CABINET.-There is good

DeTenS desires to retire from the Cabinet and
by the death OF Judge Shepley, of Maine. A
member OF the Cabinet said to-day, he believed
the report to be true. while another member
remarked, a can say nothing about it, as the
President has not yet appointed successor TO
General DeverS."
The question OF the retirement of Mr.. Devens
from the Cabinet seems II be about in the same
position now that 1t has been since judge Shep-
leys death. If the President will consent to
his leaving his Cabinet. and Will appoint him TO
the vacancy. the Change will be made.
THE POTTER COMMITTEE wrapped itself in the
solemnity OF secrecy this morning and deiibC-
rated for an hour. When the doors were opened
the only information OF the proceedings of the
committe vOuchsafed TO tie press Was that ii
had been decided TO send subcommittee to
New Orleans TO renew the investigation in that
city at the point where The yellow fever broke
ii Oft. Mr.. Potter viii be the chairman of the
subcommittee. The OtheI members have noe
yet been chosen. The subject Of the cipher tel
egrams were not alluded to- 1t is understood
The only other business transacted was the
appointment of Representatives Springer and
H1scCck To open ahd report upon some formal
documents obtained from Florida which bear
upon questions of the validity OF the commits
sions OF several justices or the peace, &c. who
certified the correctness Of certain election re-
turns.
Hon. THOMAS A. HENDRICKS. of Indiana will
come to Washington after the Christmas holi-
days. II is expected that he viii then remain
II
good deal CT business before the supreme
Court.
NOMINATIONS BY THE PRESIDENT-The PreSi,
dent sent the following nominations to the Sen
ate to-day: +. Piatt StratJOn, OF New YORK. to
be supervising Inspector Of steamboats, for the
I'd district OF New York: Louis j. Souer, of La.
to be appraiser OF merchandise for the district
OF New Orleans, La; also, large number OF
pOStmaSterS.
I Tr ID
has presented, through senator Conkling, a pc
titiOn TO Congress asking for a pension. The
document sets forth that when he died Admiral
Paulding'S estate consisted OF a small farm of
100 acres in Suffolk county, n. Y, valued in the
tax lists at $4,000, but encountered with mort
gage of SS.000 life insurance policies amounting
10 5000; railroad bond for $1,000, and few
hundred dollars in cash, and that this was his
entire estate. after - years passed in the ser
vice OF the Republic, during which time. he
served with distinction through three wars, and
Leld many important and honorable trusts
with conspicuous ability, integrity and tideli-
ty."
THE NAVAL CADETS WANT HOLIDAY CHRIST
MAS WEEK.-An effort is being made to induce
secretary Thompson to grant leave of absence
to the cadet midshipmen at the Naval Acadmy
during the holidays. The cadets at West Point
are granted leave during the Christmas season,
ana the friends OF the Annapolis young men
claim that no distinction between the two insti-
tutions should be made. and that the naval ca
diets should also be granted leave.
ARMY REORGANIzATIoN.-Great anxiety ex-
lists in army circles as to the forthcoming re-
port of the Burnside committee on the reorgan-
Kation OF the military service. For some time
tnere nave been no important orders issued
from the War department, and the present in
alcatlonS are that there will be very little ac-
tlVlty for some time in this direction, as there
is no little uncertainty as to the future move
ments OF army officials. 1t has not been the
case for very long time that there has been
less activity in the War department than at
present. From all quarters of the country the
adVlceS received by the Secretary are of the
most pacific character.
RECRUITS FOR THE WEsr.-The superintend
ent general recruiting service will forward 100
recruits to Fort Yuma, Cal. for assignment to
the 18th infantry. Fi1St Lieut.. G.. A. Earnest
will report to the superintendent general re-
crultlng service to accompany detachment OF
recruits TO the Pacific.
BILL TO REFUND THE NATIONAL DEBr-Sacre-
tary sherman was before the committee O!
ways and means to-day. aud gave his views
concerning the bin heretofore intro duced by
Representative Wool, TO authorize the issue OF
certificates OF deposit, and # the refInding OF
the national debt. The bill was materially
altered, but not in accordance with his views
The bill as agreed upon is as follows, which Mr.
Wood is authorized to report to the House:
BE At enacted, etc, That the Secretary OF the
Treasury is hereby authorized and diIected to
United States that may be presented for such
excnaDge, certificates OF deposit OF the denOmi-
nation OF sO bearing interest at the rate OF three
per centum per annllm, and convertible at any
tlme with accrued interest into the four centuIn
bonds described in the refunding act: and the
money SO lecolved shall be applied only to the
payment or the $40 bonds in the mode pre-
scflDed Dy SAID act: and he is authorized to pre-
scrlte suitable rules and regulations in Goa
fomity with this act
Tie original bill merely authorized the Secre-
taiy TO issue such certificates, but by an amend
ment of Mr.. Burchard he Is directed to do so:
ana IL was also at his instance that the interest
was reduced from 3.65 to 3 per centum per an
mum. The original bill authorized the exchange
OF &c tlhcateS for ''noteS or cOin," but this was
SIR SIR Gken out and the words Lawful money of
the United States inserted
MI. Kelley proposed an amendment. which
was rejected, giving the option to convert the
celtlncates into [. S. notes.
On Thursday the com mittee will hold Sperial
meeting, to consider the sugar bill.
NAVAL ORDERs.-Paymaster Chas w slu-
men, TO the Norfolk navy yard, January 1st.
ay inspector c. H. Eldridge, to hold himself in
readiness for duty as inspector OF provisions
ana clothing at the Norfolk navy yard Lieut.
r. NJ Sym0nds, from the Minnesota and granted
lhfee months leave. Paymaster l.. A Frailey,
ordered to settle accounts Cadet Engineers r.
). grimm and &. IL. Bull from the Qunnebaug..
ara arc o, ordered TO take passage on the Richmo d
lof the european st atiOn and ON arrival to re-
port Tor duty On board the Alliance.
PERSONALITIES Fannie Elliott. daughter of
Dr.. Elliott, OF this city, will be married on the
1ith instant, at Ascension church. to Surgeon
Augustus IOffre, I. s. A. The wedding will be
quiet one. -. Mr.. Oliver S. Hanna and
bride, OF Fort Wayne, Indiana, are at the Ar
lingtOn.
The SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE agreed to-
day to report fayorably for confirmation the
nomination Of Mr.. Hillhouse to be assistant
treasurer Of the United States at New York
The nomination OF Henry S. Foote to be super
lntendent OF the New orleans mint was laid
aside for the present.
CHANGE in the assistant commiSsionership
OF patents is impending Mr.. Joseph X. Mccain
mon, at present OF the Depar vment OF Justice,
Is mentioned as the coming man.
DEATH OF RETIRED ARMY OFFICER-The
War department is advised of the death OF Col
MarShau Howe, [. $. A, (retired.)
ORH!N OF YELLOW FEVER telegram to the
\. \. Herald from New orleans, Dec s. saws:
While the alOpathic doctors have been eXer-
ciSlng themselves over the mOmentOus question
as 10 whether the yellow fever was imported or
indigenous. our homeopathic commission here
nave quietly made sure thing of the whole
matter by simply declaring it was both. The
commission further advises discriminatory
quarant ne; but only against such ports as are
VIGOROUSLY infected. The question naturally
occurs what is the use OF any quarantine dis
climinatOry OR otherwise il the favar fc in6iOo