The New York herald., 1879-12-15
FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT
WASHINGTON. Dec. IA. 1879.


WASHINGTON Dec. IA. 1879.
FINANCIAL QUESTIONS IN THE HOUSE
The plan agreed upon by the opponents of hnan-
csl discussion in the House tomorrow is to move
adjournment Immediately after the call of States
The Speaker will facilitate this by promptly recog
nizng the member making the motion. SO that there
is every probability Of the House adjournng with
out test vote anybody's resolution. It is UNDER
stood that Mr.. Springer. of Illinois. has resolution
which he wishes to Offer deprecating the renewal Of
financial discussion at this time.
THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE
STRONG FIGHT TO BE MADE OVER THE PLACE
FOR HOLDING THE coNvENTIoN-cANDIDAT
FOR THE CHAIRMANsHIP.
The contest the selection Of the place for
holding the National Republican Convention is
already very lively. 1t has two elements-one being
the interest that different localities have in securing
1t and the other the struggle that friends
Of the prominent candidates are making to
promote their interests. Thus far Saratoga,
indianapolis and Chicago have made the greatest
outward exertions. though there has been consider
able quiet work done for Cincinnati, and also for
Philadelpha. large Chicago delegation arrived to-
day and took twenty-six rooms at leading hotel.
delegation from Cincinnati will arrive tomorrow
night. At present indications strong that either
Indianapolis Saratoga Will be chosen, ON the gen.
eral ground that the Presidential contest turns
largely. II not altogether. on results in New York
and Indiana.
It is curious circumstance that the Blaine men
the only who very greatly exercised
the selection of the place of meeting. The friends
OF other candidates to feel that the location
will prove very slight element in their cases. The
Grant men scarcely giving this branch Of the
subject o thought. and the seems to
be true Of the friends of Mr.. Sherman.
The latter feel sure Of this and do not think
that having the Convention at Cincinnati would
add anything to their strength. They will be per-
fectly satisfied with any selection that is msde
Blaines friends fighting the idea Of choosing
Cincinnati with unceasing vigor. They denounce
the place. for its citizens and for its press, in
measured terms. They do not like Saratoga because
they think Senator Conkiings influence will be too
strong there. As Between that place and Indianapo-
lis they will. now inclined. vote for the latter.
They dread Chicago account of Grants influence.
and for the reason they fear Philadelphia,
though in 1915 they tried to have 1t chosen the
strongest place for Blaine.
The craftsmanship Of the National Committee
to be between Thomas G. Platt of New York. as
senator Conklings representative. and Senator Don
Cameron. who will succeed Mr.. Kemble in the COM
mittee and has . more general support. The point
made for Mr.. Plat Is the importance of New York
in the election. II he is chosen now there Will be
. strong effort to keep him at the head Of the new
committee to be chosen at the Convention. s.
THE RETIRED ] IsT OF THE ARMY-CHIEFs OF
sTAFF BUREAUx STILL HOLDING oN-MoRE
ROOM BECOMING NECESSARY
Tho retired list of the army is nearly full. there
being but vacancies in the total number allowed
by law. The Forty-nfth Congress increased the
number that might be placed upon the retired list
from three to four hundred. Shortly after
this change in tho law the Secretary Of War
commenced retiring officers until II now
numbers 39S. It was universally understood
that among those to be retired were the
heads Of all the staf bureaus OF the War Department
General A. A. Humphries. chief of the Engineer
Corps, the first to be retired. Then there q
halt in the proceedings Adjutant General Towns
end Inspector General Marcy, Quartermaster Gen.
oral Meigs. Surgeon General Barnes and Paymaster
General Alvord all expected to follow. Not
one Of them has been disturbed. and now that
the retired list is SO nearly full there is
no immediate prospect Of any Of them
beng retired. Last summer it was stated
that the President had fully resolved upon the
changes. The staff officers urged that the routine
reports for the fiscal year ended June 30 had to be
made up, aud that IL would be unfair to Impose
upon the chiefs the duty properly devolving
upon the old heads Of the bureaus. suggestion in
which the President concurred. 1t was then UNDER
stood that the changes would bc made immediate
upon the assembling OF Congress. when there were
more than enough vacancies to have provided
for those officers the retired list 1t has just
becn ascer ertaned that number of promotions re-
Gently made the active list went to fill the places
80
the retired list. 90 that if tho President should
wish to make room for his friends-and
Il is understood now he does not In
tend TO do so--congress will now have to again
increase the retired list II is understood that bill
will be introduced this week in Congress providing
for the compulsory retirement Of all officers ut the
are OF sxty-two. Tho aspirants for promotion will
doubtless be surprised hear that the present
pants Of the Offices only be displaced. however.
by special legislation unless there should be in
crease In the mortality of the retired army officers
THE APPROPRIATION BILLS.
The Pension and Fertilization Appropriation bills
VIII be followed this week by the Military Academy
and tho Consular and Diplomatic Appropriation
bills both of which. IL is expected. will be in the
Senate before the adjournment for the holidays.
They will bc substantially the same as the bills
passed by the last Congress.
THE POTOMAC RIVER FRONT IMPROVEMENTS.
1t is expected that the President will send special
message to Congress during the coming week, trans
mitting bill prepared by the Engineer Commits
sioner of the District. for the Improvement of the
Potomac River front. The President is known to
regard this one of the most important works
needed at the capital. The plan, which has the
approval OF the Commissioners, involves the
dredging of the Washington and the Virginia
channels and throwing the sand thus removed upon
the edge Of the fats. then excavatng the middle Of
those fats and turning them into Q succession Of
lakes. Along the outer edge there 10 TO be sea WALL