The New York herald., 1879-10-08
w WASHING T N.
FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT.

WASHINGTON. Oct 7. 1879.
MISS BEFORE THE COURT.
The suit of Widow Oliver against ex-senator
Simon Cameron for breach of promise Of marriage,
in which verdict rendered for defendant some
months since. stands No. rs the present calendar
OF the court in General Term. The record and
briefs in the case have not been printed
according to rule in consequence OF the
poverty of the plaintiff aud on the sd inst. Mr..
Cook. who with General Butler and Mr.. Riddle ap-
peared for defendant. filed motion to dismiss tor
the above reason. This morning Mr. Peter, who
appeared with Mr. Darnielle for the defendant be-
low. filed an assignment of reasons why the
motion to dismiss tho appeal should not be
entertained. and asking that the appeal be
heard In this paper among the reasons given are
because from her poverty she is unable to pay FOR
the printing of the record and brief and to dismiss
appeal under such circumstances would be vir-
t denial of justice account OF the poverty of the
tigant; because the dismissal of the appeal under
such circumstances would be in contravention of the
spirit of our government the constitution and laws
OF the land They all made to protect the weak
and helpless against the oppression of the strong.
and r,ore especially to ignore what might be termed
class legislation or the power of wealth to deprive
the poor of their legal rights because the issues in
this 20 direct to the character of poor and
helpless female. and in themselves appeal in
the strongest terms to court to that she has
meed out to her the full extent Of law and justice.
The counsel asked the Court to dismiss the pending
motion and direct the clerk to bring up the original
papers that the legal questions involved in the ap
peal may be fully heard and determined by the
Court. This motion will likely be argued next Mon
day.
RIVER sIGNAIs-PRoPosED ACTION OF OUR
GOVERNMENT AND OF OTHER NATIONS.
The international code of ocean and river
signals and rule Of the road at sea to prevent colis-
ions the water just issued By the British govern
ment. and mention Of which is made in the HERALD's
cable news of to-day. does not differ materially from
the code in force in the United States Its i'm
portanco lies in the interest which the British gov
ernment. through its diplomatic representatives has
taken to SECURE its adoption by all maritime nations.
The changes suggested by our government were of
unimportant nature rs compared with the exist
ing law that fully year ago the Secretary Of the
Treasury addressed letter to the Secretary of State
informing him that there was no objection what
ever to our government giving its acquiescence to
the code adopted by the English Board composed Of
members of the British Admiralty. Board Of Trade
and Trinity House. and which subsequently gained
into maritime legislation. Slight the
changes will be in present code it will
require Congressional action and Executive approval
before the codes be said to be identical for the
government of the vessels of the navy and mercan-
tile marine Of both Great Britain and the United
States The same is true Of the other nations which
have only given their acquiescence through their
Minister Of Foreign Affairs Until the code is made
statutory by all the nations masters of vessels will
not be bound by 1t. Its adoption by the Legislative
branches of the different governments will make
the code uniformly national and in combination in
ternationa being for the interest Of all that the
code of signals and rule Of the road at shall be
observed alike in all parts Of the world.
By astrange oversight the Navy Department
never informed Of the proposed international code
and heard of it for the rst time through to-day's
cable from London. OF the twenty five existing
rules of our code twenty-four made applicable
to the navigation OF vessels OF the navy hence tho
navy Is quite much interested In the information
and proposed changes the owners of mer-
chant marine. Germany. Belgium and Holland. as
well as the United States suggested changes in the
code az finally enacted by the British Parliament;
but it is understood that their acquiescence extends
to the acceptance Of the law 1t exists
and that neither nation will insist upon any further
amendment. The reactment Of tho code adopted by
Great Britain will be proposed by the Secretary Of
State to Congress its coming session and its pas
sage asked in interest OF the safety Of the lives
and property Of all traversing the sea.