Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-12-11

AMONG THE PRESIDENTS CALLERS to-day were
Senators Rollins and Blair, and Representa-
tives MCGOWAN Frye, Wait, Dwight, Wilber
Anderson, shallenberger, Willis and Barber.
THE CAUCUS OF DEMOCRATIC SENATORS YES
TERpAY AFTERNOON adopted with great unan-
unity and unexpected harmony the re-
port of committee, headed by Judge Thur
mad.-.upon the subject of the distribution of
the Senate patronage. 1t was to the
Of complaint against the officers OF the Senate
for the manner in which they have acted with
regard to the caucus instructions of last March;
that the present Senate employees are deserving
and capable men; and that the instructions
above referred to (Which provided for the reten-
ton of all disabled Union soldiers, and of various
other old employees upon grounds Of special
merit irrespective Of politics. should be con-
- tinued IN n force % with -, only one amendment, m DIM
appoint three additional messengers for service
connected with the three committees which
were left in the control Of the republicans.
The effect of this authorization will be to ena-
bic the three republican chairmen-Messrs An
thony, Edmunds, and COnkling-to retain in the
service three old republican messengers, who
have heretofore been borne on a merely tempo
rary roll The unanimous agreement OF the
caucus was that the democratic majority in the
Senate should come up to the full measure Of the
generous treatment which was accorded to
them in the matter of patronage by the repub-
licans when the democrats were in the minority.
THE NEW SECRETARY OF WAR, ex-senator
Ramsay, is in Philadelphia. He is expected to
arrive in the city this afternoon. If he does he
will qualify as Secretary of War and assume his
duties tomorrow. Judge McCrary WILL In that
event, leave for his home in Iowa tomorrow or
Saturday. He will not stop in Philadelphia as
was expected.
GETTING EVEN WITH PACIFIC RAILROADS.
The War department has issued to the army a
circular OF Secretary Sherman in regard to the
Pacific railroads. The circular is based on Sec
tiOn 1850, Revised Statutes, which directs the
Secretary of the Treasury to withhold all pay
ments to any railroad company on account of
freights or transportation over their respective
roads OF any kind, to the amount of payments
made by the United States for interest upon
bonds of the United States issued to any such
company, and which shall not have been reim-
bursed, together with the five per centum of
net earnings due and unapplied, as provided by
law. The circular says: g In accordance with
the above provision Of law, no payments will
hereafter be made, directly or indirectly. In
favor of any of the railroads in question No
person entitled to transportation at the public
any OF these roads with view of being reim-
bursed for the amount, but should secure from
the proper authority an order for such trans
portation; and the accounting officers of this
order, duly recefpted, credit for the amount
found due, to be applied as required by law.
In case the expense Of such transportation Is
the control of the Treasury department, the
necessary order will be furnished only by
direction Of the Secretary Of the Treasury"
The roads affected by this order are as follows:
Union Pacific railroad, from Council Bluffs,
Iowa, to Ogden; Utah, 1,033:46 miles, Central
Pacific railroad, from Ogden Utah. to San Jose,
California, via Niles, s65.66 miles; Kansas Pa
cific railway, from Kansas City, Missouri, to
Denver, Colorado, 63s.6 miles: Central Branch
Union Pacific railroad, from Atchison to Water
railroad, from Sioux City, Iowa, to Fremont,
Nebraska, via California junction, 101.77 miles
TIE JOINT COMMITTEE ON THE LIBRARY has
under consideration a proposition for the pur
chase of the sword worn by Gen. Washington
when he resigned his commission at Annapolis,
The sword Is offered for sale to the government
by Mr.. H. 81. Lewis, Of Maryland, who has come
into possession Of it by inheritance through his
family, Major Lewis, q nephew of Gen. Wash
ington, having been the original deviseee The
committee authorized the Chairman to purchase
fai $3.50 $3.50 group portrait in crayon OF all the
present Justices Of the Supreme Court, offered
by Mrs. FasSett, of this city, on condition that
it meet the approval of the court.
BELOW ZERo-At North Platte, Neb.. this
morning the thermometer was II degrees below
zero. At Cheyenne it was degrees below.
Look out for a cold wave.
PERsoNAl.-Mr. R. F. Straine, editor OF the
Boston Economist, delivered an address before
the y. s: Board Of Trade yesterday, upon ..our
ton from the knowledge of the subject dis
played. ....Mr. John w. Garrett, who was yes
terday reelected president of the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad, has held the office for twenty.one
consecutive years. ....Secretary Ramsey, VIM.
E. Chandler and George C. Gorham, Of Washing
ton, were registered In philadelphia last even
to leave Washington early next week to assume
the duties of United States Judge Of the eighth
judicial circuit. =; Ralph Meeker, Miss jose
the Riggs.
THE PUBLIC PRINTNG.-The House committee
on printing have decided to report favorably to,
the House the bill for the election of the public
printer by the Senate as a substitute for the
OIL TO let the printing out to contract at ten per
cent. less than the present average cost. The
committee also agreed to report favorably the
petition of Representative Glover to have the
proceedings Of his committee during the Forty
fifth Congress printed; also on the bill authorz-
ing the printing OF 5000 copies OF Wheeer's sur
veys.
GOVERNMENT PURCHASE OF SILVER. - The
| Treasury department yesterday purchased 260-
GOO ounces OF silver for the Philadelphia mint
POSTMASTER EDMUNDs is somewhat easier TO-
| day, and got some sleep, but is not enough i'm
| proved to encourage hopes for his recovery.
TWENTY PER CENT. BACK PAY.-The bill in.
| troduced by Senator Hanlin yesterday for the
relief Of certain employees of the Q. S. govern
ment in the District Of Columbia directs pay
| ment out of the Treasury ''of 20 per centum
upon the gross amount OF compensation re-
| ceived by certain employees Of the government
| who have not been paid, and are entitled to the
benefits OF joint resolution OF Congress ap-
proved February Is, 1867, under the cOnstruc-
tion given to said joint resolution by the U. s.
Supreme Court" The Joint resolution referred
to directed that ''an additional compensation OF
| 20 per centum" be paid to all persons employed
in the civil service Of the United States at Wash
| 1ngton, and 1t seems that some OF them did not
| get the benf1t of the resolution.
| THE SPOFFORD- KELLOGG CoNTEsT.-The Senate
committee on privileges and elections will not
| do anything further with the Spoford- Kellogg
case until after recess No additional wit
nesses have been subponaed, and it is not
likely that any will be. A canvass of the COM
| mfteee by STAR reporter indicates cOnclu-
| sively that the demOcretic majority are in favo
| of declaring the seat vacant; that neither Kel
| logg nor SpoffOrd was elected by a lawful legiS
| lature. A democratic member Of the commit
| tee said this morning that the testimony agains
Kellogg " Is SO damnfng that his party will no
| undertake to defend him in the Senate. The
cannot do so in the face of that testimony, when
| 1t shall be printed and laid before the public.
| The republicans will not make it a point t
| either defend or condemn Kellogg. They vii
| not pay any attention to him Individually, bu-
| will maintain that man having been for
| mally seated by the Senate cannot be ouSted
except by twO-thirdS vote.
Two APPROPRIATION BILLS were reported to