Morning journal and courier., 1880-12-15
News by Telegraph FROM ALL QUARTERS. NATIONAL AFFAIRS. Congress Getting Down to
 Its Real Work. Laying Aside Political Debates. IMPORTANT LEGISLATION COMING
 TO THE FRONT. A Coercive Policy for Ireland. GIadstOne's Cabinet Unanimous
 For Its Adoption.
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL,

l National Matters-Fitz John Porter. l Case-A Substitute Bill Adopted-A Dem ocratfc Quorum Wanted-BOys in Blue Feasting General Grant-Resignation OfJustfce Strong.
 WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.-The Senate to-day temporarily disposed of the Fitz John Por
 ter case by passing bill authorizing the President by and with consent and advice oi the Senate, within eighteen m onths after the approval of the act and not later, to restore
 General Porter to the army and place him on
 the retired list with the rank of colonel. This
 substitute for General Randolph's amend
 ment to the original bill was presented by
 MT. Dawes under an understanding with the
 Senator from New Jersey. By the passage
 of this bill the fight over Porter's case is post
 poned and transferred from the open to the
 secret sessions of the Senate. No one doubts
 but that determined opposition to his con
 firmation will be made when his appointment
 is sent to the Senate If Porter was to be
 given justice by Congress his friends thought
 it should be done at the present session if
 ever. General Porter's health is reported to
 be very feeble and his friends are greatly alarmed lest he should die. They believe that the bill passed by the Senate can be pushed through the House before the ad- journment and in time for Mir. Hayes to act upon it. If the bill does not pass this session it is not expected that General Garfield would consent to nominate Porter.
 It is doubtful if a Democratic quorum, so earnestly wished for by MT. BickneI, will be found in Washington before the 4th of March. The action of the Ways and Means and Appropriation committees this morning made it practically impossible to secure united action over the Morgan resolution The mem bers of the former committee were unani- mously of opinion that the refunding bill was of the supremest importance and should not be delayed by political controversy over 8 resolution which was of no immediate impor- tance. The members of the Appropriation committee were all desirous to progress with their work undelayed, and they threatened to antagonize the Morgan resolution if its friends persisted in bringing it up to morrow. Dread of an extra session was perhaps the most important factor in the surrender.
 President Hayes received the resigna- tion of Judge Strong of his position on the Superior Court bench, as anticipated some days since in these dispatches, this morning This afternoon the President went over to the Department of Justice and communicated the fact of having received Judge Strong's resignation. An interview of half an hour between the President and the Attorney General followed. It is understood on good authority that the President offered the va- cancy to the Attorney General and that he accepted it.
 It is expected that the Committee on Ways and Means at the meeting Friday will consid- CT the question of holiday recess and report some resolution to the House. It is the usual practice of Congress to take ten days recess for the holidays, that time being considered sufficient to enable most of the members to reach their homes and passing the inter val of Christmas and New Years at home and return to Washington. Christmas this year will be on Saturday. If Congress takes the usual recess it will adjourn from Thursday, the 23d, until Monday, the Sd of January. Many of the members, particularly those from the South and West, are opposed to any holiday recess excepting an adjournment over Christmas and New Years. Those members who reside at long distance, and who would be unable to reach their homes in time to spend both holidays with friends, are espe- cially opposed to long recess. A majority of Republicans favor the customary recess, and their votes together with those of the Democrats who are accustomed to celebrate the two great days of the year will doubtless be sufficient to carry the long adjournment. The argument of the opponents of long re- cess is that the great amount of important work on hand demands the constant and un- remitting attention of Congress until the 4th of March.
 At reception given to General Grant at Masonic Temple tonight by the Boys in Blue there were present an immense crowd consisting of Cabinet ministers, Senators, members of Congress and citizens of the District, including a large number of ladies. The appearance of General Grant on the platform was the signal for enthusiastic cheers which were repeated again and again. The General made speech which was re- ceived with much enthusiasm.