Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-12-24
From the Capital.


fleet headquarters AT Coasters liarbof Is
land, in Narragansett Bay.
THE president has uamed Too. +. Sin
giser, OF Pennsylvania, to be secretary of
Idaho and Edward p. Champion of Michi-
gan to be receiver of public moneys at
Deadwood Dakota.
The senate committee on public build
ings and grounds recommends the passage
Of bill providing for an appropriation
Of $3.50, $50 for the immediate rebuilding
Of the United States Custom House at
Pensacola The new building is to nc
commodate the United States courts post
office, etc.
Sen. PENDLEroNs bill regulating civil
service provides for competitive examina-
tions for appointments, except o f the high
est and lowest employees, and for the pro-
motion on grounds OF merit and seniority
in service.
JUDGE w. Is. WOODS. of the Alabama
circuit, will succeed Judge Strouy, who re-
tires from the supreme bench on the 10Th
inst. 1t it understood that Attorney Gen
Devens will soon be appointed i'll place Of
Justice Clifford.
SECRETARY SCHURz has written an elab-
crate letter on tn ronca question to Gov
ernor Long, of Massachusetts, in which he
defends his policy, and asserts that the In
dams were the victims of unfortunate cir
Gu instances, rather than of evil design ON
the part of anybody connected with the
Interior department.
A WAsnlNGloS dispatch of the 18th
says Secretary Thompson this morning re-
qucsted President Hayes to name his sue
cessor as he will retire on the goth inst.
The president designated Secretary of War
Ramsey to act az secretary of the navy in
addition To his other duties on and after
the date above mentioned.
The department of agriculture says of
the condition of cotton that there is Il de-
cline in the return of December ! as COM
pared with that received November /.
The continuance of rain and very cold
weather in November lowered the estimate
Of the states bordering on the Mississippi
river.
SECRETARY SHERMAN inspected the
plates, seals and bills captured by the
secrct-service officers with the Brockway
gang Of cunterieiters, MIR. Castelar,, oil
the bureau of engraving, pronounced the
work the equal in every way of that pro-
duced by the government.
THOSE who sought positions in their
several states ms messenger TO Washington
for the electoral colleges evince great dis
appointment at receiving from the treas
urv mileage Of Twenty-Five cents for One
way only, congress having reduced the
compensation last year. The messenger
from New York il John Jacob Astor, who
hasn't called for his compensation.
A DISPATCH of the 10Th inst, from Wash
ington says; The report that Justice
Hunts condition is critical and that his
| 1nfirnl,, 10 ippnrrppt his
is the condition of Justi ice Clifford, not
Justice Hunt The latter's health has
greatly improved of late, and he has learn
ed to write with his left hand since his
right one was paralyzcd.
TIM president has nominated Judge
William Il. Moods, Of Georgia, to be as
sociate Justice Of the United States SUI
preme court, vice Justice Strong, resigned.
Mr.. Woods is now United States eercnit
Judge for the fifth circuit, comprising Ala
bama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Missis-
sippi and Texas. lie was appointed from
Alabama, but is native of Ohio.
THE president nominated Eugene
SCHUYLER, of New York, to be charge daft
flares and consul general at Bucharest. w.
r. Peddrick, Of PENNSYLVANIA, to be secre-
tarv of the French claims commission.
United States consulJohn Farrell, OF
New York, to he consul at Bristol; David
a. Mckinley, of California, 10 be consul
at Honolulu and Theodore Canisius, of
Illinois, TO he consul at Gelstemande.
ARMY news from Washington is to the
effect that new division is to be created
comprising the departments of Texas and
Arizona and portion of the department
OF Missouri, and tieu Schoteld to be as
signed 10 the command. Gen. .. q. How
ard will not return To the department Of
the Columbia, bat whether he will be as
signed 10 West Point il still undetermined
II Is thought, however. that lie will be
presented to the rank Of maior-general. in
place Of Gen Mcdowell to he retired.
; TUE president has assigned Brevet
Major General O. o. Howard to the de-
partment of West Point Brigadier Cen
eral c. {. Augur to the department of
Texas; Brevet Brigader General Henry
J. Hunt to the department of the south:
Brevet Brigadier General r. S Maeken-
zic to new department comprising Ar
kansas, Louisiana, and Indian Territory
Major General John MI Schofeld to the
new military division of the gull, and
Brigadier General n a. Miles ID the de-
partment ofthe Columbia.
\ WASHINGTON dispatch OF the 18th
inst. says: Gen. Grant has arrived here. A
meeting Of those interested in the Nicara-
guam project has already been held Gratt
, will be asked to accept the presidency of
company; and there is little doubt he
will do So To-day, or very soon, 4 bill
: will be presented in both houses authoriz-
\ ing the incorporation of the company
! Bills have been drawn and only await tile
! arrival az enc Of the gentlemen who are
70 present them They provide merely
for tne recognition and protection Of the
government III the undertaking. Among
, the ineorporators named in the bill are
9 Grant and Gov Morgan. A. q. Menocal
E who has been prominently identified with
1 the movement for canal across Sieara-
{ qua. and who has minute personal ac-
, quaintance with the isthmus, speaking Of
{ the Panama canal, lii conversation. said
, that the present estimate would not more