Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-01-21
DOMESTIC NEWS.
Affairs at the National Capital.

Especial to the RECORD UNION.
. WASHINGTON, January Goth. - Senators
Booth and Farley at the request OF the Sen
ate Finance COMMITTEE, appeared before that
body to-day and made oral statements of the
grounds upon which, in common with all the
other members OF the California delegation
in Congress, they opposed the confirmation of
John NJ. Morton as Collector OF Internal
Revenue for the First District of California.
The grounds asheretofore succinctly stated in
these dispatches, are, first, that Morton
has not sufficient experience and bust
ness ability to fill So important a
position properly and second that
he is not identified with California.
and therefore should not be given an Office
which her people have right to expect to be
filled by one of themselves. In support OF
these assertions, Senators Farley and Booth
Informed the committee that only about four
years ago Morton was appointed Treasury
Agent for inspecsio duty at the fur seal
islands of Alaska, from Indiana, to which
State, and not to California, he was credited
in his appointment papers and in the United
States official register, or blue book.
They further informed the committee that
when Morton was nominated last spring for
the position of United States Consul at Hon.
olulu. which position, with its handsome sal
y
only as a matter Of special favor and upon
MortOn's personal solicitation that they con.
sented to his being credited Tor rather charged
against) the quota of consular appointments
allotted for California, for they did not then,
any more than now, consider him identified
with California in any true sense of iden
tiication or abiding citizenship. This
consular appointment was made before
his long term of office in Alaska as
an appointee from Indiana had expired,
and similarly, while holding the lucra-
tive Office at Honolulu. He had been
nominated to their great surprise, us Collec-
tor for the extremely important district of
San Francisco without a single request being
on file from California for his nomination,
and without one word of request or recon.
mendation in his behalf having ever been re-
ceived by any member of the California
delegation until after his nomination, in the
face of their united personal protest to the
President, has been sent to the Senate AT
ter hearing the California Senators, and
asking several incidental questions, TIE COM
mittee proceeded with the other business
previously pending, but before adjourning the
Morton case was set down for consideration
and action at the next regular meeting on the
9th instant. 1t was rumored about the
Capitol to-day that this postponement of &C.
ton (which is believed to favor Morton's
chances by affording enlarged opportunities
for the exe1tion of sympathetic appeals and
Presidential patronage influences) was pro-
cured partly by the influence. of Washington
representatives of the Ohio whisky distiilers
and high wine manufacturers, who, it is said,
EXPECT to facilitate their long-standing efforts
to monopolize the California trade by having
the San Francisco Collectors office under the
control of some Eastern man.
Representative Page, referring to the
criticisms of some California papers that the
passage of his joint resolution for the APP
puintment of a Debris Commission would de-
lay appropriations, says that while he would
favor direct appropriation, and work for
one with all the energy he possesses, yet he is
clearly of opinion that his measure will
facilitate an appropriation In the only ,prac-
ticable way possible. So far as the debris
argument is concerned, he says there has
never been an instance in the history of this
Government where appropriation has been
made, or even recommended, by committee
of the House in advance of a regular survey
and estimate by the United States En-
gineers' Department. This fact was
thoroughly proved by Chairman Re
gan, of the Committee on Commerce,
during the debate the new rules last
week, but has long been well known by OBJ
servers of Congressional action near at hand.
Pages joint resolution will not preclude ef-
forts to obtain appropriations for river i'm
prerements in the regular way, that is, in tie
annual river and harbor bill for Improvement
of navigation in the distinctive interest If
commerce but it IS noticeable in this con-
nection that the total amount Of the Depart
ment estimate for the improvement of the
Sacramento and Feather rivers is only $780,
600 with no recommendation or estimate
whatever for the San Joaquin river. or for
any other streams or bays concerned in the
debris problem, and that Congressional ap-
preparations never exceed the estimates, but
almost invariably fall very far below them.
News of Norrow's Fight with the PEACHES
ConGPnet; = LOTTERY Drawing -serious
Charge Against n Physieian-PersonaI-
Homicide.
DENVER Coll, January 20th.-A special
to the Tribune from Santa Fe states that on
the lS:h Major Morrow engaged the Apaches
under Victoria in a fight in the San Mateo
mountains, aud routed them. Lieutenant J.
H. French, of the Ninth Cavalry. was killed,
and two Indian scouts wounded. The In
diaus' loss is not known.
The first single prize drawing Of the Col
orado State Lottery occurred here to-day.
The number drawing the capital prize of $780,
600 was 10 o93; second prize. $1,000, by
1854; 5000, by 1894; 81, 500, by AZ, ga;
81. 500, by 34,6l4.
D.. Isaac D. Meecham, late OF cambridge.
n. Y, was arrested here to-day on charge
OF procuring an abortion ON and causing the
death of Kate Belden last May. The story,
as told by Sheriff Hill, of Chenango county,
n. Y, now here, is that Miss Beiden was
servant girl in the family Of H. l., Horton,
prominent citizen OF Bainbridge, ard was by
him misled and seduced. Hill starts east
with his prisoner to morrow.
Governor Pitkin starts for Washington to-