Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1881-02-10
TET,EGRAPHIC.
Condensed for Convenient and
Ready Reading.
WASHINGTON.

THE house committee on commerce has
fixed the figures for the Improvement of
the Mississippi river at $1,000.0O0 from
Cairo to the gulf, and 100000 from Cain
to the head waters.
THE select committee Of the house on
inter oceanic canal has agreed TO report
finally bill to incorporate the inter
oceanic transit company, after amending
to provide that the government shall
guarantee the payment of interest on $780,
100000 of bonds of the company for
fifteen years at the rate Of six per cent.
The vote was as follows:
YEAs-Conger, King, Morton, Haskell.
Singleton.-5
NAYs-Turner, Nichols, Hutchins.
WhitthOrne-4
Messrs Frye and Page not voting.
OF all the cabinet positions the treasury
is now the most absorbing topic of spec1-
lation. The western men, Allison and
Wilson, of Iowa; Morton, of New York
and Senator Window, of Minnesota, are
the most frequently mentioned. The visit
of Allison to Mentor was announced yes
terday by Mr.. Wilson's friends to be in
his behalf, but it is quite as confidently
stated IN other quarters to-day that
General Garfield sent for him to confer
with him personally as to his wishes in re-
gard to the matters of his own appoint
ment. Mr.. Allison has, however, said to
his intimate friends tn at he would like to
have Wilson appointed. As to Window
it is known that this lame has been very
favorably considered by the president-elect,
and urged by mutual friends who would
like to see him in the cabinet.
IT is very doubtful if any of the New
| York nominations recently sent to the
senate are to be confirmed. The commits
sion of The Postmaster at Albany does not
expire until the 4th of March. 1t is held
by many senators that President HAYES
has no authority TO make an appointment
for any office whose commission expires
upon the same dav as his own. This OBJ
lection is said to be enough to cause the
rejection of Haskell. The other appoint
ments are properly made. Some senators,
however, hold that there is a question of
propriety involved, and that these appoint
ments should be left to the next admins
tratiOn. If General Garfield would or
could signify in any way that he would
like to have these appointments confirmed,
it would undoubtedly be done; but he
makes no sign. Senator Blaine is report
/ ed by several senators to have said that he
was not in favor of confirming these ap-
| pointments. Presuming this to be correct,
there Is no doubt of their rejection.
IT is very generally conceded that the
senate will not confirm the nomination OF
! Stanley Matthews for the supreme bench.
! The opposition manifested by the majority
Of the members of the judiciary. commit
tee, before whom the nomination is pend
ing, is based on his scandalous connection
with the Louisiana frauds and the general
mixing up of his name with corporations
as an attorney. This has SO prejudiccd
his case before the senate that it is be-
lieved it will be impossible for him to be
confirmed. 1t is stated on good authority
that if the senate fails to confirm his Eom-
ination, the matter will go over until after
the 4th of March, when it will be in the
hands of Gen. Garfield In that connec-
tion the name of Senator Thurman is
mentioned. Mr.. Thurman viii then re-
! tire from the senate, after having served
in it one term. He is personally very
friendly with Gen. Garfield, and has to
recommend him. besides this friendship,
his eminent fitness for the position. :.