The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-03-09
WASHINGT ON.
Important Cabinet Meeting
On Yesterday.
The Temperance People at
the White House.
EXECUTIVE MANSION BESIEaED
BY A NUMBER OF CALLERS.


whether or not national banks shall be |
permitted to substitute bonds for legal
tenders, deposited by them with the |
Treasurer for the purpose Of Withdrawing |
their circulation. The Importance Of
correct decision in the matter was recog-
nized, and with the view of securing the
fullest information, further consideration
was postponed until the next meeting of
the cabinet. Meanwhile. the Comptroller
of the currency and the Treasurer OF the
United States will be called upon to sub
NIT their respective views and all the facts
bearing upon the case.
The weight of opinion at the meeting
to-day inclined to view the whole matter
a hinged upon the question of ruling or
departmental regulation, rather than of
law, and that the decision should be such
as would least iujouriously affect the
financial and business interests OF the
country. 1t was suggested that decision
against Immediately restoring to circuIa-
ton. legal tenders. which had been de-
posted .Gwould operate as a serious
contraction of currency for some time to
come. and cause q renewal of the stringen-
CT and uncertainty EXPERIENCED few days
since, while to allow the banks to substi-
tute and withdraw their legal tenders
would at once restore confidence, relieve
law prohibits IT'D the easiest and readiest
solution of the difficulty.
On the other hand, it was suggested
that such decision would be opposed to
former precedents and rulings, and would
afford an opportunity to banks to initiate
or contract their circulation at will, or to
suit their supposed interests. while to
compel them to resort to the ordinary
means of restoring the former volume of
their circulation would involve. .at most but
q short delay, and could not cause any
serious Inconvenience or alarm in business
circles, In view of the fact that the Treas
ury Department is prepared to begin the
printing and the reissue of notes from day
to day Immediately upon the receipt of
applications from the bank. and that an
issue of the entire amount could proba bly,
be complete within three weeks.
TEMPERANCE.
Miss Willard, in behalf of temperance
ladies presented to President Garfield, in q
felicitous. speech. an oil portrait Of Mrs.
Hayes, Garfield responded aptly. both
speakers lauding Mrs. Hayes. Many Con-
eressment were present. President Gar
field most cordially received the picture,
paying beautiful tribute TO its subject,
whom he said should ever be "at home"
in the White House. He paid graceful
and fitting compliment to the address of
Miss Willard and expressed his hearty
appreciation of their work and their pray
ers for and kind illusions to his mother,
wife and children. The company were
then presented to the President and his
wife. Miss Ransom, ION behalf Of the
ladies, besought meeting with President
Garfeld's mother, which was accorded,
and she was soon ushered into the blue
room and received sincere evidence of the
loving regard and esteem of the visiting
ladies.
GENERAL NOTES.
Treasury oficials estimate the surplus
revenue for the four months of the present
fiscal year at $45. 900. 600. The sinking
fund will require $S,000,0 900 to be com plete
by the end of the present fiscal year. Ac>
cording to this estimate and exhibit there
will be a surplus of s37, 900. 900 available
between now and juno 30th. with which
the Secretary may purchase and cancel
bonds.
The President, during tho morning hour
received the illinois and Michigan dslega-
tions.
Republican Senators talk quite conf
IDENTITY of an extra session May 18th.
Those who recently opposed. now favor it
because of Democrats favoring organiZa
at once and urge it. Republicans are nov
acting in concert and will secure their aim
The treasury department has just or
dered the transfer of $4,S01, 937 of golC
bullion from the New York assay office 4
the mint at Philadelphia, for coinage int
eagles and half eagles.
Gen. Grant called on President Gar
field yesterday morning.
f an extra session be called it will b.
to pass the funding bill, President Gar
field does not want an extra session il
can be avoided.
Secretary kirkWood took charge to-da,
of the Interior Department and received
the heads of bureaus who were introduce,
by ex-Secretary Schurz. who then took
formal leave OF the Department employees
Rear Admiral Wyman, commsndiu
the north Atlantic station. reports ths
owing TO the strong current of the Mississ
ippi river this month. and the strlt
economy epjoined in the use of coal durln
the remainder of the fiscal year, th
Kearsarge will not be sent up that river
The Alliance will proceed from Ne
Orleans ND the Mississippi to Natehel
stopping at Baton Rouge.
The Republicans he'd no caucus to da
but maintained the same attitude as yeI
terday.
Malone says he will vote with the Den
Gratis but the Republicans still claim hin
CALLERS,
The crowd at the Executive Mansion t
day was much smaller than heretotor
Senator Conger. with party of ladies an
gentlemen called to pay their respects.
addition to these. delegation of Alabam
Republicans were admitted. They pr,
sented a statement showing the conditio
of their State and earnestly requested th
President to consider the same Refel
ence was made TO the election law of tn
State as opening wide the door TO frau
and rendering detection and punishnel
impossible. Ii was stated that the eIes
tons are little more than farce. Tt
Presidents attention was earnestly invite
to these statements with O view of rem
dying as much as possible the evils whic
exist.
Lincoln is expected to arrive IN the Gil
to morrow and at once assume the duti
OF Sectetary of War,
VIEWS OF SENATOR BROWN.
A special from Washington has Il
f0II0uinu.