Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-01-01
INC NAVY Department WITHOUT Head

The Navy Department without aead.
WASHINGTON, December 31st.-0n December Goth
President Hayes designated Secretary Ramsey to
perform the duties of Acting Secretary Of the Navy
in addition to those of Secretary OF War. The ap
pointment made under the authority vested in
the President to fill vacancy in the Cabinet, occa
stoned by death or other causes, by assigning any
other Cabinet officer to perform the duties for
period OF not longer than ten days. Secretary RAM
sey'S appointment, by its terms, expired yesterday
and as no other appointment has been made, the
Navy Department is at present without head, and
a vacancy exists in the Cabinet. Some days since
the announcement was authorized that President
Hays would reappoint Secretary Ramsey every ten
DAYS until the 9Th of March, or the advent of
the new Administration. Yesterday, however,
question was raised whether the Pres-
dent could legally make second appoint
ment for ten days. and upon being referred
to the Attorney General, it was decided adversely
The subject provoked lengthy discussion in the
Cabinet meeting too day, and after critical exam
nation of the law the conclusion was reached that
the intent OF the statute SIMPLY to relieve the
President from any immediate embarrassment &C.
casioned by a sudden vacancy in the Cabinet, and
that the au ihority to appoint assign another
member of the Cabinet to perform additional duties
for ten days did not extend beyond the appoint
ment, its object being to simply tide over the in
term until regular appointment could be made to
fill the vacancy. Under this decision of the Cabinet
the reassignment of Secretary Ramsey from Deem
Der 30th becomes invalid, and the Navy Department
is left in an anomalous condition.
fuEsHCE hCpUEtSs
NEW YORK, December 3lst.-The mercury was at
zero at this morning. 1t is now IL above. The
ferry-boats are much impeded by ice. Three vessels
are ashore ON the Long Island and New Jersey
coasts
WASHINGTON, December S1st.-The thermometer
marked IL below last night. At o'clock this
morning the mercury was 10 below.
PETERSBURG (Va.), December 31st.-At $50 A. NJ.
the thermometer registered 16' below zero. Such
weather has not been experienced here for years.
BUFFALO, December 31st.-The railroads are block.
AIDED and business is a. a standstill.
CAIRO, December 31st. Navigation is suspended.
The rivers are full of ice.
CINCINNATI, December 31st.-A great number of
quail and other game have died OF cold through the
Ohio valley. The weather is moderatlng
CHICAGO, December 3lst.-There are no signs of
warmer weather. 1t seems to have settled down to
4 regular winter temperature of zero or below all
over the Northwest.
Lone BRANCH December 3Ist.-The weather is
moderating. The thermometer has risen SO in "a
hours.
LITTLE Rock (ArI), December S1st-There is
skating on the Arkansas river here.
Disastrous Fires.
NEWPORT (R. L., December 3lst.-The summer
residence Of James R. keene was burned this morn
ing defective furnace was the cause.
ATLANTA On. J.), December 31st.-The Windsor
Hotel and DullmOre House were burned today.
Loss $4,000. Several firemen had their fingers
and feet frozen.
KALAMAZOO (Mich), December 31st.-A fire at
jackson, Mich, this morning, destroyed the Marion
House, twostory frame building, with four stores
on the first floor, and the adjoining brick block,
containing the jackson City Bank and four stores.
The bank books were saved. Loss 100000 to
$4,000.
CHICAGO, December 31st.-The fiue residence of
j. H. Kedzie, at Evanstown, ILL.,, was burned this
morning. Loss, $4,000; insured
MckEEsPoRT tPa.), December 3lst-The Airing
ton House and Patterson Row were burned to-day.
Loss. SIS, 600; small insurance.