Morning journal and courier., 1881-01-19
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.

The Inter-Oceanic Canal-A Hearing by
 the Foreign Affairs COmmfttee-De-
 parture of the Ponca Commission
 Gossip Concerning Garfeld's Cabinet.
 WASHINGTON, Jan. 1S.-The Committee on Foreign Affairs had meeting to day and gave 8 hearing to W. K. Well, of New York, against the Panama ship canal scheme and in support of the policy of the Monroe doctrine. He advocated the abrogation of the Clayton Bulwer treaty as soon as time would permit by the terms of said treaty, and said that the Nicaraguan canal could be built in four or five years. He could build it in this time, and if he should receive for doing so $50, OOO,- 900 he could make himself one or two mil lions year. He stated that it was an old policy of France to build canal and gradu- ally absorb the territory, and England would favor any such scheme for the same purpose and with an ultimate hope of gaining control. In his opinion Nicaragua was the only spot on earth where canal should be built. Ex- Secretary Thompson followed in support of the Panama ship canal. He repeated his re- marks made yesterday before the Committee of the Inter-Ocean Ship Canal and said the French government had disclaimed anything to do with the affair as a nation.
 A number of national banks have written to the Treasury department inquiring wheth- CT the recent circular allowing them to- send on notes for redemption at the expense of the government applies as well to notes fit for circulation as to notes unfit. The circu- lar applies to all classes of notes When this is generally understood it is expected there will be larger receipts of notes for redemp- tion than now.
 The members of the Ponca commission sent by the philanthropic people of Boston to in- vestigate alleged Ponca outrages have re- turned to their homes. MT. Allen, of the Boston Adoertiser, who was 8 prominent ly improved by his western trip. He does not speak with much confi- dence of the result of his missionary labors, but says the committee did not au- thorize the publication of the fact tele- graphed from the Indian Territory, that the Poncas simply want to be let alone where they are and not be put back again into Da- kota.
 There is very general impression that Dr. Loring will be the next Commissioner of Az riculture under the next administration. The selection of Blaine for Secretary of State will be about all the represent, ion New England can expect in the Cabinet. T.oring is we'll known farmer. He has oneo of the handsom- est farms in New England and manages it on scientific principles His skill as an agricul- turist is known to dozen farmers societies in Massachusetts, before whom he has lec- tured.
 Interest in the composition of the next Cabinet increases as the time for the appoint ments approaches. The return of Senator Allison from Mentor was expected today, but if he arrived in the city he did not visit the chamber. To judge from the gossip heard in the upper house one would infer that the Treasury portfolio had been prom ised the Senator from Iowa.
 In an interview General Walker to-day said that the total cost of taking the census will probably be something like g., ,OsO,OOO.