The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1881-01-01
THE CAPITAL.
The Navy Dept. Without Head
Vacancy in the Cabinet.
The President Cannot FIJI the yaean
ey for Another Ten Days.
Gen. sherman and the President
The whitaker Case.
The sIoux Chiefs Sign the Article
Granting Right OF Way.

OF DtctinDtr IItSlutut i1dycS ucsiehat
ed Secretary Ramsey to perform the
duties of acting secretary of the navy in
addition to those of secretary of
war. The appointment was made under
authority vested in the president in
tended to enable him to fill a vacancy in
the cabinet occasioned by death or 9TH
er canses, by assigning any other cabi-
net officer to perform the duties for a
period not longer than ten days. Sec.
Ramsey's appointment, by its terms,
expired yesterday, and as no other ap-
pointment has been made. the navy de-
partment Is at present without head
and vacancy exists in the cabinet.
Some days since the announcement
was authorized that the president would
reappoint Secretary Ramsey every ten
days until the 4th of March, or the ad-
vent of the new administration. Yes
terday, however, the question was
raised whether the president could le-
gally make second appointment for
ten days, and upon being referred to
the attorney general, it was decided ad-
versely. The subject provoked
lengthy discussion in the cabinet meet
ing to-day, and after a critical exami-
nation of the law the conclusion was
reached that the intention of the stat
ute was simply to relieve the president
from any immediate embarrassment
occasioned by sudden vacancy in the
cabinet, and that the authority to ap-
point or assign another member of the
cabinet to perform the additional du-
ties for ten days didn't extend beyond
one appointment, its object being sim
ply to tide over the interim until reg
ular appointment could be made to fill
the vacancy.
Under this discussion in the cabinet
in regard to the reassignment of Sec.
Ramsey, with no secretary, and no one
authorized or empowered to act as such,
it will devolve upon President Hayes to
Immediately appoint some one to fill
the vacancy caused> BY Sec. Thompson's
resignation, until March 4th. 1t was
suggested this evening that the presi-
dent might consult the views of Gen.
Garfield and appoint for the unexpired
term the probable secretary under the
incoming administration.
Chicago, Dec. 31.--A Washington
special to the Inter Ocean says: Gen.
Sherman said the other day that he had
no influence with the president, and
that the asking of favor by him would
be more likely to prejudice than to ad-
vance cause.
The president and secretary of war
think the Whitaker court of inquiry
found verdict which the facts do not
warrant. In the coming court martial
Whitaker will have eminent council
Emory Storrs, d. II. Brewster, and ex-
Gov. Chamberlain of South Carolina.
There are hints of developments in the
case involving officials of the academy
in the outrage against Whitaker.
The final conference was held at the
interior department this afternoon with
the Indian delegation, relative to OBJ
tanning the right of way through the
Sioux reservation, for the Chicago &
Northwestern and the Chicago, Mil
waukee & st. Paul railroads. All the
Indians agreed to the terms proposed
by the railways, and signed an agree
ment granting right of way through
their lands. Under its terms the Sioux
nation will receive five dollars per acre
for every acre of land taken by the rail
roads.