The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1881-02-08
Washington dossl y.

NEW YORK, Jan. 3O.-A Washington spe-
cial says that railroad people say that after
the supreme court shall have been reorgan-
lied by the appointment of successors to
Clifford and Hunt, a new test case will be
made as to the c~onstituuonality of the Thur
man Pacific railroad bill land they think there
is some reason TO believe that the court will
change the decision. The decision in the
test case which has been made stood five to
three, but since that time there have been
great changes in the court, and some of the
new members, if they stand by their records
in the past, it is supposed would look at the
railroads with more leniency. Stanley Mat
thews, for instance if he should be confirmed,
might not be as severe in his construction Of
the Thurman law as some other appointees.
The confirmation of Matthews is, however,
by no means certain.
1t is said that Senator Ingalls,, by personal
effort, secured a full attendance OF the men,
bers of the foreign relations committee, with
the purpose of considering the Chinese treaty,
but the democratic members were almost i'm
mediately called away to attend a caucus, so
nothing was done.
At a meeting of the house inter-oceanic
canal committee to-day the subcommittee on
the ship railroad bill reported it back with
the guarantee section stricken out. They
accompanied the report with a recommends
III lieu VI UlC OIulIGtu ScCJlOl d ulOul-
fed proposition providing for a guarantee of
interest at 4 per cent. upon l5-year bonds in
stead of 8 per cent. upon 3O-year bonds, with
enlarged requirements as to the test of the
canals capacity up to vessels of 1000 tons.
1t was claimed for this proposition that a ma
jority of the full committee will favor it.
W~AsHINGToN, Jan. 31.--The inaugural
ball promises to be a grand success and every
endeavor is being made to make it the
most elaborate occasion of the kind in the
history of the country. In view of the eX-
pense attending the preparations, no compli-
mentary tickets will be issued except to
President-elect Garfield and family.
The escort of the president-elect will con-
sist of 10000 militia and ID coinanics of reg
lar troops and marines. Previous to the
ball a reception will be held in the museum
building by Genera! aid Mrs. Garfield, Presi-
dent and Mrs. Hayes and General and Mrs.
Grant. General Hancock has also been in
vited to take part in the reception and it is
thought from the assurances received by the
committee that he will accept. Gen. S. Her.
man will be grand marshal of the parade and
will make presentations at the reception.
The senate committee on privileges and
elections to-day examined the foreman of The
government printing office and the foreman
in-chIef of its confidential printing division,
both of whom testified that no copies of the
Chinese treaties could have gotten out in adj
vance of their transmission under seal to the
senate.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 3l.-Covert, chairman
of the committee on agriculture, reported 70
the house to-day the agricultural appropria-
ton bill. Among the miscellaneous items
are the following: For continuing expert.
ments in connection with the manufacture OF
sugar from sorghum, $4,000 for continuing
Investigations in relation to insect injuries
$4,000; for further experiments in tea cul.
ture, $4,000 for the reclamation of arid
and waste lands in the territories, $4,000.
The house committee ON war claims agreed
to-day to report favorably on the no use bill
providing for the allowance of certain claims
favorably passed on and reported by the &C.
counting officer Of the treasury department.
Nine hundred and twenty-six claimants are
represented in the bill. The majority of then
are from the states of Kentucky, Tennessee
and West Virginia. The claims vary from
$4,000 to $4,000, and aggregate between
100000 and 100000.
: The President has approved the bill placing
General Ord on the retired list with the ranl
of Maior-General.
Supreme Court has adjourned until Feb
ruary 18th.