The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1882-02-18
CAPITAL TOPICS,


ably any bill asking for arrears OF pensions, and
to date all claims from time of passage.
The portion of the Territory of Dakota out Of
which the House Committee has decided to favor
the erection of State includes all that part lying
south of the forty-sixth parallel of latitude, the
northern portion to constitute, as now the Terri
tory of Dakota. The subcommittee will prepare
a substitute for the pending bill providing for the
necessary machinery OF government, &c.
Mr.. Hewitts bill prescribing the mode of count
ing the electoral vete provides that the electors
shall meet and cast their votes on the second Mon
day in January next following their appointment.
All controversies relating to the right of electOr
to exercise the office must be determined by the
highest tribunal of the State in which the contro
versy arises before the meeting of the electors. The
two Houses of Congress must meet in joint cOnven-
tiOn ON the second Monday in February succeeding
the meeting Of the electors. The votes must be
counted certified by the electors unless rejected
by both Houses and the decision Of the State court
to disputed points must stand unless reversed by
both Houses. Where there are two judicial de-
cisiOns, each purpOrtng to be that of the highest
court, the decision of the two Houses as to which
shall prevail shall be conclusive. Where there are
contested votes, and certified decision of the
highest judicial tribunal of the State, they cannot
be counted unless both Houses concur.
President Arthur has signed the commission Of
Frederick A. Trittle to be Governor of the Terri
tory of Arizona.
President Arthur on Thursday nominated ex-
Treasurer John c. New, of Indiana, to be Assistant
| Secretary of the Treasury. Mr.. New was chairman
of the Indiana campaign committee at the late cleo
tion and to his efforts principally due the fact
| that the National Republican Committee decided
to make big fight for Indiana in the October cleo
ton preceding the last presidential election in No
vember. He is the owner of the Indianapolis
Journal, and since the result of the last presi-
Dental election has been spoken of for prominent
Federal appointment. At one time it was under
| stood that he would be made minister to Russia by
| President Arthur
There is a growing sentiment in Congress in favor
| of substituting steamship lines as the only
practical method OF revlvlng our declining ship
ping interests. At joint conference of sub-com-
mittees of the House Committees Commerce,
Naval Affairs and Roads, the following signif-
| cant resolution was adopted:
"ReS0lUed That it is the sense of this joint COM
mttee that it is advisable to promote the postal and
commercial interests of the United States by prOvid
! ing a sufficient compensation for the carriage of
ocean mails from the United States to foreign ports
! by American ships
Mr. John w. Guiteau, the brother of the assassin.
returned last week to his home In Boston. He says
that Guiteau has finally made up his mind that he
will he have to de- that he has given up all hopes
of the President committing his sentence to impris
| onment for life He says that Guiteau told him
| when he had parting interview that he thought
sentiment so strong against him that the Pres-
dent could not Interfere if he wanted to. He
says Guiteau willing to meet his death when
the time comes and that he does not think ScOville
will persist in his effort for new trial for the
reason that people demand the prisoners death.
The behavior of the assassin according to the prison
authorities has vastly improved since sentence was
passed upon him. An absurd rumor that Mrs. Gar
field had written letter to the President asking
him to reprieve Guiteau emphatcally denied
on Sunday by the lady herself.
The House Committee on Naval Affairs has favor
ably reported bill authorizing the Secretary of
the Navy to pay to Rear-Admiral Worden, and the
officers and crew of the, Monitor who participated
in the action with the Merrimac, including Chief
Engineer Alban c. Sinners and Acting Master Sam
uel Howard, such sum as the Secretary of the
Navy shall find to have been the actual value of the
Merrmac and her armament not exceeding $780,
OOO to be distributed in place of the bounty prOVid
ed for by section 1885 of the Revised Statutes In
case of the DEATH before its passage of persons ent
tied to the benefits of the act the due to such
person is to 60 to his widow if living his child
or children If child or children living the
prize money is to go to his executor for the benefit
of his heirs at law.
The State of Nebraska at the last congressional
election elected a Representative-at-la rge-Mr.
Majors-on the theory that under the ratio as ap-
piled to population, the State was entitled to
additional Representative The question of the
claim of the State referred by the House to the
Judiciary Committee. majority of the COM
mittee will report that the claim made by Nebraska
is valid one, and that Mr. Majors should be seated
as an additional Representative.
The House committee on 1nVallO PENSIONS nave
instructed Representative Brown to ask the House
to hold two night sessions during the first week in
March for the consideration of pension matters to
be reported from that committee.
Mr. John P. Gould, of New York, is here with
memorial more than five thousand feet long and
signed by merchants, manufacturers mechanics,
farmers taxpayers, and others, residing in nearly
every State in the Union, which will be presented
to the Ways and Means Committee. 1t asks that
the tax ON bank deposits and the two-cent stamps
on checks and drafts may be abolished.