Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-08-09

The EXECUTIVE SESSION.
The Senate, though in executive session
an hour and three-quarters, confirmed only
one nomination. that of Mrs. Mary Fl. c.
McCsuslin, as Postmistress at Provo City,
Utah, the greater portion Of the session
being taken up in the reading and discus
sion Of the treaty with Mexico.
THE STAR ROUTE TRIALS.
The first witness in the star route cases to-
day was Hon. Jos. Z. s. Black burn, Of Ken
lucky, who was Chairman of the rub CON-
mittee to investigate the circumstances of
the deficiency in the star route service. He
said that though Walsh's route was first
mentioned in that e.tigation, in
the latter part OF January, 1880, Congress
had appropriated s., ,9OO, 900 for the mainte-
nance OF the star route service, and in Jan.
uarY Brady had informed him that by June
30 b there would be a deficiency of $l7,-
600 600. He had then moved for an inves-
ligation. After the introduction Of the off,
cial statement, to show scceptauces of bids
made by Dorsey, Miner and Peck.
Mr.. Bliss siid the prosecution had closed
their case, with the exception of the testi-
money of ex Senator Spencer, who could
not at present be produced. He moved
that the trial be postponed until Spencer
could be put on the stand.
The Court declined, however, to grant the
motion. In surrebuttal the defense called
James +. Joyce, a clerk in the National
Hotel, who said that Harvey M. Vaile stopped
az that hotel when In the city, but that he
had not been there from March l6 to july
10, 1873
This closed the evidence on both sides.
Mr.. Bliss filed his motion for a postpone
ment of the trial, together with afldavits
setting forth what he expected to prove by
witness Spencer. A counter affidavit of j
W. Dorsey was filed by defense as to in
structions to the jury on points of law, and
as to the order of closing argument The
court then adjourned. Mr.. Kerr will pro.
badly begin the closing argument for the
prosecution tomorrow. IL is expected tha'
Mr., b iss, Mr.. Merrick and the Attorney
General will also speak, as well as sll Of the
counsel for the defense, and that the argu-
ments will occupy ten days.
THE MISSISSIPPI IMPROVEMENT.
The select committee of the House ap-
| pointed TO examine the work in progress
the contracts, the application OF the appro-
| priatfon, etc, for the Improvement OF the
| Mississippi river, organized this afternoon
and agreed to mset In Cairo during the first
part Of November, for The purpose of pro-
| ceeding with their work.
The committee is composed Of the follow
ing named gentlemen: Messrs. Burrows, Of
Michigan, Chairmao; Butterworth, of Ohio
Robinson, of Massachusetts,; Hazelton, OF
Wisconsin; Hiscock, OF New York; Thomas
of Illinois; Carlisle, of Kentucky; Holman ,oi
| Indiana, and Ellis, OF Louisiana.
THE WHISKY RING REPORT,
Mr.. Window presented To the Senate to-
| day thR~ port OF the select committee ap
| pointe % investigate the alleged improper
use o. money to promote or defeat The
bonded spirit bill. The report states thai
"the committee have examined under oatt
several persons who were in the city Of
Washington urging the passage of the bill
also several of the principal disttllers apC
dealers in whisky. The officers OF the ma
tional organic atoms were wholly unsustain
ed by the evidence"