Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-02-22
CAPITOL NOTES.
Committee Meetings, Etc.


Ex-Attorney General Macveagh resumed his
argument before the House committee on COM
merce to-day, In opposition to the passage of the
Storrs, of Chicago. will next be heard.
Mr.. VIM. ii. Swift, of the firm OF Swift, Courtney
4 Beecher, match manufacturers; Of Wilmington,
committee OF the House committee on ways and
means. in opposition to the repeal of the internal
revenue stamp tax on matches. He argued that
the match manufacturers of this country, without
exception, are in favor of retaining the stamp.
THE UTAH CONTEST.
The House committee on elections will meet to-
morrow to take action on the Utah contest.
owing to the Importance OF this case it was not
referred to subcommittee, as is the usual prac-
tice, but has been considered by the full COM
meeting, and While no vote has yet been taken or
formal expression Of opinion given by the commit
Tee, 1t is generally believed that they will decide
alike against Cannon'S eligibility and the claim OF
Campbell to the seat, and will refer the matter to
the people for new election.
TEE BENJAMIN FRANKLIN COLLECTION
The joint committee on the library held meet
ing to-day to consider the advisabilty OF recon-
mending purchase OF what is known as the Ste
vens collection OF manuscripts and rare printed
books written by or in some way relating to Ben
jamn Franklin, which are offered to the govern
ment for seven thousand pounds sterling by their
London posseSsor. They comprise all the papers
bequeathed by DR.. Franklin to his grandson WILL
liam Temple Franklin, and include some z, 400 doc
umentS, specially selected by Dr. Franklin for pre-
servation after his retirement from public aairs,
tary Davis, DR.. Edward Everett Hale and Libra
rial Dwight, of the State department, who were
present by invitation of the committee, explained
the great interest and value Of the papers, and the
desrability OF acquiring them The point Of ac-
tlon 1 on the proposition was not reached today,
DGf put the indications . are that the joint committee
Will report bill to make the purchase.
THE G. A. 4. PENSION CoMMITTEE
before 70 for
an hour and a-half yesterday. Numerous sus-
gestions were made to expedite the settlement Of
pension claims. 1t was shown that at the present
rate of progress 1T will take eleven years to dis
pension claims now pending. and the probability
Is that at that time at least third of the claim
ants Will be dead The principal suggestion was
that the forces in the Surgeon Generals, the Ad-
1utant Generals and the Pension Offices be i'm
mediateiy Increased, so that the business can be
finished as soon as possible. Attention was called
against the government guilty of perjury, but
against soldier guilty of no ofense The Senate
sommlttee appeared perfectly in accord With the
House committee on Pensions Tomorrow morning
CONTRIBUTIONS BY THE SENATE.
The Senate in executive session yesterday con-
hrmed the following nominations: John c. New of
Indiana, to be Assistant Secretary OF the Treas
ury; Joseph Hirst, collector OF customs at st.
Marks, Florida; Pinckney B. s. Plnchback, sur
II.
Nevin, surveyor OF customs at Philadelphia, Pa. :;
Jonn X. Caldwell, assistant appraiser at Phffadel-
Rhia, Pa; Wakefield G: Frye, consul general at
torney for Tennessee: Augustus s Seymour, Uni
ted States district judge for North Carolina
Army-Lieut. Col JAS A: Ekin, to be assistant
ant quartermaster general, with rank Of colonel;
Major Jas.J. Dana, deputy Quarterma ster general
with rank OF lieutenant colonel; Capt 4. j. NC
major; Capt. Edward W. Smith, TO be major 7tla
infantry; Lieut. Col. James Van VOost, to be col
onel 18th infantry; Major Alfred L. Hough, to be
H. Hathaway and George H. Coop to be assista mt
with the rank OF captain; 1st
Lieut. l, VIM A. Miller, to be captain ed infantry;
18th Infantry ID Lieut. Lotus Niles, to be lst lieut.
enant ID artillery; VIM. F. Tucker, jr, of Illinois
TO be paymaster, with rank OF MAJOR.
THE POST OFFICE APPROPRIATION BILL
The consideration OF the Post Office appropria-
ton bill was continued in the House of Represen-
tatives yesterday after our report closed. An
amendment to the clause approprtatng
t10,t55,CO for transportation OF mails by
r rallroads was adopted requiring that the mails
shall be carried on the fastest trains, without
compensation on failure to Do SOY so kr Ho1man fe G
offered an amendment providing that whenever
ANY contractor shall sublet his contract for the
transportation OF mails on any route for less sum
than he contracted to perform the service for the
may declare the original con-
tract at an end, and enter into contract with the
without advertisement, to per-
form the service on the terms which he has
agreed with the original contractor to perform the
service; but pending action on the amendment
the committee rose. motion from the demo-
cratic side to adjourn over until Thursday was at
nrst opposed from the republican side, but the
opposition finally yielded, and the House ad-
JOurned until Thursday.
THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
considered Mr.. Allison's bill to f1x
the redemption reserve fund In the Treasury at
SIX, 1000, and finally directed that it be reported
to the Senate, with certain amendments and be
recOmmtted, after those amendments were
printed. One OF the amendments was submitted
Dy Mr.. Sherman,and provides that the reserve fund
Shall consist OF only gold coin and bullion. Mr.
sherman also proposed another to stop the COIN
age OF silver dollars when the amount In the
treasury reaches $30, 100000, exclusive of those
held Tor the redemption OF silver certificates Mr.
twenty, and make the redemption fund $780,
o0o.0C0, and Mr.. Ferry proposed an amendment TO
designate the fund simply as coin, without pre-
fixing either gold or silver.
THE SENATE TABLES THE ARREARS OF PENSIONS
RESOLUTION.
The Senate yesterday afternoon by a vote OF %
to % laid the Ingalls, arrears Of pensions resolution
on the table. The bill TO retire Gen. Grant will
come up as unfinished business tomorrow.
That - Blaine and Brown ,, Ticket
WHAT SENATOR BROWN SAYS.
The attention OF Senator Brown OF Georgia. was
to-day called by the STAR reporter to the state
ments going the rounds that possible presiden-
tial ticket OF Blaine and Brown would loom un1in
the next campaign.
' Some time ago." said Senator Brown.