Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-02-24

WASHINGTON, February 23.-The President
nominated the following postmasters: Thomas
Curtin, Pierce City, Missouri; Samuel L.
Grosvenor, Marietta, Ohio; Benjsmin Bintall,
Geneva, Illinois; Ernst Funke, Oconto, Wis
consin.
Relief for Mrs. Myrs Clark Gaines.
The House Committee on Private Land
Claims will report for passage bill provid-
ing for the issuance of land scrip to Mrs
Myra Clark Gaines, in lieu of about seven
teen thousand acres OF land in Louisiana,
the title to which has been judicially con-
hrmed to other parties.
Couldn't Stand the Pressure.
There is a rumor that a domination for
Supreme Court Judge will be made to-day or
tomorrow, and that it viii be New York
man. 1t il said the President had at
one time decided to nominate Senator Ed
munds, but that the pressure from New York
has been go great that he could not resist it.
Relating to the Navy.
The House Naval Committee, to-day, ap-
pointed Messrs. Harris, Thomas and Talbot
a subcommittee to draft bill for the reor-
ganization of the navy, incorporating the
provisions hitherto discussed by the COM
mittee and Advisory Board and agreed upon.
The bill will appropriate about So, 500 900
for the construction of seven or eight first
class war vessels of different styles.
Ginning the Committee.
An infuenti Il 5eputation appeared before
the House Committee on Commerce and ar
gued in favor of the regulation by Congress
# interstate commerce generally. Among
the speakers were c. w. LON, of Minneap-
oils, and ID. B. Henderson, of Dubuque. Ar
gument against the proposed legislation was
made by Hughes, of Grand Rapids, repre-
senting the Southern Michigan and Northern
Indiana Railroad Company. He took the
ground that the effect of the legislation de-
sired would be to discourage and hamper
transportation between States, and give adj
vantage TO Canadian railroads.
Wafmouth and Stevenson Rejected.
The Senate Committee on Naval Affairs
this morning voted to reject the nomination
OF Watmouth to be paymaster-general OF the
navy, and Stevenson to be pay director.
Some days ago the committee agreed to an
adverse report on Watmoutb, but held it
back In order to give the President time to
withdraw the nomination if he saw fit. Sew
eral members of the committee waited on
the President and officially advised him of
this action. The committee waited until to-
day, and not receiving any intim alton from
the President as to his purposes formally
adopted the adverse report and ordered ii to
be presented to the Senate. The nomination
Of Stevenson ives then taken up, and mo-
ton to report adversely was adopted.
An Abuse Likely 10 be Corrected.
Senator Van Wyck has introduced bill
in the Senate the object of which is 10 COM
pei railroads to pay State taxes on unpat-
ented lands donated to them by the govern
ment. One condition of land grants is that
the railroads shall pay all costs of surveying
the land. Railroad companies hold lands
throughout the West which they have not
surveyed and patented, and the courts have
hall hat he Gfofa
lands, because the United States still holds
an interest in equity in them by reason of
the fact that under the condition imposed by
the grant the lands might revert to the gov
eminent through failure OF the railroads
to comply with these conditions. 1t is
claimed that the railroads leave lands un-
patented TO avoid taxation, and Senator Van
Wyck's bill releases and guit-claims to any
State that proceeds against these lands for
the collection of taxes all interest in equity
of the general government. 1t is thought
this will encourage the States to collect these
taxes.
Arguing the Question.
The delegation from the New York Cham
Der OF Commerce appeared before the Senate
Finance Committee in relation to the Sher-
man bill, to facilitate the decisions in con-
troverted questions in revenue cases, by re-
ferring such questions to the Court of Claims,
Win TlSnI Oh appeal 10 the
Court. The delegation claimed that to trans
fer such suits to the Court of Claims would
deprive importers of the right of trial by
jury, and would be attended by as long de-
lay in recovering duties wrongfully exacted
from them as now occurs under the existing
law. They urged the adoption of a measure
providing for the establishment OF courts
Of arbitration at such points as
may be necessary, the courts to have juris.
II ion frNr Is
improperly exacted. Senator Thurman dis
claimed the authorship of the bill, and said
it had been prepared at the treasury depart
ment; and, while he thought it might go far
toward remedying the existing evils, still he
mad no desire to antagonize the interests of
importers, and would join them heartily in
advocating any other measure whicc would
better accomplish the desired purpose.
The Mason Court-MarfisI.
In the Mason court-martial to-day, Cap
ain McGilvray, of Sergeant Mason's COM
oany, testified that since Mason's confne-
nent he had been returned to duty by wit
ness as duty sergeant. Warden Crocker
described the location Of Guiteau's cell, and
aid that the arrival of troops could be wit
lessed from the cell window; Guiteau, when
lot reading or writing, spent some time look
ng out of the window. Bigelow, counsel
or Mason, obi cted to the testimony as to
iuiteau's looking out of the window unless
he judge-advocate engaged 10 show that this |
labIt was known to Mason. The iudge-ad- |
-ocate said that he proposed to show this. |
The court after long private deliberation
ustained Bigelow's objection. The Judge |
Idyocate then announced that he intended |
o prove that Mason knew Of the |
labits of Guitesu. Mason rising from |
lis chair exclaimed: II will clear
hat, Judge; / did know" The rresi- |
lent of the court peremptorily ordered |
dason to be silent. No material facts were |
licited to-day. The arrival OF Mazon's wife |
nd little boy seems to have had a soothing |
fleet on him. He continues to complain |
Utterly OF the food aud quarters furnished |
i'm, and constantly urges the contrast be-
ween the treatment accorded him by the |
Military authorities and that accorded to
iuiteau by the civil authorities at the Jail. |
Minor Mention.
The National Homeopathic Hospital man
cement made a beginning by renting a |
uilding for present use.
The treasury department., to-day, pur-
hased three hundred and eighty thousand
unces of fine silver for the minis.
Postmaster General Howe decides that a
lamp frank is not legal frank, and that
he written name OF the congressman must
e on the franked matter.
The Senate Naval Committee has agreed to
eport favorably on the nomination of Theo-
ore Wilson, OF New York, Tor chief of the
ureau of naval construction.
General Rucker, lately appointed quarter
laster IN the United States army, was placed
n the retired list to-day, and General RUFUS
INGALLS, was appointed to the vacancy.
Invitations from heads Of executive de-
artments to the governors of different
tates and others 10 attend memorial services
t the capitol, Monday next, have been dis
'ibuted. The card is companion piece to
lie Garfield inauguration invitation.
AID for the Complexion.