The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-02-17
WASHING TOX NOTES.
Congressional AnhIrs = Current Com
ment At the Capital.

htht ~ AAc NupitaAs
WASHINGTON, February lG.-The Senate,
in executive session this afternoon, had
read and referred the nominations received
the past two days.
The Military Committee unanimously
reported back the nomination Of Major
Rochester for paymaster general OF the
army favorably. The committee, after in
vestigation, eXonerated Rochester from all
responsibility for the deialcation Of pay
master Hodge. The committee declared
that Rochester followed the usual custom OF
his department in passing upon Hodges
papers and that Rochester's record as an
officer is an excellent one.
There was q conference held last night
between the members OF the Senate and
House Naval Committees and some twenty
or more Naval officers, including Secretary
Hunt and members of the Naval Advisory
Board, with reference to the plans OF re
building the Navy. The recommendation
OF Chairman Harris, of the House Naval
Committee, that SIC, 900, 900 be appropriated
for the construction OF seven Iirst.class ships
Of war Of different styles met with pretty
general favor, and Mr.. Harris thinks that
this recommendation will be enacted into
Il law.
A member Of the Ways and Means Com
mittee said to-day that lie had no doubt
that the Committee will report in favor OF
reducing the tax on tobacco and whiskey,
although he did not believe the reduction
would be us much as is suggested. He
thought, for instance, that the whiskey tax
would be reduced to about 20 cents per
gallon. His idea is that the Committee
will first agree to cut down the internal rev.
cnue taxation to certain figures and that
they will then apportioA this reduction
among various articles which bear that tax.
The Military Committee, after fully ex-
nmining the objections raised against favor
able action in the case Of Major Rochester
TO be Paymaster-General, reported unani-
mously that the nomination be placed on
the calendar with the Committees favor
able recommendation.
Judge Smell, Of the Police Court, held
the defendants in the Star route straw
bond cases in one thousand dollars each.
10 appear before the grand jury.
The. President has accepted the resigna'
tion Of Ward Hunt, Associate Justice oi
the Supreme Court, and will nominate his
successor next week.
Mr.. Anderson's substitute, fixing the
membership OF the House at 325, will, it is
generally considered, be finally passed in
the House tomorrow. 1t is about the same
rs the bill passed by the Democratic
House last year, except that it provides for
six more members.
Colonel A. b. MEeacham, long prominent
in connection with Indian affairs, died to-
night ofapoplexy, aged 90 years.
The Treasury Department purchased
100000 ounces Of silver for distribution
among the mints.
The values Of exports Of domestic bread
stuiIs for the seven months ended January
81, 1852, is Sl24,0T2, ,907, the same period in
1881, $l6S, S,5OO,5OS.
The colored jubilee singers were denied
admission to every hotel in Washington,
and until after midnight did not find a
place to sleep.
The results Of Indian labor Turing the
past twelve years since the beginning OF the
peace policy, the Board Of Indian Com.
misSionCrs says, shows an increase in the
products Of the soil by Indian labor oI
nearly twelve fold, and at this rate OF pro
grcss, it is confidently predicted, the time
/ ~ llOk lAA hlSNAAb NlACAA hlA oSlAAl-GlNllhNh
Indians will be seli.supporting, and the
few tribes that remain wild and savage
will soon follow their example. The re
port closes as follows: We have no new
measures to recommend. We simply urgC
u persistent adherence to the peace policy
which means government by law, home
stead rights and education.
President Arthur gave his first State din
ner tonight at the Executive Mansion t
thirty-seven guests, the heads and actinI
heads OF the various foreign legations a
Washington. 1t was the first White Houst
dinner given by this administration, ant
the iirst dinner given to the Diplomatic
Corps in four years. The Executive Man
sion was thrown open and lighted through
out. The East room, where the PresidGn
received the guests, and tho remaining
lower rooms Of the mansion were beauti
fully adorned with wreaths and flowers
The floral ship sent from Boston 10 Presi
dent Garfield for his Inauguration, frcShl,
rigged and loaded with flowers, had a plac
Of honor among the decorations at the din
iug table.