News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1883-12-06
WASHINGTON NOTES.

WASHINGTON NOTES.
The slight decrease in the public
debt for November-abOut one anc
three-fourths of millions account
ed for by the payment Of about twelve
millions for pensions.
Senator Edmunds stands by his
Mormon law, says he believes 1t to be
oDerating favorably, and promises to
introduce another bill similar to the
one reported at the last session, to
supplement it.
Kentucky has had the speakerSmp
for nine Congresses out OF the A.
VIRGINIA for seven, Pennsylvania Tor
six. and Massachusetts and Indiana
for five each.
The Washington Post recently SAD
that it had assurances from the best
authority that not only will Riddle
berger and Malone attend the RePub-
lican Senatorial caucus, but that they
and their followers will hereafter, and
without disguise. act with the Repub-
lican party. They say they are toI
Arthur for President because he Is
for US"
Tie commissioner of patents has
ruled that distinct and independent
inventions. which are differently clas-
sifad. NAV not be embraced III one IN
yention. In cases where distinct IN
ventions are dependent upon each
other and naturally contribute toward
the production of 4 single result, the
office classification, when it ohstructs,
must give away.
Colonel Rockwell said yesterday
that he does not want a perpetual
military force stationed at President
Garfeid's tomb, as reported, but
thinks the body should have the pro
lection of some kind of guard until
ARRANGEMENTS can be completed TO Ell
fe,-tuaIlv secure SUTCfh an HrTTnTe
yDeuf. he believes VIII soon De Hiade.
The monument committee IS about
ready to bea.in the construction OF the
proposed Garfield monument, and,
as soon as the foundations are
laid, the body will be placed in them,
and be thus insured against the posi-
bility of theft.
LAWYER Isham. of Chicago, Secre-
tarv Lincoln's old partner, has been
retained BY holders OF the SG,O4O,OOO
of repudiated Georgia bonds, and
talks as hopefully as can be about get
ting them paid. The securities were
issued in recOnstructing times, and he
argues that the general government
which backed the process IS morally
and legally bound to see the bonds
paid. and that the State itself may be
held as to some of them. When MT
Isham gets the money on this plan he
can confidently hope for other jobs G
the same kind.
The New York Commercials Wash
ington correspondent referring tt
KIaine's letter advocating the dlstri
button Of thu proceeds of the wills
kew tax among the States, says
..Out and out Blaine men believe the
effect of the letter will be to make
him the nominee of the Republican
marty next year, and in this cOnnec,
ton they talk about 4 ticket Of Blaine
and Lincoln. Republicans regard The
letter as chiefly significant, in that i
appears Just on the eve Of the meet.
inc of Congress and the meeting o
the National Republican committee
and sanns TO be conclusive tina
Blaine will be an active candidate FOL
the nomination"
The Secretary of the Interior ha:
refused to rule that only lawyers shal
be recognized as claim agents by tho
Interior Department, and to the com
missioner of pensions who asked him
to do so, he says: Concerning the
power Of the Secretary to decline rec
IGNITION of an "incompetent' agent,
we are at the outset met by the fact
that the established practice of the
deDartments is to recognize any duly
APPOINTED person as an agent, ire
sDective of his deficiency in learning
or skill. Great weight as an authorl-
tv ought properly to be given to the
Uniform practice of years, and espec-
iaIIv when it appears to be based on
settled principle of law. In general,
the right Of person to appoint an
accent to transact his business IS I'M
limited. and the rule of law extends
81 far that persons legally incompe-
tent TO do certain things in their own
,igbt. are held to be competent to dc
them as the agents of others. Unless,
therefore, there are other principles at
hand which create exceptions to the
General rule. ii would seem that the
Practice of the departments IN this re-
card IS solidly founded. | am Will
2ino to admit the force of the argu-
Inent that if Congress has prescribed
INV Qualifications for agents in pen
lions or other claims against the gov
9,.,,,,,oDt. the rules of this department
MET enforce them but If Congress
- not done so, then / am OF the
n,ririon that 5uch rules must conform
- tho aforesaid principles Of the
oor,n.on law. On turning to the stat
nte / find nowhere limitation on the
u.e right of appointing an
oannt or an authority to the Secreta-
80 limit it. Ga the contrary, l
g f,d in them many classes which, upon
met construction, require him not 10
iTtorfere in such appointment.
Pov ND for your paper.