Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-01-20
AT THE NATION,s CAPITAL.

Changes in the Route OF the ROmney
Marsh Canal to be Discussed.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 19.-The question
of the R0mney marsh will be brought up
at this session III a controversial way.
Gentlemen interested in the matter do not
think that the cut through that marsh,
for which an appropriation has been made
and partially expended, is the best one.
A call has been made upon Gen. Wright,
Chief Of Engineers. He was told that the
route fol- which the appropriation was
made is three miles longer than the present
tOrtuous one. and does not give any of
the desired advantages. Maps were pro-
duced and Gen. Wright admitted that the
route at present being worked is not the
best. 1t is claimed that no good can
come from its completion except to the
owner of Warsaw Island. An effort will
he made to induce Congress to change the
appropriation so that the route shall be
that known as Haveshaw's Cut, on the
ground that it is the shortest. most avail
able and least expensive. The case has
been presented TO Representative Nichols.
KEIFER's EXPLANATIONS.
The subcommittee of the House Com
mittee on Accounts to-day BEGAN an in
Vestigation to ascertain what persons
close Of the last session who have since
rendered no service. Mr. Keller was
before the subcommittee. He denied
that any such changes had been made by
him. He said that MIR. Tyson. one of the
stenOgraphers, resigned, and he appointed
his nephew, B. +. Gaines. to the place.
He presented the resignation Of Mr..
Tyson, written on March ,, last. The
resignation thanked Mr.. Keifer for many
tavOrs he had accorded to the writer. Mr..
keiter said it had all along been under
stood that Mr.. Tyson would resign after
holding on long enough To come in for an
extra months pay, and that Mr.. Gainer
would be appointed. He said further that
White, whom be appointed Speakers
clerk, was no relative whatever Of
his. Notwithstanding the widespread
publications to the contrary. He was a
poor tramp boy whom he had picked up,
sent through college on a free scholarship
in Ohio, and afterwards had him taken
into his law office. Mr.. Keifer also
states that he alone. of all in the House,
was opposed TO opening the reporters gal
leTy at the close Of last session to MEM
hers families, but that he could not re-
fuse to recognize motion for
unanimous consent to do that or anything
else. All that has been printed against
him on these subjects, be says, Orlgi-
mated from clique of newspaper cOrres-
pOndents who were mad with him because
he defeated in the House bill they were
trying to lobby through. Gen. BOyntOn,
of the Cincinnati G0zetCe, he puts at the
head of that alleged clique. Mr.. Keller
is evidently trying to crawl out.
JUSTICES WICKED MENIALs.
Ralph Ballen, a special examiner of the
Department of Justice, finished his testi-
mOny before the House Committee on EX-
pendtures in that department. At
meeting of the committee to-day, he spoke
of Investigations that had been made in
Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Louisiana.
Mississippi and Pennsylvania. These in
vestigations were made in the office of
Marsh0ls, Deputy Marshals and United
States Commissioners, AMI were in
reference to irregularities in these offices.
Messrs. Van Alstyne, Hemphill and Stew
art were appointed committee to hear
Ballen's testimony on the system Of book
keeping now in vogue in the department.
Examiner Ballen recommended that Mar
shaS be required to make weekly instead
Of sem-annual statements. He said that
these officials had no regular system of
bookkeeping and in some instances the
records kept amounted to nothing. Mr..
Nightingale, special examiner. will APP
pear before the committee Monday.
THE TREATY'S RECONSIDERATION.
The friends of the Mexican treaty as
sert that it is not dead, and that the clause
limiting the time for its ratification will
not stand in the way of its recOnsdera-
tiOn. In short, that difficulty, it is said,
had already been provided for by an un-
derstanding with the Mexican authOri-
ties, and the ratification of the treaty even
after the expiration of the time provided for
it will be accepted by the MeXicans. Sew
eral Senators who voCed against ratifica-
tiOn had not made up their minds to do so
till Just before the vote was taken. Since
it requires only a change of one vote to
ratify the treaty It's friends are very hope
full of its victory at last.
Action upon Senator MOrgan's motion
to reconsider the treaty may be delayed
some days.