Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-01-16
AT THE NATIONS CAPITAL
CAPT. MERCER DISCUSSES THE
GEORGIA JUDGESHIP.


Report.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15.-George A.
Mercer, Of Savannah, dined with Presi-
dent Arthur to-day. The Georgia Judge
ship was discussed at length between
them. Mr.. Mercer did not get from the
President any intimation as to whom he
viii appoint. He strongly opposed the
nomination of Mr.. Farrow, and put in a
very potent case against that applicant.
He said tonight that he hoped that Mr.
FarrOw would be beaten, but at the same
time he would cOncede that he was very
strong. Mr.. Farrow is working every
minute in his behalf. Mr.. Saussy, of Sa-
vannah, will leave for home tomorrow,
well convinced that he has no chance of
appointment.
THE WORK on THE MISSISSIPPI.
The report OF the select Committee Of
the Senate, appointed in accordance with
the resolution of February ODD last, to eX-
anime into the works of Improvement in
progress on the Mississippi river below
Cairo, and into the methods employed in
making such improvements, and also into
the jetty system, was presented to the
Senate to-day. The committee, which
consisted of Senator Logan. as Chairman,
anu OtudlDl OODcSs VI NcNduus CdM yer.
Jonas and Walker, met at Chicago, Oct. 81,
all being present except Senator Jones.
1t was decided to begin the work of in
YestigatiOn at Rock Island, and testi-
mOny was taken at that place and at
Burlington. KeOkuk. Quincy, Alton, st.
Louis, Cairo, Memphis, Helena, Green
vile, Nicksburg, Lake Providence, st.
Joseph, Natchez and New Orleans. In
addition to this testimony the committee
=
cation by the engineers in charge of the
work in the various districts visited. who
came on board the boat on which the
committee made its trip of inspection,
and pointed out and explained the fea-
lures Of the work under their control.
Besides this the committee report hav-
ing made landings at all points where i'm
pOrtant works are in progress or already
completed and having made a thorough
examination into their character. The
extent and value Of the recommendations
of the committee are brief The report
says: 1.-The committee unites with the
Mississippi River Commission in the re-
concentrations made in the late report to
the Secretary Of War that provision be
made by law for the appropriation by
suitable proceedings of the land and ma
terial necessary in the work of the Missis-
sippi river improvement undertaken
by the government; that the right
of the government to the free use
for channel improvement, of the material
found on the bars and islands within the
river banks be distinctly declared and
defined; that provision be made by the
government for retaining control over
areas of land reclaimed and built up from
the river; that provision be made for the
punishment of persons making, or assist
ing to make, any cutoff at any neck or
point I'm the river, or in any way interfer-
ing, without the authority of the law,
with its channel, or banks. or any work
of improvement projected by the govern
ment.'
In conclusion the report SAYS: ''YOur
committee has not deemed it to be within
the province of their mission to pass upon
the merits Of the engineering plans now
in process of execution on the Mississippi
river. In view, however, Of the good work
already done by them. and the manifest
results achieved and the reasonable hopes
of further benefits to be derived from
them by general navigation, commerce
and trade, 1t is recommended that the sum
of ST 0O0. GOO hP apprnpria tod Tor the I'M
prOYement of the river between Cairo and
the mouth of the Illinois river.
and $1,000000 between the mouth
Of the Illinois river and st. Paul, and for
the improvement of the river between
Cairo and the head of the passes, such a
sum of money as has been named by the
Mississippi River Commission in their
report to the Secretary of War, now before
the Senate, as being necessary for the
further prosecution of the work going on
in that district under their supervision.
1T is further recommended that these,
as well as all future appropriations for
the improvement of the Mississippi river,
be made the subject of bill separate and
distinct from the one embodying the gene
raj appropriations for rivers and harbors."
sHERMAN'S BANK BILL.
The Senate Finance Committee to-day
considered Mr.. Sherman's 90 per cent.
national bank note bill. and in connec-
tiOn with it Senator Aldrich's bill to facil-
itate the exchange of four per cent. for
three per cent. bonds. NO decision was
reached. During the discussion Mr.. Sher-
man proposed an important amendment
to his own bill, designed to meet the OBJ
lection that the measure would base the
amount of circulation upon q fluctuating
standard. He proposes to authorize the
Secretary TO issue national bank notes uD
to 80 per cent. of the face value of the
three per cent. bonds deposited as secur-
ity for circulation. Where the higher
rate bonds are deposited he proposes to
compute the interest above per cent.
and allow circulation to the amount of 90
per cent. of the aggregate interest over
per cent. for the whole time that such
bonds have to run, thus per cent. bonds
having twenty-three years to run, being
deposited as security for circulation would
entitle the bank depOsiting them to re
ceive currency at the rate of $40 20 for
eSch 800 bond deposited, that being 80
per cent. of the face value and 80 per cent.
additional for all excess of interest over 3
per cent.
SPRINGER AND THE STAR ROUTES.
Representative Springer tonight, in ref
erence to the resolution introduced to-day
calling for information from the Post
Office Department and the Department of
Justice concerning the star route trials,
said that more than $2O00,00O of over
charges We're due the government, and
that the majority of the star route con-
tractors who made these Oyercharges
were still in the service Of the United
States. 1t is Mr. sprlngeris purpose to
call upon the Treasury Department for a
detailed statement of the expenses incur
red in that department, and also on the
courts of the District of Columbia for a
statement of the expenses in the star
route prosecutions.
CONFIRMED BY THE SENATE.
The Senate in executive session to-day
confirmed the following nominations:
Louis A. Barnes, Register Of the Land
Office at Gainesville, Fla; John F. ROl-
iins, Receiver of Public Moneys at Gaines
vile, Fla; James Lewis, Surveyor GEN
eral of louisiana; George f. Bowden,
Collector of Customs for the district Of
Norfolk and Portsmouth, Va.
The following were confirmed in execu-
tive session: Postmasfers-Jame H.
Gass at Union, 5. c.; +. l.. Wiston at
Florence, 5. c.; Wiley r. Walker at Win
ston, n. C, .. T, Dunn at Brunswick,
Ga; John B. Roberts at SandersYille, Ga.
COMMERCE sUB-CONIIITTEEs.
The House Commerce Committee ap-
pointed subcommittee, and assigned
subjects as follows:
on the Bureau of Commerce and NdeigdtiOn
-Messrs. Clardy, Davis and Long.
on shipping Co1,nissioneTs, and the Ship
dy, Seymour, Barksdale, WadswOrth and
stewart.
on Time Balls.-NIessrs. Stewart, Dunn and
Boyle.
"a Li,le cf Ladiag. etc.-Messrs. Wadsworth,
0a Oonmeroe and Sarigatioa, ana tie Reg4-
lGti0n Of Steam Vessels.-Messrs. Dunn, Clar-
dy. Turner. Davis aud Stewart.
On TOHRdge.-Messrs. Dunn, Barksdale and
stewart.
GERMANY AND THE FoGs.
The Secretary of State has signified his
intention of tomorrow laying before the
House al the correspondence between
America and tfermany and other infOr-
nation in his possession concerning the
expectation of hogs. DIR. LOring, of the
department Of Agriculture, will also sub
NIT report of the Commission that for
some time past ne has been securing in
formation in this country in regard to the
same subject,
THE CHALAfERS-MANNING CASE.
The hearing in the contested election
case of Chalmers vs.. Manning was con-