Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-12-30
GEN. N.GRANTSPOCKETBOOK
LEGISLATIVE RELIEF NOT IN
THE PROBABILITIES.

The Retirement Bill Buried Beneath
127 Others on the Speakers Table
and Its Resurrection ImpOssible-A
Belief that Vanderbilt is Working In
the Ex-President's Interest
WASHINGTON, Dec. 29.-Nothing has been
heard in this city to-day touching Gen.
Grants financial affairs. Gen. Sherman has
not yet arrived here, and it is now said he
VIII not be here until after Jan. l.
Gen. Beale, who has been an intimate friend
of Gen. Grants for years, was interviewed
upon the subject, and said that he received q
letter from Gen. Grant about ten DAYS ago.
and one from one of his sons only four days
ago, but in neither was there any mention of
impending troubles.
VANDERBILT'S POSSIBLE OBJECT.
II am of the opinion" said Gen. Beale,
''that Vanderbilt will not care to take advan-
tage OF the law to such an extent as to enforce
the sale OF Gen. Grants personal effects
Aside from that, however, it has occurred to
me that MIR. Vanderbilt may be acting for
cen. Grants benefit. Having a preferred
claim TO Gen. Grants property, he may exc
cute the law, obtain DO session, and return 1t
subsequently, simply to prevent some of the
claimants who come after from securing Gen.
Grants enects. So, you see, we had better
wait and see If things are in as bad shape as
reported.
GRANT CALLED NATIONAL PROPERTY.
mo doubt an effort for relief Will prove sue
cessful. Gen. Grant is national property and
the nation takes pride ins the honOrs he has
received. II Congress is unwilling to place
HIM on the retired list of the army, let them
make an appropriation to purchase the me-
mentOes he has and place them on exhibition
at the Smithsonian Institution
The Star this evening says: "The prospects
OF the bill for the retirement of Gen. Grant
are not good. The bill passed the Senate on
May ID last. and was placed on the Speakers
table In the House, where it now remains
buried under l27 other bills, without possi-
bic chance of resurrection.
DOOMED BEYOND A DOUBT,
''It has not even been referred to the House
Military Committee, the Chairman of which,
Gen. Rosecrans, is supposed to favor it. The
only way 1t could be reached would be by
taking it up by unanimous consent and this
is rendered out of the question from the fact
thaC there is very decided opposition to it.
The members generally prefer not to discuss
the merits OF the bill, saying simply that it
cannot be reached but others are more ont
spoken and denounce it on principle"
The Star also publishes the opinions of
number of Congressman upon this bill. Among
these Mr: Mcmillan, of Tennessee, expresses
the bellef that Gen. Grant has been precluded
from the benefit of retirement by President
Arthur's veto of the Fitz John Porter bill,
upon the grounds that the legislative was
powers of the executive.
SENATOR SHERMAN's SYMPATHY.
Senator Sherman told Republican reporter
tonight that he had received a letter from
his brother, Gen. Sherman, in which the latter
said that he would be in Washington on Satur-
day next, and incidentally conveyed the in
formation that Gen. Grant was in financial
distress. The Senator said that he
thought that Mr.. Vanderbilt had taken
the course he had in this matter to helm Gen.
Grant save his property. which would, he
thought, be bought in by some friend or
friends and held for Gen. Grants benefit. He
said that he did not think that Mr.. Wander
bllt would have the heart to sacrifice Gen.
Grants property, or that he would dare to do
so IN the tace of public opinion. Senator
sherman also expressed his sympathy with
Gen. Grant in his financial troubles and his
regret at the latters unfortunate venture in
business.