Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-03-24
WASHINGTON, March 20.

Grfat Britain.
Robert NJ. McLane of Maryland, to be
envoy extraordinary and minister plenipoten.
tiary to France.
Geo. II. Pendleton Of Ohio, to be envoy
extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to
Germany.
Henry R. Jackson of Georgia, to be envoy
extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to
Mexico.
Maecenas E. Benton of Missouri, to be
attorney of the United States western district
of Missouri.
Assistant Engineer John W. Saville OF
Maryland, now on the retired list, to be
passed assistant engineer on the retired list Of
the navy.
Mr.. Edwin j. Phelps, nominated as minis.
ter to England, is prominent lawyer OF
Burlington, VI He IL 60 years of age and
possesses a moderate fortune. He is an ex-
president of the American Bar Association,
and has practiced before the supreme cour,
in Washington. He is highly esteemed as a
LAWYER and man of culture. He has sew
eral times been democratic candidate for
governor of Vermont, but so far as known
has never held public Office. For two years
past he has been delivering lectures on law to
the graduating class of Yale College.
Mr.. f. ID. Clark of Vicksburg, Miss. the
newly appointed assistant secretary of the
interior, who had been suffering from an at.
tack of typhoid pneumonia for about ten
days, and who was considered out of danger
last evening. had sudden and severe relapse
about midnight last night and expired this
morning.
Clark was in bad health when he arrived
in this city, and he intended to return to the
South. He had secured ticket to leave here
tonight by the western express, and that
train will convey hi- remains to his home in
Mississippi.
The Senate in executive session todav con-
tirmed the nomination of ex-senator Pendle-
ton, to be envoy extraordinary and minister
plenipotentiary to Germany.
The Senate in executive session THE after
noon confirmed the following nominations:
To be ENJOYS extraordinary and ministers
plenipotentiary of the United Ststes-Ei-
ward j. Phelps of Vermont, to Great Britain :;
Henry II jackson of Georgia, to Mexico !;
Robert NJ. McLane of Maryland, to France
David $. Baker, Jr., of Rhode Island, to
be United States attorney for Rhode Island.
Benjamin II Hill, Jr., of Georgia, to be
United States attorney for Georgia.
The training ships Portsmouth, at James-
town. and Saratoga at Norfolk, when ready
for sea will proceed to Newport, X. l., to re-
ceive apprentices from the New Hampshire,
and then make a cruise TO Fayal, Lisbon aud
Tunchsl, returning to Newport about Sep
tember first.
The secretary of state is Informed by the
L. s. minister at Stockholm that the Sweed-
ish diet has voted to admit pork, all grain,
-four and meal into ports of Sweden free of
duty.
Mr.. Maleom Hay took the oath of office
this afternoon and was qualified as first as
sstant postmaster general. lie will leave
for Florida in the morning and has designated
c. Il, Fowler. chief OF the appon,me Mt
division to act as first assistant postmas er
general during his absence.
Postmaster General Villas made the first
appointment in the postoffice department TO-
day by SELECTING Miss Georgia S. Walker, to
be eopyist
The opinion is generally expressed that ex-
Representative Post of Pennsylvania. secre-
tary of the last democratic congressional
committee, will be nominated to fill the
vacancy caused by the death of Mr.. Clark
1t has been said that it was Secretary Lamar's
intention to transfer Clark on July |. next. to
the position of first assistant secretary, an
office created by the last Congress TO be es-
tablished at the beginning of the next fiscal
year, and to appoint Post on that date to the
Office vacated by Clark.
The President today received telegram
from B. B. Smalley, dated Burlington. Vt
saying: The democracy of Vermont sincere
lv thank you for the nomination of Phelps
1t is an appointment worthy of you.
Secretary Manning today sent circular
lot tha nf hura g.. &c
divisions of the treasury department. request
ing them to report to him in writing as soon
as practicable, whether in their opinion the
forces employed in the respective offices can
be reduced and to what extent without detri-
meut to public service. They are also request
ed to report whether the methods of business
can be simplifed, and in general to make
such suggestions and recommendations a.
may occur to them as to how the efficiency OF
the service may be improved, the business OF
the department facilitated and expenses cur
tailed
A decision was rendered by the supreme
court of the United States today, in q series
of Eve cases known as polygsmy suits, which
were brought by certain Mormon citizens OF
the Territory of Utah, for the purpose of
getting judicial decision ss to the power of
the board of commissioners or canvassers
appointed under the called Edmunds act
March -, 1882. to supervise elections in the
Territory. The principal question raised by
the suits i. whether the board of commssi,n-
ers appointed under the E5munds act. had
power - prescribe a condition of the regis
tration of voters the discriminating tes,
oath, requiring the APPLICANT for registration
to swear (if a mani that he is not a bigamis,
or polygamist. and does not live or cohabi,
with more than one woman in marriage re-
lations: or (if womsn) that she is not the
wife of a polygsmist, and has not entered
into any relation with any man in violation OF
the laws of the United States concerning
polygamy of bigamy. This court holds that
the rules promulgated by the board, pre-
scrining the form Of oath to be exacted OF
persons offering TO register As voters. and
which constitute the directions under which
il is alleged the registration officers acted ia
the cases here complained of. we're without
force, and that no effect can be given &c
them.
In the court of claims today the case OF
Daivitt c. Redgrove vs.. the United States
vas decided in favor of the claimant Red.
grove was cadet engineer. who graduated
from the United States naval academy q,
Annapolis in 1881. An act of Congress oi
August 5, 1882, provided for reduction in
the personnel of the navy, and among otheri
it applied to certain undergraduates. Secre