Omaha daily bee., 1885-02-04
HOHtVIuI uN NEWOs
Great Interest Felt In The River and
HaThOr Bill,
Arrangements for Counting the
Electoral Votes,
President Arthur Accepts Grants
Relics for the Nation.
Vance Gives His Opinion Of Rail-
road Experts
To Be On a Par With Expert
Chicken Thieves.
Three Little Kittens in the Register
gof the. Lobby-The Swain
Court Martial.
WASHINGTON NEWS.
THE RIVER AND nARpoR BILL.

washington NEWS
THE RIVER AND HARBoR BILL.
Special Telegram to tho BEE.
WASHINGTON, February 3.-Great interest
j. fclt to-day in the river and harbor fight
The friends of the Hennepin canal are girdinR
up their loins for the greatest struggle of their
lives. The indications are that if the Henne.
pin canal appropriation Is defeated the river
and harbor bill will be killed.
LOBBYISTS HONoRRD.
The members and attendants about the
house lobby have lately been disturbed by cat.
calls and the crying of young kittens, CO 4 ing
apparently from the solid walls of the lobby.
the sounds were mysterious and unaccounta.
BILE. Workmen were sent for to-day to pene.
trate the wall to see If \ cat was walled up in
the masonry. The register in the vicinity of
the sound was removed and out rolled three
little kittens. Some homeless cat had crawled
into the heating apparatus, aud finding her
way between the walls, had deposited her
from the winter blasts. They have been
named after.three prominent lobbyists.
THE GRANT SOUVENIRS.
Associated Press.
WASHINGTON, February 3.-The president
to-day transmitted to the house the following
messages:
To the House Of Representatives: I take
especial pleasure in laying before congress
the generous offer made by Mrs. Grant to
give to the government in perpetual trust, the
swords and military land civiD testimonials
belonging to Gen. Grant. A copy of the deed
of trust and of the letter addressed to me by
William II. Vanderbilt, will explain the
nature and motive of this offer. The apprecia-
ton of Gen. Grants achievements, and recog-
milton of his just fame, have in part taken the
shape of numerous mementoes and gifts
uhtcb ubila Iaor 70 him nouucuu for tho m
ton exceptional interest. These relics of
great historical value have passed into the
hands of another whose considerable action
restored the collection to Mrs. Grant, as a
life trust, on condition that on
Grants option, it shall become the property
of the government as set forth in the accom-
panylng papers. In the exercise of the option
thus given her, Mrs. Grant elects that the
trust shall forthwith determine, and asks that
the government designate a suitable place of
deposit and a responsible custodian for the
collection. The nature of this gift and the
value of the relics, which were generously
given by private citizens, joined to n high
sense of public regard which animates Mrs.
Grant, have thus placed at the disposal of the
government demand a full and signal recogni.
ton on behalf of the nation at the hands of
its representatives.. l, therefore, ask congress
to take suitable action to accept the trust and
provide for its secure custody, at the same
time Recording the appreciative gratitude
OF the people of tho United
States to the donors. In this
connection | may pertinently advert to the
pending legislation in the senate and house of
representatives,, looking to the national recog.
milton of Gen. Grants eminent services 10y
providing means for his restoration to the
army on the retired list. That congress by
taking such action to the almost universal de.
sire OF the people of this nation, is evident,
and l parnnat1V 1lrpe the nnasinp Of an apt
similar to the senate bill No. $3.50, which,
while not interfering with the constitutional
prerogative of the appointment, will enable
the president in his discretion to nominate
General Grant as o general on the retired list.
(Signed,) CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
The accompanying papers referred to are
the deed of trust executed by w. III. Wander
bilt, and hat gentleman's letter to the presi.
dent, informing him of his action.
NOMINATIONS.
Postmasters-Chas A. Spencer, Sheboy.
gan Falls, Wis.,. Sylvester w. Osborn, Oar
lington, Wis; Miss Elite l.. Peet, Upton, la.
Upon the Arrangement of Col. Morrow he
pleaded not guilty to the charges and specifi-
cations, but his counsel, Ex-Governor Bout
well, presented on his behalf a statement in
the nature of a confession and an avoidance
which declares in substance that while the ac-
cused did sign the pay vouchers in triplicate,
n second set of vouchers was not issued by
llll uuJll VIZ u VI Vic uIbb uuu lclih-
pushed all claims under them, and accepted
as security for the payment of sums advanced
upon them a policy of insurance upon the life
of accused, and that the third set was not
issued until q similar arrangement had been
made with the holders of the second,
THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR
recommended to congress that about seven
million acres of land included in the Black
feet, Fort Peck and Fort Belknap Indian
agencies in Montana be restored to the public
domain and be opened for settlement and that
the Indians be paid SIS, 900 annually at each
agency for fifteen years.
The bill introduced by Senator Morgln to-
day to revise and amend the act of c-ngress
to promote Geographic communication between
America and Asia, authorizes certain named
persons resident in California. New York and
Pennsylvania to construct and maintain a tel
egraph or cable line between the Pacific coas,
ot the United States and the coast of Asia
The work to be commenced within three
years after the passage of the act.
SENATE