The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-03-12
WASHINGTON.
Nominations by the President

WASHINGTON, March 1.-THE President
sent to the Senate TODAY, the nomination of Ed
ward Clark OF Mississippi as Assistant Secreta-
ry Of the interior.
Edwsrd D. Clark, who was TODAY nominated
to be Assistant Secretary of the Interior is a
member OF very high standing of the Missis-
s1pp1 bar and has practiced before the Supreme
Court OF the United States. He has steadfast-
ly declined to nave any connection with poll
tics, although holding strong Democratic prin-
ciples.
The Backbone land Grant.
In accordance with Secretary Teller's order
dated March 80, the commissioner genera of
the land office issued patents to the New Or
leans Pacific railroad company for 679 ,2S7 acres
OF land, known as the Backbone grant and
we're delivered to Hon. W. E. Barnum by
direction OF John f. Dillon, attorney for the
railroad company. Under its grant
1t csmed 1,000 600 acres. Yesterday Secretary
Lamar issued the following order to the COM
missioner of the land office, lyon are hereby
directed to suspend all proceedings relative to
the patentiDg of lands to the New Orleans Pa
ciic railroad company until further notice. In
addition to the lands already patented the New
Orleans Pacific railroad has lists covering
1886, ,706 acres of land, which under this last or
der cannot be patented until the Secretary
takes further action.
The Usual Rush.
There was about the usual rush of visitors to
the White House to-day. The President arose
early and at once betook himself to eonsidera-
ton OF his mail, which was unusually large.
AS one OF the clerks at the White House put
it, President Cleveland receives as MANY let
ters day as President Arthur In a week, "a
fair inference that many of the letters relate
to appointments to Office. The President ran
hurriedly through his mail and then began the
reception OF visitors, many of whom had been
Ia waiting some time.
Counterfeit Coin.
The Treasury Department has received from
the assistant treasurer at N. Y, specimens of a
counterfeit one cent pieces which ere believed
u nave obtained an extensive circulation in
New York. The counterfeit is made solid of
copper whereas the genuine coin is allowed
nickel. As the nickel is more valuable than
copper ths manufacture of good counterfeit
consisting entirely of the baser metal woul d
prove lucrative business if successfully con-
Quoted for any great length of time. 1t is esti-
mated that profit of 70 cents would be made
on every hundred Ct the epurious pieces put In.
to circulation. The matter is being inyestiga-
ted.
Gen. Hazen en- Trial.
A general court martial for the trial of Brig
Gen. William b. Hazen met at the Ebbitt
House this morning. The detail of the court
is as follows: Nal Gan. w. s. Hancock, pres
idant OF the court; Mai. Gen. j. NJ Schofisld
Brig. Gen. o. o. Howard, Brig. Gen. Alfred
III. Terry, Brig. Gen. G. @. Augur, Brig. Gen.
p. MacFeely, Brig Gems. William B. Roch-
ester, Samuel B. Holabird, Robert Murray,
John Newton, Coils. George l.. Andrews, Wes-
ley Merritt, ID. NJ. Black, Capt John W.
Claus, judge advocate. The accused was pres
cut with counsel aud objected TO Gen. Mac
Fsely, stating as the grounds of his objection
that they had been on terms of hostility for
years. The objection was sustained and Gen.
MacFeeley excused. The accused waived his
right to any further challenge. The charge is
OF conduct to the prejudice of good order and
military discipline in violation OF the 62i arti-
Gle OF war. and the specifications cits various
criticisms made by the accused in connection
with the Greey relisf expedition and the ac-
ton OF the Secretary OF War.
Gen. Hazsn pleaded not guilty to all the
specifications. and not guilty of the charge.
but said he had some admissions to make when
the court should be ready to hear them The
Judge Advocate said that he knew what the
character OF these admissions would be, and
that they would tighten the labors of the
court, and he accordingly suggested recess to
allow the accused to prepare them. The court
then adjourned until tomorrow.
1t is understood that Gen. Hazen will admit
writing the report and letter to the Secretary
of War. from which citations are made which
appear in the specifications, but will deny any
intention of being disrespectiul to the Secre-
tary of War, or OF impugning the propriety of
his official action. He will deny having con-
sented to the interview which he is charged
with having had published and will deny that
be knew that such publication was to be made
but will admit that, the newspaper reporter
having asked him concerning the truth of the
newspaper statement that he had written the
letter, (Which statement was not made on his
authority or by his information) he acknowl-
edged having written such letter, and also
that in answer to q question by this reporter he
said that ii his recommendations had been
adopted the disaster to the Greedy party would
not have occurred.
Facts and RumOrs.
This afternoon Secretary Manning appointed
Eugene Higgins of Maryland, to sbe chief Of
the appointment division OF the Treasury De-
partment in place OF Trevitt of New York, who
resigned during the forenoon.
The comptroller of currency has called for a
statement of national banks on the close of
busines on Tuesday, March 10.