The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1886-02-10
NOTES FROM THE CAPITAL.
Preparing to Prosecute the
Bell Telephone Case.
SPECIAL COUNSEL
Employed by tho 0overnment-De-
ment Still Denying
Pension Claims.

WASHINGTON, D. c., January 6.-The
Senate Committee on Rules at is
meeting this morning ordered adverse re-
ports on the resolutions offered by Sena-
tor Platt requiring that executive nomina-
tions be considered in op-n session; by
Senator Hoar, requiring yea and nay
vote to be taken on all motions to adjourn
over one day, and by Senator Morgan. pro-
viding for daily recess from 2 to 2:3O p. m.
Senator Platt was bef're the committee
and made a strong argument in support Of
his resolution. The vote on it was rs fol-
lows: Sherman, Ingalls,. Harris. Blackburn.
negative; Frye, affirmative. The res'lu-
tion will be adversely reported b., Senator
ingalls,. Senator Plat will ask that it go
upon the calendar, hut will not seek to
obtain consideration for it at once, as he
does not wish to have it connected in any
way with the contest bet *een the Execu-
tive and the Senate with which, in f.,ct. it
has no necessary relationship Ultimately
he will call it up in open session aud dis.
cuss it upon its merits.
THE TELEPHONE CASES.
Solicitor General Goode who has been
specially designated to conduct the suit
against the Bell Telephone company tU
test the validity Of their patent has secured
the services of the following named gentle
men as special council to assist in the
prosecution Of the suit, A. G. Thurman.
Ohio; Guvernor Lnwery, New York. who il
a specialist in electrical tiers; Messrs.
Eppa, Hunton and jeff Chandler. of
Washington. The suit will be filed as soon
as the S.,licitor General shall have had an
opportunity to consult with his assistants
in regard to the bill which il now in course
of prep +ration at the Department Of Jus.
tice. The place where the suit will he institut-
o6 will r. ho Aa.0 until III thor
the case are ready. The Att rney General
has positively declined to have anything
whatever to do with the case. Judge
GOOde says the case will be promptly and
vigorously prosecuted. and with fairness 10
all the parties concerned.
STILL DENYING.
Surveyor General Dement, of Utah was
again before the Senate Committee on
Public Lands to-day. He read the state.
ments made by the newspaper men to the
Committee day before yesterday and
reiterated his denial that he had ever said
what had been attributed to him. but
added nothing t. the Information pre-
viously in p,'ssessinn Of the Committee.
SOUTHERN PACIFIC LANDS.
The House Committee on Public Lands
to-day agreed to report favnrably the bill
to forfeit the Sou, hern Pacific land grant
except the right of way through the public
lands and all necessary land for station
buildings, depots. nMc4Tine shops, side
tracks, all lands included within the limits
of any village, town or city site, and any
lands sold by the railroad company and il
possession of actual settlers to an amount
not exceeding 16O acres. The question of
furfeiting the Northern Pacific land grant
was considered but no action was taken.
rArsE cIAIMs
A circular letter was recently issued by
the Ciaiue esorta OF th,s oity, "a nd widely J
distributed among the Government pen
soliciting employment in the
OF claims which they say
ia not ''in the nature uf Il pension" and
which they have reason to believe is due
pensioners from the Government under the
act of Congress Of March -. 1886, which |
provides half-pay for five years to the wild |
ows of soldiers killed or who died Of wounds
to April 80, 1918. The Com
missioner of Pensions in his report upon
the subject to the House Committee on
Invalid Pensions says: The act of March
10, 1886. appears to lie obsole'e,
as all benefciaries are provided for by the
more comprehensive act OF July 4, 1856
and it's benefits cannot De extended to
soldiers of the late war or their heirs, as by
the terms of Section of said act it's bene-
fits are limited to those who served in the
Florida war of 1885. The Commissioner
asks for the repeal of the act mentioned
and says, tits retention in the statutes
tends to create confusion and offers in
ducements to claim agents and Others to
institute claims against the Government
resulting in unnecessary labor and costs to
the departments. even when it is shown as
in this case, that all the benefits conferred
by the act have been fully satisfied"