Evening journal., 1889-02-12
NEWS FROM THE CAPITAL
President Cleveland Nominates
a Cabinet Officer.
CLAYTON BRECKENRIDGE CASE.

in the House and Senate.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 12-The president sent
two important nominations to the senate, and
although the general policy Of the senate now
IS to pigeonhole all nominations until March
4, when President Harrison may nominate
Republicans, it is not all improbable that these
nominations win be confirmed They are
Norman J. Colman, Of Missouri. to Sec
retary Of Agriculture, and A. f. Stev-
enson, Of Illinois, First Assistant Postmaster
general to be associate justice Of the supreme
court Of the District Of Columbia, vice Will
lam NJ. Merrick, decGsed The president
yesterday approved the bin raising the bureau
Of agriculture to the dignity Of an executive
department and elevating the commissioner
Of agriculture to a cabinet office as secretary
of agriculture Mr.. Colman is at present
commissioner of agriculture
SENATE AND HOUSE
The house spent almost the entire day dis
cussing the Smalls- Elliott contested election
case, which went over without action
A conference on the direct tax bill was or
dered by the house, and the speaker ap-
pointed Messrs. Caswel, Seney and Oates
conferees
The speaker appointed Representatives
Ermentrout Of Pennsylvania and Baker OF
New York TO act as tellers for the house in
counting the electoral vote next Wednesday.
The senate spent most of its time discussing
the naval appropriations bill
On motion of Mr.. Sherman, who said that
he had been instructed by the committee ON
foreign relations to move an executive ses-
sion, the senate proceeded TO executive bust
ness, and agreed to a resolution appropIiating
$3.50, 900 for the relief of American citizens in
Panama. As soon as the bin had passed the
senate it was hurried TO the engrossing clerks
to be copied, that it might be sent to the
house at the earliest possible moment. The
bill was an original measure, reported from
the Committee on Foreign Relations and
passed without amendment The text of the
bill is as follows:
Be it enacted, etc that there be and Is hereby
appropriated out Of any money 10 the treasury
not otherwise appropriated the sum OF 5.50000
TO enable the president 10 protect the interests Of
the United States and to provide for the security
ST the persons and property Of the citizens of the
United states at the isthmus Of Panama IN such
manner as he may deem expedent.
When the doors were opened the naval ap-
preparation bill was taken up The amend
hieAto AHNAcdnlAE AAEuNlNS }idlihN On Nlt nlonl-
tors, cruisers and other vessels lappropriating
about s6S, 600, were agreed to. An item o.
Sl00,0O0 to be Immediately available) was
inserted for the construction Of a building
for use at the naval torpedo station and war
college on Goat Island, Newport, r. l., also
an item Of 5000 for the purchase of land and
the building thereon adjacent to the naval
academy at Annapolis
The amendment reported for the construc.
tion of steel cruisers on gunboats Of 800 to
1000 tons displacement, to cost in the aggre-
gate exclusive of armamentl, not more than
S1O0,O0O Of one steel cruiser Of about 1000
tons at cost of not more than 500, 900 and
OF one ram for harbor defense was agreed TO.
TO INVESTIGATE A CONTEST AND A MURDER
Mr.. Grosvenor lO.) introduced in the house
preamble and resolution in regard 70 the
contest of john NJ. Clayton, Of Arkansas, re-
Gently killed which was referred to the COM
mittee on elections The preamble recites
that Clifton r. Breckinridge and John NJ
Clayton were candidates for congress in the
Second district of Arkansas IN November
lsSs: that Breckenridge has been certified as
elected and VIII vote on the organization Of
the next house, that Clayton disputed Breck-
inridges election and was assassinated while
engaged in collecting testimony 70 support his
contest; therefore,
Be il resolved, That a committee Of five
members Of this house and who are now mem
bels of the committee on elections and who
are elected to the Fiity-irst congress. be ap-
pointed by the speaker, and that such com
mittee shall proceed without delay 10 take
testimony touching the issues in the said CON
test and the notices and pleadings therein,
aud ascertain all the facts relating to said
election and the said contest and report the
same to the house Of representatives the first
day Of the first session thereof, or as soon
thereafter as the same may be completed, and
that the said committee is for the purpose of
this resolution authorized to send for persons
and papers to issue processes, under the hand
Of the chairman or Of any two members Of
said committee, for the arrest and production
before said committee, at any place, Of
persons knowing or believed to know any
thing Of or pertinent to said contest, and said
committee may employ one or more stenog-
raphers and such other assistance as may be
necessary, and the writs, fees and expenses
incidental TO such proceeding shall be paid
out Of the contingent fund Of the house Of
representatives, as writs and expenses Of
committees Of investigation are paid; said
Breckenridge TO have due notice Of the pro
ceedings herein contemplated, under such
rules and regulations as said committee may
prescribe.
Resolved, II, in the opinion Of the commit
tee on elections Of this house, there is no
authority of existing law 70 continue, prose
cute and carry on a contest for or against the
right Of a member to a seat in the Fifty-irst
congress, under the circumstances alleged and
described in the preamble hereto, then said
committee shall be authorized to report by
bill or otherwise such act or resolution as
may he necessary in the premises to accom-
plish the object herein stated. And said
committee may report as matter Of privi-
lege at any time, and their report and its
consideration and final disposition shall at all
times be a matter Of the highest privilege, and
shall until disposed of take precedence Of all
legislation other than the consideration Of
pending election cases.
THE INAUGURAL PARADE.
1t is estimated that in the inaugural parade
there will be between 10000 and $1,000 per-
sons in line The first division, which viii es-
cort the president and president-elect to the
Capitol, will be composed of the regular
troops stationed about Washington and the
National Guard Of the district, and will COM
prise about 500 men. The other divisions
viii be gormed in the avenues aud streets
about tie Capitol, and viii not move until
the presi lent-elect has taken tie oath, when
the procession will escort him buck 10 the
White House.
Boston Honors Its Naval Namesate.
BosTcN, Feb. l2-Mayor Hart has notified
the secretary Of the navy that the common
council have daaida1 ~ ,,r,s.,,,t tl,a IF,,itaa