The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-12-06
hiatt W. Ransom's Nomination to that Dlplo-
matlC Post Confirmed by the Senate.
HARMON REVERSES A M'VEACH OPINION.
No POwc" 10 Compromise a Claim
where Doubt OF Co,iectnbiiity TX
fsts Imposes Grent iIarslships
Upon IL Southern Compuny-Th
Democratic Senatorial Caucus.

Washington. ID. c., Dec. 1.-The Sem
ate to-day confirmed the nomination OF
Matt. w. Ransom. of North Carolina, to
be Minister To Mexico.
Ihe Democratic Senatorial caucus di-
lected Senator Gorman TO appoint u
committee of nine to assign the Demo-
cratic members To the commit tecships.
The drift of the discussion and es-
pecially the remarks of Senator'S Vest
and blackburn, indicated a willingness
to permit the Republicans to assume the
responsibility OF the commit tees, and,
through that channel Of the legislat ion
of the present Congress. II is under
stood that no protest will be entered
against the new proposition of the Re
pnblicans to take fun control of the
committees, including chairmunships
The following six members of the old
committee were continued by Mr.. Cor
man. Messrs. Cockrcll Harris, Black
burn. Brice. Jones AMI German. The
three additional men will not be select ed
before Monday.
The caucus also decided that when
ever the Republicans should put for
ward Il candidate for President pro tenn,
Senator Harris should be placed in
nomination as the Democratic candi-
date.
Attorney General Harmon has render
ca an opinion To the effect that section
1863, Il. s., does not confer upon the
Secretary of the Tren sury power to conf
promise claim of the United States
when there is no doubt of its entire and
lcady collcctibility. This view of the
law was held by Attorney Generals
Evarts and Devens, but Attorney Gen
eral McNeagh took an opposite view and
since his time-fourteen years ago-the
McVcagh opinion heng the more re-
ccnt.. has been followed by the Treas
ury in adjusting all compromise cases.
Attorney General Harmon now reverses
MIR. McVenGh. This new construction
| OF the law Is regarded as quite inpor-
tant. IT was called out directly by the
international Cotton Press Company, of
New Orleans.
Some time ago this company bought
q iece of property from a man named
schneider This mnn had ow.d the
Government Il SIM of mo;ev nd J. Id,
ment against him was obtained and a
Ten entered nrnn II rropert> The
cotton press 60" pany bought the Sch
neider property i'll ignorance OF the
fact that there was lien against it,
The Government stepped i'm to recover
the amount Of the lien and the cotton
press company, alleging lis entire In
nocence in the matter. offered to COM
promise the matter. 1t was admitted
that the property was worth the
amount of the lien against it, Secre,
tary Carlisle. dOubting his power to
compromise Il case. where II was clear
the Government could recover in full
asked for an authoritative construc-
ton of the law. with the result stated
1t Is acknowledged that the enforce
mcnt of the lien imposed a great hard
ship upon the cotton compress COM
pany. but it is claimed that the Gov
ernmcnt had no part in placing II in
the position in which It found itself.
The Treasury received $4,000 in golA
to-day "a follows: Peoples National
Bank, of Pittsburg ,$i00, 900: $4,000 from
Omaha banks. and s5,ooo from n bank