Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-03-24
GOSSIP FROM WASHINGTON
The Southworth Claim Received Black Eye.
Naval Committee Report-New Or
leans Mint Investigation.

Washington, March 23.-Chief Justice
Fuller announced today that the eele-
brated case of Judge Long of the Michl-
gan supreme court against Commissioner
Lochren, involving the power of the COM
missioner to rerate the judges pension,
which was argued last month, had been
assigned for q rehearing and set down
for argument on the second Monday or
the next term.
The cases presented for decision upon
the power of Comptroller Bowler to re-
fuse to pay the sugar bounty voted by
congress and the customs case of Salton-
stall, collector, VS.. Birtwell, were reas-
signed for argument on the 18th of April.
The chief justice announced that the
court would take recess from April
to 10; that the call of the docket would
be suspended May 8, and that the court
would finally adjourn for the term on
May 25. The announcement OF the date
of adjournment so far in advance Is un-
usual. Last year the court adjourned
June g.
Chief Justice Fuller, for Justice Brew
er, who is in San Antonio with his sick
daughter, today announced the decision
of the supreme court of the United
States affirming the judgment of the
court of claims in favor of the United
States upon the claim of the widow of
John P. Southworth. Southworth was
United States commissioner in Louisiana
and in 1876 made the last attempt, ac-
cording to Assistant Attorney General
Dodge, by an officer OF that class to regu-
late and purify the registration lists. He
issued $500 warrants in nine days, and
petition was filed in the court of claims
for recovery of $4,000, fee of $40 being
claimed for each warrant. There were
two petitions in fact, one for $4,000 for
tn
results, and one for $4,000 for $1,000 war
rants upon which arrests were made.
The first one was finally disposed of two
years ago in favor of the United States,
and the opinion today affirmed the judg-
ment of the court of claims in favor OF
the United States as to the $4,000 claim.
The house committee on naval affairs
today completed the section of the naval
appropriation bill providing new vessels
for the navy.
1t is provided that one of the four bat
tleships recommended shall be built on
the Pacific coast. one torpedo boat on the
Pacific coast, one torpedo boat on the
gulf and one on the Mississippi river
Five of the torpedo boats are to have
speed of at least twenty-five knots and
the remaining ten the highest speed pos
sible. The five will be the larger boats.
Bidders for torpedo boats can bid for
any number they see proper.
The boats to be constructed on the Pa
cific coast, the gulf and the Mississippi
are to be built at these points If the cost
of construction is not excessive. In case
1t is excessive they are to be built any
where the president may decide
The committee this afternoon COM
pleted the bill and authorized Mr.. Bou-
telle to report it to the house. After con-
cluding the ship clause of the bill the
clause of dry docks was renewed. Here
tofore the committee had voted for three
timber dry docks, one at Portsmouth,
N. H; another at Algers, La, and Il
third at Mare island, Cal. Today the
motion was made to reconsider the rec
ommendation and after considerable dis
cussion 1t was decided by vote of to
A to strike all the docks out of the bill
The treasury gold reserve at the close
of business today stood at $127, ,6S3, ,465.
The Withdrawals for the day were $780,
900.
Treasury advices report that United
States Treasurer Morgan and a corps of
experts from his Office arrived in New
Orleans this morning to make an exam
ination of the sub-treasury in that city.
Their arrival was entirely unexpected.
They Immediately took charge of the
office, and will make a thorough inspec-
ton of the books and vaults. 1t Is Gus
tomary to make such an examination.
and the visit at this time of the treasury
officials does not imply that the officers
and the accounts are not in good condi-
tion. The experts will remain perhaps
for week.
BY direction of the secretary of war
the United States will be represented at
the coronation of Emperor Nicholas of
Russia by Maj. Gen. A. Med. McCook,
retired and Maj. George p. Scriven. sig
nal corps Major Scriven Is the present
military attache of the United states le-
CATION at Rome. General McCook is now
in Paris He intended to witness the cor
onation, and the administration decided
to pay him the high compliment of send
ing him there in an official capacity.
Gen. Stephen d. Les Accepts.
Richmond Va, March 23.-Gen. Ste
phen d. Lee, president of the State Ag-
Z; cultural society of Mississinni has ac-