Year: 1879

on q nnanclal plalIOTln. 1HeI say lhS
bloody shirt is the winning card, and
that there is enough more left in it to
run a Presidential campaign. The pre-
valent theory among the Democrats is
that the Sherman-Hayes programme is
TO keep the finance question IN the
foreground and TO crowd the bloody
shirt out as much as possible, the OBJ
iect being q bid for Southern support
also TO occupy the public mind with
the discussion OF policies whereof Sher-
man is naturally the central figure,
and to exclude the shirt, which is
thought TO be the material upon which
the Grant booms feeds. Sherman will
succeed, in measure, in his cunning
scheme, because the Democrats are
ready to meet him, and at the same
time are adverse to sectional discussion.


All at Sea.


1t is difficult, and now would be the
merest speculation, to attempt to fore.
shadow the future. There is a general
disposition to hurry up the business OF
the session, and close it out. This, how
ever, will hardly be done. If the Re-
publican National Committee at its
meeting next month fixes the date OF
holding the Convention early in May,
and the Democrats hold theirs IN the
same month, then Congress can readily
adjourn in time to let the members get
home TO read TO their constituents the
Declaration of independence on the 4th
of July next. The chances, though,
are that it will be August be-
fore the great National nul-
sance is scattered. All talk OF the
revision of the tariff is bosh. While
Fernando Wood, The Chairman of the
Wavs and Means Committee, may favor
a tariff agitation-for it would only be
that without result-he can not get
votes enough in his Committee TO agree
on any bill looking TO such revision. 1t
is reasonably and confidently expected,
too, that the efFervescent Southern men,
bers will pursue a course OF inactivity,
and be contcnted for the present to re-
strain their oratory and bOmbast, which
i'm the extra session did so much to help
roll up Republican majorities last fall.
The Captain-General scheme for Grant
will not succeed. 1t is talked OF good
deal, principally by Democrats, but with
out much seeming seriousness.


Mississippi Jetties.


WASHINGTON, December 2.-The Cab
met session to-day was devoted almost
exclusively to a further consideration
of the Mississippi river jetty matter.
The question at issue was whether un-
der the law Eads is entitled to a full
payment for the last quarter, the
channel of the river during about twen-
ty days OF that time having been more
or less obstructed, owing TO the proper
depth not being maintained. 1t was
finally concluded upon the recOmmen-
dation of the Attorney-General that
Eads shall receive $4,000, the amount
of his claim, subject to pro rata reduc-
ton for the time during which the OBJ
struCtion existed.


Financial Legislation.


WASHINGTON, December 2.-Senator
Carpenter will introduce the following
resolution tomorrow:


WHEREAS, The resumption of specie
payment, the circulation OF gold, silver
and greenbacks as lawful money of the
United States under the existing laws,
and reasonable expectations that the
present condition of the finances OF the
country will not be disturbed by pre-
cipitate legislation, have been followed
bv the restoration of business confidence,
the revival of all the industries of the
country, and the Inauguration of gen.
ersl prosperity; and


WHEREAS, The stability OF the finan-
cial policy is essential to the successful
conduct of business affairs; therefore,
he il


Resolred, That in the opinion of the
Senate, any legislation during the pres
ent session of Congress changing the
existing system of finance would be in
expedient.


Democratic Senatorial Caucus.


WASHINGTON, December 2.-The Dem
ocratic Senators met in caucus this morn
ing. There was large attendance,
Senator Wallace, chairman of the caucus
announced that the meeting had been
called as usual at the beginning OF the
session, to consider the subject of revis'
ing Democratic membership of commit
tees prior to reappointment by the
Senate. No vacancies having been
created by death or resignation in the
Democratic membership during the
recess, and there being no applications
presented to-diS' or exchanges, it was
resolved that the majority representa-
ton shall remain as fixed at the extra
session, and the chairman was directed
to notify the Republicans that the com
mittee positions occupied by the late
Senator Chandler are at the disposal OF
the minority. 4 somewhat general dis
cussion then ensued concerning the dis
tributiOn of Senate patronage. Several
Senators complained that it had not
been equitably distributed, and said
that when officers of the Senate were
spoken to on the subject they referred
to the caucus resolutions of last year,
which bound them to retain certain en-
ployes except in the event of misCon'
duct, and contended that with the re.
mainder OF the patronage they had
done the best they could.


The question OF amending the
resolutions was then broached
There was no disposition man
iiested to interfere with that by
which Senate officers were required &c
retain all disabled Union soldiers that
were on roll, but it was remarked that
there are still employed by the Senate
number of men placed in office by Re
publiCans who were never in the army
or in any capacity, and desire was eI
pressed by some OF the members oil
the caucus to replace them with
Democrats. After some discussion
resolution directing inquiry
into the nature of the instructions giver
the caucus of last session, and severa
other resolutions, providing specifically
for the retention of Captain Basset'
and various other old employees, IN case
anv further changes are made, were j e
ierred to the Caucus Committee on Or
ganization, created last March, to be re
ported on hereafter.


Republican Caucus.


WASHINGTON, December 1.-The Re
publican Caucus Committee have ar
ranged that the late Senator Chandler
place on the Committee on Commerce
be assigned to Senator Baldwin, anc
that the other committee vacancy
caused by Chandler's death, namely
upon the Committee on Naval Affairs
shall he filled by Mr.. Ferry. Another
change in the minority representation
upon the Senate committees will bC