Rensselaer Republican, Volume 14, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 March 1882 — WASHINGTON. [ARTICLE]

WASHINGTON.

A decision has just been rendered bv the Directors oftbe Mint regarding tbe habit of filling holes in\punehed coin, which will be of considerable interest. It is, in effect, that a coin once punched or mutilated can only be consider as bullion thereafter, even though the holes be filled with the same quality of metel. This will spoil what some jewelers have made quite a prosperous business of late. It is said that the Grand Jury will report indictments against Dorsey, Gardy and other Star Routers, perhaps to-day. An effert is making to give the Mississippi Committee primary jurisdiction of Mississippi river affairs instead of the Commerce Committee as heretofore. The river would fare much better. Representative White, the only Republican member from Kentucky, says the report about his supporting the Independents in that State, is untrue. It is generally conceded that the Shipherd Peruvian Company scheme is a great fraud. No importance is attached to Sliipherd’s sayings. Forty-four ropes have been received at the jail to hang Guiteau —one each from the Carolinas, New Hampshire, Vermont and California. Eight are of silk. Guiteau, though seeing mention of these in print, never speaks of them. The Warden has been offered SI,OOO by a showman lor the lot. Guiteau is sullen and very crabbed. He deprecates his sister’s letter to Mrs. Garfield. It is stated that Senator Edmunds’ name will be sent in in a few days to succeed Justice Hunt, lately retired. A bill authorizing the construction of a bridge across the Mississippi river at St. Louis was introduced in the House by Mr. Bland. The bridge is to open for the passage of boats, and „must permit any railroads desiring to Cross to do so at reasonable and uni- * form rates. The bridge is to be built at or near the Cbsia of Rocks.

Senators and Representatives from New Jersey unite in a letter to the President requesting him to review the findings of the court in the Fitz John Porter case, and asking that the latter be restored to the army. The Western Associated Press reporter asked Senator Voorhees about the story telegraphed from here recently to the effect that certain prominent Democrats, including Mr. Voorhes, Morgan, of Alabama, and Jere Black, were secretly scheming with Blaine to run Blaine and Voorhees as candidates for President and Vice President Q 4, and gi'-e tnem tne support of the Democratic party. Voorhees said the story was too absurd to deserve even the deniel, that there was nothing in it, and he did not pro]>ose to dignify it by taking any notice of it. Senator Morgan, of Alabama, said the whole thing was a fiction. He had seen Blaine twice in as as many months, and then only for a few minutes at a time, and no reference to polities was made in their conversation. Morgan said: “I don’t think Mr. Blaine would ever trust his political fortunes to-such Democrats as Voorhees, Jere Black and myself. 1 like Blaine very much personally, but he is not the man I would noninate for president. I believe in straight, unadulterated Democracy, and if I hail mj T way, I would place the party upon Democratic principles. I would relieve it of Tammany in New York, of readjusterism in Virginia, and of repudiation everywhere, and I would nominate firm and true Democrats like Thurman and Hendricks, or a number of others tha: could be named, for President.” Senator Morgan added that he did not believe in any political coalitions; that he would rather sutler defeat with a pure Democratic ticket and platform than to win victory by a coalition and mixture of principles. Among Democrats here this story is generally pronounced absurd aud laughed at, but there are a f w, comprising those who are not friendly to Blaine, who shake their heads, and say that if this story is not literally true, they believe that machinations looking to Democratic support of Blaine in the next Presidential canvass are going on. Secretary Hunt received a letter today from Mr. Hoffman, at Si. Petersburg requesting the relief of the expedition in search of the Jeannette survivors, and stating that the reason why Engineer Melville was placed in command of the party was that Lieut. Danenhower was physically unable to attend to the duties of thejofllce,* as, in addition to having ‘lost his eyesight, his terrible afflictions had caused temporary aberration of mind. It is now believed that Danenhower has fully recovered his reason, and that his general health, as well as that u>f the other members of his party, is being gradually restored.

William F. Tucker, of Illinois, is to be appointed Paymaster in the United States army, vice Colonel Rochester promoted to be Paymaster General, and Forrest H. Hathaway was appointed Captain and Quartermaster, vice General Rucker promoted to be Quartermaster General. General Rucker entered formally upon his new duties, Monday. Paymaster General Rochester has been ordered to Washington to assume the puties of his new office. General Grant is expected at the White House as a guest of the President for a few days.