The Portland daily press., 1864-02-18

was referred to a committee OF Mass. Print
ers, and though they differed from all the
Portland printers, proposals were still invited
upon the old indefinite basis, with no addition
al and specific definition of what a token is,
and bids were made upon different interpreta-
tons Of the matter. | am sure that the bid
ders In Portland understood just double by
token that was understood by the successful
bidders, and are therefore made TO appear TO
charge one dollar for the same amount OF
press-work that the State printers will gel
only eighty cents for when the exact truth is,
your Portland printers proposed to do just
double the amount for one dollar that the
State will pay eighty cents for under the con-
tract; Or Portland proposed, for S10o, to do
what viii cost the State SLIGO. / am told that
the contract as a tchole is very reasonable,
and even lower than at the Portland bids, but
in this thing of press-work there is an excep-
ton, growing perhaps out of the ambiguity of
terms, and this ambiguity Mr.. Cram proposed
to have removed, so that in all future propos-
ais bidders may know exactly for what they
are bidding. The question will come up to-
day, but doubt if the clear sunshine of plain
Anglo Saxon succeeds in dispensing the mis-
ty cloud OF professional technicalites.
The arguments in the Bristol contested cleo
tion case came of yesterday. Judge Blaney,
the sitting member, appeared pro see, and
Hon. Joseph Baker Of this city, appeared for
the contestant, Mr.. Poland. Judge Blaney
made very clear and perspcuous argument
and considered vast amount of historical
and documentary testimony previously intro
duced to show that Muscongus Island is a
part and parcel Of the town of Bristol, and
not-an incorporated island as is contended by
the contestant. Mr. Baker met this argument
by the letter of the act OF incorporation,
though the evidence was before the commit
tee that the island was considered portion Of
the town in 1915, by the action Of Massachu-
sets. will not venture to predict the result
in this case. A few days will settle it. 1t in
wolves essentially the same questions consid-
cred in the Lincoln senatorial case yet the COM
mittee have no right TO be governed but by the
facts and testimony before them, and in no
wise by the decision of the Senate. If the
law is Interpreted as rigidly as in that case
the decision is not difficult to predict. If the
law is interpreted with a degree of liberality
which | find some of the members consider
not unreasonable, different result may be
reached. However it may turn, am conf
dent the committee desire to do their duty,
and to do justice to all the interests and par
ties concerned.
Last evening Rev. DR.. Teat, U. S. Consul
TO Gottenbnrg, Sweden, gave very interest
ing lecture in the Hall of the House. on the
importance of encouraging immigration to
this Stale from the Scandinavian States, and
showing the character, the industrial habits,
the frugality and the intelligence of the peo-
pie of Sweden and Norway, large nambers of
whom are very anxious to emigrate to this
country. DR.. Tef's remarks upon the fertili-
ty OF Sweden, and the high state of cultiva-
ton OF the soil, were exceedingly interesting.
The latitude is fifteen degrees further North
than Maine, taking the mere latitude of the
two countries, and yet population Of $780,
600 men, women and children not only sup
port themselves, raise their own bread and
sustain their locks and herds, but export
100000 bushels OF wheat annually. In Scot
land only had DR.. T. seen the soil cultivated
to the same high degree. The people are spe-
cially educated 10 particular calling in that
they are very proficient, while in all else they
are Ignorant. have no time or space to fol-
low up this matter further at the present
time, but trust the Press win be enriched
soon by many facts in relation to this inter-
esting matter. SPURwINK.