The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-12-25
WASHINGTON.
PROTECTION OF coLoREp 1ARoprps

PROTECTION OF CoLoRED LABoRERs.
NEW YORK, Dec M.-Specas from Wash
lngtcn state that late orders received at the
War Department from the headquarters of the
Fourth Military District state that Gen. Ord
has ordered boards of arbitration to be ap-
pointed for the protection of laborers, when
asked for by laborer, who complains that his
share of the crop is wrongfully withheld from
MN, or when called for by landlord or merch-
ant, complaining under oath that the planter
mas fraudulently assigned 10 the laborer an
under-share of the crop, to the INJURY OF the
complainant. General Ord gives full instruc-
tions for the guidance of such boards in reach
ing decision.
FINANCIAL.
Several members of the WAYS and Means
and Finance Committees have been in consul
tation with the Secretary of the Treasury re-
Gently in regard to finance matters, Senators
Morgan and Sherman have had long inter-
views with him with view to elciting his
views on the sherman measure. The Secreta-
~ has not indicated his ideas on the subject
fully, but he is known to favor that portion of
the scheme relative TO the foreign loan In
regard to the four million proposition he has
very grave doubts, and is not at all convir ced
OF its ACCESSIBILITY at the present time He is
understood to believe that law of that char
acter would interfere with the banks and
cause a large withdrawal of their deposits
From the conversations of different members
OF Congress, it is inferred that majority of
the House is in favor of taxing the bonds, and
1t may be confidently stated that bill looking
TO that object will be introduced almost imme-
dlately after the holidays The proposition
meets with general appreciation, and there is
no doubt OF the passage of such measure.
a NEW PENALTY.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 24.-Judge DIN insti-
tuted new order of things in the Criminal
Court to-day. A man was convicted OF as
saut and battery, and it was proved that he
committed the act while under the influence of
liquor Judge Olin then sentenced him to be
confined for ten days in jail, and at the same
time required him to sign pledge that after
his release he would not drink any intoxicat-
ing liquors for one year.
ARRIVAL OF A. H. STEPHENS
Alex. FL. Stephens arrived to-day on his way
to Philadelphia, where he has decided to adj
dress the Constitutional Association on the
state of the country.
THE FREEDMEN's BUREAU.
Gen. Miles, of Massachusetts, Commissioner
of the Freedmen's Bureau in North Carolina.
has written q letter to Gen. Howard urging
the continuance of the Freedmens Bureau
In regard to the need of the freedmen for pro-
lection he says that Occupying still the little
slave huts under the shadow of their former
masters mansions by sufferance, and without
the protecting arm of the Government, they
are almost as much within the grasp of their
ola owners as in the days of slavery" He
says further that the withdrawal of the bur-
eau created for the protection, gui lance and
elevation of four millions of people from the
degradation of slavery to the dignity of citi-
zenship is a matter of very grave Importance,
and he thinks it never should be contemplated
until the colored race is able to sustain itself
IN the position in which the Government has
placed it.
ANNEXATION SENTIMENT IN THE WEST INDIES.
The news received from the West Indies by
telegraph and otherwise is regarded in dplo-
matte circles as indicating readiness and
earnestness throughout all the islands for i'm
mediate annexation to the United States.
THE HOLIDAYS.
Nearly all the executive departments closed
to-day at noon, and will not be opened for the
transaction OF business until Thursday morn
ing. or -t7 d