The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-12-17
NEW YORK.
ANOTHER DEFALCATIoN.


New YORK, Dec 16-This afternoon an
elderly gentleman named Geo. Dunning, who
for many years has been employed in the Sub
Treasury building was brought before Com
missioner Shields on a charge of embezzling
the sum of $4,000 at different times the
amount having been entrusted to him by debt
ors of the government. Dunning, it appears,
used to collect bills for the Sub Treasury and
the defalcation was discovered after an exam
nation of the books The defendant was held
in 500 900 bail to appear for examination next
Tuesday.
AMERICAN SHIPPING.
The. Chamber of Commerce to-day, after a
lengthy debate, adopted the resolutions of
majority of the committee on the decline of
American commerce, submitted two weeks
ago. which recommends to Congress to modify
the existing laws so that foreign built st Gamers
can be imported free of duty and privileged to
carry the American flag, provided they are
American owned and not to be employed in our
coastwise trade; that iron plates and such
other matters for the construction of steamers
as may be deemed advisable be admitted free
of duty; that on all ship stores procurable in
bond drawback be returned as upon goods
shipped for sale to foreign lands, and that am
pie subsidies be granted to lines of steamers
built in American yards; to the end that
competition with powerful foreign corporations
may be sustained.
THE SPANISH GUNBOATS.
The Spanish gunboats are now expected to
sail to- morrow.
STEAMER ASHORE.
The British steamship Grecan from Palermo
for New York, went ashore last night during
the fog at Jones Inlet. The Atlantic Subma-
rine Wrecking Co. have contracted to save the
wreck and cargo.
THE SARATOGA CONVENTION.
SARATOGA, Dec. 16-When the Railroad
Conference adjourned last evening the commit
tee requested a list of the delegates present, and
their names were handed in. Those present
were from Portland, Me-, Danbury, N. H.,
Boston, Mass, Rutland, VT, Whitehall, Fort
Ann, Warrensburg, Greenwich, Glen's Falls,
Schuylkil Saratoga Springs, Hadley, North
vile, Russia and Ohio, Herkimer County,
Johnstown, Broomville and Oceola, Lewis
County, Redfield, Oswego County; nearly one
hundred in all. On re assembling this morn
ing Mr.. Ames gave the substance of the resolu-
ton adopted at Oswego under which the con-
ference is held. They were instructed to take
measures for organizing a company to build a
railroad east from OSwego and to ascertain adj
vantaces of certain routes. The meeting was
taken up mostly by speeches in reference to the
advantages of the various routes presented
Among the speakers were Charles Chaplin and
w. Fl. Taft of Whitehall, Gen. Batcheler of
Saratoga, and Edward Crane of Boston. The
Oswego committee have been in consultation
all the afternoon. 1t is thought they will take
preliminary steps to organize corporation for
a road east from Oswego, in this State, to strike
Saratoga or some spot north of it,
ATTEMPT TO DESTROY THE SPANISH GUNBOATs
An attempt was made tonight to destroy
the Spanish gunboats, by a party of Cuban
was given by one of the party to the authori-
ties in time to enable the latter to adopt the
necessary measures to defeat any attempt
made.