Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1869-01-27
Washington City Gossip.

The House has passed bin regulating
the frsnking privilege-the abuse of which
has been a source Of much annoyance and
swindling to the postoffiee department. 1t
was agreed to prohibit the use of tdc sinitte
stamps, each member being required to sign
his own name in the future. The decisive
majority by which II passed-l26 TO 30
shows the earnestness OF the House in ar
resting this evil.
Congress having expressed doubts as TO
the authority of the President to issue his
! late Amnesty proclamation. Mr.. Johnston
jastifes 1t upon the constitutional rights of
the Executive, and insists that the act was
IN strict accordance with Judicial exposi-
tons and IN conformity to preeedents estab-
ilshed by Washington in '95, and by other
Presidents since" The Precedent of '95
has always been quoted, relied upon and
conformed to by Mr.. Johnsons predeces-
sors. That precedent, by its terms, express
Is excluded from amnesty every person who
staudcth indicted or convicted of any trea-
son, mispriSon of treason or other offenses
against the United States'' The present
Executive is the first to claim the preroea-
tive Of pardoning such offenders after indict-
ment found and before conviction So much
for his precedent! His constitutional law is
not regarded as Of any greater validity
The Reciprocity treaty between the UnI-
ted States and Canada, which has been ab-
rogated, seems to have been an Improbable
affair for this country. \ special Commits
sioner of the Treasury reI orts that while
the old reciprocity treaty was in force the an
nual revenue derived from Canadian impor-
tations did not exceed $1,000, while the
exports from the States yielded 81, 500, 900
TO the Canadian government Since the ab-
rogation of the treaty the T. s Govern
nent has collected $1,000, 600 annually in
duties from the Canadian trade There will
be no more reciprocity on the old basis.
Romors are again current, that Mr.. Sew
ard is again negotiating for the purchase of
Cuba from Spain. This purchase would be
a rather dubious one just now, as the title is
in litigation and awaiting the arbitra-
ment of arms So don't be in hurry, Mr.
Seward.
n number of so called confessions of par
ticipants in the abduction and assassination
conspiracy, - are being published, in which
the parties deny all knowledge of the intend
ed murder of President Lincoln, but ac-
knowledge their completely in conspiracy
for his abduction and delivery into the hands |
OF the rebels. These confessions" are all
fudge, and gotten up as the basis for an ex-
cuse for the pardon of Mudd and Surratt by
President johnson.
A new finance bill has been introduced |
into the Senate The bill legaIizes gold con
tracts, applies the proceeds of customs du-
ties to the payment of the interest of the
debt in the form of sinking fand.
authorizes the issue OF ten-forty FIVE per
cent. bonds to be exempt from taxation, au-
thorizes the issue OF GOLD demand notes to
the extent of the coin and bullion in the I
Treasury, and gives authority to the nation
al banks to issue sixty five per cent of the
amount of their bonds deposited in the
Treasury in notes payable on demand in
coin.
Senator Wilson has introduced a bill to
reorganize the grades of general officers in
the United States army, which provides that
there shall be one general, three lieutenant
generals, and nine major generals The
grade Of brigadier general to be abolished
except when held by chiefs of staff depart
men;s and chief of staff of the General of
the Army