The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-04-04
Washington Matters.
ABSURD CANARDs EXPLODED.


Concerning various rumors that have lately
been current, ''Perley' says: Hi
Mr.. Sumner, we are told by a newspaper pub
lished here, will not speak to Mr.. Wilson, while
Boston paper announces that MIR. Wilson has
refused to speak to Mr.. Sumner for week
past. Yet the two Massachusetts, Senators
have spoken to each other, and are speaking to
each other every day. iFT--ls4ra asel
Senator Carpenter authorizes me to deny that
he is in any way contemplating, or that he has
contemplated, the arrest of Mr.. Sumner for re-
fusing to answer all the questions propounded
to him by the Committee on the Sale OF Arms,
and / have already given General Banks de-
NAL that he has been in any way consulted
about Mr.. Summers position as a witness or his
rights Senator. Mr.. Carpenter further all
thorizes me to say that MI. Sumner declined to
obey the subpoena or to testify word, nothing
would have been done against him, and he
would not have been brought before the Senate
as a contumacious witness. IL "raa4f
THE SIGNAL SERVICE APPROPRIATION. II,
The Appropriation Committee Tuesday de-
cided to report in favor of appropriating $685.
900 for the signal service corps for expenses of
the next fiscal yeor The amount appropriated
for the present year was $165, 900, and the adj
dional appropriation is required to extend the
weatherreports in compliance with the earnest
requests of boards of trade and prominent citi-
zens in different parts of the country. The de-
cision amounts to refusal by the committee
to allow the justice of the claim of the tele-
graph company for increased compensation for
sending the weather report dispatches. Mr..
Orion, President of the Western Union Tele-
graph Company, insisted upon having $3.50, 900
for the service, and as the 1926, 900 appropriated
must cover all the expenses of the signal SER
vice bureau and its agents, it follows that there
will be no money left to pay increased rates for
telegraphing, even if the Postmaster General,
who has the control of the matters, should be
disposed to favor the claim of the company. 81.
aIi MINISTER CURTIN AND THE BOILERS. 5
So far as can be ascertained here there does
not appear to be any substantial foundation for
the report that Minister Curtin is coming home
from Russia to take part in the political cam
paign against General Grant. Before taking a
step of this character, or even signifying his in
tention to do, it is reasonable to expect that
Mr.. Curtin would tender his resignation as
Minister, and this, it is learned, he has not
done. 1t is probable, however, that the story
owes its origin to the fact that Mr. Curtin is
coming home on leave of absence, which has
been construed as move on his part to enter
Ahoo eiAO Poiieioei CdoHpdBu dSdlut Tile present
administration, or more especially the re-elec-
ton of President Grant. I'll qe.res-...l,.-r 4. ga
- 53v sG.. BOND BILLS. g'als.-r s'f sFl,r
Secretary Boutwell, was before the Ways and
Means Committee Wednesday morning and
urged the introduction and passage of a bill, the
effect of which would be to require the nation
al banks to surrender the six per cent bonds
now held as security for circulation, and to take
in lieu thereof the four per cent bonds. The
committee will carefully consider the subject.
The Secretary also urges the passage of bill to
permit bonds to be registered and interest paid
in London Fatfr. ........, .e>
THE TARIFF.
Some protectionists are jubilant over the i'm
pending dead lock between the Senate and the
House on the tariff, which they think will pre-
vent any legislation on the subject at this sess-
ion, and thus insure continuance of high du-
ties; but the revenue reformers declare that
they will now pass tariff making greater re-
auctions on manufactured articles, but presery-
ing the income tax. '--"