The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-01-22

the department. The Democratic commit
tees ranking matter would not exceed one
tenth of this total The advocate of the
franking privilege proceeds by other calcula-
tions to still further reduce the loss, which
the Chronicle estimates at over three mil
lions, to $5770, and assets that the postage
on all printed government matter sent free
by mail will not exceed $4,000. His state
ments do not, of course, cover the abuses OF
the frank by the sending of other than au-
thorized matter.
THE BILL FOR THE REVIVAL OF AMERICAN
COMMERCE.
Mr.. Shellabarger's bill for the revival of
American commerce came up in the House
by special assignment Tuesday, and will prob
ably occupy two or three days. The leading
features are the establishment of a commits
sion, consisting Olive cabinet officers. for tbe
collection and distribution of statistics of
commerce, and the payment Of bounties at a
speclfed rate per ton on one hundred thou
sand tons Of shipping, to be constructed an
nually for live years. The bill is made up
WIN That submitted by Secretary Boutwell,
last session as basis, and during the several
stages OF progress and perfection in the COM
mlttee, has absorbed several other schemes
tor the same general purpose. Mr.. Shella-
oarger has prepared an able and elaborate
| speech, which he will deliver tomorrow, on
the bill, and it is expected that Messrs
Dawes and Garfield, with Potter and one or
two other prominent Democrats, will sustain
| the measure.
| THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE GENEVA AWARD.
Judge Poland's bill for the distribution of
the Geneva award is his own, and proposes
| the disposal of the whole matter by a man.
moth suit in some United States circuit
court, to be designated by the alto ney-Gen-
eral. The bill contemplates suit in equity,
brought by the United States for the recovery
ofthe entire amount; all claimants, whether
citizens or insurance companies, to be made
defendants, and awarded their just proper
ton of the total amount recovered. To NOR
NOW the House judiciary committee expects
to complete the consideration OF General
Buffers Alabama bill, and to return it to the
House with long accompanying report
THE PROPOSED NEW sYNDICATE-RIvALRY
Secretary Boutwell,, with L. P. Morton, J.
p. Morgan, and perhaps one or two bankers
of New York city, will have further hear
ing before the ways and means committee
tomorrow in reference to the pro nosed new
syndicate. A contest has arisen for the priv
ilege of handling and disposing OF the
next instalment of the loan, between an as
ISOLATION headed by Jay Cooke & Company
with whom the Rothschilds of London are cor
nected, and L. p Morton & Company, who
have the Earrings of London pledged to thei
cooperation and support. The proposition
of the two rivals as to terms are understood
not to be essentially different, and the Secre
tary will lay both before the committee o
; ways and means for whatever action the.
may wish to take. Mr.. Boutwell,, it is stated
has substantially decided to place only on
hundred millions with the new syndicate, bu
the Morgan party has submitted proposition
to Cooke and his associates to combine ant
take the whole three hundred millions re
naming of the five per cents.