The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-02-06
Washington Matters.

THE WEST INDIA CUSTOMS ANNOYANCE.
The House Tuesday afternoon adopted Mr..
Lyl-ch's resolution, suggested by the COM
plants of prominent merchants Of Portland,
Boston and New York, aid designed to re-
lieve difficulties and distractions in the west
India trade. The foreign affairs committee
will act upon the matter at its next meeting,
and will no doubt report favorably. The reso-
luton with the preamble is, in full, as 1ol-
lows:
Whereas The customs regulations prevailing
in the ports of the island of Cuba, as execuIeu
bv the customs authorities thereof are annoy ~,
ing and onerous to merchants anu enapJJ -
| of the United States engaged "a lo 80 anu
| commerce with said island, su9IectlnS Inelh 10
the payment OF uh]uso hie' ~ ~
Whereas By reason of conflicting construc-
tions of The law by officers at the several ports
in said island, it is lmpossiD 9 10 comply with
their requirements Vi a'oio 'he penaity OF their
violation; therefore,
Pesolged That the President be requested 70
cali the attention of the Spanish governmert
to the grievance complained of, and to take
such action as he may deem exp edient in the
premises to remedy the same.
POSTAL CARDS.
The Postmaster-Genelal has issued advcr-
tisements for bids for the new penny postal
cards. 1t is the intent IN of the Department
to have the cards ready for issue by the 1st f
May. 1t will be impossible to make the nee
essary arrangements sooner. The Postmaster
General has already received orders for the
new cards in such numbers as to lead him to
believe that hundred millions of them will
be used the first year. Meanwhile the House
to day assignedJTuesday of next week for
the consideration of the bill reducing letter.
postage to two cents. The feeling in favor of
this bill is very strong, especially since the
abolition of Thanking. Cheap postage, there
fore, has become merely a question OF time.
THE MOVEMENT FOR A SPRING SESSION.
The feeling which has been suspected for
some time in the House in favor of a spring
session manifested itself for the first time
Tuesday afternoon in opposition to motion
to limit general debate on the postal apppro-
priation bill, and later in an attempt to pre-
vent going into committee of the whole on
the bill and a refusal to agree either to eve
nin4 or morning sessions. General Butler
was the most prominent opponent of re-
striction of the time of debate, but the House
decided against him and would have insisted
on going on at once-w with business had not
the usual hour of adjournment arrived. Eve
ming sessions will probably begin next week
and the appropriation bills pushed as rapidly
as possible. BowGNs bill of six thous and
dollars for election expenses will probably be
reduced at least seventy-five per cent.
REPi EsENTATIvE sYPHER's CASE.
As soon as the evidence involving Repre-
sentiye Sypher, given Monday before the SEN
ate election committee by Mr.. Jacques, the
United States inspector of elections in Louisi
ana, can be written out and prepared, it will
be transmitted to the House, being certified
to the latter body under the same rule by
which the cases of Senators before the Pc
land Credit Mobiler committee were brought
to the notiae of the Senate. A number of
copies OF the blank affidavits used. as testified
to yesterday, have been obtained. with the
oath filed out and the signature attached and
attested, and ready for the insertion of any
name which might be agreed upon. There is
considerable teeiingin the House, ID prompt
action in Sypher's case is expected.
KANSAS POLITICS.
The new Senator from Kansas is not likely
to have an easy admission. The feeling that
he must have been a party to the suborna-
ton OF conspiracy. to which Pomeroy sue
cumbed, is strong among Senators. Facts
have come to light which do not justify the
encomiums ofgood character passed on him.
The testimony taken last summer by the
House judiciary committee against United
States District Judge Delahay contains a
statement, mode under oath by Mr. Ing lis,
senator elect, IN which he acknowledges hav-
ing paid $500 to Thomas A. Osborn, now
Governor of Kansas. Delahay's son-in-aw,
to procure for ingalls, an early Bankruptcy or.
der for case in which New York client of
ingalls, was a leading creditor. The order
was obtained. The daft on tine New York
man was, however, dshonored. Ingalls, re-
fused payment, and, on suit being threat
ened, notified the plaintiffs attorney that he
should plead non-payment because rendered
for corrupt purposes. When the sub-com-
mittee on the judiciary was in Kansas, ingalls,
was required and did testify to this. Judge
Bingham says that the statement was true
The Senare will ask for this testimony when
Mr.. ingalls, credentials are referred. Judge
Delahay, it is believed, will tender his resig-
nation to escape impeachment, otherwise in
eyitable