The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-12-18
Current Notes.

The Springfield Republican thinks that
Congressman Dawes has been more useful
public man than Congressman E. X. Hoar.
The Louisville Courier-JournGl continues
its complaints regarding the prevailing
ruffianism in Kentucky. The people are in
greater danger of murder and robbery than
its early settlers when the Indians infested
the country. 1t says that were 1t not for a
few volunteer militia companies who have
held the outlaws in check, the disorder
would be still greater. Kentucky needs
school houses and compulsory education.
The Springfield Republican hears of Gen.
Buffers saying there are four scalps he
means to have at his belt before the close OF
the session-said scalps appertaining at pres
ent to Messrs. Blaine, Garfield, Phelps and
Foster. A calumny probably: bat it will do
no harm for these gentlemen to keep an eve
out. -..-
Mr.. Smith-he is from South Carolina
his bill to refund the cotton tax to the south
ern states in liquidation of their estate debts
is very ingenious. He would refund to each
state in the proportion in wfficn claims are
held by the citizens thereof, he would pay off
debt contracted prior to 1861 first. then that
contracted subsequent to May, 1865; and il
the amount going to any state exceeded its
debt he would constitute the rest school
fund. For ingenuity this is nice, but for pub
lie policy it won't go.-Sprinafeld RepttbH-
can.
The New York World inquiries why Gen.
Butler and Judge Kelley have not invented a
convertible congressman. II strikes US that
IN roundabout way the former gentleman
has brought about such an invention.
A Washington special to the Boston Herdld
accuses the Democrats of taking a captious
course on the appropriation bills. Some Of
them seem to manifest fear that the Repub-
licans may rob them of future appropriations
by making reforms this winter, and conse-
quently they throw every objection in the
way Of the plans Of retrenchment suggested
by the Republicans.
Secretary Brlstow puts the fact clearly In
the following passage from his annual report:
''This convertible paper currency begets the
delusion that the remedy for private pecu-
MARY distress is in legislative measures, and
makes the people unmindful of the fact that
the true remedy is in greater production and
less spending, and that real prosperity comts
only from individual effort and thrift"
Hdrper's Weekly thinks that ''no more
preposterous proposition could now be mads''
than that of monster scheme of "internal
improvements" with view to benefting the
Republican party. 1t says that ''it is sug-
gestion for jobbery and corruption on the
largest scale," and that "to propose such a
| scheme as means of restoring the Republic
| can party, is to offer to burn down the house
| to cook the dinner.
Mr. Blaine made an uneommonly good
selection for the committee on affairs in Lou
ina and the South. They are all men of
arked ability, and Of such character and
putation as will command the confidence OF
7ngress and the country. Mr.. George +.
aar, the chairman, Mr.. Wheeler of New
rk, Mr.. Phelps of New Jersey, and Mr..
I ter of Ohio will not seek solely or chiefly
/ ~ ind facts or report measures which can be
| turned TO party advantage.-Worcester Spy.