The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-04-24
Washington.

A Washington dispatch says: :" In conse
quence Of the recent statement that certain
bounty laws have been lately passed by Con
gress, the Second Auditors Office is flooded by
letters Of inquiry and requests for blanks fol
application. Up to the present time no bounty
law has been passed by this Congress-"
The Postmaster General has sent com
munication to the Postal Committee of the
House Of Representatives advocating the
passage of a law to compel the payment OF
postage on all newspapers.
The President, in response to the appeal of
Gov. Kellogg for relief for the sufferers from
the overhows in Southern rivers, says that,
Congress being in session, he does not feel
authorized to order Government aid, az was
done in the cases of Chicago and Shreveport
He twill, however, send the dispatch to the
Louisiana delegation, and il resolution is
passed by Congress authorizing it, he will ex-
ert every authorized means to avert suffering
from the disaster which has overtaken the
citizens of Louisiana"
The Civil Service Commission have made
report to the President in which an ap-
preparation of $25, 900 is asked for to defray
the necessary expenses of the continuance Of
the reform.
NJ. Bartholdi, the French minister, and
Postmaster-G General Creswell have agreed
upon the basis of a. postal treaty between
France and the United States, which will es-
tablsh an international letter rate of nine
cents or 80 centimes for each half-ounce in
this country, or 10 grammes in France each
country to retain the postage collected there
in.
The bill reported to the Senate from the
Committee on Military Affairs to equalize the
bounties Of soldiers who served in the late
war provides that there shall be paid to every
honorably discharged non-commissioned Off
GER, private soldier, musician, artifcer, and
wagner, including those borne on the rolls as
slaves, who served the United States in the
war of the rebellion, the sum of SS.33t for all
his time of service between April ~, 1861, and
May g. 1865, or, in case Of volunteer, up to
the time of the muster out of the volunteer
organization to which he belonged. In case
of the death of any such person, payment is
to be made to his widow and children. Any
bounties heretofore received from the United
CldIte, VI pbdNO, arc W Dc uCuuSbcu lipui
the allowance hereby authorized. No bounties
shall be paid to substitutes or to persons dis
charged as minors. No attorney shall be al
lowed on pain of fine and imprisonment, to
receive more than $40 for prosecuting any
claim under the foregoing provisions.
Reports received by the Department of
Agriculture indicate that the quality of the
winter-wheat crop is far above the average,
and the yield more abundant than for many
years past.
The report of the Window Transportation
Committee, recently submitted to the Senate,
has been printed. The committee submit
that the commerce of the country demands
the construction Of three trans-continental
transportation lines from the Mississippi river
to the Atlantic seaboard, which might prop
erly receive Government aid: one ria the
lakes, one in the central, and the third in the
southern, section of the country, and they are
of opinion that these should be water
routes. On the question of the right
of Congress to charter railroad COM
panies whose lines run across States that will
not themselves grant the charters, the ma
jority of the committee are of the opinion
that Congress has such right. They urge
that means should be adopted to improve
the navigation of the Ohio and Mississippi
rivers.
Land Office Commissioner Drummond has
resigned.
Both houses of Congress have passed the
bill authorizing the Wsr Department to issue
rations to sufferers by the Southwestern
floods. No relief will be extended after the
LIST Of September next.
Political.
The Republican State Convention of Illinois
has been called to meet at Spring OH
June 81.
The farmers of Oregon recently met at
Salem and nominated candidates for Congress,
Governor and other State officers.
The deadlock in the Massachusetts Legis- |
lature has been brought to an end by the |
election of Gov. William b. Washburn to the |
vacancy created by Mr.. Summers death, all of |
Mr. Hoar's supporters and majority of Mr..
Dawes casting their votes for him. The
and final ballot was az follows
149; Curtis, GA Dawes, &c;
Adams IL Loring, A Phillips, 1 Whittier,
Clifford /.
The announcement of the election of Gev.
to succeed Sumner caused no little
excitement among Massachusetts, people in
says correspondent. OF the
Steven Republicans from the Bay State, only
our, viz the Hoar brothers, Gooch and John
NJ s. Williams, are pleased at tho result.
The usual charges Of fraud and corruption
we're made, and some denounce Washburn in
severe terms for accepting the position.
General.
Louis Riel, the Manitoba rebel, has been
expelled from the Canadian Parliament.
1t is reported from California that the noto-
nous bandit Vasquez and his band have been
'aptured
Foreign.
The Spanish authorities in Cuba have sem
enced to death an American named Dockery.
IN agent who was at Havana on business in
connection with the settlement of property
aim under the protection Of special
rcaty.
Another ocean steamer is reported lost
he French steamer Amerique, en- route from
Jew York to Havre- which sank when within