Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-12-21


recommends that Congress appropriate $3.50 tt
pay the Modoc war claims Of the State Of Oregon
and of the State of California in accordance with
the report made by General Hardie on the basis oil
government prices.
Important Decision.
The Secretary of the Interior has decided that
10 lands shall. be patented to the Union Pace
or Central Pacific Railroads, under the Congress
ional grants, until they pay the cost of the sur
veys of lands heretofore patented to them. The
lands on which these arrearages are due, were pa
tented under the department ruling Of November
8, 1866, which has been abrogated in consequence
Of the decision rendered by the Supreme Court to
the effect that the Pacific Railroad must pay the
cost Of the survey prior to the issuance Of pa
| tents.
| The Post-oifice department to-day made per-
| manent contract with the Wexford Railroad and
| times per week, between Newport and Wexford,
| K. l., at $500 per month for three years.
The Pacific Mail Investigation.
December 20. The following is the concluding
portion Of the testimony before the committee on
ways and means, of James d. Smith, a director of
! the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, at the time
| the subsidy question was pending before Congress,
| extracted from the official report
By Mr.. Kasson.-After the subsidy measure
| passed was there no communication made to the
| executive committee or board of expenses by the
| agency at Washington
Ans.-There never was any.
Question, by Mr.. Stockwell-Or any one else !?
A.-Never, Sir. 1t never was mentioned to the
board at all, and did not hear of it until good
many months afterward.
Q.-You never heard of any voucher among
the papers presented to any officer of the company
touching the agency disbursements connected
with Washington
Al never did, Sir.
BY Mr.. kelley.-When was your attention first
called to this sub ject of the alleged expenditure
for the procurement of the subsidy
Al cannot state the exact time, but it was
months after we were discussing with some of the
largest what we should better do With it, and the
first ever knew of the matter heard of it pub
licly on the street-that there had been large
amount eXpended-and went to look into it, and
It became question before the board that some
body should look into it and see who was account
for it. l forgot the exact date, but the resolution
would show
Q.-State the question that arose among YOU
Alt came out upon the street that MIR. Stock
well had spent very large amounts of the compa-
MES money in some way in obtaining the subsidy,
but the date can't now recall.
Q.-About what date
Al think good while afterwards any way.
Dwell what was the question that arose
among you Was it to how the money had been
expended or WHAT
Al think that the first shape that it took was
to refer the facts to the counsel of the company to
see what we should do to hold whoever had spent
this money to legal account, so that we should
proceed in regular orderly and legitimate man
ner.
Q.-Then the sum total claimed to have been ex-
pended in that way was surprise to the board of
directors!
A.-Uttery and entirely SO to every man Of them.
have talked to every man of them, and there
was not one of them that ever dreamed of it.
Senatorial Caucus.
At the caucus Of the republican Senators to-day,
several of the caucus COMMITTEES made reports.
While no formal action was taken regarding south
ern affairs there was unanimous expression on THAI
point that all citizens of that section must be pro-
tected in their lawful rights. Some Senator sug-
gested that there should be an increase of the
army for that purpose, while others were of the
opinion that improved militia arrangements would
better secure the protection, while being less OBJ
jectonable than the regular military force and
more in accordance with the spirit of our institu-
tons. The question was adjourned to the future
but early caucus. The caucus committee on
Southern affairs will not make any Recommended
ton with regard to Arkansas, until the committee
appointed by the House shall have made q report
to that department. and therefore the Arkansas
question was not discussed. There was a dindis-
position to take action relative to the Kellogg gov
eminent, as to the question of admitting Pinch
back: 1t was said that there were questions pend
ing before the committee on privilege and cleo
tons affecting him, which should be settled before
discussing the propriety of giving him vacant
seat in the Senate belonging to louisiana.
Most of the time of the caucus was consumed
in the consideration of the finance question, re-
port having been made by the committee of eleven
on the subject through its chairman Senator Thrus-
man. The debate took wide range, but all who
spoke expressed the opinion that something was
necessary to be done, and that therefore it was
the part OF wise craftsmanship for those present
to harmonic their views if possible with !the
committee of eleven before they brought their
report in.
The caucuses were divided in their views, sew
en- being for the report and four against it, but
finally on the motion of one of the four the
port was made unanimous, and after long dis
cusson adopted by the caucus.
The bill agreed upon will be reported at an ear
ly day to the Senate. According to the best at
tainable information, it provides for the resump-
ton of specie payment on Jan. LIST, 1879, for free
banking, for the retirement of eighty per cent of
the amount of the new National Bank notes is
al currency to be gradually Withdrawn and silver
coin in denominations of from five to fifty cents
to be issued in its place. The Secretary of the
Treasury is authorized to use the surplus coin in
the Treasury on and after the day fixed for re-
sumption, to redeem the legal tenders, and if
necessary TO sell bonds for the same purpose if the
amount Of specie is not sufficient.
Sudden Death.
Jefferson Rivers, son of the late John c. Rivers,
and one Of the proprietors of the Congressional
Globe, dropped dead in his house to-day from apo
plexy.
The funeral of Commodore VIM. b. Cushing
took place this afternoon from the Navy Yard.
The remains were escorted by three companies of
the First Regt. d. G., n. g. & A.. Battalion of Ma
rines to the Congressional Cemetery where they
were deposited in the vault and will hereafter be
removed to Annapolis for burial Many army and
navy officers were present
Weather Probabilities for To- Day.
For New England and the Middle States,
snow, followed by clearing and colder weather,
brisk northeast or northwest winds and rising
barometer.