The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-05-05
Washington News and Gossip.
THE NEW CURRENCY BILL.

THE NEW CURRENCY BILL
The Senate Finance Committee have entirely
completed new currency bill, Its provisions
are understood to be free banking with 80 per
cent retirement Of greenbacks, the retirement
to begin at the present volume of the currency,
per cent of the reserve to be kept in the Treas
ury for the purpose of redemption, and specie
payment to be resumed in 879.
THE DISTRICT SENSATION.
The sensation for this week will probably be
the developments connected with the alleged
ROBBERY of safe in the office of Harrington, act
ing-assistant United States attorney for this
District, the secretary of the District govern
ment, and one of the counsel in the pending
investigation. The circumstan ces connected
with the affair have formed the subject of two
reports Ivy Major Richards, chief of police, to
the board of metropolitan police Major
Richards set forth that he was called upon by
Mr.. Harrington and informed that he had rea-
son to believe that the safe in his Office was to
be broken open on a certain night, and that he
desired the presence of Major Richards to work
up the case, Mr.. Harrington insisting that all
the operations in connection with it should be
carried on strictly in accordance with his d.
A0SCiohos AhC ACPolb oCtdlIo Oil ouC OilCunloehu-
ces which came to Mr.. Richards knowledge
during the nighc, the parties present, the part
played by each, aid the final arrest of the sup
posed robber upon the steps of the residence of
Columbus Alexander who represents the me-
moralsts each day before the committee. The
publication of this report of Major Richards has
been strongly urged upon the board of metropo
Titan police, but thus far they have insisted on
keeping it intirely secret The members of this
board are appointed by the President, confirmed
by the senate and paid by the government The
only known reason for further concealment on
their part is to shield the District government
and to protect the parties to this meta rlous plot.
Mr.. Alexander hail first been approached on
several occasions, and Informed by them that
books and papers OF great value to the memo
rialists in the investigation could be obtained
by them. The design of the plot seems to have
been to crminate Alexander, and had it sue
ceeded the theory of those who projected it
seems to have been that it would have dis
graced the memoralsts before Congress and
the country. The fact that eeveral of those en-
gagged occupy official positions in the District
government and courts, and that the board of
metropolitan police is paid by, and is respon-
sibe to, Congress. and that the whole plot was
designed to defeat an investigation ordered by
Congress, gives the whole affair grave aspect.
THE TREASURY PORTFOLIO.
1t is rumored that the President has invited
Hon. Elihu B. Washburn, who has for some
years past been the United States Minister at
Paris, to return here and accept the portfolio
of the Treasury Department at his earliest con-
venience.
SEWING MACHINE PATENTS.
The debate in the honse on a private bill in
volving patent showed that the temper of
that body is very strongly averse to extending
patents applying to sewing machines and sup
posed to be owned by any of the sewing machine
companies.
THE LAND GRANT
The House Committee on Public Lands will
report adversely on Mr. Pages bill, proposing
to restore to public domain the lands heretofore
granted but not yet patented to the Atlantic and
Pacific Railroad Company. The Interior De-
partment informs the committee that the grant
has not, as assumed by the bill, been forfeited,
but that the railroad company have yet mar
gin of time within which to comply with the
conditions of the charter in regard to the con-
struction of specified portions of their road.