The Portland daily press., 1875-02-19
From the Maine State Press of February, IS, 1877
History of Seven Days.
The news for the week ending Wednesday
Might, Feb. I5th.

CONGRESS.
Thursday. minority report against the
admission of Pinchback to seat from Lousi-
ana was presented in the Senate. "A bill was
passed authorizing the President to appoint
commissioner to attend the international pene-
Tertiary congress. Mr. Hamlin presented
memorial of E. Staples and others, owners of
the bark Alvino of Searsport in this state, de-
stroyed by the Shenandoah, claiming cQmpen-
sation from the Geneva award. In the House
the important business was the new revenue
bill presented by Mr., Dawes from the commit
tee on ways and means. Mr.. Dawes supported
the measure in a long speech. He said if the
recent falling off in revenue ard customs re-
ceipts continue, there will be a deficiency of
$35,OO0,OOO at the end Of the year. 1t was
found impracticable to restore the tax on tea
and coffee for the reason that importers in an
ticipation of such tax had brought into the
country enough of these articles to last year.
He estimated that the receipts by the operation
of the bill would be increased about 37, 100000.
The Increase of tax is principally on whiskey
and tobacco. ! ~ - - t~A tFt4@f
Friday-The Senate refused to pass to a Sec
ond reading the Portland, Dalles and Salt Lake
railroad bill, Mr.. Frelinghuysen stating during
the debate that tie Senate railroad committee
had considered several subsidy schemes and
had resolved to report unfavorably upon all of
them. The District of Columbia bill was taken
up and discussed. The House spent The day
debating the revenue bill, Mr.. Kelley of Penn
sylvania opposing its provisions.
- n ...o IL 1,a
tails of W. w. Eaton, Senator from Connecti-
cut. Several petitions were introduced and
referred. A resolve was agreed to instructng
the judiciary committee to inquire and report
whether the United States or any department
OF the government is legally bound to carry
into effect any contract with regard to increased
mail service between this country and China
and Japan. The Senate discussed at length
the bill for the government of the District of
Columbia. In the House the only important
action was the passage of a bill which provides
for the payment to every non-commisioned
officer, musician, artifcer, wagner and pri-
vate soldier, 'including those borne on the
rolls as slaves who served in the army and
were honorably discharged, of eight dollars and
one-third month for the term of his service,
between April 18th, 1861, and May 9th, 1865,
with reduction of all other bounties hereto
fore paid by the United States, substitutes or
such as were prisoners of war at the time of
enlistment: also such as were discharged as
minors or at their own request from other
cause than disability incurred in service prior
to April 10, 1865, unless such discharge was OBJ
tanned with a view to re-enlistment or to &C
cept promotion in military or naval service.
Where the soldier is dead 1.-THE bounty is to be
paid to the widow if not Remarked, or the
minor child or children.
Monday-Mr. Anthony was elected Presi-
dent of the Senate pro tem The steamboat
bill was reported back with several amend
ments. About the only business of the day
was the introduction and reference of unim-
portant bills. The Pinchback resolution
was discussed but no action taken. In the
House the committee on judiciary was directed
to inquire if the Western Union Telegraph
Company had refused American Press Asso-
citation dispatches because of criticism by pa
pers of the latter organization. A motion to
suspend the rules aud pass the Senate bill re-
ferring to the court of claims the claims of
certain contractors for construction of vessels
of war and steam, machinery, was defeated.
The death of Congressman Hooper was an
bounced and the House adjourned in respect to
his memory.
Tuesday.-In the Senate the credentials of A.
S. Paddock, Senator from Nebraska, were pre-
scented and placed on file. Numerous petitions
from druggists for the repeal of that portion of
the revenue law known as Schudule G, were in
troduced and referred. Mr.. Ferry from the
committee on finance reported with amend
ment the House bill restricting the funding of
custom duties and prescribing certain regula-
tions of the Treasury department. The Senate
then took up the resolution for the admission of
Pinchback but without vote adjourned to at
tend the funeral Of the late Representative
Hooper. In the House Mr.. Dawes attempted
to get the tariff bill considered in the commit
tee of the whole. But little business was trans
acted owing to the funeral services of the late
Mr.. Hooper which took place in the afternoon.
Wedaesaay.-In the Senate large number
of petitions were presented in behalf of the
medical corps in the army. By vote of 81 to
% the Senate reconsidered the bill to grant
site for the Peabody school at St. Augustine,
Florida. At the expiration of the morning
hour the resolution for the admission of Pinch
back was taken up and Mr.. Terry of Connect
cut spoke at length in opposition to the resolu-
ton. The House went into the Committee of
the Whole on the tariff bill, but got no further
than the first section, which it left as it found
it. N.a ere.
NATIONAL CAPITAL. a
In the Pacific Mail investigation, Rufus
Hatch has been on the stand and has testified
that no money was ever paid to lobby through
the subsidy by the knowledge and consent of
the Pacific Mail Company. Hatch with the APP
proval of the directors of the company has d.
rected an action to be brought against all who
received the subsidy brides, for the recovery of
the money.
The Union Pacific Railroad Company has
submitted to the government a proposition for
the adjustment of the financial difficulties be-
tween them by which the company proposes to
pay into the Tire asury of the United States
100000 per annum for twenty years, and
thereafter on eveay first day of July $3.50 900,
the money so paid in to be held as sinking
fund to extnguish the governments mortgage
on the road. 1t is thought the proposition if
not modified in some of its Details will be &C.
cepted.
Tom SCOTS railroad subsidy scheme is still
iE allegiance. though there is not much pros
hect of its securing favorable report from the
Senate committee.
An extra session of the Senate will be called
for the transaction of executive business,
The Louisiana committee has returned from
New Orleans and is engaged in making up
report. or rather two of them, as Mr. Frye of
this state, will it is said, submit minority re-
port. The majority report will be similar to
that of the subcommittee except on the mat
ter of the White Leagues.
Speaker Blaine's remarks at the Republican
caucus of last Saturday have been enormously
reported. An authentic version of them has
been telegraphed. He opposed any act al
lowing the President to suspend the writ of hd-
bedS corpus unless it was restricted to those
states in which there are disturbances
The Senate Judiciary committee report that
the so called press gag law confers no power
either to bring person charged with libel into
the District of Columbia or send him out.
CRIMES AND CASUALTIES
A disastrous fire consumed tenement house