The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-02-26
History of Seven Days.
The news for the week ending Wednesday
Night, Feb. 24th.

ator Ferry of Connecticut opposing it in set
speech and Senator Boutwell, speaking in its
favor. Finally, by a vote of 3S to % it was de-
cided to lay aside the resolution. This is prob
ably equivalent to its defeat. Senate then went
to work on the Indian appropriation bill,
and several unimportant amendments were
adopted. House spent the day on the tariff
bill.
Friddg-In the Senate Boutwell, presented
petition of colored citizens of Massachusetts
in favor of Pinchback's admission The In
dian appropriation bill occupied the greater
part of the days session. In the House MIR.
Dawes attempted to take up the tariff bill but
failed House went into committee of the whole
on the army appropriation bill and the House
passed it. 1t appropriates $27,701, 800.
Sdturday-The credentials of Andrew john
son were read and placed OH file. The Senate
passed the joint resolution which passed the
House last winter providing that in all cases
under the civil service examination for posi-
ton, when a disabled soldier, his wife or the
widow of deceased soldier, or his orphan
child shall pass such examination at the stan
dard fixed by the said rules, such person shall
have precedence for appointment to any exist
ing vacancy, anything in the rules of the civil
service to thel contrary Notwithstanding. The
Indian appropriation bill was considered and
several amendments adopted The afternoon
was spent in eulogies on deceased members IF
the House. The House spent the day on the
tariff bill and eulogies of its deceased mem
bers.
= In the session Monday, the Senate completed
the Indian appropriation bill, ran through the
military academy and pension bills, and finish
ed the post office bill excepting the Pacific
Mail subsidy clause. The inevitable attempt
to restore the franking privilege was partially
successful, an amendment being adopted for
the free passage through the mails of the Con-
gressional Record and any reprint therefrom,
and all public documents now in print Since
the abolition of the franking privilege an enor
NOUS quantity of these documents have accu-
INFLATED on the hands of Congressman, and the
enactment of the senate provision would proba-
bly, result in loading down the mails with tons
of such matter.
The House passed the river and harbor ap
preparation bills under a suspension of rules.
1t appropriates $6,000,0O0. A bill was passed,
the object of which is to secure the Indictment
of King, the member of the House who is
mixed up in the Pacific Mail matter, for PERU
~. A motion to set apart Wednesday evening
for the consideration of the Texas Pacific rail-
road bill was defeated This action is looked
upon as foretelling the defeat of the bill. A
bill for the re organization of the Quartermas-
ter's department was passed. In the. evening
the House considered the District of Columbia
bill.
1uesday-The Senate concurred with the
House in repeating the Pacific mail contract
of 1872 and passed the army appropriation bill
with some amendments. The House passed
the tariff bill with some changes @
Wednesday-In the Senate Mr.. Morrill,, from
the Committee on Appropriations, reported
favoraby a bill allowing the present from the
Khedive of Egypt to Minnie Sherman Fitch to
be admitted free of duty. 1t was placed on the
calendar. The question of the admission of
Colorado was called up and discussed. The
House tariff bill was referred to the Committee
on Finance. The sundry civil appropriation
bill was introduced into the House, and gave
rise to long debate in which the Attorney
General was attacked by the Democrats for
his conduct of affairs in the Snuthern States.
NATIONAL CAPITAL. .
The Louisiana committee has returned from
{ New Orleans and reported to the House. The
majority of the committee, consisting of
Messrs. Foster, Phelps, Potter and Marshall,
concur in a report similar TO that of the sub
committee. They characterize Kellogg's gov
eminent as clear usurpation set up by gross
frauds on the part of the returning board.
With regard TO the charges that colored voters
were intimidated by the whites and thus kept
from the polls, they find no evidence which
sustains them but abundance which disproves
them, Two of the committee, Messrs Foster
and Phelps. while they do not attempt to ex-
cuse Kellogg course, think on the whole the
peace of the states will be better secured by
allowing him to serve out the rest of this
term than by attempting at this late day to
establish new government. The remainder
of the majority, however, are opposed to any,
further recognition of Kellogg, and think Con-
gress should depose him. The minority re-
port is signed by Messrs. Hoar, Frye and
Wheeler These gentlemen are clearly of the
opinion that the Colfax and Coushatta muir
ders were not without their effect in intimda-
ting colOred voters and keeping them from the
polls. The press teeming with threats of vio-
lence, agreements to discharge laborers who
voted the Republican ticket, the overthrow of
the state government by the White League,
and the fact that murders went UNPUBLISHED
could bat have had the minority think, an in
fuence upon the Republican vote in the
state. The conclusions of the minority are
summarized as follows ~ There is White
League in Louisiana bent on controlling the
state, by violence if necessary; (2) that in the
accomplishment of this purpose they will make
nse of any instruments calculated to accom-
plish it whether they be murder, fraud, civil
war or coercion of laborers by employers; (3)
the men of more moderate views desire, how
ever, the accomplishment of the same ends; a.
the fact that the Republican party lin Louisi-
ana is made up principally of colored men rem
ders it easier for the White League to accom-
plish its purpose; (5J the course of the whites
has infamed the colored people; (6) the illegal
order of Judge Durell had its effect in contrib
uting to the disatfection in the state; ID there
much corruption in the state government;
49, Republican government is seriously threat
cned by the state of affairs prevailing in Lou
isiana; (10) new election is not at this time
desirable. The report is accompanied with two
resolves, one recommending the government to
take the necessary gteps to remedy the great
injustice done by depriving of their seat men,
beers legally elected to the legislature; and an
other that William P, Kellogg be recognized as
governor of the state.
The judiciary committee of the Senate of
which Messrs. Thurman and Stevenson are
meuubers have given their opinion that the
press gag law has no application to cases of Ii
bel and effect no change in the law in relation
to that subject
President Orion of the Western Union Tee-
graph company has been before the sub COM
mittee on Judiciary in regard to the charge
that that company refused to send dispatches
for the American Press Association on the ac-
count of adverse criticism which appeared in
certain newspapers in that association. He
denied that this was so and stated that the
company refused contract with the American
Press association because taking off a part
of the business of its best customers and send
ing the American Press for less, would occa-
sion heavy loss to the company.
The report of the committee on the Pacific
mail subsidy which is being written will state
that the committee has found that not dollar