The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-03-25
WASHINGTON.



| WASHINGTON, March "a The Senate was
occupied over five hours in executive session
this afternoon in discussing the nomination OF
Don Pardee to be U. S. District Judge of Louis
lana vice Durrel. S .eeches were made by
| Messrs. Howe Sherman and Thurman in favor
| of confirmation, and Edmunds and West in
| opposition At the close of Mr.. Vests speech
| Mr.. Edmunds moved to lay the nomination ON
| the table, which was agreed to, % to IL. The
| Senate having adjourned sine die without con
| firming any one to the United States District
Judgeship of Louisiana, the position will neces-
| sarily remain vacant until the next session of
| Congress- as the Presidents power to make APP
pointments to fill vacancies is restricted to such
| as occur during a recess of the Senate.
Judge Durelrs resignation. though received
December I'd last, was not accepted till the 18th
OF December, at which time Congress bad been
in session three days. The tablng of Pardee's
nomination places litigation in very en-
barrassing condition, the District Judge
miralty cases. There is now in the hands of
the Register of the District Court for distribu-
ton, by order of the Judge, about $4,000.
Other suits in bankruptcy, involving over
$500, 000 are pending, and will have to. await
the appointment of successor to Durell.
A Lobbyist Cannot Maintain Suit for his
Services in Influencing Legislation.
In the United States Supreme Court on Mon
day, an opinion was delivered, which was after
wards withdrawn for perfection, in case No.
105, Burke VS.. Child, appeal from the Supreme
Court of the District OF Columbia The point
decided is that claims for lobby services are not
founded in good morals and cannot be main
tanned in the courts. The action was by Child
against the administrator of the late N. p.
Trist, for services rendered in procuring action
by Congress, for his relief in the matter of his
claim for compensation for negotiating the
treaty of Guadaloupe-Hidalgo There was
recovery below, and the decree is here reversed,
ON the ground stated in the opinion. The court
IL e ~.
of the influence and exertions of lobby agent
to bring about the passage of law for the pay
ment of a private cain, without reference to
its merits by means which if not corrupt were
iegitimate, and considered in connection with
the pecuniary interest of the agent, contrary
to the soundest principles of public policy. No
one has right in such circumstances to put
himself to position of temptation, to do what
is regarded as so pernicious in It's character.
The law forbids the inchaote step and puts the
seal of its reprobation upon the undertaking.
If any one of the great corporations of the
country were to hire advehturers, who make
market of themselves in this way, to procure the
passage of general law, with view TO the
promotion of their private interests, the moral
sense of every right minded man would in
stinctvely denounce the employer and employ
ed as stepped in corruption, and the employ
ment as Infamous.
Treasury Balances.
The following are the Treasury balances for
to-day:-Currency, So, 927 1897 100 Especial deposit
of legal tenders for redemption of certificates of
deposit $4S 3S5, 900; coin, $685. 1885, 1885, including
coin certificates $23, $50; outstanding legal
tenders, $3.50, 7l4,9OO.
Various Matters.
Internal revenue receipts to-day were $522,-
928: customs receipts to-day were S942,78S; for
the week ending March Goth: New York, ST.
67l sos; Baltimore, $161.11O; Philadelphia
S2O2, 1863; Boston, $3l3,0l3. oasoo ~
ala in
nartrnent has been requested to resign because
he failed to notice that certain railroad that
was being paid for the performance OF p0stal
service six times week had for tbe5 past tnree
quarters only reported service performed three
uimes week, but had been paid for SIX
1t is rumored that Gen. Spinner will resign
unless certain changes are made in his bureau
to suit his views.
The Senate committee of the Missouri Legis
lature in charge of investigating the alleged
abstraction of state bonds from the treasurer's
yault pXDress the belief that the honda were