The Portland daily press., 1876-01-17
WASHINGTON.
Cou,ested Congressional Sent.

A Contested Congressional Seat.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15.-The House Com
mittee on Elections had a long session to day.
during which they heard an argument from
w. 81. Prescott of Richland county, S. G., in
support of his assertion that the third congress
si0nal district of that state is not legally en-
titled 10 representation IN the House because it
is not composed OF wholly contiguous terri
tory.
The committee afterwards examined the map
Of South Carolina, which shows that one of the
counties of the district is separated by twenty
five miles from the other and clearly in viola
ton of the act of Congress. The committee
however will inquire into the manner of pass
ing the act of apportonment by the legislature,
and if satisfied that it was done for the purpose
OF preventing proper representation, Congress
man Hoge will be unseated The question of
unseating the other members from that state
is not before the committee. 1t is merely a
side suggestion.
The shipping Commissioners Act.
james j. Jerris of New York was before the
subcommittee on commerce to-day, as repre-
sentative of the ship owners, masters and sea-
men, against the shipping commissioners act,
and in favor of Gen. Wards amendment.
The committee agreed substan TALLY to the
main points of Gen. Wards bill, taking the
administration of the act from the judiciary
and placing it in the executive authorities max
ing the shipping commissioner salaried off
GER and requiring all fees to be paid into the
treasury.
More Amnesty Bills.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16-It is said to- night in
congressional circles that when the State of
Mississippi is called in the House tomorrow.
Representative Lynch will introduce an am
nesty bill, when an opportunity will be afforded
to vote directly on the question whether jeff
erson Davis shall be excluded from its provis
ions. 1t was the intention of Representative
Cox to,introduce an amnesty bill, affording a
similar vote, but he has not yet prepared it, as
the State of New York may not be called for
bills and resolutions.
The Enforcement Act 10 be Applied in
Louisiana.
Representations having been made to the
Presidedt that the laws Of the United States
are obstructed in several of the parishes of
Louisiana, U. S. District Attorney Beckwith
will be instructed through the Department
Of justice sa,i to bring illegal combinations
to trial under the enforcement act.
The president expressed bis determina alton to
preserve public order to the extent of his con-
stitutional power. There are three companies of
cavalry in Louisiana, hut there is no probabili.
ties. " '''N '''' "D'n'i'-
Mr.. Pinchback will again be in Washington
this week to urge action by the Senate upon
his claim to a seat.
Doubtful Rumor.
NEW YORK, Jan. 16.-The Herald's Wash
logton despatch gives the rumor that ex-Gov.
Morgan of New York has written letter in
bis possession from Gen. Grant in which the
President himself in direct and explicit lam
guage, declares himself opposed to third
term and declares positively that he will refuse
nomination. The correspondent saws, how
ever, it is impossible to trace the rumor TO any
authentic source.
Various Matters
Secretary Chandler has appointed a commits
sion with the authority to examine into sus-
pended pension cases and direct payment wher-
ever no actnal fraud barred grant of PEN
sion.
The Washington correspondent of the n Y.
Bulletin says the Secretary of the Treasury
has decided that vessels plying between the
United States and the British Provinces, the
West India Islands and Mexico, are not COM
PEELED to ship and discharge their crews under
the shipping commissioners act. This over
rules the Benedict decision.
The subcommittee of the House on Indian
Affairs is in favor of transferring the Indian
Bureau to the War Department.
1t is stated that the Committee on Expendi-
lures of the Treasury found an item of $25O,OOO
shortage in the printing and engraving diyis-
ion. Superintendent M. c. Cartee stated to the
committee that this discrepancy was occasioned
by the appropriation committee of the last Com
gress, which compelled him to change the man
ner of printing the red seal on the currency
from machine to hand work making.