The Portland daily press., 1876-05-17
WASHINGTON.
The Question of Jurisdiction

WASHINGTON, May lb.-Ibe Senate was IN
secret session to-day from Las Io'clock to 5.25,
Belkpap impeachment case. Mr.. Edmunds
made an extended argument in favor of juris-
diction, and quoted from numerous authorities
in support of his views Several other Senators
made short speeches, but from the indications
it is not probable that decision will be reached
before Thursday. The impression prevails that
the Senate will decide that it has jurisdiction.
Cabinet Meeting.
The Cabinet session to-day was of nearly
three hours duration. 1t is understood that
the Louisiana difficulties were the chief topic
of attention. All the members were present.
The result of the consideration of the matter
in the Cabinet was the sending of a telegram
to General Augur. commanding the United
States forces in Louisiana, instructing that
officer on the requisition of the Governor and
it appearing that the local authorities were not
able to preserve order, to give such aid as in
his discretion was necessary 10 prevent blood
shed and violence.
The Kentucky Central Claim.
Judge Advocate Dunn of the army testified
before Clymer's Committee that be examined
the claim of the Kentucky Central Railroad
and reported it as just No one attempted to
influence his Judgment. He had no reason
now to change his judgment on the claim.
The Moth Patent.
Gen. Meigs testified that $39, 900 were paid
by Ingalls, to Cowles and Breja for the moth
process. under an opinion of the Attorney
General for authority.
The Secretary of Wars Estima,es-Large
Reductions,
The Secretary of War, after consultation
with tie heads of bureaus, division COM
manders and generals of the army, has sent to
the House reduced estimates for the support of
the army. In the Quartermaster's department
and that OF the ordnance the reductions are
large, and in the engineers department consid-
cradle. There is reduction Of million dol
lars in the estimate for clothing and equipage
1t predicated upon the idea that in the present
capacity of the country to manufacture clothing
it is not necessary to accumulate supplies of
that kind far hey ond the actual demand for
current use The exhaustion of supplies in
1877, however, will require an increased appro.
priation for 1878. The reduction of a million
dollars in the estimates for the armament of
Notifications is founded on the belief that the
appropriation remaining after such reduction
will strengthen our defences as rapidly as there
is any present occasion for. Estimates for
Rock Island and Benecia Arsenals as reduced
will equal the demand for the present uses,
while the large additional structures for pros
pectiye uses, which must hereafter be made,
may be safely postponed. The reduction in es-
Inmates for regular supplies of the Quarter
masters department for the incidental ex-
penses for horses for the cavalry and artillery,
for army Transportation and for other items,
Will require retrenchmeut and economy, but
the Secretary thinks not greater than will be
found practicable The entire reduction from
the book OF estimates is $59O7,605
The Blaine Investigation.
The Judiciary Committee postponed the Lit
tie Rock investigation on account of the meet
ing of the full committee ON Lawrence's Paci-
fc railroad bill.
The Navy Yard investigation.
The testimony taken by the House Commit
tee on Naval Affairs concerning the Kittery
and Boston navy yards, has been printed, max
ing 900 PaEee.-It shows among many other
things that during the elections pending in the
OF them worthless, were employed from Maine
in excess OF those from New Hampshire, and
when an election was pending in New Hamp-
shire men were employed from that state il
excess of those from Maine.
Commodore Fairfax testified as to the abuses
in the navy; that one is that naval contractors,
chiefs of the bureau of construction and chief
engineers have, under this system of bureaus,
70 decide the character of ships to be built and
the style OF engine boilers, without consulting
those who have to handle the ship and fight
the ship and who represent the country abroad.
There has been, am sorry to say, since have
known anything about navy yards, more or less
interference by politicians in the management
and employment OF men and management of
navy yards There has never been quite so
much abuse as there has been within the last
eight years, since Mr. Robson has assumed
charge of the Navy Department.
COMMODORE d0Well having been asked his
opinion of the eight sloops of-war now in the
course of construction said: 81 think the mod
els of the wooden ships have seen are as good
as those ofany other nation in the world They
are small vessels intended more for breaking up
an enemy's commerce than for attacking forts
or OF course fighting iron clads The ircn ves-
sells are almost beneath contempt. That is my
judgment. They 60 knots when IS knots at
all events Should have been accomplished by
them; their boilers are of such type that
when you put on sail to increase the speed the
ship rolls heavily, or if the wind is abeam it
causes the ship to keel very much and their
boilers become like SO many powder magazines
except that the danger is greater
Capt Jonathan Young testified that in his
opinion much injury was done by interference
at Washington with the officers in command
OF the navy yards. In matters which seem to
be for the best interests of the government they
are more frequently overruled than sustained
Various Matters.
Mr.. Davenport was examined today relative
to the census of New York cityssbut moth ing
was elected.
The WAYS and Means Committee today au.
thorized Representative Wood to report fa-
vorably the bill to relieve savings banks FROM
stamps on receipts from depositOrs.
Several arrests have been made and an illicit
still captured in North and South Carolina the
past month.