The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-12-19
WASHIN9TON.
The AtteuDf tn EeiZe Priyate Despat ches

WASHINGTON.
The Attempt to Seize Private Dispatches.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 18-The Judiciary Com
mittee to day, after some discussion, agreed
that tleir report should deal not only With the
special case of the refusal of the Western Up-
ion company to produce private kilograms
called for by the House investigating commit
tee, but should also, if possible, recommend for
adoption some general rule applicable to all
such cases, in order to determine what kind of
showing is sufficient to justify such demands
Form of Receipt for Electoral Votes.
The President of the Senate has adopted a
new form of electoral votes as delivered by the
messengers of the several statea. These re-
cepts are so drawn as not to commit the Pres
ident of the Senate in any way. The form was
drawn to meet the case Of disputed states, but
it is used for all.
Certificates from nearly all the states except
ing the three disputed states on the Pacific
coast have been received by mail, but so far
but fourteen certificates have been received at
the hands of messengers.
Ineligible Electors.
The Senate sub committee on elections, act
ing under Mr.. Edmund's resolution, examined
BENJAMIN Williams, an alleged ineligible Pres
idential elector of New Jersey. This commit
tee will tomorrow take testimony in the case
of D. M. Frost, an alleged ineligible elector
from Missouri.
President Grants Purposes.
New YORK, Dec. 1S.-The Tribune reports
President Grant as saying that he has so far
received no official information of unlawful
movements in Indiana or elsewhere, and tina,
he has been informed that efforts to inflame the
people there have met vely faint response.
He believes the loyal sentiment of the PEOPLE
everywhere will prevent any outbreak. If the
emergency does arise, the President will moi
hesitate to exercise his constitutional authority
Whoever is formally declared by the President
OF the Senate to have been elected, will be re-
cognized by Gen. Grant, and to that person
alone will he surrender the rens of authority.
Executive Nominations.
Among the nominations sent to the Senate
by the President today were E. T. Wilton. pos
master at Stafford Springs, Connecticut; Com
modore Edward Donaldson, and George q
Ere PIE to De Rear Admirals; Commodore Ed
ward Middleton. to be Rear Admiral on retired
list; ecaptains R. W. Shufeldt and A. G. r
Hunt to be commodores; Commanders Mp. Nc
Conn, j. 81. ellis and W. E. FitzHue to be
captains; lieutenants J. D. Graham. W. R.
Bridgman a. 81. Mccormick, and Fl. L. John
Fuller to be pay director; paymaster M. Deu
niston and Richard Washington to be pay in
spectors; past assistant paymaster Ell. T. Skel
ding and A. G. Slomm to be paymasters: lieut.
enant colonel G. G. McCawley to be Colone
Gommandant OF the Marine corps; Major 7; G
Haywood to be Major in the Marine Corps.
The Senate Committee at Work-Ths
Parish of East Baton Rouge to be FRS
Examined.
The Senate investigating committee met il
| U. s. District Court room, in Custom House
| The committee having been call to order, Mr.
Howe stated that in the interest of harmony
there would only be certain number of per
sons present-hve representatives of each party
IN ~,
were also to be admitted. He said that counse
| for the party objecting to the action of the re
| turning board desired to submit statement o.
| their objections in writing. Such a statement
the chairman thought would greatly facilitate
| the business of the committee. He wished thu
| document to be brief and to be submitted a.
| early as possible.
Judge Campbell desired to file counter state
ments and was accorded that privilege.
The chairman said it was decided to procure
| tabulated statements of votes as returned tt
| the board. There were none of the Democratic
counsel present.
The committee discussed the best mode o.
| obtaining full statement of votes returned
| wish was expressed to get copy of commit
| tees returns to supervisors, and it was finally
concluded to send for Gov. Wells in order t.
obtain the re Iuired information.
1t was urged by the Democratic members
| that copy should be procured, not only of the
supervisors tabulated statement, but also of ths
returns made by commissioners of election t
supervisors in order that it might be clearly
seen what polls had been thrown out by the
board.
Gov. Wells, President of the board, was
called on to give some information on the sub
ject. He said he would furnish the committee
with the required statements of votes polled
and votes excluded, but as the board was busy
preparing a report to the legislature, clerks
would not have time to make copies.
The Chairman said that six stenographers Of
the committee would do the work.
The committee then adjourned till Tuesday
at II a. m.
Witnesses have been summoned to testify in
the case of East Baton Rouge.
Another Senatorial Ballet In The Demo.
cratic House.
Another unsuccessful ballot for U. S. Sena'
tor has taken place in the Democratic House
today. Everything is quiet.
RumOrs offs Compromise.
There are rumors of compromise between
the Republicans and Democrats, favorable to
the latter.
The Sea Serpent Seen i'm the Straits OF
maIacea.
NTCNIP