The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-02-11
From the Maine State Press of Feb. 10, 1875.
History of Seven Days.
The News for the week ending Wednesday
Night, Feb. 8.
CONGRESS.

NS""sS' Ah0houay.-4u OudI SuUmltlSu d
communication from the Secretary of the Inte-
rior respecting the taxation of lands granted
to states and corporations. The committee of
the District of Columbia were instructed to
inquire into the expediency of providing a
proper form of government for the District.
Senate, took I'D the District of Columbia bond
matter, and after further discussion the bill
was passed as follows:
ResotUed, &C., That the commissioners of
the District of Columbia are hereby directed to
transfer to the Treasurer of the United States
for payment of the interest due on February l,
1876, on the bonds of said district, issued under
provisions of the act of Congress approved June
20, 1874, entitled san act for the government of
the District of Columbia and for other pur-
poses" sum necessary to pay the same from
any unexpended appropriations heretofore
made by Congress, or from any revenues de-
rived by taxation on property of said District
OF Columbia, subject to requisitiOn of said COM
missioners excluding funds raised for the sup
port of public schools; provided that any fur
ther issue of 3-65 bonds under, or by virtue OF,
said act of Congress, approved june 70, 1874,
is hereby prohibited and provided that the GER
tifcates heretofore issued by the board of audit,
including those converted into 3-65 per cent.
bonds and those which have not been so con-
verted and certificates hereafter to be issued by
the board of audit, their successors in office,
shall not exceed in the aggregate the sum of
$15,000.0O0.
Section 2-That there shall be no increase in
the present amount of the total Indebtedness
OF the District of Columbia, and any officer or
person who shall knowingly increase aid or
abet IN increasing, such total Indebtedness shall
be deemed guilty of high misdemeanor, and on
conviction thereof shall be punished by impris-
onment not exceeding ten years and by fine
not exceeding SIC, 900; provided that the board
OF audit. created by an act for the government
OF the District OF Columbia, approved June 20
1874, is hereby abolished, and shall Immediate
ly upon the approval of this resolution trans
NIT all books and property in their possession
belonging to the District to the Commissioners
OF the District of Columbia, and make a re-
port OF their proceedings not heretofore made;
and provided further that this resolution shall
NOT IN any way or manner recognize the liabil-
ity of the United States to pay either princi-
pal or interest of any such bonds as may have
been issued on or since the 9th day of Janua.
~, 1876.
Reconsideration were adopted directing
the Secretary of War to report the cost of the
signal service last year; appropriating $2SOO for
the widow Of Congressman Starkweather; in
curing concerning the removal of judge in
Colorado, alleged to have been for political
reasons The committee on appropriations re-
ported resolution requiring the President to
appoint competent military officer to inquire
into the deficiency of the appropriation for the
Sioux Indians. Bill for the payment Of IA dis
abled soldiers on the rolls of the House was
passed; also bill regulating practice in the
U. g. District Courts. Adverse report was
made on the bill giving heads of executive
departments seats on the floor of the House as
representatives. Bill to encourage commerce
In vessels owned by citizens of the United
States was referred. House then went into
committee of the whole on the consular and
diplomatic bill, but adjourned without VOTE
The bill makes reductions to the amount of
100000.
Senate.-Friday.-Mr. Sherman introduced a
bill to limit the value of household effects en-
titled to free entry. Mr.. Morton spoke in favor
of the admission of Pinchback as Senator from
Louisiana. Some attempt was made to amend
all the amendments were withdrawn and the
bill was repassed in its original form.
House.-Senate bill fixing time of holding
circuit courts in the districts of California,
Oregon and Nevada was passed with amend
ment. House went into committee of the
whole on the private calendar. Bill was passed
granting pension to VIM. P. Duncan of Ten
nesee, who was originally Confederate soldier
but deserted and joined the Union army. SEN
ate amendments to the District of Columbia
bond bill were referred to the District COM
mittee.
Neither house held accession Saturday.
Senate. Conkling, from the
Judiciary Committee reported with verbal
amendments the House bill providing for the
payment of judgments rendered by the Court
&c A1oho CI..- IT, L.n
the expiration of the morning hour resolution
for the admission of Pinchback was taken up
and discussed. Messrs. Thurman and Chris
tiancy spoke against his admission. Mr.. Howe
favored Pinchbacks prinG Jfacie right to the
seat.
House.-Bill was referred fixing the penal
tonnage tax on certain U. S. vessels at the old
rate of 80 cts. per ton instead of $1.30. Mr.
Ballou introduced a bill to exempt safety
matches from the stamp tax, Mr.. Fort bill
declaring Lncoln's birthday national holiday
Mr.. Kasson moved to suspend the rules and
pass resolution declaring that in the judy
lnent of the House the constitution nowhere
confers upon Congress the power to issue in
time Of peace the promises or obligations of
the government as legal tender in payment of
debts but the House refused by vote of Sc to
lao. Mr.. Hoar was appointed to fill a vacancy
on the judiciary committee occasioned BY the
death of Congressman Starkweather. Mr.
Pierce of Massachusetts offered q resolution
which was adopted ordering an investigation
into Gen. Schenck's connection with the En-
ma mine scandal. Senate amendments to the
bill to provide for the payment of Alabama
judgments were concurred in House wentinto
the committee of the whole on the consular
and diplomatic bill but rose without action.
Senate. Tuesday morning hour was
spent in the discussion of the bill to allow the
sale Of public lands in certain states. The
Centennial appropriation bill was then taken
up but laid over Immediately, and the rest of
the session devoted to eulogies on the late
Senator Ferry of Connecticut.
House.-Bill was passed repeating the bank
rupt act. The act is to take effect after Janu-
airy l, 1877. House went into committee of the
whole on the consular bill but rose without
action. The death of Senator Ferry was then
announced and eulogies were delivered by sew.
eral members.
-Wednesday-Senate debated the
Centennial bill at length, but no vote was
reached.
House-The day was spent in the committee
of the whole on the consular and diplomatic
bill, but no action was taken.
CRIMES AND CASUALTIES.
On Saturday special post agent Sparrett ar
rested Morris Bissinsky, letter collector, in
New York, and obtained from him confession
of systematic robbery of letters. In his
room over thousand letters opened and mutt
lated were found, with a few checks, drafts,
postal orders, and quantity of small, miscel-
laneous articles.
A fire in New York on Broadway Feb. 8,
destroyed property to the amount of 81, 500. 900.
The Rialto paper mills at Port Union, Ohio,
were burned Feb. 4th. Loss $25O,000.
In the Williamsburg murder case the coro-
ner's jury has formally decided that Fuchs is
the murderer The heart and lsver of his vic
tim was found under the fooing of his house.
'Dr." Charles A. Sholes of Boston, recently
convicted of procuring an abortion, was last
week sentenced to six years Imprisonment.
Henry O. Jaques, convicted whisky opera
tor died in the Evansville la iail SATURDAY.