The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-03-21

w WASHINGTON, Marcn Zu-Ine fIeSldent
sent the following nominations to tho Senate
to-day: John M. Coghlan of Colorado, chief
justice of Utah Territory, VIM. H. Doolittle
assistant commissioner of patents.
Senator Spencer's Case.
The investigation concerning Senator Spen-
GERS election was continued by the Senate
Commute o.day. The examination Of Robert
Barber commenced Saturday and was contin-
ued at considerable length, but his testimony
to day contained nothing Of material interest
The committee announced a ruling that the
evidence offered to show what means were
used to prevent members of the court house
legislature from going over to the capitol body,
and that the breaking of the former quorum is
not within the range of testimony that can be
properly taken by the committee.
Dismissed for Incompetence aud Neglect
of Duty.
There is considerable interest manifested in
the demand for appraiser Darling's resignation.
Secretary Bristow did not want it known that
such request was made, but it leaked out
The charges against him are criminal careless
ness in the administration office; that he had
apparently too much outside business to enable
him to conduct the office properly that there
was a lack of effort on his part to master the
details of the work in his Office; that he has
made the appraisers store political headquar,
tiers and that the Third Avenue Savings Bank
matter was not creditable to him, as he was
holding so high position under government.
There are specified charges CT dishonesty
among his employees, but the Secretary does
not entertain them in the action.
He dismisses Darling for not knowing what
goes on his Office
Silver Coin and Fractional Currency.
The Treasury Department will receive dur
ing the present week from San Francisco, four
teen tons of silver coin in anticipation of the
period for commencing the circulation of silver.
This will amount to a half million. The amount
of silver in the vaults of the Treasury here is
less than $4,000. Orders were received at the
currency and that amount will be shipped to-
morrow to the various points from which re-
QUESTIONS are made There are $2,000,0 600 of
fractional currency still in the vaults, though
none has been printed since the middle of last
month. Since that time acquisitions on the
Treasury from banks and from government off
Gals requesting to be supplied with fractional
currencyIhave amounted to about s., 000, 900.
Several parties have visited the Treasury lately
with various amounts of silver coin that they
have been boarding, wishing to have it ex-
changed for notes. The Department has in all
cases declined to make such exchange, the law
declaring this class of coins neither redeemable
or exchangeable, and is legal tender to the ex-
tent of IS only. The amounts presented have
varied from SIS to $50.
The Pierrepont Letter not Inspired by the
President.
letter of the Attorney General to the District
Attorney pending the whskey trials met the
approval of the President, it is authorltatvely
denied that the President ever saw the letter
until it appeared in print.
Dana's Nomination Not 10 be Withdrawn
New YORK, March 20-A special says Presi
dent Grant has decided not to withdraw the
nomination of r, ii Dana, Jr., from the Sen
ate, but will support it and leave it for the
Senate to confirm or reject. 1t is understood
that Messrs. Boutwell, and Dawes will defend
Mr.. Dana before the foreign committee of the
Senate and that Senator Conkling heartily sup
ports Mr. Dana.
The Senate Pacific Railroad Committee had
full meeting this morning. They took into
consideration the proposition looking to the
construction of the Pacific Railroad on the 32d
parallel of latitude. Very warm interest was
manifested by the committee in the Texas
Pacific Railroad project as presented by Mr..
Scott and also an alternate proposition of Sena-
tor Hamilton of Texas, TO build such roadsswith
out any further subsidy than land grant.
Some progress was made and a general inter-
change of opinion took place with the conclu-
sion to defer further action until the next
regular meeting of the committee, when 1t is
expected final action will be taken.
The Indian Bureau.
The House Committee on Appropriations to.
day commenced the consideration of the Indian
appropriation bill by sections. This bill as pre-
pared by Mr.. Randall efor the committees
action, is based upon the assumption that tho
proposed transfer of the Indian Bureau from
the Interior to the War Department will be
enacted. 1t therefore makes no provision for
Indian agents, superintendent, &C., nor for
any miscellaneous objects except such as are
required by express stipulatons of treaties.
The amount in the judgment of the committee
needed for subsistence and clothing and for
fran vii no flor
be provided for In the army appropriation bill
to be expended by the commissary and quar-.
termaster departments. Under these heads
Mr.. Randall believes at least $150000 will be
saved annually. The plan contemplates max
ing great saving in transportation by remov-
military posts.
Various Matters.
Specials state that Pension Commissioner
Gee is to resign on account of ill health.
The House Committee on Commerce has de-
cided to withdraw its report on the bill concern
ing the payment of pilots fees by coast trading
vessels, and on Friday will give hearing to
all parties interested.
There is reason to believe that the insurance
companies ard those claimants suffering dam
age from the exculpated cruisers will be admit
ted by Congress to the benefits of the Geneva
award. The war premium people will nc
doubt be thrown out.
decided, 6 to 3, against tie additional half mil
lion asked for by government commissioners IL
the Centennial Exposition.
The subcommittee of same committee on
The post office appropriation bill propose an
amendment to pay for the conveyance of mails
on railroads in accordance to space occupied,
and not according to weight as at present
They also propose to base the pay of postmas
tiers on the graduated per centage of the receipts
of their respective Office and box rents, by
which saving of 100000 or 100000 would
be effected The salary of the postmaster al
New York woald be 100000 and the salarie.
of postmasters at Boston, Philadelphia, Chica
60, Cincinnati and San Francisco $4,000 per an
NUN.
Representative Payne of Ohio if opportunity
had been presented today would have introduc
ed in the House the caucus finance bill. A
Democratic opponent of the measure says il
the bill had been presented and vote taken q
majority of the House would have voted agains
it.
Hugh Marsden, overseer of carding in the
Harris privilege mill, Providence, was found
dead in a we'll near the mill. At first it was