The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-04-20
From the Maine State Press of April 20, 1875.
History Of Seven Days.
The News for the week ending Tuesday
Might. April IS.
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.

THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
The President has given no indication as to
whom be will now appoint to the English mis-
sion. There is rumor that he would like to
nominate Gen. Schenck again, but it lacks con-
fimation. 1t is now ascertained that Senator
Hamlin voted to confirm Mr.. Dana.
The recent developments respecting the safe
burglary In Washington in 1874, implicate Gen.
Babcock. Whitley is very positive that no re-
cret service men know anybody but Babcock in
the business. The grand jury have indicted
Babcock and Harrington, who was District At
torney at the time Whitley and other secret ser
vice men were implicated 10 thu crime. Bab-
cock has given $4,000 bail to appear for trial.
The jury in the case of W. 81. Ottman, in.
dicted for completely in the $4,000 treasury
robbery have disagreed and have been discharg-
ed. 1t is understood they stood five for convic
tion and seven for acquittal.
Four Democratic Congressman of Missouri
appeared before the PRESIDENT Monday with
petition signed by 5000 citizens OF St. Louis,
asking for the pardon of Con. Mcclure, recent
~ convicted for connection with the whiskey
frauds in that city, on the ground that his
offence is only technical one The President
referred the gentlemen to the Attorney General,
remarking that such an act on his part would
Lead to his investigation by the Democratic
House. The Attorney General said he would
telegraph the district attorney and judge to use
their judgment about stay Of proceedings un-
til the matter could be considered.
The President has signed the act for the issue
of silver coin of the United States in place of
fractional currency.
The investigating committees do not make so
many things public as formerly. The impress
sion is that they are weary OF the work. The
Clymer committee have exceeded its authori.
ty and mixed in affairs not its own.
The Treasury Department has purchased a
two months supply of silver bullion. The
average price paid was about three cents per
ounce lees than the present market rate. This
stock, together with the bullion fund WILL it is
believed. be sufficient for coinage until the an.
nual statement at the mint in June.
The unwilling of the Lincoln statue took
place on Friday, the anniversary of his assas-
sination. 1t has been builtentirely by the con-
tributions Of the colored people.
The House Judiciary Committee have begun
the investigation of what is termed the lost
bond question In the transaction of the Union
Pacific Railroad. The claim is that 357 one
thousand dollar bonds disappeared in 1869, and
an attorney declares that he traced them into
the houses of Sydney Dillon and other officers
OF the road. The present value, with interest,
isbetween S. 900 900 and $4,000, 600. The claim
of the company is, that while these gentlemen
held these bonds as trustees they were stolen
without their knowledge.
The report of the Emma Mine Committee
will undoubtedly censure Gen. Schenck for his
'indiscretion and improperly" in permitting
his name to be used in connection with the
mine, but at the same time the entire commit
tee is reported, on trustworthy authority, to be
fully satisfied that he believed the mine was
what it was represented to be, and that he did
not knowingly become party to fraud" if,
10 the end, the mine proves to be such.
CONGRESS-.
Thursday april Is. The Senate discussed
various bills including one providing for the
pavement of Pennsylvania avenue. The bill
was not disposed of. The House after routine
business. proceeded to the consideration of the
bill to transfer the Indian bureau from the In
terror to the War Department. Mr. Seeye of
Massachusetts, opposed the bill in speech of
unusual power. The House will undoubtedly
pass the bill.
Friday April IA. Neither branch was in ses-
sion, the day being holiday on accoun: of the
unwilling of the Lincoln statue.
Saturday Aprit 10. The Senate was not in
session. Mr.. White (Rep) of Kentucky read a
printed circular issued by q. b. Smith of New
Hampshire, the present journal clerk of the
House, in which that official announces the
probable passage of bill to equalize the
bounties of soldiers of the late war and offer
ing to collect such claims for % per cent. The
matter was referred to the Committee on Rules
The Judiciary Committee made two reports on
the matter Of giving up Kilbourne the recusant
witness on writ of habeas corpus-the Dem
ocrats insisting that no writ of any Judge
should be needed and the Republicans taking
the other side. The matter was net dis
posed of.
Monday april 1.-THE Senate was chiefly
engaged:on the impeachment trial, this, being
the first day. Chief Justice Waite presided
Ex-Secretary Belknap appeared with his coun-
sci, Matt Carpenter, Jerry Black and Mont
gomery Blair. The articles were read and the
respondent by his counsel filed plea denying
the Jurisdiction of the Senate to try him on
the articles of impeachment as he was not a
officer OF the United States. The House man
ayers then asked until Wednesday to make an
swer to Belknap's plea. In the House, the Kill
bourne hdbeds corpus case was taken up. After
long discussion in which Mr.. Blaine and Mr.
Tucker of Virginia had q bout, the proposition
OF the Democratic members of the Judiciary
Committee was lost, yeas 80, nays 149 and the
substitute offered Ivy Mr.. Lynde (Rep) of Wis
consin directing ,he sergeant-at. to
make a return TO the writ and to pro-
duce Mr.. K;lbourne before the court
adopted, yeas 165, nays 70. The great body of
the Republican members and pearly half of the
Democratic members voted for the substitute.
Tuesday, Apra 1S.-The Senate passed bill
to pave Pennsylvania avenue, and agreed to
the sundry amendments to the House de6cen-
cy bill. The House settled one contested elec.
tion case and discussed the Florida contested
seat all day without vote. The session in the
evening was devoted to the consideration of the
bill transferring the Indian bureau to the War
Department.
POLITICAL.
The South Carolina Sta,e Republican con-
vention to nominate delegates to Cincinnati
adjourned last Thursday morning. The ses-
sioa, which was an exceedingly stormy one,
continued all day Wednesday and all the sue
ceeding night. There was sharp fight be-
tween the two factions of the Republican party,
the one led by the present Gov. Chamberlain,
and the other by ex-senator Patterson. The
latter faction was numerically superior, but
Gov. Chamberlain solely by the force of his
eloquence secured his election IS delegate. On
oil other questions he was defeated. The dele
CATION, which is uninstracted, is said to be
divided between Bristow and Blaine. though
Morton's friends claim part of it at least.
The convention of Virginia Republicans re-
suited in clear triumph for Mr.. Blaine. The
delegation was not exactly pledged to him, but
resolution of preference for him was adopted
by the convention, which is about equivalent.
Conklingis and Morton's strength in the CON-
yention was very small.
There is little new ia regard to the charges
against NJ. Blaine started last week by the In
dianapolis Sentinel. Mr.. Blaine rests his