The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-07-21
History Of Seven Days.
The News for the week ending Wednesday
Night, July 18th.
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL,

THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
Congress still continues in session, and it is
intimated that the House Democratic leaders
propose to sit until fall. The most of the APP.
preparation bills have been passed, but there is
yet trouble about two or three Of them.
The fast mail trains between the East and
West will be discontinued the 22d inst. The
House refused to make the needed appropria-
ton.
Commissioner Pratt is likely to continue at
the head of the Internal Revenue bureau
Ex-Secretary Bristow having refused to COM
municate to the House Investigating Commit
tee the confidential communications between
the President and himself, the President wrote
letter requesting Col .Bristow to tell all that
took place between them relative to the prose.
cution of the whiskey ring. Col. Brstow has
replied that he cannot set precedent of that
character.
The Democrats of the House are in guam
dairy about the repeal of the resumption act
The repealers have been beaten off thus far.
Judge Tyner has entered upon the discharge
of his duties as Postmaster General. Governor
Jewell met an enthusiastic welcome on his re-
turn home from Washington. President Grant
evidently made great mistake in asking Mr.
Jewell to resign.
The Naval Committee of the House has
made its report. 1t exonerates Secretary Robe
son of any fraud by which money was put in
his own pocket but thinks he ought to have
known about the Cattells. It accuses several
bureau officers of making improper contracts
and other Irregularities.
THE INDIANS.
There is little of Importance to report from
the scene of the Indian troubles. The rumor
which prevailed week ago that Gen. Crook
had been defeated and killed proves untrue,
official dispatches having been received from
that officer saying that he is all right and is
only waiting for the arrival of reinforcements
to attack the Sioux. Fresh accounts of Gus
tsr's disaster contain little that is new. The
bodies of the dead soldiers were horribly mu-
tilated, in many cases their hearts being cut
out and laid upon their faces The Indian loss
was larger than that of the troops and it is as
serted that Sitting Bull was killed. though
this is probably a mistake.
POLITICAL.
Gov. Tilden and Governor Hendricks were
reported that an attempt was made to recon-
cie their views on the currency question but
without success. Mr.. Hendricks denies how
ever, that there was any disagreement between
them,
The Republicans of North Carolina have
nominated Judge Settle for governor-an ex-
cellent nomination.
At conference of New York Liberal Re-
publcans last week it was found that they
were in complete accord with the regular Re-
publicans, and it was decided to hold a state
convention in conjunction with the latter.
CONGRESS.
Thursday, July 13-In the Senate the i'm
parchment case was adjourned till Friday
on account of the absence of the witness
Evans. The amendments of the House
to the Indian reservation bill were non
c0ncurred in, and committee was appointed
Continued disagreement was reported between
the Senate and House conferees on the con-
sular and diplomatic bill. The bill for building
military posts on the Yellowstone and Mussel
rivers was passed The House concurred in
the Senate amendments to the bill to revise
and consolidate the statutes in relation to the
p0st-ofice department. The report of the con-
ference committee on the silver bill was re-
ceved, and after debate, was adopted, yeas
129, nays rs. The conference committee on
the Indian appropriation bill reported non
agreement, and the same committee were re-
appointed. The committee investigating the
charges against Adams, clerk of the House, re-
ported them as entirely groundless, and a COM
mittee of conference was appointed on the
bankrupt BILL
Saturday, july 15-The Senate passed the
bill continuing the Alabama Claims Commits
sion till Jan. l., 1877. The river and harbor
appropriation bill was taken up, and the Sen.
ate added about 81 200, 900 to the large bill of
the House. Mr.. Edmunds pitched into the
policy and offered a substituted appropria-
ting $4,O00,000 to be expended by the Secretary
of War as will best subserve the interests of
the country. Without voting the Senate adj
journed. The House passed a bill granting
pensions to Gen. Clusters wife and parents
When the bill for the protection of the Texas
frontier came up, Mr.. Smalls (colored) offered
an amendment to the effect that no troops be
Withdrawn from Texas for that purpose. This
gave rise to one of the most spirited debates
of the session which was participated in by
several members. Smalls presented letter
from man in Aiken, S. c.. detailing the
outrages at Hamburg. Cox wanted to know
who wrote it, Smalls said that he would en-
dorse the writer. "Who will endorse the gen.
tleman from South Carolina?' Cox asked
"a large constituency and majority of 49,
000." retorted the colored member. Knott
eulogized Gen. Butler who is responsible for
the Hamburg massacre, and no Democrat Gen.
demned the slaughter.
Monday, July IL. In the Senate the in
parchment trial was adjourned until Wednes-
day as the witness Evans was still absent, and
the consideration of the river and harbor ap-
preparation bill was resumed giving rise to
somewhat lengthy arguments The House
resolution correcting an error in the enrolment
of the post office appropriation bill, regarding
compensations of postmasters, was agreed to.
In the House resolution to investigate the ex-
tent and effect of Chinese immigration was
adopted, and bill to pay the states of Calfor-
MIA and Oregon the expenses incurred in sup
pressing the Indian hostilities of 1872 and 1873
was passed.
Friday, july ii. The Senate devoted itself
to the river and harbor appropriation bill and
agreed to the conference report to the bank
rupt law. The House DEVOTED itself to voting
out Mr.. Frost the Republican from Massachu-
sets and voting in Mr.. Abbott a Democrat
The House adopted the conference report on
the bankrupt act.
Tuesday, July 1S-In the Senate Mr.. Bout
well made personal explanation, denying the
charge made by the Democratic convention at
st. Louis, that balances had been forced in the
public accounts. Mr.. Davis reiterated the
charge that figures had been changed, and said
that he was prepared to prove it. The river
and harbor appropriation bill was then taken
up. In the House Dumber OF reports were
received, md the House then went into COM
mittee OF the whole on the bill to protect the
Mexican frontier. The pending question was
concerning an amendment relating to the Ham
burg troubles, and spirited and personal de-