The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-04-12
WASHINGTON.
The Extradi.ion Controversy.


Secretary Fish has sent to Mr.. Hoffman,
Charge d Affairs at London, an official note in
forming him that the United States caunot,
under any circumstances, take cognizance of
the act of the British Parliament of 1870
touching extraditon treaties, and peremptorily
refusing to give any assurance whatever that
Winslow, the Boston forger, shall not be tried
on any counts except those for which extrad-
ton is asked. These indictments are seven in
number. Should the present determination of
the British government be persisted in, the
President will hereafter refuse to surreBder any
persons arrested in this country, accused of
having com mitted crime in the British domin-
ions. Mr.. Faulkner, of the House Committee
on Foreign Affairs, called on the Secretary to
inquire why the correspondence relating to this
subject mad not been forwarded. Mr.. Fish re-
piled that his last note on the subject, copy of
which he showed to Mr.. Faulkner, had not
yet reached London, and he was only waiting
to hear of its arrival before making its con-
tents:public in this country.
steinberger's Kingdom
Mr.. Faulkner also inquired in regard to the
correspondence relating to Steinberger's mis-
sion to the Samoan Islands. Mr.. Fish said the
correspondence is very voluminous, and is be-
IDg prepared for Congress as rapidly as posi-
Bile. be also assured Faulkner that Steinber-
ger, the last time he went to the Samoan Is
lands, did not go in the capacity of an agent Of
the United States, but entirely on his own pri
vate account. He does not in any respect or
degree represent the United States, and has no
authority whatever from our government The
U. s. Consul to the Samoan Islands has in
inquired of Mr.. Fish in regard to Steinbergers
status, and has been informed of these facts.
The Cadetship Sales.
DR.. Lawrence Simpkins testified before the
committee investigating Representative Pur-
mans cadetship sale, to-day, and corroborated
the testimony given last week to the effect that
Purman said he would not sell the cadetship to
Is1c Gov hi oI laa
$500.
The Emma Mine.
Several witnesses testified to-day before the
Foreign Committee that they believed the
Emma mine of great value if properly worked.
There was some testimony to show also that
Lyon attempted to bride Judge Mexican.
The Tariff Bill.
The Ways and Means Committee completed
Mr.. Merrison's tariff bill today and ordered it
reported fay orably to the House. The follow
ing alterations were made in addition to those
heretofore reported: Articles taken from the
free list and put at half rates of the present
duty, saleIatus and bicarbonate of soda and all
carbonates of soda not otherwise provided for.
White vitriol or sulphate of zinc and blue Wit
riol and crude saltpetre have been struck from
the free list, and salts of quinine are placed at
16 per cent. advalorem. Freestone, granite
and sandstone undressed and all building or
ornamental stone undressed, except marble,
have been taken from the free list and are to
pay 81 ton, the present duty being $1.5O.
The tax on coffee of 3 cents and ON tea of Is
cents, was stricken out. The motion by Mr..
Morrison in the committee proposing duty on
coffee of cents, and on tea 10 cents was dis
greed to by yeas to nays. The tea and cof-
fee clause was then struck from the bill by 7
yeas to 4 nays. Mr.. Morrison gave notice of
his intention to offer in the House pending the
consideration of the bill, an amendment taxing
tea and Coffee The bill has been materially
yUo nr6n
to be reported favora6ly to the House by the
following vote:
Yeas-Messrs Morrison, Wood, Thomas,
Hill, Chaplin and Tucker-6, (all Democrats.)
Nays-Messrs. Blaine, Kelley, Garfield, Bur-
chard, sRepublicaps) and Hancock tDemocrat)
If the committee had retained the duty on
tea and coffee, Mr.. Wood would have voted
against reporting the bill to the House.
Various Matters.
There is little doubt bnt that the House will
concur in the Senante amendments TO the sill
Whitley, A. B. Newcomb and ex Solicitor
Banfeld were before the District grand jury
yesterday.
Ahabeas corpus has been granted in Hallett
Kilbourne's case.
The Judiciary Committee of the House was
addressed yesterday by ex-senator Trumbull
and j. ID. Storrs in opposition to the bill rela-
tive to the Central Pacific railroad, suggested
by Messrs. Knott and Lawrence.
The Times special says an examination of the
river and harbor appropriation bill shows it to
be most stupepdous job, by which nearly
every brook and creek in the South has from
$3O0o to $4,000 appropriated for it.
The Senate bill appropriatiDg $4,000 to pay
for the Mississippi investigation requires the
concurrence of the House.
Before the Military Committee to-day Gen.
Boughton testified that he was approached by
Gen. Bridgland's clerk, who proposed to drop
all the cases against him if he would pay $10,-
600. and then reduced his figures to $5OO0 He
refused, but subsequently finding himself still
prosecuted he offered TO compromise.
Judge Hood testified to-day that the money
charged to him on Sawyer's books was S13,50O
for services as attorney, and the remainder for
loans he had negotiated.
The House Committee on Commerce to-day
authorized Representative Pierce to report the
bill providing that no owner, agent master or
consgnee of any ship or vessel duly registered
and enrolled, shall by virtue of the laws of any
state be compelled to take, employ or pay a
pilot not voluntarily employed on entering or
departing from any port or harbor, or entering,
passing through or leaving any channel, pas
sage or strait within the waters of the United
States.