The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-03-31
History Of Seven Days.
The News for the week ending "Wednesday
Might, March 20.
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.

Duy the great mass OF SCuU SenJ from w aSHlng-
ton is sensational Marsh and his wife are
back in Washington. His story is little mod
fled SO as to pain Belknap and ease off City,
mer. Mrs. Marsh testifes that she does not
know that rendleton paid Mrs. Bowers after
ward Mrs. Beknap, for her influence in get
ting through the bogus Kentucky Railroad
claim.
The sale of post traderships opens worse and
worse. Orville Grant, one of the Dents, and
several others had hands in it, The govern
ment was not cheated, but on the whole it was
low and disreputable business. The President
would be justified in shooting brother Orville
on the spot and bauishing his brothers-in-law
Dents.
Testimony has been offered the Clymer com.
mittee tending to implicate Gen. Reynolds in
acting in collision with certain Texas contrac-
tors in taking damaged corn.
Sensational reports published during the week
setting forth charges of fraud against Gen.
Ingalls, in 1854, while Quartermaster General
of the Army of the Potomac, appear to be ut
terly groundess. The same may be said of
charges against Secretary Robson to the effect
that he caused money to be deposited with
Jay Cook & MeCulloch, London, when the
house was known to be shaky.
The Emma mine matter has continued
matter of congressional inquiry. Ex-Minister
Schenck was before the Foreign Affairs Com.
mttee Tuesday. He read statement explicit
ly declaring that the statements of Lyon and
others were false, that he paid for his stock,
that the mine is worth the money, and that
the complaint was made wholly by the specu-
lators.
The appointment of Mr.. Dana as Minister to
England is still under discussion in the Senate.
The Democrats are opposed to him solidly and
Ben. Butler is stirring up opposition. Mr.,
Dana wonld doubtless be confirmed were it
not for a letter he wrote to Senator Boutwell,,
which is a little unmindfnl of senatorial sancti-
ty. As It is tits quite probable that he will be
rejected.
During the month ending March 18th 81
100000 U. S. bonds deposited to secure the cir
culation Of national banks, have been with
drawn.
1t is now thought that the impeachment ar
tieles of Belknap will be presented Thursday.
Everything depends upon the Marsh testimo-
ny. 1t is stated that Marsh has been telling
quite different stories the last time he testified
from those ne t0ld IL MONTREAL.
The Treasury Department accepts the decis-
ion of the Attorney General that wool import
ed into the United States could hot be subject
ed to a customs tax of over three cents per
pound, provided at the time of its purchase the
price paid did not exceed II cents per pound.
and that 40 additional tax of one cent per
pound for any purpose ought to be levied after
its arrival in this country
The postal investigation has not resulted in
the discovery of any frauds by officials, but has
let light in upon the matters of straw bids and
mail lettings.
The Senate postal bill provides that the rate
for third class matter shall be one cent per
ounce fer any distance not exceeding 1000 miles
and two cents pet ounce for distances over 1000
miles. The amended bill also provides that
transient newspapers and magazines shall pay
postage for any distances at the rate of one
cent for every three ounces and one cent for
each two ounces or fractional part of two ounc-
es additional.
Congress is getting along very slowly with
its business.
The Investigations, it is estimated, will cost
over 100000 1t is the style now for any per-
son who desires to visit Washington to an
nounce to committee that he is loaded with
secrets, and he is called.
CONGRESS.
Thursday, March %. In the Senate the bill
defining the manner of counting the electoral
vote was considered and laid over. A long ex-
ecutive session followed. In the House quite
number Of bills were presented including one
fixing the pay of army officers as follows:
Major General, $4,000; Brigadier General, $4,000;
Colonel, $500; Lieutenant Colonel, $4,000;
Major, So. 900; Captain, (mounted) $1,000; Cap
tain, (not mounted) $500; Adjutant, $500
First Lieutenant, (mounted) $1,000; First Lieu
tenant, (not mountedl $500; Second Lieuten-
ant (mounted) $1,000; Second Lieutenant, (not
mounted) $1400. The bill went on for further
consideration. A political discussion followed
in the Committee of the whole in which an ex-
rebel named Yates of North Carolina attempted
to provesthat the Republican party is dsloyal
and has always been so.
Friday, March "a. A number of petitions
were presented from Maine and New York ask
ing that the pension agencies be retained. The
bill relating to the counting of electoral
votes was passed, 80. to 26 In the House,
Committee of the whole in discussion which
became political, General Hurlburt replying to
Yates of North Carolina. The question pend
ing was fixing the salary of Congressman at
$4,000, Several amendments, one making the
sum $4,000 and another that the bill go into
effect March 4, 1877 were lost and without yot-
ing on the matter the House adjourned
Monday, March q. Mr.. Hamlin reported a
bill fixing the postage on third class matter.
1t was placed on the calendars. The day was
consumed in the consideration of the consular
and diplomatic bill. The Senate refused to
concur in reducing the salaries of the principal
foreign ministers. In the House Mr.. Payne of
Ohio moved to suspend the rules in order to
ut his bill adopted by the Democratic caucus,
provide for the gradual resumption of specie
payment in its passage. The vote resulted in
yeas 81, nays 156. AS two-thirds vote was
required to suspend the rules Mr.. Payne got a
severe defeat for his party measure. The
House in committee of the whole spent the
balance of the day in considering the bill for
the issuance of silver coin, and to provide for
the deficiency in the engraving and printing
bureau of the Treasury Department. The
Democrats generally opposed the silver coin
feature of the bill and favored the fractional
currency. Garfield said that it would be nee
essary to appropriate $25O,O0O TO keep the
currency bureau running if the silver clause of
the bill was lost 1t cost the government
$20OOOOO year to supply the fractional paper
currency. He intimated that several gentle
men might possibly be interested in contract
for the printing of the currency.
Tuesday, March 2S.-The Senate resumed the
consideration of the diplomatic appropriation
bill. The House refused to turn over the
recusant witness Kilburn to the district courts.
Senate, Wednesday, March 29.-Bll was pass
ed appropriating $62, 300 to supply deficiency
Tor the manufacture of postal cards. Senate
refused to concur in the House bill cutting the
consular and diplomatic bill.
Ho0Se-The army bill as it came from the
committee was passed.
FRESHETs
The rain storm of last Saturday was ex-
tremely severe in the southern and western
sections of New England, and much DAMAGE
IN lI