The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-05-24
WASHINGTON.
The CattelIs, Commissions,


Venezuelan claims was when the Venezuelan
government in 1870 and 1871 protested against
their validity, alleging fraud in the commits
sion. The Committee on Foreign Affairs, of
which Orth was then member, investigated the
charges and reported unanimously in favor of
the validity of the awards Afterwards, when
Orth was not member of Congress, and when
ne mad no idea OF again being in Congress, he
accepted employment as attorney of Stillwell
and Gen. Talmadge to assist them in receiving
their per centage paid by the Venezuelan gov
eminent under protest. In this matter he act
ed and was paid as attorney for Stilwell and
Ialmadge His services were rendered while he
was not member of Congress, and terminated
before he took his seat in the subsequent Goa
gress in 1873. That ended his professional con-
necton with the matter, but in July, 1873, he
then being member of Congress elect, he had
on behalf of Talmadge correspondent with the
State Department on the subject of the pay
ment of an instalment on certificates held by
Talmadge. This, however. he had not done in
his professional character. He identified the
correspondence, copy of which was in the
hands of committee. The name of Tai
madge does not appear in it as the person for
whom he was acting, but the name of Thomas.
In response to query, Ortiz said there was
nothing to attract particular attention in the
State Department as to the amount of these
claims, as that department had previously paid
to Talmadge an instalment in 1871.
Orth sent in today his resignation as Minis
ter, and proceeds to Indiana to attend to the
canvass of that state, where he is Republican
candidate for Governor.
MIR. Blaine Sill Confined TO His Bed.
The committee postponed till tomorrow furth-
er examination of witnesses on the charges
against Mr.. Blaine, who is still confined to his
bed by sickness.
Secretary Fish's Reply 10 Lord Derby.
At the Cabinet session today the reply of
Secretary Fish to the Derby note was read. 1t
is document of great length, and thoroughly
reiterates the position already taken by this
government upon the subject of the Wins low
extradition. There was little discussion upon
the general principle involved in this matter.
and none whatever upon the tenor of thu reply
of the Secretary of State, it meeting with the
unanimous approval of the Cabinet.
The Cape Giradeau Outbreak.
During the session Secretary Bristow pre-
scented telegram addressed to the Commits
sioner of internal Revenue from Supervisor
Meyers, at st. Louis recitiug the difficulties he
met in executing the revenue laws and arrest
ing its offenders in Cape Giradeau county, Mo-,
and asking military force to assist in doing
SO. The matter was referred to the Secretary
OF War; who will instruct the proper military
authority at st. Louis to give necessary aid.
One company of infantry will be detailed for
this service.
The New Cabinet Appointments.
Mr.. Cameron is expected to take oath as Sec
rotary of War early next week. Until then
the understanding is that the formal accept
aoces of the newly appointed Cabinet officers
will be delayed.
The Black HiIIs.
The Cabinet considered to some extent the
situation of affairs in the Black Hills country.
Assurances have been given that an influential
band of Sioux are willing to relinquish their
demands there and remove to reservations in
the Indian Territory.
Report of the District Committee.
The report Of the committee on District of
Columbia charged with investigating the af-
fairs of the District has been prepared by
Chairman Buckner. 1t specifically charges
the commissioners with violation of law in the
expenditures of money, and says in relation to
the board of audit that favored parties had no
difficulty in having claims audited, in some
cases in which there was no merit and in 9TH
ers for much more than was due, while other
claimants with equal merit or dement, were
procrastinated and delayed until some person
in communication with the sauditing officers
turned up to purchase at heavy discount the
claims thus unnecessarily hindered and delay
ed in their adjustment.
The report gives the names of 80 persons who
had improper OF erroneous allowances made to
them ranging from $4,000 to $4,000 and aggre-
eating $320,667 The report says if the inten.
ton and meaning of the act of June, 1874, has
not been greatly misconcelved there can be no
uouub lue COumlSslOu0rS nave aQQeQ S0,USl,-
O46. 10 to the debt of the District, not only
without the warrant of law, but against their
own construction of their powers as shown by
their report of December 1874
The report is long one and in conclusion
recommends the passage of the accompanying
in, that the Attorney General of the United
States is hereby directed to cause proceedings
at law to be instituted against VIM. Dennison
Jno. ID. Ketcbam and Seth L. Phelps on their
several bonds as commissioners of the District
OF Columbia for malfeasance and unfaithful-
ness in the discharge of their duties as said
commissioners, and for this purpose he is au-
thorzed to appoint such special counsel as he
may deem advisable who shall take charge of
the conduct and management of said suits; and
the resolution provides for the continuation of
the investigation by the committee for further
report to the next session of Congress.
Tbe Republican members of the committee,
Mr. Willard of Michigan, (LiberaD, and per-
haps some of the Democratic members, will re-
fuse to unite in the above report. While they
will admit that claims have been allowed by
the board OF audit which were improper they
will refuse to endorse the conclusion that the
District commissioners should be held account
able for board which is in no wise amenable
to the commissioners and whose powers and
duties are as defined as their own. This latter
properly belongs and censure the board of
audit.
Central Pacific Railroad.
Z. ?. Huntington, Vice President of the Cen
trail Pacific Railroad Company, has written a
letter to the chairman of the House Committee
on Judiciary, in which he says the company
recognizes as fully as the committee, the desir-
ability both to the government and the compa-
ny OF an equitable and fnal settlement of all
matters and questions of whatever kind be-
tween them, and this he thinks, can be effect
ed by an amlcable arbitration with good results
n na fcha 10
the committee to insist upon the cash payments
named by one of the committee the company
would prefer to contract, as it is leaving the
question at issue TO be settled in future on
equitable terms.
The contraction in value he says has largely
exceeded the calculations of the company and
the amount received from sales of lands has not
been as large as was expected. The road was
built in times OF high prices, and although
economically constructed cost very large sum
of money, and he raises the question whether
the nation, it being the principal beneficiary,
should not share in the shrinkage, the saving
to the government every year being more than
the annual interest it pays on the bonds of the
company. He compares the cost of transport
tatiOn to the government before and after the
opening of the road, and shows that the gov
eminent is now sending large part of its
freights to the Pacific coast by water and not
by rail as was contemplated. He offered to
give any information the committee desire in
regard to the suggestions of his letter, as the
company is anxious to settle this matter so as
to avoid continual misunderstanding with re-.
gard to the true Interpretation of the contract.
The Louisiana Investigation.
The committee investigating Louisiana affairs
after an upimportant session to-day adjourned
to meet in New Orleans the 9th.
The Jurisdiction Question.
The secret session of the Senate to-day was
occupied by Logan who concluded his argu.
ment ia opposition to the right of the Senate to
try ex-Secretary Belknap. A vote will proba-
bly, be reached before the close of the session
On Thursday next
Various Matters.
Internal revenue receipts today 1926, 545; Gus
.oms $468,848.
An unfounded rumor was circulated that Sec
-etary BrIstow had resigned.
Forty Fourth COngress-First Session.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON, D. c., May 49,
Mr.. Conkling, from the Committee on For
eign Relations, reported with amendment the
House Joint resolution suggesting intercesson
IF the United States to secure the release of E.
}. M. Condor. now confined in anEnglish pris-
IN. He asked its present consideration.
Mr. Edmunds said he would like to examine
t and asked it be laid over until tomorrow.
50 ordered.
Mr. Sherman submitted the following: