The Portland daily press., 1876-07-28
WASHINGTON.
The Coinage.

WASHINGTON, July 27.-Acting under the
provisions of the silver bill repeating the legal
tender of the trade dollar, and authorizing the
Secretary of the Treasury to limit the coinage
thereof to the actual export demand, and there
being no export demand for that coin from
Atlantic cities, Secretary Morrill, has directed
that no deposits for these coins be received
until further advised at the Philadelphia mint.
The same direction has been given to Carson
City mint, and San Francisco mint has been
authorized to coin an amount sufficient to meet
the actual export demand, these coins being
required for export to China and Japan only.
Otherwise the mints will be run to their full
capacity on subsidiary coin and necessary gold
coinage
The Diplomatic Bill.
The committee of conference on the consular
and diplomatic appropriation bill held meet
ing to-day and successfully voted down num-
Der of propositions suggested as a basis of
compromise. Excepting in this negative man
ner, no progress was made towards an
adjustment Of the differences.
The Steamboat Bill.
The Senate committee on commerce this af-
ternOOn agreed upon the steamboat bill and di-
rected Senator Boutwell, to report it to the Sen
ate. Bill as it passed the House is considered
largely in the interest of steamboat owners as
it relieved them from many obligations and du-
ties imposed by the existing laws. The Senate
committee entirely remodelled the bill and left
the law substantially as it now exists.
Chinese immigration.
Official returns made to the Bureau of Stats
tics show that during the fiscal year ending
June 3Oth, 1876, there arrived in the United
States %, 572 Chinese immigrants, of whom
only 259 we're females. The increase over 1875
is 6,135.
The Banking Committee.
The committee on banking and currency
again failed to vote on the currency question
to-day, Cox being absent on account of indispo-
sition.
The Order of Business i'm the House.
The adjournment of the House to-day on
account of the death of Senator Caperton pre-
vented action on the contested election case of
Plat VS.. Goode, which was the unfinished
business of yesterday, and will probably give
| rise to struggle as to the proper order of
| business tomorrow. The majority and minor
| ity reports of the Naval Committee on the
management of the Navy Department were
made the special order for tomorrow, to the
exclusion Of all other business, but experienced
parliamentarians assert that this assignment of
| finished election case, in which Mr.. Harris Of
Virginia was entitled to the floor at the
adjournment yesterday, and that after this
matter is disposed of, it will be in the power of
a majority of the House to take up the Bland
silver bill or 60 into committee OF the whole ON
| the private calendar. The probabilities are
that the election case will be first disposed of
and debate on the Naval Committee reports
| will then be commenced, with the certainty of
| its running through the remainder of the after
| noon and all day Saturday.
Troops Ordered TO the Indian Country.
Telegraph instructions were sent the 23d inst
to the commanding officer, Columbia, S. c., Or
dering commanding officer of U. S. troops at
Aiken, S. G., to detail officer and picket guard
of - men for duty at Hamburg, S. G. Lieut..
Col. Elmer Otis of the 9TH Cavalry. promoted
| from Major of the LIST Cavalry, and will join
his regiment in the department of Dakota;
Lieut.. Col. Nathan A. M. Dadley of the 9th
Cavalry. promoted from Major of the Sd Cav
airy, will join his regiment in the Department
OF Missouri. The following troops are ordered
Gen. Pope: Two companies I'd Artillery from
Fort McHenry, Md; one company I'd Artillery
from Charleston, S. c.; one company 81
Artillery from Fort Macon. N. G.; two COM
one company LIST Artillery from Fort Warren,
Mass, and one company 1st Artillery from
Fort Trumbull, Ct
The Indian Appropriation Bill.
There is no prospect of an early compromise
on the Indian appropriation bill. 1t the Sem
ate shall refuse to take up for consideration the
House bill solely proposing the transfer of the
Indian bureau from the Interior to the War
Department the House will recede from that
part of the bill providing for such transfer.
This obstacle removed the other questions will
be of easy adjustment but will require $500, 900
W De auueu W lno appropriations.
Anxious to Adjourn.
A desire has been expressed by the Demo-
Gratis generally that all the reports of the inves
tigating committees be made by Tuesday next,
in order if possible that Congress may adjourn
at the end of next week. Several are now
ready, including the one on Louisiana affairs,
and others are in course of preparation.
The Tilton and WheeIwright Claim-COn-
gresham Harris INDICATED.
New YORK, July 27.-The Telegram's Wash
ington special says the committee of expendi-
lures of the navy department. met this after
noon to listen to Mr.. Beebe's report on the Til
ton and Wheelright case. The report shows
that this Massachusetts firm had a contract for
general supplies and in 1868 were paid off and
reported that they had no further claim against
the government. Subsequently they became
bankrupt and theiri schedule of assets men
toned no such claim, and yet II years after the
claim was paid and they had given receipt in
full they came here and in 1874 Robson, upon
recommendation ofIConstructor Hanscom, paid
them extra compensation of $4,000. Mr.. Rip
ley testified that Tilton told him he paid Ham
soon $4,000 for passing this fraudulent claim.
but Tilton, when put apOn the stand, denied it.
The report is a yindication of Congressman
Harris of Massachusetts, of whose danghterTil-
ton left $500 as the price for an introduction
given him by Harris to Robson in 1874, and
shows that, Harris spurned the bride and re-
turned the money forthwith