The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-01-16
WASHINGTON.



toral Inv estigation, today j. M. Johns testified
he was present at the electoral canvass made
BY the Secretary of State. Chadwick. and that
Gov Grover was mad because Chadwick did
not count Watts out and Cronin. Chadwick
told witness the Governor wanted to shift the
responsibility and get him (Chadwck) to refuse
to give Watts a certificate.
Turner, the cOntumacous telegraph man,
testified without shedding any light on the sub
ject.
Gov. Grover, at his own request was allowed
to make statement. He dIsclaImed having
any conversation with Secretary of State Chad
wick, in relation to the counting out Of Watts
and counting in of Cronn.
The Chandler kilograms.
Representative Purman of Florida, was ex-
amined in regard to the Chandler kilograms
sent South, but his testimony did not serve to
show that anything startling was contained in
them, nor were there any important facts elic-
tied by the examination.
The Louisiana Returning Board to be
Reported for Contempt.
1t is thought the House Judiciary Committee
will report the members of the Louisiana re-
turning board for contempt in refusing to pro-
duce certain papers.
Supreme Court Decision.
The Supreme Court decided today that land
grant railroads are not bound to transport the
troops and property of the United States free
only TO allow the government the free use of
their tracks in return for the grants, and that
they are each entitled to compensation for such
transportation they have performed except
ing the carrying of the mails subject to a
fair deduction for use or their several roads.
The general course of legislation on the subject
of railroads is reviewed at length. and the con-
clusion is that it demonstrates the fact that in
the early history of railroads it was very gen.
orally supposed that they could be public high
mo NO inf onf mall
the judgment of the Court of Claims. Justice
Bradley delivered the opinion. The dissenting
justices were Messrs. Clifford, Miller. Davis
and Swayne, Justice Miller writing the opin-
ion.
The Postal Telegraph Scheme.
The House Committee on Post Offices and
Post Roads today appointed a subcommittee
consisting of Messrs. Ainsworth of Iowa, Mil
Ter of New York, and Stowell of Virginia, to
consider the subject brought to the attention of
Congress by numerous petitions received this
session, asking the government to purchase and
assume control of the telegraph lines of the
country in order to provide cheap telegraphy.
The committee also directed a letter to be writ
ten to the Postmaster General inviting an ex.
preston of his views on the subject
The District Police Commissioners.
The committee investigating tie official con-
session today. VIM. j. Murtagh, President of
the Police Board, was examined. He denied
all the statements made by Major Richar1s and
the detective except the Whitthorne matter.
As to this, he said that learning that the report
of the Naval Committee was likely to injure
himself, and hearing Whitthorre was man of
loose habits, he requested Major Richards to
have Whitthorne watched in order to expose
him if it was found he visited houses of iii re-
pute. He stated also that Secretary Robson
knew nothing of the matter.
How the Louisiana Order is Construed,
A despatch sent last night to Gen. Augur by
the President was shown to various members of
the House today, and occasioned much surprise
and comment, it being considered substantially
recognition of the Packard government No
formal opinion has been rendered to the Presi-
dent by the Attorney General on the subject,
regards the Packard government as the legal
one of Louisiana.
Bonds Offered for Sale.
Under the provision of the act of Congress
to enable the Secretary of the Treasury to pay
the judgments of the commissioners of Ala
bama claims, the Secretary gives notice that
sealed propo sails will be received at the Treas
ury Department until noon of the 22d inst. for
the sale of per cent coupon or registered
bonds of the funded loan of 1881 in lots of not
less than 100000, to the total amount of
1907 ,000 These bonds will be sold for gold,
and payment theresor must be made within
three days after the acceptance by the depart.
ment of the bid. Each bid must be accom-
panied by gold dsposit of per cent. of the
amount thereof, and no bid at less than par in
Coin will be considered.
The Electoral Count Dispute.
The Senate and House committee on count.
ing the electoral votes were in session about SIX
hours to-day, most of the time as Joint COM
mittee No final action was taken and they
adjourned to u eet separately at 10 a. m. and
Jointly at IL a. m. Tomorrow, when it is under
stood definite result would be reached, but
whether by agreement or by final disagreement
cannot be predict with any degree of certain
ty. Nothing In the nature of N ulumatum
has yet been presented by either com mittee,
and hopes are still expressed by several of the
members that the final conference tomorrow
Will result In an agreement upon some plan
that will be satisfactory to both committees
and secure the approval of both branches of
Congress.
The nature of the discussion or preliminary
action to-day is kept profoundly secret.
Various Matters.
Internal revenue receipts today $64, 491 4S;
customs 1886, 72S 46.
Hon. William A. Wheeler Of New York, oc-
cupied his seat 10 the House today for the first
time in the present session. He also met with
the Committee on Appropriations He receiv-
ed marked attention from his associates. he
leaves tomorrow for his home in Malone, N, Y.
The Reason os the Presidents Louisiana
Order.
NEW YORK, Jan Is The New York Times
special says the Presidents delay in recogulz-
ing the Packard government in Louisiana has
not been caused by any doubt as to its legality.
He has always held that the returning board
was legal aud constitutional body, and its de-
cision of the election case in favor of Packard
was final and needed no authensication from
him. Becoming aware that leading Democrat
ic Senators aud others have been encouraging
Nichols, and that on Saturday western DEM
ocratlc Senator sent Nichols despatch in
which he counseled taking possession of the
State House, and stated that such demonstra-
President decided, after Consultation with well
known constitutional lawyers, to recognize and
sustain the Packard government and Republi.
can Legislature.
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