Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-11-05
Timber Trespassers.

Inc special agents OF the Interior department
detailed to detect timber trespassers in the State
of Minnesota, have collected testimony showing
that 81 10S, 56i 564 feet bosrd measure) of white
pine logs had been cut and removed from vacant
public lands in that State, which at an average OF
50 per thousand feet would make a total valua-
ton of S30S 542.S2.
W. W. Billson, U. S. Dist. Atty, telegraphs to
the Commissioner of the General Land Office in
regard to the recent legal proceedings against the
tespassers, that 20 civil suits substituted at
the last term of the U. 5. District court AT ST.
Paul, Mimi, against trespassers, and that the
jury returned verdcts in 10 cases in favor of the
Government, for the value of the logs in booms.
la six other cases the demurrers to the complaint
were Overruled, with leave to answer. OF the
remaining four, two were too late for the term
and one was continued on motion of the u. s.
District Attorney. Twenty-Five indictments were
found by the grand jury. Trial and conviction
was had in one case, pleas of guilty were enter ed
IN three cases, and all the rest have been trans
ferred to the U. 5. District court, which convenes
next December. Most Of the transfers were or
dered by the court on account of various difficult
questions OF law which were raised. For the
same reason, the sentence of those convicted was
suspended till after the term of the Circuit court.
Fourteen civil suits are all ready for trial 10 De-
cember. with more to be commenced Four of
the District court cases were taken to the Circuit
court on writ of error. In several instances the
trespassers have surrendered the logs without
suits.
Senate Committees.
The death of Senator Morton will necessitate
the Encouragement of the standing committees of
the senate, though action will not probably be
taken until the beginning OF the regular session.
That senator was chairman of the committee on
privileges and elections and a member of the
committees on foreign relations and railroads.
Mr.. Mitchell of Oregon is acting as chairman of
the committee on privileges and elections and
chairman OF the committee railroads. Should
he accept the Craftsmanship of the former, to
which be is entitled, he will retire from the head
II the railroad committee. In the management
of the committees, Mr.. Teller of Cal will proba-
bly, he given the craftsmanship of some committee,
he is the only senator who held u seat prior to
the fourth OF March not at the head Of COM
mittee.
Postal Matters.
The annual report Of the superintendent of the
special agents of the post office department shows
5i3 arrests made for offences against the laws,
lO4 greater than the previous year. Many cases
OF alleged improper sales of postage stamps were
Investigated and the postmasters removed for that
cause The complaints of lost registered letters
numbered 22S0, of the aggregate value of S54 40,
OF which IA letters and Sl0,5lO were recovered.
The percentage of the actual losses compared
with the total value of registered letters, viz
- ,34S, 1877, is about fifteth OF per cent,
on one dollar in every 1--WE thousand dollars.
Patent Receipts.
The receipts of the patent Office for October
were S5j,l34 or $3.50 greater than the same
month last year.
Financial.
1t is believed to be the policy of the members
of the House, on both sides, to exclude chances
of offering the resolution to morrow by requiring
the reading of all bills that introduced, and
thus consuming the morning hour. An effort
however is likely to be made bo Ewing to make
the sntresumption bill a special order after the
morning hour daily. exception being daily, ex-
cepton being only made for appropriation bills till
Thursday of next week, and a two-thirds vote
therefor is not regarded impossible.
The reference of the silver coinage bill, Satur-
day, to the committee on coinage, weights aud
measures, is an advantage to the bill, as that
committee has yet to be called for reports, while
the banking and currency committee has exhaust
ed tue two morning hours allowed such commit
tee for that purpose and may not be called sgain
during the session.