The Portland daily press., 1877-12-18
WASHINGTON.



WASHINGTON, Dec. 17.-Special Senate COM
mittes, of which Senator Conkling is chairman
and which was appointed for the purpose of in-
quiring into and reporting whether any meas
ures can be devised to promote commercial in
tercourse with Mexico, and to establish peace
full condition of sffairs on the border between
this country and Mexico, were in session to-
day several hours The entire time was devot-
ed to hearing Gen. Sherman's statement, SUBJ
stantially the same as made before the House
committee, bearing upon the same subject.
The General today reiterated his disapproval of
the order for following the raids into Mexican
territory, and his belief that there is no danger
Of war. He expressed high opinion of Presi-
dent Diaz and had no doubt of the sincerity of
the avowed purpose of the Mexicon govern
ing the depredations. He thought there was
very little probability of collisions occurring,
and explained that the crossings are generally
high up on the Rio Grande where there are few
Mexicans. He also expressed the belief that
the raidiDg was not all on one side. His views
calty concerning the Salt Ponds near San Rosa
rio as given to the committee today, coincide
with those attributed to the government in these
dispatches last night and on Saturday.
The subcommittee of the House Military
Committee to investigate the Mexican border
troubles, met this morning and instructed the
chairman to address request to the Secretary
of War to have summoned before the commit
tee Col. Shsfter, Lieut.. Bulls and Lieut.. Tur-
ner, who recently pursued the Mexican raiders
into Mexican territory. Until the arrival of
these officers the subcommittee will transact
no business, unless extraordinary emergency
should arise when they will assemble at the
call of the chairman.
Supreme Court Decisions.
In the Supreme Court of the United States
to-day, in case No. 276, United States vs.. brig
Grace Lothrop-appeal from the Circuit Court
for tbo trio of i 10 Al
that the masters of vessels plying between the
United States and the West Indies are not
required to call on the shipping commissioners
when entering into contracts with seamen,
such voyages being excepted from the opera
ton of the act, and that in such voyages the
owner, consignee or master of the ship may
lawfully perform the duties of the shipping
com missioner
No "a, United States vs. Smith-a certificate
of decision from the Circuit Court of Massa-
chusetts The question is the same as in 276,
except as to the port of destination, being in
this case Philadelphia. The decision is that
the shipping commissioners act does not apply
to coastwise voyages from one port to another
on our Atlantic coast, and that therefore the
shipping of a seaman without calling on
commissioner was lawful. Justice Clifford
delivered the opinion.
varions Matters.
The naval court of inquiry into the Huron
disaster completed their work today and report
ed to the Secretary and were dissolved. There
is no reason to suppose the Secretary will delay
the PRONUNCIATION of the finding and opinion Of
the court
The Commissioners of Indian Affairs, Hayt
took the oath of Office today and received his
commission and entered regularly upon his du-
ties,
The President has pardoned Frank A. Mars.
ton, convicted counterfeiter, imprisoned in
the Kings county, New York, Penitentiary !;
John Skilman convicted of larceny and i'm
prisoned 10 the West Virginia Penitentiary, for
robbing the mails
A telegram received by Commissioner Hayt
from the indian agent at Camp Thomas, Ari-
IONA, reports that Pionsenay, the leader of the
renegade Apaches, who has been committing
depredations recen tly, is dead, and that eight
of his band had surrendered. The San Carlos
reservation police are in close pursuit of the re-
mainder
Gen. Sherman leaves Washington tonight for
a brief visit to his family in St. Louis.
Efforts are being made by the government to
obtain the money and other property in Europe
which belonged to the Southern Confederacy at
the end of the late war. This subject was dis
cussed during President Grants administra-
ton, when the estimated value of the property
amounted to from 100000 to $15,000O00.
Secretary Evarts left Washington last night
for New York, where he will be joined by the
President and several members of che Cabinet
on the Goth.
Senator Blaine expects to leave Washington
tomorrow for Florida, where he will remain
during the holiday recess. Representative Hale
will probably accompany him,
All the information called for by the Davis
Investigating committee has been furnished by
the Treasury Department.