The Portland daily press., 1877-12-08
WASHINGTON.
Sharp Opposition to the Presidents Nom-
inati0ns.

Sharp Opposition TO the Presidents N0m-
inations.
NEW YORK, Dec. 7.-Washington specials
give the details of sharp debate in the execu-
tive session of the Senate yesterday, over the
New York nominations, in which Senator
Conkling unreseryedly criticised the course of
President Hayes. and both Thurman and Voor-
hees denounced Democrats who take office un-
der President they do not believe entitled to
bis seat Stanley Matthews made defence Of
the President, aud Davis of Illinois discaimed
any responsibility for the appointment of VIM.
Henry Smith as collector of Chicago; while
Oglesby said that JONES' the previous collector,
had grown fat and ought to have been removed.
But although he opposed Smiths nomination
he thought there should be a cnange Conk
ling, Thurman, Voorhees,, Oglesby and others
insisted on the tenure cf offi,e act and the
committee was instructed to seek information
relative to removals from the President him.
self, the answer from Secretary Sherman being
deemed insufficient.
The Texas Pacific Subsidy.
WASHINGTON, Dec 1.-THE bill introduced
by Mr.. Stephens of Ga, amendatory of the
that company bonds of the United States to an
amount not exceeding $38. 600, payable
principal and interest, in gold and to run 30
years.
Chinese Immigration.
A bill was introduced today by Representa-
tive Shelby of Ala, to regulate Chinese mmi-
grafton. 1t proposes to levy per capita tax
of $3.50 upon every subject of China immedi-
ately upon entering the United States, either
from China or from any other country, after
June l, 1879, except officials duly accredited as
agents of the Chinese government and their
families, or servants coming to the United
States ID some official capacity. Every Chinese
subject violating this provision will be punish
ed on conviction by imprisonmentA at hard labor
ror not less than five years. The bill was re-
ferred to the Committee on Education and La
Dor.
Republican Senatorial Caucus.
The Republican Senators were in caucus to-
day, considering the proposition by some of
their number for an election of new Sergeant
at Arms. Charges were submitted against
Gen. French, the incumbent, to the effect that
he has displaced sundry Republican employees
and given their positions to Democrats. The
friends of French denied that there was any
thing in these charges, and asked that COM
mittee be appointed to investigate, which was
agreed to, and Messrs Jones, Howe and Cam
eron of Pa, were appointed.
The Life Saving Service.
The bill introduced in the House to-day by
Mr.. Cox of New York, to organize life-saving
service, provides that the Secretary of the
Treasury be authorized to establish additional
llfe-saving and lifeboat stations, as follows: 13
complete stations on the coast of Virginia and
North Carolina; complete and one life-boat
station on the coast of Lake Michigan; 4 life.
boat stations on the coast of Texas; 2 life-ooa
stations on the coast of Lake Huron, and one
life-boat station in Boliua's Bay, CAL, in place
of that authorized at Point Reyes by act of
June 20, 1874. The bill further provides that
hereafter life-saviDg stations upon the Atlantic
coast at which crews are employed shall be
manned and the stations opened for active
service on the 1st of September Of each year,
and SO continue Until the LIST of May succeed
ino and tho praus shall rpSida at tho etations
during said period: that the President of the
United States may appoint q suitable person
who will be familiar with the use and opera
tions of life boats, surf boats, sc, for saving
of life and property from shpwrecked vessels.
as general superintendent of The life-saving
service, who shall, under the immediate direc-
ton of the Secretary of the Treasury, have
general charge of the service, and whose COM
pansation shall be $4,000 per anpum, and the
Secretary of the Treasury shall appoint an
assistant to the general superintendent at a
salary of $2500; that the compensation of the
keepers of lfe-saving and life-boat stations
hereafter be $500 per annum, and they to have
powers of inspectors OF customs, but receive
no additional compensation for duties per-
formed as such. 1t is understood the bill was
division
The Mexicaa Raids.
The House Committee on Foreign Affairs
today took up for consideration the question of
our Relations with Mexico, as affected or likely
to be affected by the military policy of having
raiding parties into Texas pursued across the
border and punished by American troops on
Mexican soil. Brgader General Ord, who has
been enlIgbteniDg the Committee on Military
Affairs on the same subject for the past three
days, was engaged in like effort today before
the Foreign Affairs Committee, aud the same
ground was practically gone over In reply to
questions by Mr.. Cox of New York, Gen. Ord
stated that diplomacy had failed to correct the
mischiefs complained of, that the military
policy was gradually succeeding. and that he
thought congressional endorsement of that
military policy would have the desired result,
because it would convince the Mexican govern
ment and the people that the policy was not
merely temporary expedient, but to be per-
sisted in till the cattle stealing raids were
entirely discontinued.