The Portland daily press., 1877-12-07
THE PRESS
History OF Seven Days.
The News for the week ending Wednes-
day Night. Deeembr 8.
NATIONAL CAPITAL,

Do'eoy' Osiesoy, Alison aed howe were APP
poiuted committee to revise the lists and re-
port to future meeting of the caucus, after as
certalniDg ths wishes of the Democrats as to
he assignment of their members IL is proba-
BILE that the minority will be given an increas-
ed representation upon such committees of i'm
portance as are not already divided with all pos
s'ble equality between the Two parties Tue
Democrats have now four members out of the
pine on the following Committees: Appropria-
tions, foreign relations commerce, public lands
and claims. They have three oat of seven
members on the judiciary, but thsy have less
than these proportions of strength on various
other committees, especially the finance com
mittee and the committee on elections, each of
which consists of six Republicans and three
Democrats.
The bill introduced in the House Tuesday by
Mr.. Townsend of Illinois to amend Sec. 525S
of the Revised Statutes and to regulate COM
merce by railroad among the several states pro-
poses to require railroads to receive and traus-
port freight cars Of other companies without
charging any greater rate than is charged
where the cars are the property of the road
over which they pass. 1t prescfibes as penalty
luI duy NlUidSCu VI bulS pIONiSlVu d tulltltutc
of three times the amount of damages sustain
cd by the aggrieved parties to be paid to the lat
ter.
Capt johnson stated before the House mi-
tary committee Tuesday that to give adequate
protection to the Texas frontier there were
necessary two full regiments of infaDtTy and
one of cavalry,i in all 5000 men; that there ought
to be some additional posts established and
that river fords should be picketed and patroll-
ed by small parties of cavalry
The clerk of the court of claims has trans
mitted to Congress statement of all the jadg
ments rendered by the curt for the year enc
ing Dec. Sd, 1877, the amounts thereof, the
names of the parties, 10 whose favor rendered.
etc. The entire amsunt of claims was about
So 600, 900. not over one-eixth of viii ch sum has
been awarded. a large nnmb9r of claims
were dismissed, including some for the pro-
ceeds of cotton captured by the United States
military posts in sums raugiog from 5000 TO
$4,000. the latter on account of Samuel P
Walkers executors and Robertson Topp ad-
ministrator
The New York customs nominations have
failed with the session. Gen. Harlan is an
Associate Justice Of the Suprens Court, the
motion to reconsider his confirmation not hsy-
ing bees acted on.
The only bills that became laws during the
late extra session of Congress were the army
appropriation bill for the current year and the
navy deficiency bill
Mrs Sarah j. Spencer and Mrs Sargent, the
wife of Senator Sargent, asked the President
to recommend in his message legislation by
which women should be recognized in foreign
as well as domestic appointments; also that be
recommend an amendment to the constitution
in order to secure woman suffrage in the U nited
States. The President replied that at future
time he might state in writing his views, but
would now say that if Congress should recon-
mend for the adoption by the states such az
amendment to the constitution it would meet
with his approval.
CoNGREss.
The contest for the control of the Senate
which began week since ended last Saturday
morniDg in the triumph of the Repu olcans
Kellogg was seated, Conover and Patterson
voting for him and Immediately after Butler OF
South Carolina was given his seat by the votes
of the Democrats and Conover and Patterson
No legislative business was attended to while
the contest was pending with the exception Of
the Paris exposition bill, which was amended
and passed by vote of SO 10 20
On Saturday Mr.. Wadleigh reported from
the committee on privileges and elections 10
favor of seating Mr.. Eustis from Louisiana.
A minority report opposing was alao presented
The deficiency appropriation bill was passed.
In the House bin was passed for the relief of
tho IN IF hv ha Of ba
Monday the extra session eDded and the reg
ular session begun. The Presidents message
was read 10 both houses. No legislative busi
ness was transacted by cit her.
Tuesday The Senate was In session. 10 the
Honse number of bills were. Introduced ard
referred. A bill repeating the iIonclad oath
was passed; also bill repe aliug Section 800
of the Revised Statutes W hich provides for the
disqualification of any juror vino has without
duress or coercion taken up arms in defence of
any nsurrection or rebellion against the United
States, or who has given aid or comfort thereto
CRIMES AND CASUALTIES
M. and Mrs. David Stnlmap, worthy and
esteemed couple OF Shelf ID, Mass, were foully
murdered Thanksgiving day bs John Ten Eyck,
colored man VITO had been employed by Mr..
obihudus lDopOol1 Hdo lutblNS
The evidence IN the case of Senator Patter-
son of South Carolina shows that be spent
$45,000 10 bribery to secure his election.
DR.. Thomas A. Lambert, President Of the
American Popular Life Insurance. Company, is
on trial in New York on charge of swearing to
false returns of the assets and liabilities of that
institution.
Last Wednesday q woman Of loose character
named Mary Leary enticed to her house in
Lawrence girl named Bridget Murphy and
after rendering her insensible with liuuor.
heated poker and burned her severely about
the thighs. While her victim was writhing in
in agony the Leary woman added to her tor
ture by tearing the skin from the scared parts
She was arrested and held in $500 bonds to
await the action of the grand jury. The
Murphy girl is severely injured and unable to
sit or lie without great pain. The cause of the
inhuman act was doubtless revenge, as the
Murphy girls mother had forbidden the Leary
woman access to her house on account of her
bad character.
BRIEF MENTION.
Gov Hendricks of Indiana has gone to lec-
turing fears of the further spread of the
yellow l6Ver aI JdcRsOuVlli6 are at an eDd.--
The workingmen's demonstration at San Fran
cisco Thanksgiving day passed off without any
disturbance.-Au order from the Secretary of
the Treasury was circulated Thursday in the
Treasury department enjoiniDg upon clerks
strict attention to business during Office hours.
and prohibiting interchange of visits and re-
ceiving visits during Office hours.--Congress-
man Smalls has been released on 900 bail to
await the decision of the Supreme Court on his
appeal--The number of troops in Western
Texas is SO small that Indians rove and murder
with mpunity--Sittng Bull is getting tired
of Canada aud wants 10 know when the AL
mighty gave the Canadian government the
right to prohibit the killing of buffalo. He as
sumes an air of supreme defance.--Samuel
Bowles, editor of the Springfield Republican, is
very i'll, and very little hope is entertained of
bis recovery ry.--The appointment of William
Northup to be District Attorney Of South Car
olna has been revoked.-Gov. Hampton of
South Carolina, in his message 70 the Legisla-
ture takes strong ground against repudiatiou of