The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-05-17
from the Maine State Press of May 1871
History of Seven Days.
The News for the week ending Wednes-
day Night, May rs.



vice direct to Portugal; the Indian appropria-
ton bill was discussed at length and amended
ia few particulars. In the House the COM
mittee on the census was announced; a report
was made that Cain (Rsp. S. G.. Chalmers
(Dem., Miss and Williams (Rep., Orr, whose
elections were contested, were entitled to their
seats. Mr.. Conger endeavoreG to secure vote
on motion instructing the committee of the
whole to report back the tariff bill with the
enacting clause stricken out, but after con-
test the Speaker ruled him out Of order; he
then moved to limit the debate to two hours,
which was defeated; Mr.. Tucker OF Virginia.
free-trader, spoke in favor of the bill, as did
also Mr.. Robbins, of North Carolina.
In the Senate Thursday the Indian appro-
priation and mail letting bills were finished
and passed; the bill to distribute the Mexican
awards was also passed; over this bill, or rath-
er over the We'll and La Abra claims, the Sen.
ate held secret session; the bill to repeal the
bankrupt law was debated at length; Mr.. Thur
man wished to get through with the measure,
but the Senate was unable to reach vote.
The House transacted good deal of business
OF general nature, and then took up the tariff
bill; Judge Kelley spoke against it for two
hours.
In the Senate Friday the bill in regard to a
dry dock at Baltimore was passed; the bill to
repeal the bankrupt law was taken up and de-
bated for long time; twas finally amended
so as to make September 1, 1873, the date when
1t will take effect and passed by &c to 81, sew
eral yea and nay votes were taken In the
House Mr.. B. A. Willis presented a report on
navy expenditures, advising the cancellation
OF contracts to the amount of $3,60O,00O and
the payment of claims to the amount of So 217-
o00; General Garfield reported some important
amendments to the rules; a long and exciting
debate took place over the subject of war
claims, during which great confusion pre-
vailed and members almost came to blows.
In the House, on Saturday Chat being the
only branch of Congress in SESSION. few bills
OF minor Importance were passed, and the bill
to regulate internal commerce was discussed.
three members speaking against it; no action
was taken.
In the Senate Monday bill in relation to
disseminating small silver coinage was passed.
the postal bill was taken up, and various amend
ments for an increase of important items were
agreed to; the bill for contract for carrying
the Brazilian mail was offered as an amend
ment: Mr.. Edmunds made point Of order
against it, and Mr.. Blaine, Mr.. Ferry, Mr..
Beck and others spoke in behalf of the amend
ment; Mr.. Bailey opposed any Brazilian con-
tract; the Senate adjourned without final
action. In the House Mr.. Potter, of New
York, offered resolution for an investigation
of alleged election frauds in Florida and Lou
isiana by Republicans; Mr.. Conger, Mr.. Hale
and MIR. Garfield made points of order against
the resolution, which, five in number, were
overruled by the Speaker; an appeal was taken
from one ruling, and the Democrats laid the
appeal on the table by 12S to 1OS; Mr.. bale
then made an amendment proposing to broaden
the investigation; Mr.. Potter refused to allow
1t to be received; long debate followed, and
Mr.. Potter still refusing, the Republicans fill
bustered and prevented action; the House ad
1ourned without reaching vote. The follow
ing is Mr.. Potter's resolution 10 full:
whereas the State of Maryland has, by its legis-
lature, formally declared that due effect was not
gwen 10 the electoral vote by that state on the
9th of December, 1876 by reason of the fraudulent
returns in the electoral votes from the of FLOR
lda and Louisiana, and
whereas, statement made by SamI B. McLiu,
chairman of the board of canvassers of Florida
ior electors OF President and Vice President has
been made pubic, alleging false and fraudulent re-
turns or votes Tor such election whereby the choice
OF the people Of that state was annuIed and re-
versed, and that the action of the state board of
France. and
Whereas, is alleged that conspiracy existed in
the state OF Louisiana whereby the Republican vote
In all the precincts of the parish OF East Felicana
and 10 some precincts of West Feliciana were pur-
posely withheld from the polls to afford pretext for
the exclusion by the Returning Board OF That state
OF the vote cast within those precincts tor electors OF
PRESIDENT and Vice President, and that James E.
Anderson, the supervisor of registration of East
fetciana, and ID. A. Weber supervisor OF registra-
ton in the parish of West Feliciana in that state in
furherance of that conspiracy falsely protested that
the election in such precincts had not been fair and
free and that the State Returning Board thereon
falsely and fraudulently excluded The votes of the
sald precincts and by means thereof and other false
ana snauient actions by the said Returning Board
and reversed and that the action of Weber and An
aerson was induced and encouraged by assurances
OF the Hon. John Sherman, Secretary Of the Treas
ury Of the United States and
Whereas, the motive of these charges and evidence
upon which they are reported to be based and the
official dignity and position of the persons named in
connection with the SAID frauds, make it proper that
the end that the honor of the nation may be vindi-
Gated and the truth as to the election be mado
RESOLVED, That select committee consisting of
eleven members OF the House be appointed inquire
into the aforesaid elections the conduct of per-
sons 10 olce aforesaid in respect OF said election and
70 tue alleged false and fraudulent canvass and re-
turn OF votes by state county, parish and precinct,
omcers IN the states of Louisiana and Florida and
INTO all the facts which in the judgment of said COM
mittee are connected with pertinent thereto and
na sad COMMITTEES for the purpose of executing this
resolution shall have power send for persons and
papers, to administer oaths and take testimony and
IN their discretion to detail subcommittee with like
fu authority of said committee in every narisb and
with power to sit in Florida and Louisiana, which |
sub committees shall be Committees of this Honsa
anu tne chairman thereof snail be authorized to adj
muster oatns and employ stenographers and be at
ssndeq each oy deputy sergeant-at-arm and may
and said committee shall proceed in thierHouiry and
snail have leave to report at any time.
In the Senate Tuesday the postofics appro-
priation bill was passed and the bill to repeal |
the specie resumption act discussed at length. |
a favorable report was also made on the JAP
anese indemnity fund bill. In the House the |
Republicans resumed flibustering on the Flor |
ida frauds resolution, refusing to vote on the |
motion to second the previous question. FL |
naiiy, there being no apparent prospect of Sc
curing quorum, motion to adjourn prevailed
ana no business whatever was transacted. The
democrats, at a caucus held after adjournment |
resolved to adhere to the Potter resolution,
1nstructing him not to permit amendments
thereto from the Republicans, and unanimously
agreed that the resolution should be acted upon
to the exclusion of other business
THE FENIANs.
Reports come from various quarters to the |
effect that the Fenians are preparing for raid |
on Canada in case England becomes involved |
in war with Russia. These stories are largely |
the work of reporters in search of sensation,
but there seems to be reason for believing that
such scheme has entered the heads of some |
ignorant Irshmen, though it is repudiated by
the more intelligent. The Canadians have |
apparently become considerably alarmed and |
are taking measures to defend the border
CRIMES AND CASUALTIES. |
Considerable damage was done to the crops |
in the vicinity of Richmond, Va, Wednesday
of last week by hurricane.
Bark Chas. H. Russell was burned at sea on
the 18th of March Oh the voyage from Liver
pool to Bombay. Crew rescued and taken to
Cork.
Ira b. Wright, for ten years treasurer of the
town OF South Hadley, Mass, is defaulter to
he amount of $4,000. He spent the money
in business.