The Portland daily press., 1878-05-10
History of Seven Days.
The News for the week ending Wednes-
day Night, Mays,
NATIONAL CAPITAL.

NATIONAL CAPITAL
Ex-Gov. Packard of Louisiana has been
nominated by the President as consul to Liv-
erpool, but declines the office
The President hasa pproved the act prohibit
inglthe coinage of 2O.cent pieces.
Irregularities have been discovered at the
Printing Bureau and engraver Casilar and
booker Sullivan have been suspended.
The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
has decided to recommend that the so.callea
Japanese indemnity fund be returned to the
government of Japan and authorized Sem
ator Wallace to draft a bill for that pur-
pose.
The project for an investigation of the
title of Hayes has settled down to a
Monday under a suspension of rules for
an investigation by the House judiciary COM
mittee. An autograph letter from Samuel j.
Tilden has been received saying that Congress
will be guilty of neglect if it does not investi-
gate the Florida case.
The House Judiciary Committee has agreed
to report Gen. Buffers bill to repeal the tenure
of office act.
The Senate foreign committee has decided
to report and recommend the adoption of a
concurrent resolution, taking the ground that
treaty provisions which allow unrestricted
Chinese immigration to this country might
wisely be modified and inviting the attention
Of the President of the United States to the
subject. This concurrent resolution will be
reported as a substitute for Sargent's joint
resolution, which provides in express terms
that the President should be requested to open
negotiations with the governments of China
and Great Britain with view to restricting
the Chinese immigration to this country.
Gen. Weitzel of Cincinnati now refuses to re-
sign his revenue collectorship, and says: If Mr..
Sherman knew of any frauds being committed in
my office, and failed to prosecute the guilty par
ties or even to investigate them, he is as guilty
as the men who committed them. I shall not
shield myself behind subordinates, because I
am responsible for them Neither will I be
pushed out of place 1 have held for eight
years, under charges that are not examined.
Weitzel will make determined fight.
CONGRESS.
In the Senate Wednesday, Mr.. Blaine called
up his resolution declaring radical changes
in the tariff inopportune at this time; Mr..
Garland offered a substitute, providing for a
tariff commission; Mr.. Beck made free trade
speech and was roughly handled by Mr.. Blaine
The bankrupt bill, after long discussion, was
amended so that it should not take effect until
January 1, 1879; the bill was referred, to have
the saving clause perfected. The House dis
cussed the Legislative bill, frequently going off
into political debate; an evening session was
held for debate.
Tn fha 70 Thin sda " tho hill m rapoo1 tho
Bankrupt law was reported, with the saving
clause perfected, and was laid over for one day;
number of bills were placed on the calendar,
and number of others were indefinitely post
poned; the bill to repeal the resumption act
was discussed by MI. Voorhees,; Mr.. Gordon
secured the floor, in order to speak next; the
Senate adjourned until Monday. In the House
bill to reorganize the Life-saving Service was
made special order for May z; bill was re-
ported for the regulation of internal commerce;
the Legislative bill was discussed nearly all
day. The Senate confirmed George L. Smith
as Collector at New Orleans in executive ses-
sion.
The Senate was not in Session on Friday.
In the House the Legislative bill occupied the
day; in the course of the debate, Mr., Dur
ham of Kentucky, called the Agricultural
Department humbug; this brought out lively
remarks on the other side of the question;
various amendments were made to the bill, and
the bill was reported to the House.
The House only was In session Saturday. The
Legislative, Judicial and Executive Appropri-
alton bill was completed and passed.
Monday in the Senate the bill to repeal the
Bankrupt law was briefly discussed, several
Senators presenting petitions in favor of re-
tanning some sort of bankrupt law; Mr.. Gordon
then spoke in regard to specie resumption and
favored the repeal of the resumption act; he
alluded to communism and the patriotism of
the South, and was applauded from the CALLER
les several times; the pension bill was taken
up; one clause had reference to the appoint.
ment of Union veterans to the pension agen.
cies; this was debated for long time and
many amendments thereto were offered In
the House motion was made to suspend the
rules and pass the bill reducing the tax on to-
bacco which was lost by failing to secure
two-thirds vote; the District of Columbia bill
was debated nearly all day, without final &C.
ton.
In the Senate Tuesday the bill prohibiting
the futher cancellation of legal-tender notes
was passed to second reading. The pension
appropriation bill was passed, and the Indian
appropriation bill discussed, without however,
reaching vote. In the House the bill estab-
fishing permanent form of government for
the District of Columbia was passed. A
speech from General Banks in opposition to
the Wood tariff bill occupied the rest of the
session.
CRIMES AND CASUALTIES.
The business portion of Bradford, Pa, was
burned Monday. Loss 100000.
An earthquake in Manizales in April des-
troyed many buildings, causing a loss of
$4,000.
John M. Brinckey, ex-Assistant Attorney
General of the United States, committed sui
eide at Milwaukee Saturday by drowning.
The Athenaum in Keokuk, Iowa, contain
ing the general offices of the Keokuk and Des
Moines railroad, Brackets Wholesale notion
house and the adjoining American Hotel were
burned Monday. Loss 100000.
The business portion OF Adair, ILL.,, was
burned Wednesday night.
B. D. Burt, of Cleveland, a leader In the
National party and director of the paper called
The LaboriAdvance, has been arrested for rape.
EORElGN NEWS.
The news concerning the European complica-
lions continues of mixed and contradictory
Character. Rumors of peace and rumors of
war get strangely intermingled, while on the
whole no important change in the situation has
taken place.
1t is now nearly two months since the issue
was joined which makes up the existing dead
lock, and still there is no indication that either
power is disposed to yield. In the meantime
Turkey is recognizing her forces and Austria
has Withdrawn from the contemplated Anglo
alliance and stands ready to occupy Bosnia the
moment hostile gun is fired. The Russian ar
mics in Bulgaria and Roumelia would be seri-
ously endangered if war should break out. The
Turks are in strong force in their front, the
English command the adjacent waters, Mussul-
man instructions are all around them, while
the great fortresses on the Quadrilatera1 are
still held and manned by the Turks. 1t is,
therefore, natural that so sagacious soldier as
ToblebeOp should turn his first attention IN as.