Daily Los Angeles herald., 1878-02-22
Fair Wen,ner Above.

Fair Wcn,ncr Above.
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 2l.-The
wind blew strongly from the south
the most of last night, but towards
morning it shifted to the northwest
and a gentle breeze from that quar-
ter now prevails. The sky is clear,
temperature moderate, barometer
high, and, if signs can be depended
upon, the storm is over and contin-
ued fair weather is probable. A dis
patch from Antioch says that Sher-
man Island is badly flooded.
Trying &" Un'aves the puAenn
Mystery.
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 2lst.-In
the examination before the Police
Court of j. G. Merrill, owner of the
schooner E. ]. McKinnon and Cap
tain jerks her commander, o num-
Der of the crew of the
tug Redmond testified in
accordance with previously
published statements concerning
the movements Of the tug, and also
as to the presence on board of two
passengers whom they were not,
however, able to identify. In sup
port of the idea quite generally eX.
pressed that Duncan has power
full friends who are aiding him
in keeping out of the clutches of
the law, and that, if captured, he
could tell strange stories concern
ing the business of the Safe Deposit
Company, is brought forward the
statement, authenticated more or
less fully by a number of parties to
the transaction, that Duncan
borrowed $4,000 from G. f.
MacDermott some days before
his disappearance giving as securi-
ty certificate of Safe Deposit
stock for 1920 shares. This was
subsequently discovered to have
been traudulently raised from ten
shares, and the matter was
presented to the President aud
Directors of the Safe De-
posit Company, resulting in
examination of the books which
were found all right as in the mean
time Lewarne, Secretary of the
company, had had time to cover up
the transaction by the necessary
fraudulent entries. The above
mentioned certificate was the basis
of u charge of forgery made against
Duncan by Captain Lees.
Congressional Doinss.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2l.-In the
contested election case of Acklin
vs.. Darrell, of the Fourth Louisi-
ana District, after discussion Ack-
lin was sworn in, taking the IRON
clad oath. The Committee on
Public Lands agreed to report IA
vorably bill FORGETTING railroad
land grants where the terms have
not been complied with, restoring
about one hundred million acres TO
the rational domain.
A RirI for Forfeited Rai,rosd Lands
WASHINGTON, Feb. 21st.-The
House Committee on Public Lands
to-day sgreed to report to the House
a bill FORGETTING all land grants to
the following-named railroads, with
the recommendation that the bill
be printed and racommitted for
reconsideration. The railroads
which the Committee names are
the Northern Pacific; Texas Pacific;
Atlantic and Pacific; Oregon Gen.
trail; Hastings and Dakota; st. Vim
cent Extension and Brainard
Branch of the Little Rock and Fort
Smith; st. Louis and Iron Noun
tain; New Orleans, Baton Rouge
and Vicksburg; North Louisiana
and Texas; Florida and Gulf Gem
trail, and others.
A New Texas Pacific IiiiI Prepared.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2l.-The sub.
Committee of seven members of
the House Committee on Pacific
Railroads, charged with the pre-
liminary consideration of various
measures respecting the Southern
transcontinental railroad, prepared
q communication to-day reporting
to the full Committee substitute
for all pending bills. This substi-
tute embodies all the main features
eff the bill introduced by
Representative Stephens in aid
of the Texas-facific Railroad
Company. 1t provides that the
eastern terminus shall be on the
bank of the Mississippi river, not
farther north than Memphis nor
below Vicksbuig. No provision is
made for any branches and aid for
the main line from Fort Worth to
San Diego is provided for as fol-
lows: The Government is to
guarantee the payment of five
per cent. interest on the bonds
to be Issued to an amount of not
exceeding $4,000 per mile for 1,l50
miles and not exceeding $50, 900 per
mile for the remaining $50 miles of
road over the mountainous coun-
try. The Sub. Committee make rs a
new feature the provision that the
$4,000, 900 acres of land In Arizona
and New Mexico heretofore
granted to the Company shall
re vert to the United States to be
sold by the Government, one-half
of the proceeds of sales, together
with all the net earnings of the
road, amounts earned for Govern
ment transportation of all descrip-
tions, to be retained in the United
States Treasury for the payment of
interest and the creation of sink
ing fund.
Speedy Action on the siiver BiII.