, 1878-04-06

pPrtment reports that at Mier. on the
Rio Grande. the Mexican authorities on
requisition, returned herd of stolen
cattle to their Texas owners. and took
steps to punish the thieves.
The senate committee on public
lands. acting under VIM. McGarahan's g
memorial, praying that land patent
be issued to him for the New Idria
quicksilver mine. met this evening and
heard the arguments upon the resolu-
tions. excluding all testimony except
that hearing upon the title of Gomez to
the land in controversy.
The secretary of the navy has receiv-
ed communication from tho commando
ing officer of the South Pacific station
that American merchantmen are enga>
ged in the coolie trade. that is in the
transportation of Chinese from China
and the navy department is now con-
siderinR the question of necessary in.
structions to fill our feet to have the
laws executed by the seizure of all such
ships. The probability is such instruct
ions will be speedily issued. The de-
partment 10 advised that vessel wreck
ed ON one of the South Pacific islands
was found to contain fifty Chinese over
and above the number certified to by
the U. s. Consul At the port of embark
alton. 1t was also represented to the
secretary of the navy that coolies had
been taken to Honolulu, where they are
forced to enter into contracts for labor
in order to procure their liberty, and
! the trade is supposed to be carried on
in utter defiance of the laws of the Uni
ted States. This sabject was under
consideration at the cabinet meeting
to-day.
Some days ago the following protest
against the bill before the senate com
mittee purporting to extend the grant of
the Northern Pacific railroad was pre-.
sented:
WASHINGTON, March Is, 1878.
Hon. W. Window, Senator: In behalf
of the Northern Pacific Railroad Co.,
aid its ten thousand stockholders.
whose money, to the amount of $50.
600, 900, is involved in the enterprise.
we beg leave through you to address
the senate committee on railroads, of
which you are member. The bill be-
fore that committee is not for the bene-
fit of this company, but it is antagonis-
tic to its interests.
First-The provisions respecting the
lands within the limits of the grant are
impracticable. benefiting neither the
settlers nor the government, and de-
etructi>e of the grant as means of aid
in the construction of the road.
Second Tho company is not in COM
dit N to accept the provision compell-
ing construction to be commenced at
Portland and to be thence continued
eastwardly along the Columbia river to
the head Of navigation, q distance Of
two hundred and fifty miles. The work
requires an expenditure Of about thirty
housand dollars per mile, or seven and
half millions of dollars on the bank of
great river navagable eleven. months
every year. Such portion Of the road
would not pay operating expenses until
the road penetrate the tributary count
ry eastward. It is not in the power of
the company to perform this require
mont. nor can capital be obtained for
the purpose. Money can be procured
to push the road eastward from the
head of navigation on the Columbia
river through fertile country. where,
in anticipation of the early construction
Of the road. over thousand proposed
settlers have already filed applications
| for land.
mhird-We also earnestly protest
against embodying in bill for an ex-
tension of our time proposed grant OF
land for another road. We believe that
this not only endangers, but is certain
to defeat the passage of any such bill.
Fourth The bill before the senate
committee is in other respects objection
able and impracticable.
We therefore beg that further action
of your committee be deferred until a
bill which has been carefully prepared
by a committee of the house of repre-
sentatives, and is about to be reported
to that body can be submitted for con-
sideration.
!, CHAS. B. WRIGHT, President.
G. STARK, Vice Pres, N. P. R. r. Co
DUBLIN. April 3.-The Earl of Leitrim
left his residence at Milford shortly be-
fore 8 O'Clock yesterday morning. &C
companied by his clerk, and was driving
on an outside car to Derry to meet his
solicitor. He always carried arms. Il
is supposed the assassins concealed
themselves behind low embankmen
between the road and plantation, ant
having first shot the earl. they shot hi.
clerk and driver. that there might be Mt