The Portland daily press., 1878-06-21
THE PRESS.
EFrOm the Maine State Press of June 20.
History of Seven Days.
The News for the week ending wednes-
day Night, Juue 10,
NATIONAL CAPITAL.

NATIONAL CAPITAL.
The President has sent the nomination to
the Senate of Sumner L. Kimball of Maine to
be general superintendent of the Life Saving
Service.
The President has informed members Of the
Cabinet with regard to the matter of contribu-
tions to campaign funds and assessments for
political purposes. that he desires the letter
addressed by Secretary Schurz to one of his
clerks upon that subject to be considered as
embodying his own opinions and the rule gov
erning the administration in its different
branches. This letter informed the clerk who
addressed Secretary Schurz that he was as free
as any other citizen to spend his spare money
in any legitimate way he pleased, and as his
political principles or public spirit might sug-
gest.
The Senate election committee has received
the report of Mr. Cameron of Wisconsin (who
with Mr.. Hill compose the subcommittee on
the subject) that Corb;n is entitled to the seat
from South Carolina, and Hill verbally re-
ported that Butler was entitled to it. The full
committee voted to postpone the matter until
next session.
Commissioner Raum says that owing to in
reference in business affairs by Congress, the
revenue this year will be $12, 100000 short of
estimates.
June returns to the department of agriculture
indicate an increase of fully per cent in area
planted in cotton. The condition of the crop is
better than in June last The general average
of condition is SO. The stand is generally good
and the season earlier than the last by an aver
age of ten days. In some districts the crop is
no further advanced than usual at this date,
but in few localities difference of three to
four weeks is claimed in favor of the present
crop.
A Washington special says that Mr.. GIovers
committee on expenditures in the Treasury De-
partment believe they have unearthed secret
sue of 10 millions in compound interest notes
taken out of the revenues and not accounted
anywhere in the books OF the Treasury, in June,
1865
Chairman Whitthorne of the House Commit
tee on Naval Affairs has presented his report to
the Naval Committee, recommending that
measures be taken by the Department of JUS
tice for the indictment of ex-Secretary Robson,
ex-Constructor Hanscom and ex-Engineer
Wood for malfeasance in Office.
THE POTTER INVESTIGATION.
The Potter investigating committee has done
nothing this week, its members being busily en-
gagged in legislative business during the closing
hours of Congress. 1t is thought that the COM
mittee will hold daily sessions after the Con-
gressional adjournment Last week Governor
Kellogg's private Secretary was examined in
regard to the signing Of the Louisiana electoral
certificates, but had nothing to tell In an
swer to request the President has sent to the
House all communications to and from the
Louisiana committee Of 1877, in charge of the
Department of State. They contain nothing
new. Gen. Smith, appointment clerk of the
Treasury Department, was examined in refer
euce to Anderson appointment but nothing of
consequence was brought out by his testimony.
The Senate Committee to examine the
charges against Senator Matthews has met
once to organize, but has transacted no further
business
CONGRESS.
IL the Senate Wednesday the bills on the
calendar were taken up and large number of
them passed; the deficiency bill was passed
without amendment; brief debate took place
over the Eight Hour Law. In the House the
sundry civil bill was debated all day and vari-
ously amended; Mr.. Kelley and Mr.. Ewing
attempted to have the bill amended in man
ner hostile to the resumption act; Mr.. Garfield
spoke against the idea, and it was defeated-S8
to LOG; the House held an evening session. and
the Republicans tried to finish the sundry civil
BILL there was great uproar and confusion; the
House adjourned after midnight without pass
ing the bill.
In the Senate Thursday diligeut work was
done in the way OF passing bills on the calendar;
the resumption repeal bill was taken up and
amended SO as to leave nothing in the bill ex-
cept the making legal tenders receivable for
per cents and customs; it was then passed.
The Senate adjourned while the Kansas Pa
cific sinking fund bill was pending. In the
House the sundry civil bill came up; a great
deal of uproar and confusion took place over
the bill, and the House adjourned without &C.
complishng anything with it, the evening
session was attended with much disorder; at
midnight the sundry civil bill was passed.
In the Senate Friday, numerous bills were
taken up and passed, among them the Kansas
Pacific sinking fund bill; the Senate insisted
upon its amendment to the Legislative bill,
and its right to fix the pay of it's own employees
various amendments to the sundry civil bill
were presented and referred. In the House,
the Senate amendments to the post route bill,
including the Brazilian mail item, were nom
concurred in; Mr.. Burchard (Rsp) offered
resolution that the Presidents title can not
now be attacked by Congress, which took the
House by surprise, but was carried, 2l5 to 81 !;
Mr.. Hartridge then presented his report, say
ing that Congress has no right to confer power
on the courts to re open the electoral count,
which was carried by 234 to IA
In the Senate Saturday the river and harbor,
the army and the Mexican award bills were
finally passed, and now go to the President
Mr.. Conkling moved to reconsider the head
money bill; resolution to postpone adjourn
ment until Thursday next was adopted and
sent to the House, but the House non -concurred
and sent back resolution to adjourn on Tues
day; this was adopted; VIM. e. Spencer was
elected Chief Clerk of the Senate; large num-
Der of nominations were confirmed In the
House the river and harbor and the army
bills were passed, and the House voted not to
insist on its desire to fix the compensation of
sno OondtO ompiu5 oej seferdl spirited COnIeSt5
took place over the river and harbor bill.
In the Senate Monday the Life-Saviug Ser
vice and the Legislative bills were passed, and
thesPatents bill was postponed until December:
the Sundry Civil bill was debated at great
length and much amended; Mr.. Conkling and
Mr.. Blaine spoke against the item to pay the
expenses of the Louisiana Commission, and it
was defeated; the Committee on Education
and Labor was authorized to sit during the
recess to study the causes of the depression
in business. The House debated the Inter-
nal Revenue bill until p. M; the match tax
was repealed, and clause adopted in regard
to taxes on bank deposits; the bill was passed
about p. NJ; resolution was adopted inyi-
ting the Senate to allow Senator Matthews to
testify before the Potter Committee; the
Fisheries Award bill was defeated amid much
excitement.
In the Senate Tuesday resolution was
adopted postponing the time of Adjournment
till six o'clock Wednesday. After protraeted
discussion the sundry civil appropriation bill
was passed. The House refused to concur in
the Senate amendments to this bill and con-