The Portland daily press., 1878-02-01
Washington News aud Gossip.
AN IMMENSE PETITION.

AN IlhENSE
Probably the most enormous petition ever
presented to Congress was laid before the
House of Representatives Wednesday morn
niog. 1t was the petition Of the Woman's
National Christian Union, with $4,000 sigma
tures attached, praying that the free sale of
liquors may be prohibited in the District of
Columbia and the territories of the United
States. The petition was too bulky to be laid
upon the Speakers desk, aud was deposited
npon chair in front of the stenographers'
seats. The bundle was tied up in red aud white
and blue ribbon, and was presented by Mr..
Frye of Maine, wish some appropriate remarks.
1t was referred to the Judiciary Committee
THOSE TELEGRAMs.
The Washington Telegram special says:
There is good deal of talk in political circles
concerning the alleged accumulation Of informs-
tion By Senator Conklng regarding the negotia-
tons between the friends of President Hayes
and the Democrats In the winter of 1S76-77. 1t
will be recollected that during the month of
February, last year, special committee of the
House was appointed to investigate the alleged
conspiracy to count Mr.. Tilden out in Louisiana
and Florida A great deal of testimony was
taken, and the kilograms that passed between
the Republican headquarters in New York and
Tallahassee and New Orleans were called or.and
also the kilograms which passed between Hayes
and the Republican leaders. The Senate COM
mittees at once issued a call for Mr.. Tilden's
kilograms and this resulted in both sides COM
ing to an understanding to drop that branch of
inquiry. The telegraph company submitted
large sbatch of kilograms to the committee,
which were not, however, made public. 1t Is
understood that Senator Conkling has in some
way obtained knowledge of the contents of the
kilograms which passed between Washington
aud Columbus, and that he finds them both in
teresting and useful Mr.. Hayes and his friends
at Columbus were especially anxious, after the
passage of the electoral bill last winter, that
Mr.. Conking should not be member Of the
| Commission, and urgent communications from
Ohio to that effect were received here. Mr..
Conkng is undoubtedly accommodating O great
| deal of valuable political information.
THE TARIFF.
Mr.. Woods new bill excites little comment.
In view of the fate of the whiskey bill, re-
| ported from the Ways and Means Committee
Tuesday aud the feeling against any change in
| the existing tariff, its chances for becoming a
/ Law this session are not very encouraging. The
| bill is yet in the hands of the committee aud
| may uu,ergo some changes before being re-
| ported to the House. The importation of for
| eign material for manufacture in bonded
warehouses into articles composed wholly OF
Il Sucn IorelSn maberlal 10 Do exported
| within one year without payment of import
| or internal revenue dues is a new feat
ure of the bill. The importation of
Il goods bearing the trademark of domestic man
ufacturers except by such domestic manutact-
| urers is prohibited. The wearing apparel of
| each person arriving from foreign countries is
limited to 500 in value, and other personal eff
| fects to $500, all above these amounts 80 be
| subject to duty. Steam ploaghs and agrcultu-
| raj machinery propelled by steam are made free
| of duty. THE list of articles imported by or for
| the sole use of religious, educational sc entific
| and artistic associations is considerably ex
| tended Animals of superior breeds, specially
| imported for breeding purposes, and teams of
| animals including harness and tackle, owned
by persons lmmigrating to the United States
| are made free of duty. A tax of ten per cant
| above the rates fixed in the bill is imposed on
imports from countries or colonies which dis
crimiuate by imposing a higher rate on imports
| from the United States than from other coun-
| tries Shipbuilding materials are admitted
| free of duty, and all vessels owned wholly by
| citizens of the United States will be admitted
to registry and all the benefits aud privileges of
| vessels of the United States. Provision is made
for the abolition of those districts where the
expense of collecting the revenue is largely in
excess of what it should be in the interests Of
| true economy.