The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-05-24
From the Maine State Press of May 1871
History of Seven Days.
The News for the week ending Wehnes.
day Night, May %.
NATIONAL CAPITAL.

NATIONAL CAPITAL.
The.engrossing subject at Washington the
past week has been the adoption by the House
of the violent and revolutionary scheme pro-
posed by the Democrats for unsettling the
Presidents title. 1t is justly thought to mean
revolution. Pablo opinion on it is very fully
set forth elsewhere in these columns.
The Senate committee on privileges and cleo
tons have decided to take up the claim of d.
T. Corbin to the seat in the Senate now c.
cupied by Butler of South Carolina, at the
special meeting next Saturday.
At the meeting of the Cabinet Tuesday Sec
Rotary Sherman submitted financial statement
showing deficiency in the fiscal year thus far
of Sl1, 600, 600 less than at corresponding time
last year; also showing decrease of $500, 900
in expenditures.
P. A. Prescott one of the clerks who went to
New Orleans with Representative Morrison's
committee, and who was paid IS per day, has
made out an additional voucher at $40 per day
AMI sold 1t to voucher broker who wants his
money. The voucher purports to be endorsed
by Mr. Morrison, who says it is a forgery.
Prescott says he earned it. He is still at large
Mr.. Morrison was chairman of the special
investigate the Louisiana election of 1876.
CONGRESS-.
In the Senate Wednesday large number of
reports were presented; Senator Eusts intro
duced new Brazilian mail bill; the bill for
building for the Bureau of Engraving and
Printing was discussed, but no action was
taken upon it. The House did not reach a
vote on the Potter resolution the day being
spent in filibustering; consideration of the
Senate adjournment resolution was postponed
until May 49,
In the Senate Thursday resolution was
passed for the printing of 100000 copies of the
Agricultural Report and 5000 copies of the
colonial charters. etc., the latter for the use of
Congress; a bill was reported to provide for
carrying the Brazilian mail; Mr.. Matthews
delivered speech on the Resumption Act
In the House, no business was done except to
consider the proprety of seconding the call
for the previous question of the Potter resolu-
ton; the Republicans fibustered, and pre-.
vented vote being taken; there were several
calls of the House. but the Democrats still
lacked five of quorum; Alexander Ell. Steph-
ems tried TO get the floor in order to propose
that the call for the previous question be voted
down, and that all amendments to the resolu-
ton be accepted; the Democrats shouted him
down and adjourned the House.
In the Senate, Friday, great deal of the
current business was disposed of or advanced
from the committees to the calendar; resolu
ton was adopted asking the Committee on
Rules to report on the propriety of admitting
heads Of bureaus to the floor of the Senate; Mr..
Davis, of West Virginia, claimed during the
day that his select committee will be able to
prove that the public debt statements had been
fctiuously made up. In the House, the
Democrats finally passed the Potter resolution
on a vote of las to 2; the Republicans did not
vote; the contest was q long and hard one, and
very noisy at times.
The House only was in session on Saturday;
the proceedings were of a desultory character
until the Army bill was taken up, when Mr..
Hewitt made speech in favor of cutting down
the army which excited Republican criticism;
Alexander a. Stephens announced during the
day that he would would have voted against
the Potter resolution had he been present on
Friday Speaker Rand all said he would be absent
from Washington for few days; Mr.. Sayler
was chosen Speaker pro. tenn.
In.the Senate Monday, Mr.. Whyte of Mary
land spoke briefly of ship canal across the
State of Delaware; Mr.. Morrill, spoke in behalf
of specie resumption; the bill to place General
Shields on the retired list was called up; Mr..
Blaine advocated and carried an amendment to
put General Grants name in the bill
also; spicy debate then ensued upon the bill.
In the House, the Potter select committee was
announced; a number of new bills introduced,
andlamoug them one to appropriate about $780,
100000 for certain public improvements; Mr.
Kimmell spoke in favor of the new army bill and
Mr.. Humphrey spoke against it.
CRIMES AND CASUALTIES
Six miners were killed by an explosion of gas
In the old Sydney mines at Halifax Tuesday
1t is said that scurvy is raging ia Randall's
Island in New York Harbor, IA deaths having
occurred. The asylum is said to be in beastly
condition.
Thursday morning the St. Agnes academy in
Memphis, Tenn, was burned, together with
the library and all the clothing of the pupils
and large portion of the furniture. The Sis
tiers of st. Dominic, who own the academy
were at prayer in the chapel when the alarm
was given, and barely escaped with their
pupils. Two firemen were severely ipinred by
the falling walls The property was insured
$4,000.
Russell & Co.'s Agricultural Works in Mas
sillon, Ohio, were burned Saturday. Loss be-
tween $4,000 and 100000.
In the Senate, Tuesday, the House bill to
forbid the further retirement of legal tenders
was reported favorably; the principal topic of
debate was the bill to place Gen. Shields and
Gen. Grant on the retired l st; an amendment
In the nature of substitute to pension Gen.
Shields was defeated, and the bill was then de-
feated by 30 to IA; motion to reconsider was
entered. In the House. the day was spent IN.
on the army bill; great many speeches were
made pro and con; an evening session was
held to continue the debate.
FOREIGN NEWS.
There is no marked change in the Eoropean
situation. Oae dav we are told that peace ia
assured, the next that war is inevitable.
A London despatch says it is learned
from source entitled to credit that the
result of Schouvaloff's mission has been that
on certain points Russia and England are now
agreed and that on Others one of which at
least is of great importance, no agreement
could be effected by the Count, but that he
was authorized to submit these questions to the
judgment of Emperor William and Prince
Bismarck, but at the same time neither party
has pledged itself to bile by the decision of
Germany. Each reserves to itself the right of
rejecting the decision, although the chances are
that each will accept. This is the explanation
of Schouvaloff's pause at Berlin to-day, his
consultation with Won Bulow and the EN-
peror, and his journey to consult Bismarck.
While all this does not necessarily mean peace
1t renders peace more probable than ever.
In the British Commons Tuesday Gourley
pfopounded inquiry as to what informa-
ton the government had received relative
TO the reported Quitting of Russian cruisers
In American waters. Attorney General Bag.
gally sail that persons stated to bs acting
for the Russian government had recentlv
purchased steamers in Anetica, but the
British government had no reason to beleve
these vessels were intended in the event of war
between England and Russia to be commits
stoned or employed as privateers in contraven.
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