The Portland daily press., 1878-01-30
WASHINGTOK.
Naval Investigations.

NEW YORK, Jan. 29.-It is stated that the
naval investigating committee have fouod that
two contracts were entered into by the bureau
of steam enginry last March with the South
Boston Iron Company. for steam fittings for the
iron-clad Dictator, and the steamers Narragan-
sett, Tuscarora and Snowdrop, and that they
were made in advance of any appropriation by
Congress, without any reservation or condition
as to the action of Congress, without any report
of board of survey, without the opinion of
the Attorney General, without competition or
advertisement, and on simple proposal of the
contracting company. These contracts were
suspended by Secretary Thompson Immediately
on his coming into office. The facts in the case
of the contracts with the Boston Iron Compa-
ny are believed to show forth the most tagrant
violation Of law, and if not explained or modi-
fed by something the committee have not yet
found in the records of the Navy Department,
may prove, it is said, the basis of proceedings
against ex-Secretary Robson for mal-admuis-
tration of his office.
ThelTexas Pacific Bill.
WASHINGTON. Jan. 29.-The House Commit
tee on Tactic Railroads today heard Frank s.
Bond, one of the Vice Presidents of the Texas
Pacific Railroad, and j. q. Crawford, repre-
senting Santiago and Los Angeles, in advocacy
of the Texas Pacific bill.
The Venezuelan Claims.
Hon. William A. Pile, formerly U. S. Minis
ter to Venezuela, was heard today before the
0CnabO On l. OIolSu DIS COuu-
sci for the Venezuelan government and other
parties interested, in advocacy of Senator Ea-
tons bill, providing for the annulment of the
awards of the mixed commission of 1868, and
for new commission to re-hear the claims
passed upon by the mixed commission and such
other claims as may be presented. Pile charg-
ed that the acts of the mixed commission were
tainted with fraud from its creation; that the
conspiracy existed between American Commits
sioner Tallmadge, U. S. Minister at Caracas,
rhnr1 ov1 -
brother-in law of Stilwell and who also repre-
scented himself and was recognized as Secretary
of the legation. He said the umpire, who was
appointed through the connivance of Talmadge,
was party to all the frauds aud received a
share of the spois. One of the first acts of the
commission was to adopt rule requiring all
claimants to submit their claims. through the
American legation, and Mr.. Pile claimed that
this was done to enable Murray and Stillwell to
bleed the claimants. He further said that of
the million and quarter awarded by the COM
mission, nearly half million dollars of certif.
Gates went to Murray for distribution among
| his confederates. Pile also accused Murray Of
having stolen all the certificates issued in favor
of two poor widows of American claimants
who thereby lost everything they possessed
and at present subsist by washing clothes al
Cindad Bolivar, on the Ofinoco. Pile further
asserted that nearly $4,000 of certificates is
sued under the awards of the mixed commits
sion were found among the assets of ex Minis
t6E OllllW0ii, duu nave t1QC0 DeGn Ou6TGu IOl
| sale to the Venezuelan government at reduc
| ed price.
The committee have signi6ed their intention
| to hear counter argument on behalf of holders
| of certificates before final action on the bill.
Timber Stealing Along the Union Pacif,
Railroad.
The Secretary of the Interior has received s
letter from prominent citizen of Utah, giving
| an account of the depredatous Of contractors
| for furnishing timber of all kinds to the UnioI
| Pacific Railroad Co., who states that these den
| relations are committed all along the line aut
that hundreds OF thousands OF railroad ties
stores for snow sheds, cordwood, logs and tim
Der are taken from the government. Timber
lands line the q MON Pacific railroad tracks al
the way to Ogden and these depreciation
| amount to millions of dollars annually. Th
| correspondent also states that the contractor
have established system of peonage similar
| to that of Mexico, 10 which scores of honest
hard working, sober and faithful men are be
| ing oppressed in violation of every right be
longing to free men 10 the United States, ant
| gives an instance in which one of the men de
manded his rights and being refused and in
| suited shot and killed suO-contractor name,
Dawson, and was 10 turn killed by book
keeper named Snodgrass with an iron poker.
Varions Matters.
1t is probable that the Treasury Departmen
will tomorrow decide to allow deposits of silver
| to be made at the Philadelphia mint for return
in trade dollars. If this is done the coinage will
be continued at San Francisco and Carson, and
all the three minis will have work sufficient t,
keep them fully employed until Congress act
definitely on the silver question.
The subcommittee of the House COMMITTEE
on Elections will probably report that Their
was no election in the South Carolina contested
case of Richardson vs.. Rainey.
House Committee on Patents have agreed t,
| take up for consideration on Friday the bill
| which proposes a revision of the patent laws
Arguments will be heard from time to time til
| the report is agreed upon
| The Cabinet decided today that the coinage
of the trade dollars will be resumed at tn
Philadelphia mint.
The House Committee on Banking and Cur
rency today agreed to recommend the passag
| of the bill introduced by Mr. Cox of New York
disseminating the coinage of the twenty cen
| piece
The House Naval Committee have decided +
report adversely upon the claims Of Secor s
Co Nathaniel Mckay and Perine, for extr
compensation for building certain rams, &c.