The Portland daily press., 1878-02-15
THE PRESS
History Of Seven Days.
Vhe News for the week ending Wednes-
day Night, February 13.
NATIONAL CAPITAL.

NATIONAL CAPITAL.
The Secretary of the Navy has issued gen.
eral order announcing TO the navy and marine
corps the death of the Hon. Gideon Welles,
and reciting the various distinguished positions
held BY that gentleman 10 the pubic service,
Including the office of the Secretary Of the
Navy from 1861 to 1869. The Navy department
viii be draped in mourning till after the funer-
al and public business in that department will
be suspended on the day of the funeral.
Similar action will be taken by the War De.
partment in respect to the memory of ex-Sec-
rotary Of War Conrad.
The bill introduced by Senator Eaton Mon
day In furtherance of civil service. reform
proposes to empower the President of the
United States to detail for such duty as he may
deem expedient retired officers of the army
and navy and marine corps who may apply to
him for employment in the following branches
of civil service, namely, Indian and Pension
bureau, diplomatic service, life-saving service,
or In such other branches of civil service as he
may deem compatible with public interest; said
officers to receive while performing such duty
full pay and allowances of their rank and no
more.
The Committee on Reform in the Civil Ser
vice are continuing the investigation of Door
keeper Folks department Col. Polk has tes-
titled that where the law allowed him only %
pages he has Sc on the rolls, and paid the ex-
cess by reducing the salaries Of those allowed
by law. Col Polk did not attempt to deny
other Irregularities in the matter of his en-
ployes, but said the pressure was great, and in
all his movements he invariably notified the
Committee of Accounts.
CONGRESS.
In the Senate Wednesday the usual budget
of petitions was received; Mr.. Thurman spoke
10 favor of the Bland bill, and Mr.. Herman
and Mr. Christiancy against it; Mr.. Ransom
offered resolutions calling. for information
about the Life-saving .service, which were
adopted. In the House Mr.. Cox called for an
Investigation of the wreck of the Metropolis
which was ordered; the California contested
election case was debated without action. The
Senate confirmed number of nominations in
GLIDING that of Charles r. Coster as Pension
Agent at New York.
In the Senate Thursday Mr.. Blaine spoke on
the Silver question, and in favor Of dollar of
I-o HAHAuct Ao Woo oppiaouo0 1fUu bu6 Rhll6E-
les; Mr.. Johnston spoke in favor of the re-
monetization of silver; resolution presented
by Mr.. Edmunds for an investigation of the
delay in pension business and for its relief, was
$ agreed to; Mr.. Davis's savings banks tax bill
was passed. The House seated Mr.. Wigginton
(Dem.), q contestant from California. by a
strictly party vote, and then adjourned. The
Senate confirmed a number of nominations,
among them that of Mr.. billiard, as Minister
to Brazil; that of Mr.. Williamson, as Collector
at New Orleans, was rejected.
In the Senate Friday the bill to appoint
eighteen more commissioners to Paris, with
pay, was committed; Mr.. Hill of Georgia
spoke in behalf OF coming silver dollars equal
In value to gold dollars; Mr.. Withers of Vir-
ginia defended the Silver bill; many petitions
were presented to the Senate In the House a
committee reported in favor of unseating Mr..
Darrell (Rep.) of Louisiana, and seating
Democratic contestant; Mr.. Wait of Connecti-
cut, and others of the committee, filed special
reports on the matter; the case was not dis
posed of; Southern claim was debated, and
rejected by 100 to 81, by means of Republican
opposition.
Saturday the Senate was not in session. In
the House Mr.. Chittenden of New York Wig
orously attacked the Silver bill; speeches on
the other side of the silver question were made
by several Western and Southern members;
debate alone occupied the time of the House.
In the Senate Monday a great number of
petitions were received asking for remonetza-
ton, for resumption, for XIVth amendment,
etc; remarks were made by Several Senators
upon them; the Senate agreed to join in the
exercises at the reception of Carpenters
picture. In the House. the House agreed to
receive Carpenters picture formally Tuesday !;
The subject of West Point appropriations gave
rise to lively discussions among Democratic
membersi two propositions to lower compensa-
ton were rejected; many new bills were re-
ceived by the House.
In the Senate Tuesday, Mr.. Morrill, from the
Finance Committee reported reduction!of the
tax on distilled spirits inexpedient. Mr.. Nc
Donald of Indiana spoke in favor of the Bland
silver bill. In the House the Military Acade-
my bill was considered 10 committee Of the
whole, but without making any important
changes. House and Senate then met in joint
convention to receive the painting of Lincoln
reading the Emancipation proclamation, pre-
scented by Miss Elizabeth Thompson. Speeches
were made by Garfield and Stephens of Georgia.
CRIMES AND CASUALTIES.
The cambria mill of the "a. N. Slater manu-
featuring Company at Webster, Mass, was
burned Monday. Loss 100000. One hundred
and twenty-five operatives are thrown out of
employment
A stay of proceedings has been granted in
the case of DR.. Thomas E. Lambert, the con-
victed president of the Popular Life Insurance
Company.
John Cruikshank, formerly secretary of the
National Trust Company of New York, has
been arrested for forgery.
A destructive cyclone passed over Augusta,
Georgia, Thursday of last week. The Column
bia railroad depot was totally wrecked and
some damage was done to the Central railroad
depot. Many private residences were injured
Charles Dives and wife, colored, were found
dead under the ruins of their house. A colored
church on the outskirts was completely des-
troyed A cotton compress was partially
blown down, and the Central railroad depot
was completely unroofed. Nearly the entire
eastern end of the Charlotte, Columbia & Au-
gusta railroad depot was destroyed. Two hun
dred feet of it was, blown 10 and the freight
was buried beneath the ruins. Tin roofing,
fences and trunks of trees were scattered about
the streets. Outhouses were lifted from their
foundations, brick walls and iron fences lev
elled and massive stone pillars of residences
were twisted and blown from their places. 10
Que case brick building was blown over upon
o dwelling, smashing furniture and crushing
the beds In which family were sleeping. The
total damages will amount to little over
$4,000.
The schooner Speedwell from Cadiz arrived
at New York Monday with the captain and
crew Of the schooner Sallie M. Stedman, from
Charleston for Baltimore, abandoned in a sink
ing condition Jan. 81. in latitude 80 Sc, longi-
tude 90 So. Captain Hughes of the Stedman
makes the following statement: On January
Goth, 20 miles Sc from Hatteras, encountered
terrible gale from NNW, lasting 20 hours,
during which it split sails, etc., and washed
everything movable from the desks. We used
our last provisions on the morning of January
23d. On the night of the oath during heavy