The Portland daily press., 1878-03-07
WASHINGTON.
superin,eu seu, Chene,,s Case.


WASHINGTON, March Glowing to the great
quantity of work accumulating in the House
committee on postoffices, a special meeting
was called last night for the purpose of hearing
witnesses for the defence in the pending inves-
LEGATION of Thomas P. Cheney. Charles Field
Me-, special agents Of the Postoffice Depart
ment, E. Larkins, the postmaster of Concord,
N. a., Hon. James f. Briggs, E, j. Pierce,
postmaster of Portsmouth, and several others
testified at considerable length to the effect
that Superintendent Cheney had greatly i'm
proved the service during bis administration
that his reputation was excellent, and that he
very often travelled over his several routes at
tending to his duties. They said he was not
considered more oficious in politics than the
average citizen.
Miles G. Bailey, chief clerk of the railway
mail service in the Postoffice Department,
testified with regard to the leave of absence
granted Stahl the chief clerk in Cheney's Of
fee. He said the leave was granted at the in
stance of Representative Banks.
E. q. Bidwell, postmaster of Norwich. Ct,
testified that Cheney bore good reputation.
He thought Cheney was very efficient.
Henry W. Blair. member of Congress from
Plymouth, New Hampshire, explained to the
committee that Cheney's health was very
poor, and in consequence of his Cheney 81
father losing his mind when about Chepey's
age, his friends became very anxious about
him, and it was in conse quence OF poor health
that Cheney spent SO much time at his home in
Ashland.
Representative Banks in conversation said
that Cheney had done good service, and his
business was in very good condition.
Frank @. Emery, chief clerk of the Port
land, Me-, postofice, said that he usually found
Cheney at his Office when he called, and the
condition of the service excellent
B. 81. Camp, special agent at Boston, thought
Cheney good officer, but did not consider his
clerk, Holmes, calculated to deal with gentle
men. He was very overbearing to employees,
and the whole trouble is chargeable to Holmes
instead of Cheney.
The Order of the American Union.
The order of American Uniop, recently in
session here, adopted platform of principles
as follows:
First-Demanding an amendment to the
Constitution forbldding any appropriation of
money for the benefit, directly or Indirectly, of
any institution under sectarian control
notwithstanding an amendment forbid
ding national legislation for the benefit of any
religious Sect.
Third-Favoring constitutional amendment
requiring all church property to be held by
trustees.
Fourth-Demanding a constitutional amend
ment making an educational test for suffrage.
Ffth-Requiriag all church property to be
taxed.
Sixth-Fsvoring compulsory education.
Seventh-Demanding a national free school
system.
Eighth ecclesiastical interfer.
ence in civil affairs.
Purchase of Silver Bullion.
The following circular relative to the pur-
chase of silver bullion was issued this after.
noon:
TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
Office Of the Director of the Mint,
Washington, March 6.
Notice is hereby given that the Treasury De-
partment is prepared to receive at all times
offers in writing or by telegraph for the sale of
silver bnlliOn in quantities of not less than TO-
600 ounces, deliverable at the minis of the
United States at Philadelphia, San Francisco
and Carson City. Ali offers will be addressed
to the director of the mint, Washington, will
state the quantity, price per ounce one thous-
and fine, and when the delivery will be made
II the offer is accepted. The value of the silver
purchased will be determined by mint assay,
and until further notice payment will be made
in gold or silver coin of full legal tender. When
bullion is offered and purchased which is of
character requiring parting or refining, the
seller will pay the usual mint charges
(Signed) II. r. L1NDERMAN
Director of Mint.
(Approved,) JOHN SHERMAN,
Secretary of the Treasury.
EContract Awarded.
Col. j. D. Chichester of Arkansas, was TO-DAY
awarded the contract for carrying the mails
from Fort Worth, Texas, by way of Ell Paso to
Fort Yuma, Arizona, a distance of 1900 miles,
the route being from the present terminus of
thesTexas Pacific railroad to the Colorado river.
The service is to be performed daily in coaches
This is the long longest route in the United
States. The contractor is to receive $4,000
per annum. ss,sss
The Huron Disaster. AA-
A communication from the Secretary of the
Navy accompanied by an analysis of the evil
dence taken at the court of inquiry on the loss
of the U. S. steamer Huron by Surveyor Gen.
eral james G. Palmer, was sent to the Senate
today.
1t is the opinion of the court that with due
caution and carefully taken and plotted bear
logs off Curritqck light the close proximity of
the Huron to the coast would have been made
manifest. This opinion is not to be disputed
if it were worth while to oppose any opinion to
that of this high court, but unhappily it as
sumes facts not in the record and ignores set
tied rule of evidence. The account given cut
of the navigator's mouth in broken passages as
we'll as they could be recalled, proves that
while Currituck light remained 10 sight the
navigator was constantly taking bearings and
keeping the lead going. Moreover Cadet En-
eineer Edgar j. Wharburton testiies that dur
ing his watch from D. NJ. till midnight the
engines were stopped three times for sound
ings-once between 8 and 10 O'Clock, again
10 o'clock.
According to MI. Young's course the sound.
luSc VI uis Iuo urdCSu before the court read
right and left from 30 p. m. from II to 14d
tathoms. At this poiut the navigator is sup.
posed to have left Currituck light. Here it
ceased to be any longer available 1t is not
merely just inference, but an unavoidable
conclusion that he took the bearings Of Curri.
tuck light to the last.
In conclusion Mr.. Palmer SAYS: ''We ask M
more than careful comparison of the eyidence
with the finding of the court"
Ohio Senate passed a resolution yesterday
asking Congress to repeal the resumption act.
Democrats voted in favor and Republicans
against.
At meeting of the Massachusetts Temper
auce Alliance yesterday a resolution was intro.
duced against using the fnnds and machinery
Of the organization in the direct interest of the
Prohbitory party. A stormy discussion ensued
and the resolution was finally voted out of
order-50 to 40.