The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-03-29
from the Maine State Press of March 2s ]
History OF Seven Days.
The News for the week ending Wednes.
day Night, March ~.
NATIONAL CAPITAL.

COlAlCtiIS nnIOIb4 duu lAiuOIity ACpulto VI tnC
subcommittee in regard to the distribution of
the balance of the Geneva award until next
Friday. The indications are that the contest
10 committee between the war premium claim
ants on the one hand and the insurance COM
panies on the other, will be very close. Ult-
mate action of the House on the subject is also
considered very uncertain.
Representative G. w. Scholfsld of Pa, Is
nominated by the President to be Register
OF the Treasury in place of Allison deceased.
President Hayes has signed the commission
OF BENZ. f. Simpson to be U. s. Marshal for
Kansas. The President has recognized VIM.
Belcher as Vice Consul of Hayti at New Lon
don.
The order of Secretary Thompson that ten
hours, beginning at a. m. with an hours in
PERMISSION at noon, shall constitute a days
labor 10 the navy department., went into effect
Friday.
1t is stated that Secretary Evarss has ordered
thatthe cause of the death of Representative
Leonard at Havana be investigated. 1t is ru-
mored that he was poisoned.
The Tribune Washington dispatch says that
q member Of the Senate finance committee
stated that If he were business man he should
act upon the belief that the tariff bill will not
become law, and that the resumption act will
not be repealed, aud no silver bullion certifi-
cate bill will pass.
1t is stated at the Postofice Department that
the savings to the government in the recent
mail lettings over the present contract prices
exceed S1,000,000. 1t is difficult, however, to
judge what the ultimate savings may be as it is
not altogether certain that some of the parties
who have contracted to carry the mails at cheap
rates may not find themselves unable to carry
out the contracts.
The Senate has confirmed Ivory Lord col
lector of customs at Saco.
A Washington special says st is now quite
certain that the President will send message
to Congress at no distant day asking that the
fishery award be paid. 1t is reasonably certain
that this message will be fatal to the claim
ants of the unexpended balances of tbs &C.
neva award and the fishery award of S. 100000
will be paid out of the IS, 1000 OF the &C.
neva award now held in trust
The charges against Commissioner Spear of
the Patent Office, will in no sense result in any
i'll feeling between that officer and Secretary
Schurz. As far as the Commissioner is aware
they grow out of dis ,ussion in an interference
case in which the disappointed contestant not
only charges incapacity upon the Commissioner
but alto alleges mutlation of the record. 1t is
also stated that well known patent attorney
is believed to be the accusing party. Com
missioner Spear states that he had occasion
during the hearing to alter the phraseology of
one of his rulings in an introductory question,
hat To- osn l1 IN, r,1o ~nI a
meaning of the ruling. and it is upon this that
the charge of mutilation is brought.
The Secretary of the Interior has announced
the appointment of the following government
directors of tine Union Pacific RAILROAD Charles
f. Adams, Jr., of Massachusetts,, Ralph P.
auckland of Ohio, G. w. Smythe of Iowa,
Daniel Chadwick of Connecticut and c. G.
Honsel of Nebraska.
A Washington despatch says that Secretary
Sherman's conversation with the Senate finance
committee has produced strong impression
of confidence in the future and its influence up
on the moderate silver men is very good There
is general and growing disposition to let the
Secretary have his way and carry out his policy
as he has SO frankly and courageously declared
1t, and some of the Senators who have hitherto
desiren the repeal of the resumption act, say
they are willing at least to wait, and that moth
ing ought to interfere with the Secretary's
plans. There is no doubt that MI. Sherman's
remarks have done very much to restore conf
dence and create q belief that the country can
resume specie payments and get its finances in
good order. There are of course,a few extreme
men who are very angry. But they cannot
carry any of their initiation plans this session.
CONGRESS.
In the Senate Wednesday the timber culture
bill was passed after brief debate; Mr.. Mitch
ell spoke in behalf of the sinking fand bill pre-
sented by the railroads com mittee; the subject
Of timber depredations was again discussed by
Mr.. Teller, Mr.. Dawes and others, without
action on the bill. In the House bill in re-
gard to advertising for mail contracts was
passed, being first amended on motion Of Mr..
Hale, SO as to forbid sub-letting of contracts;
the deficiency bill was passed; Mr.. Cox made
remarks in regard to the pay of workmen at
the navy yards which caused other members to
acuse him of demagogsm; Mr.. Blount, of
Georgia, spoke of the falling off in the reve-
nues, and this led to short discussion of the
proposed tariff revision.
In the Senate Thursday Mr.. Teller of Colo
RADIO spoke in behalf of the railroad commit.
tees sinking fund bill; Mr.. Jones Of Florida
and Mr.. Morgan criticised the policy of the
Secretary of the Interior, and Mr.. Matthews
defended it; the correspondence in regard to
the appointment of M. Delfosse was received
from the President. In the House Mr..
Roberts reported the commerce commit
tees life saving service bill, and Mr.. Waddell
new postal savings bank bill; the naval appro-
priation bill was passed after long discussion
in regard to economy and the necessity for a
strong navy.
In the Senate Friday Mr.. Mcdonald spoke
on the power of Congress to provide for the
payment of the Indebtedness of the Pacific
railroads; the bill in regard to timber trespass,
etc.. was debated az length, and amended and
finally passed; Mr. Eaton called for an investi-
cation as to the arrest of Benjamin Noyes,
which he claimed to be case of kidnapping;
his resolution was laid over. In the House
many new bills were offered, and forty private
bills were passed, mostly pension bills.
Neither house was in session Saturday.
Monday in the Senate Mr. Wallace submitted
an amendment to the House bill to repeal the
Resumption Act. The bill to provide for de-
fcency in the miscellaneous fund of the House
was amended and passed. Mr.. Howe called up
his resolution calling upon the President for
information in regard to the alleged defalca-
ton of Judge Whitaker, AID reviewed the
course of the Administration in a long speech
In the House, Mr. Springer's motion to sus-
pend the rules and pass free coinage bill was
defeated. Mr.. Goodies motion to suspend the
rules and pass bill suspending the sinking
fund act for five years was defeated.
Tuesday in the Senate the bill to repeal the
bankrupt law was reported without recon-
mendation. Mr.. Blaine moved to refer the
correspondence relating to the Fishery Com
mission to the Foreign Committee to the For
eign Committee saying:
move the correspondence between the American
and British governments in regard to the appoint-
ment of MIR. Delfosse on the Halifax Commission he
taken from the table and referred to the COMMITTEES