The Portland daily press., 1878-04-19
WASHINGTON.
The Steamboat Bill.


WASHINGTON, April 18.-The Senate Com
mittee on Commerce today agreed to take up
the House bill commonly known as the steam-
boat bill at special meeting Monday and con-
tinue its consideration thenceforward with a
view to reporting 1t back to the Senate prompt
ly.
The Bankrupt Law.
The House Committee ON Judiciary instruct
ed Representative Mcmahon to move when the
Senate bill to repeal the bankrupt act sha IL be
reached TO put 1t on its passage. The pressure
for repeal is very strong from moneyed, mer-
camille and other interests of the country.
Executive Session of the Senate.
The executive session Of the Senate today
was mainly occupied with the discussion in re-.
gard to the nomination of John McNeal of
Missouri to be Indian inspector The prnci-
pal ground OF opposition to him was his having
caused the execution of ten guerillas while
serving as an officer in the Union army during
the war of the rebellion. The Democratic
senators generally voted against his confirma-
tioD, but 1T was finally agreed to by vote of
81 to 26.
Nomination by the President.
The President sent to the Senate today the
nomination of VIM. 81. Hunt of Louisiana to
be judge of the court of claims.
The Mexican Claims Award.
The bill reported from the Senate Judiciary
Committee today, providing for the distribu-
tion of awards of the Mexican claims commits
clUu, 10 tuO iutIOuuC6u NY O6uaGOr LAWS OF
Illinois on the 1st inst. amended by the inser-
tion of specific provision concerning awards
in the contested cases of Benz. We'll and the
La Alva mining companies. The President of
the United States is directed to determine
within the nextsix months whether there is a
probable cause to believe that the honor of the
United States or the consideration of Justice
and equity required these awards or either of
them to be laid aside or new trial had. If he
concludes that they should not be paid they
N oWai H.
the two governments, but if he does not so de-
termine within six months they are to be paid
In the same manner and proportions as the
other awards. The rest of the bill provides
that the instalment received from Mexico shall
be Immediately distributed in ratable propor-
tions among the corporations or individuals in
whose favor the awards are made, or to their
legal representatives or assignes. The Secre-
tary of State is first required to deduct the ex-
penses OF the commission (about $115000) but
the fund to be distributed is to be increased BY
payment to the Secretary of State from the
U. s. Treasury of the amount (aggregating
about $15O,000) which were awarded to the
Mexican citizens by the commission and de-
Quoted from the amount payable by Mexico.
The Secretary of State is further required to
deduct and retain from his payments anv
amount due the United States from the per-
sons or corporations in whose favor the awards
were made by the commission.
Republican National COMMITTEE.
The Republican Congressional Committee, at
meeting tonight, appointed Representative
Hale temporary chairman and Representative
Phillips of Kansas secretary, and resolved that
the vacancies from states not represented in
Congress by any Republicans be not filed at
present. Those states are Kentucky, Mary.
land. Delaware, Texas and Georgia. twenty
eight of the 36 members of the committee were
preset. An executive committee was appoint
ed, consisting Of Representatives Hale Of Me-,
Joyce of VT, Hancock of N. Y, Page of CAL.
Foster of O., Campbell of Penn, Hubbell of
Ark, and Bruce of Miss. This committee
will elect secretary In the few remarks
made it was urged that every effort be made for
the success of the party in the fall campaign,
and it was said the prospects to that end were
encouraging.
Various Matters.
Life saving medals of the second class were
transmitted to Masters j. S. Hunsicker and H.
Q. G. Nye of the o. S. navy in recognition of
their services in saving the life of Lieut.. James
Franklin of the q. s. navy, then executive Off
Ger OF the coast survey steamer Gedeney, of
Monoway Point, Cape Cod, on the night of
Sept. 1st 1876.
The subscriptions to the per cent. loan to-
day were 81, 400, 900.