The Portland daily press., 1878-04-04
WASHINGTON.
Japan's Imports ani Exports.

Japan's Imports ana Exports.
WAsHINNGToN, April 3.-Minister Bingham
reports the exports of Japan for December
were So, 649, $50, including silver and bullion,
and imports So, 1876, showing q balance of
trade in favor of Japan of 81, 231 ,224.
Illness of Senator Booth.
Senator Booth was taken suddenly i'll this
afternoon in the Senate chamber and conduct
ed to the cloak room. he seemed afflicted
with vertigo
River and Harbor Bill.
The House Committee on Commerce today
completed the river aid harbor appropriation
bill and ordered the same reported to the
House at the first opp ortunity.
Senator Dorsey Explains His Connection
With the Mail Contractors.
Senator Dorsey appeared before the House
committee on post offices today and told the
committee all about his action in aiding mail
contractors in his section to prepare their
bonds. He had done nothing not perfectly
lawful and proper and he should do it again
whenever occasion offered. He denied that he
had any pecuniary interest, near or remote,
contingent or possible, in any mail contracts or
any other contracts under the government He
denied that the service he had performed for
these contractors was done for any reward or
with the expectation of any reward. He pro-
nounced the newspaper reports to the contrary
malicious falsehoods circulated for the purpose
of injuring him and for revenge. In whatever
he had done his only motive had been to assist
his constituents and friends and secure for them
proper consideration before the departments.
The Naval Appropriation Bill.
The naval appropriation bill as reported
from the Senate committee on appropriations
today is amended by the addition of the follow
ing amounts: For the pay OF ensgns, cadet
midshipmen, cadet engineers, &C., $50, $40; for
the equipment of vessels, $4,000; for the con-
tingent expenses of the bureau of equipment
and recruiting, $4,000; for repairs of the naval
1Nku ole SyA &c. ot.-.l
Establishment, $4,000; for secretary of the naval
academy, $500; for preparation of a nautical
almanac, $1,000; with few thousand dollars
for restoration of pay of watchmen and me-
struck out the clause which provides that no
more promotions to the grade of captain in the
marine corps shall be made until the number
is reduced below twenty.
The Tariff Bill.
So morrow Representative Woods teriff bill
will be taken up for consideration according to
the previous order. Since it was reported it
has been gaining friends. The conclusion has
been reached that it will receive fair major
ity, there having been canvass of the House.
Montgomery Blaia's Scheme.
Montgomery Blair's expresses himself en-
Enthusiastically as to the practical effect of his
resolution recently passed by the MARYLAND
Legislature to contest the title of President
Hayes. Democrats in Congress say they do
not believe there are ten men in the House and
not single Democratic Senator in favor of
them. The resolutions have not been privately
discussed by Democrats, and were it possible
to pass a bill to regulate the mode of procedure
before the Supreme Court as requested, the
President would, of course. veto it Mr., Blair
thinksit would require only sixty days to Dust
Hayes aud place Iilden in the Presidency, and
that such proceeding would create no more
commotlon in the country than change in any
petty Office. Mr.. Blair has commenced work
to secure friends to his presidential measure.
NEW YORK, April 3.-Washington despatch
es state that Montgomery Blair is in that city
to secure some action on his resolutions re-
gardng the Presidency, and the Herald's dis
patch says there are not two dozen Democrats
In both houses of Congress who will have any,
thing to do with the subject.
Various Matters.
The President has approved the joint resolu-
ton insituting commission to report plan
for providing enlarged accommodations for the
library of Congress-
The House committee on railways today
agreed upon bill authorizing the construction
of ship canal at the head of Lake George,
Florida.
The House committee on public buildings
had before them the proposition of James
Crutchett, who offers to supply gas at % cents
per 1000 feet for light and 20 cents per thousand
feet for heating purposes. The cost of gas for
public buildings and capitolsgrounds last year
was nearly $4,000, and the proposition now
made would reduce the expense to $13, OOO The
cost of lighting the Presidents house alone is
$4,000 per year.