The Portland daily press., 1878-03-15
from the Maine State Press of March 14l
History OF Seven Days.
The News for the week ending Wehnes-
day Night, March l3.
NATIONAL CAPITAL.

NATIONAL CAPITAL.
Irregularities on the part Of importers at New
York and other Atlantic ports are alleged. The
government will investigate the charges.
The Latin monetary Union has bean in
vited by our government to join a conference
to regulate the value of gold and silver coin.
All the cults against Gen. Howard have been
decided in his favor.
The Senate has confirmed the following:
WIN. A. Howard of Michigan, governor of
Dakota: NJ chael Sbaughnessy of Mississippi,
U. s. msrshal for Utah; Charles Bartlett of
Maine. now consul at Turks Island, to be
consul at Guadsloupe; postmaster, john R
Andrews at Saco, Me- U. s Attorney, Wilbur
F. Luut for the district Of Maine; U. s. consul,
Geo. c. Tanney at verviers and Liege; collect
or Of customs, Edward S. J. Neatly at Bath.
The President has approved the act amend
ing the laws granting pensions to soldiers and
sailors of the war of 1872, and their widows;
also act making appropriation for payment of
claims reported to Congress under section 2 of
the act approved June 16 h, 1874, by the Secre-
Rotary of the Treasury.
Twenty-Five Thousand war claims are on f.e
in Washington, and it is stated that eighteen
years will be required to adjadcate upon them.
Many millions of dollars are called for by these
claims. mostly by Southerners.
An Ottawa despatch says the appointment
of Delfosse as third arbitrator on the Halifax
fishery commission was made 10 spite of the
protests of Hon. William McDougali, who
represented Canada in England in 1873, as the
latter believed that Delfosse would lean to the
American side of the question.
After full consideration and consultation
with the members of both houses of Congress,
the Secretary of the Treasury has determined
that the first silver dollar to be issued will be
used only in exchange at par for geld coin, or
for the purchase of silver bullion at market
price. He does not feel at liberty to use them
to pay for current expenses until the amount
coined is sufficient to furnish sl alike without
discrimination nor does be deem it expedient
at present to exchange them for U. s. notes or
to use them in payment Of interest on the pub
lie debt until the amount coined is sufficient to
enable him to do 80 impartially, therefore they
will at present be used for the purchase of sill
yer bullion at market rates, The silver certif-
Gates will soon be ready for issue and ara in the
form of bank notes engraved in the best man.
ner and printed on bank note note fibre paper
Correspondence between a committee of the
American and Foreign Anti Slavery Society
and Secretary Evarts develops the fact that
several colored citizens of the United States
were obliged to be discharged from the employ
of railroad company proposing to employ
them on their road in Brazil, owing to a law Of
that empire prohibiting any free colored people
being brought there, and Secretary Evarts says
his department can take no cognizance thereof
until complaints are formally made that citi-
zeus of the United States have suffered from
such law.
CONGRESS.
In the Senate Wednesday large number of
petitions were received and referred; a few
bills were reported and placed on the calendar;
the bill for saving bonds was passed after de-
bate in which Mr.. Eaton and Mr.. Blaine advo
Gated per cent interest instead of 1865 per
cent and carried an amendment to that effect.
In the House the only incident worthy of men,
ton was reply to Mr.. Kelley BY General Gar.
field, which drew out great deal of applause
A veto of the Timber Bill was re ceived from
the President, and it was referred to com.
mittee.
In the Senate Thursday the bill to relieve
Dr. Hammond was taken up: Mr.. Cockrell
asked for delay, as he thought there might be q
Constitutional objection to the bill; Mr.. Conk-
ling replied; the bill was laid aside without &C
ton. senator Sargent spoke on Chinese immi-
grafton. In the House, the deficiency bill, ap.
proprating $4,000 was passed, but first gave
rise to debate on the causes of the hard times
on Democratic economy and the employment
of temporary clerks in the Treasury; the House
voted by 1873 to 104 to allow the Investigating
Committees to employ experts.
The Senate Friday was not in session. The
House transacted little business except to dis.
cuss che subject of payiog certain mail contrac-
tors in the South; lively debate. took place as
to whether the mail bags and property of the
United States ia the South at the outbreak of
the war, had been restored. The Senate was
not in session Saturday.--Tbe time of the
House was principally occupied with an expla-
nation by Mr.. Kelley and a discussion of the
points raised between him and Mr. Garfield;
the Diplomatic and Consular Appropriation
Bill was then taken up and was explained by
Mr.. Singleton.
In the Senate Monday the Committee on
Railroads reported bill establishing sinkn g
fund for the Pacific Railroads. Mr.. Blaine
called up his resolution caling for the cores
poudence relative to the Fisheries Commission.
and made aspeech in opposition to the accept
ance of the awaad by the United States. The
resolution was adopted. A bill for the appoint-
ment of commission to consider and report
on the liquor traffic was passed. In the House
the Consular and Diplomatic bill was under
consideration, aud Mr.. Hewitt made speech
against the Presidents Civil Ssrvice ap point
ments.
In the Senate Tuesday the bill in aid of the
Polar expedition designed by James Gordon
Bennett was passed unanimously. Mr.. Mat
thews presented the reply of the Secretary of
the Interior to the resolution calling for in
formation regarding the timber depredations,
and asked to have it published in the Record.
Objection was made and the matter was laid
over. Mr. Teller presented petition of Rob-
ert G. Ingersoll of Illinois and others praying
for the repeal of certain sections of the Re
vised Statutes ostensiby passed to prevent the
circulation of obscene literature through the
mails, but which petitioners claim restrict the
liberty OF the press and expression of per-
sonal Opinion. In the House in COMMITTEES of
the Whole, Mr. Hale of Maine spoke in oppo-
sition to the Consular and Diplomatic appropri-
alton bill. and claimed that while the Demo-
Gratis were cutting down appropriations which
were necessary for the prosperity of the coun-
try they were voting money which was to be
devoted to enterprises which were purely Sec
tional and were not of advantage to the coup-
try at large. Mr. Whitthorn defended the bill
Mr.. Cox branched off and discussed civil SER
vice reform in manner which the House con.
sidered humorous as they laughed immoder-
ately. The consideration of the bill was not
completed
CRIMES AND CASUALTIES.
Pllkham tho nnvar II yaurdaror hoe