The Portland daily press., 1879-12-09
WASHINGTON.
John Hay Nominated for Assistant Sec
-<>pc ,totn

John Hay Nominated for Assistant Sec
rotary Of State.
WASHINGTON, Dec. S.-Among the nominal
tons sent to the Senate by the President today
was that of John Hay of Ohio to be Assistant
Secretary of State.
Favoring the Detroit Tunnel.
The Secretary of War transmitted to the
Senate today report of the board OF engi-
neers unanimously endorsing the construction
of a tunnel under the river at Detroit.
Death of Congressman Lay.
Congressman Lay of Missouri died shere this
morning.
Rumored Resignation of Minister seward
A rumor prevails here that George +. Sew
ard, United States Minister to China, has re
signed.
A bill has been prepared and Will soon De re-
ported TO Congress-probably by the committee
on Notwithstanding even more stringent
regulations against the use OF the mails Tor
carving on the lottery business. There is
strong sentiment in favor OF such action as
will prevent any completely on the part of the
government with all such schemes for swim
ding the public and vitiating the morals of
the community.
Secretary McCrary's Nomination.
The Senate judiciary committee will report
favorably upon Secretary McCrary's nominal
ton.
yellow Fever Reports.
A long report from the yellow fever COM
missioner who went to Cuba, states that yellow
fever abounds throughout the island.
Secretary Sherman on the Legal Tendef
Act.
Secretary Sherman is reported to have said
YESTERDAY that it would be better for Congress
to abrogate the legal tender act than to have
the Supreme Court decide against it.
National Newspaper Nonsense.
The following are the provisions of bill
now pending in Congress. 1t was offered by
Hon. S. S. Bundy of Shenango county, New
York, and is in the hands of the committee on
printing
A United States government paper shall be
published weekly by Congress, and copy
sent free to every family in the United States
each week, in which shall be printed in the
course of the year:
/. The Declaration of Independence.
2. The Constitution of the United States
3. The Constitutions of the several States.
4. The proceedings of Congress:
5. The general duties of the officers OF the
government, their terms of Office and their
salaries.
g. The reports of all government officers
and of all corporations and institutions that
are indebted to, are under the control of, or
that received aid from the government in the
course of that year.
7. The sum of money received by the gov
eminent, the source from which it is obtained
and the purpose to which it is piled.
8. A monthly statement OF the public
debt.
9. All United States government adver-
tisements.
TO- Views of American scenery and gov
eminent buildings, with descriptions thereof,
and no other matter, except by act OF Con-
gress
Constitutional Amendments Affecting
the Presidency.
The subcommittee of the Senate committee
will report favorably to the full committee the
the resolution introduced by Mr.. Bicknell,
which contemplates an amendment to the con-
stitution to abolish the electoral college and
provides for the election of President and Vice
President directly by the people. Represen-
tative Pound will introduce at the earliest OPP
portunity joint resolution proposing All
amendment to the constitution providing that
the President be elected for six years and be
thereafter ineligible, and that members of
Congress be elected for three years.
Secretary Sherman's Report.
For several days the Secret Service force Of
the Treasury Department have been engaged
in investigating the theft of Secretary Sher-
mans report in advance of its presentation to
Congress, and have finally discovered the
guilty person, who is the proof reader OF the
branch of the Public Printing Office in the
Treasury Department. The evidence is OF the
most conclusive character, and the guilty per-
son will be dismissed if not criminally prose-
cuted.
International Commerce.
Joseph Mimmo, Jr., chief of the Bureau OF
Statistics has last sent to the President a re-
port on the international commerce of the
United States in the preparation of which he
has been engaged for more than year.