The Portland daily press., 1880-02-27
WASHINGTON.
The Donnelly-Washbur Case

The Donnelly- Washburne Case.
WASHINGTON, Feb 26.-The Dom elly
Washburne case was again discussed by the
House committee on elections, but with out ac-
ton.
Statuary for the New York Sub-Treasury
The Senate Committee on Public Buildings
today agreed to recommend the passage of Mr..
Vests bill granting permission for a committee
of citizens of New York to erect bronze statues
of George Washington, Edward Livingston,
Alex. Hamilton and De Witt Clinton Tor John
Jaw upon buttresses in front of the Sub Treas
ury building in that city.
Relief for Ireland.
The President today approved the joint res
olution authorizing the Secretary of the Navy
to transport contributions for the relief of the
suffering poor in Ireland.
Enormous Customs Receipts.
Thereceipts from customs today are nearly
81 100000. This is one of the largest figures
since shortly after the war;
Democratic Senatorial Caucus.
The Democratic members of the Senate held
a caucus after adjournment today. 1t was
called with view to preventing the recur-
renee OF the embarrassment which the major
ity frequently had to encounter this session,
namely, that of finding themselves without a
sufficient number of their own party to m axe
quorum OF the Senate. 1t was by common
consent agreed that pairs ought not to be made
except upon condition that either of the me M
bers pairing shall have the right to vote if his
vote be necessary to make quorum. Finally
the whole subject was referred to the Demo-
cratic members of the committee on rules, and
the caucus adjourned without further action
National Bankrupt Law.
A subcommittee of the House committee on
the Judiciary, consisting of Representative s
Ryan, Hammond and Mckinley, to whom was
referred for investigation and report the su b.
ject OF national bankrupt law, gave a hear
ing today to delegation of Baltimore mer-
chants, who expressed their desire to empha-
size the efforts OF the trade representatives of
Boston and New York looking to the passa ge
of a national bankrupt law by Congress An
informal discussion of the general subject took
place, and the delegation were requested to re-
duce their views and suggestions to writing
and submit them to the committee The onIy
suggestions made this morning as to the fea-
lures OF the proposed law were that it should
be, as compared with the other law more SIM
pie in it's machinery, more uniform in opera
tlon and less expensive to those avaiing them
selves OF its provisions. The further sugges-
ton was made that certain acts should be
made to constitute prima facie case of fraud,
and that the burden of proof should be chang.
ed from the creditor to the debtor. The sub
Ject OF homestead exemptions was discussed
and the point made that in certain States the
exemption covered so large an amount that
creditors were virtually powerless to collect
debts.
Infringement of Patents.
The Senate committee on patents had under
consideration today several bills to make ven
ders and manufacturers only liable for in
fringement of patents and to protect innocent
users OF patented articles. They have re-
ceived scores of petitions, signed by thousands,
praying for the passage of such a law, and al
so numerous letters from attorneys, protesting
against any legislation of the kind The com,
mittee has assigned March II for consideration
of the OuaStlOO and dpoidad to Ill
ties interested that they can be heard on that
date.