The Portland daily press., 1881-01-05

WASHINGTON.

Whittaker's Court Martial.
| WASHINGTON, Jan. 4.-The official order an
pointing court martial for the trial of Cadet
| Whitaker was promulgated today. The court
is to meet in New York Jan. 20.
Aid for American Commerce.
| The subcommittee of the Senate finance
committee gave hearing today to number of
gentlemen representing the ship owning inter-
ests of the country. A committee from the
national convention of ship owners was also
present. The resolutions adopted by this con-
ventiOn were submitted, looking to the enact
ment of laws to assist and extend American
commerce.
Before the Senate finance sub committee to-
day the resolutions adopted by the Bocton
convention were presented by Mr. Windor,
who urged the importance of immediate atten-
tion on the part of Congress to the subject
Arguments in opposition to free ships were
presented by w. H. Webb, John Roach and
Capt. Osborne.
tee after the opponents of free ships had con-
cluded their remarks.
A Graphic Report.
The Graphic special says Notwithstanding
positive assertions that Senator Blaine is to be
Secretary of State in the new cabinet, it is
now said by those who ought to know best
that Blaine is preparing for an European tour
of eight months, leaving this country in March
and and returning next November. He would
go in February if it were not for the close
vote in the Senate after March Sd.
Retired.
Col. Edmund Shriver of the Inspector Cen
erals office was retired today, leaving q vacan-
cy to be filled by the President.
Expensive Pension Measures.
1t is estimated that that the cost to the coun-
try OF the arrears of pensions bill, before its
capacity is finally exhausted even if no re-
moval of the original limitation is made, will
be about $224 900, 900. A measure has already
been introduced in the House of Representa-
tives to remove the limitation fixed by the
original act, and pay their arrears to all appli-
cants whose cases shall be found meritorious.
By the terms of the bill no claimants whose
applications have been filed since the first of
last July are entitled to arrears of pensions.
There are now pending 1000 original claims,
which reached the office since that date, and
the claims are coming in at the rate of about
1,600 per month. Each claimant becomes of
course an active advocate of the passage of the
measure referred to, or one similar in its pro-
visions, and the pressure upon Congress will
consequently become enormous within a COM
paratiyely short time. The average amount
of arrears paid to individual claimants is more
than $1,000, and the claims already filed would
II their limitation were removed, amount to
$11 100000 more than they otherwise will.
A fifty million dollar pension appropriation
bill is now pending in 1.-The Senate. One-half
the money appropriated will be given away by
the Commissioner of Pensions without any
knowledge upon his part that 1t is going to de-
serving persons. This is a statement that he
makes himself to anyone who questions him
upon the subject. His control of the matter
ceases when the provisions of the present i'm
perfect pension laws are complied with. If
the Senate passes the measure without making
more adequate provision for the protection OF
the goveTnment against fraud and error, it
will fail to perform very important duty.
The Christiancy Scandal.
The Star publishes an interview with Mrs.
Christiancy, in which she explains the letters
contained in the morning papers, purporting
to have been written by herself to Edil Giro,
whose name has been coupled with hers in the
matter of the Christiancy divorce suit She
says that Giro repeatedly urged her to get a
divorce and marry him. which she refused to
do. He finally threatened if she persisted in
her refusal, to say she was with him at the ST.
James, and thus ruin her; and to escape his
violence she consented to marry him. She
soon after retracted her promise, which she
claims was never given in good faith. This,
she affirms,. is the cause of Giros attack upon
her reputation.