Morning journal and courier., 1881-03-19
News by Telegraph FROM ALL QUARTERS. NEW SENATE 0FFICRRS. The Democrats Opposed to
 Their Election. THEIR POLICY OF OBSTRUCTION. A Sharp Struggle Promised
 For Monday. PROSPECTS OF AN EXTRA SESSION. Secretary Blaine and Otll-
 CTS Anxious For 1t.
 
PROSPECTS OF AN EXTRA SESSION.
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.

The New Senate Omcers-The Democrats
 VIII Break the Quorum Prospects of
 am Extra SessiOMs-DiRerent Opinions
 Concerning Its sAdv1sability Secretary
 Blaine in Favor ofit-Sentiment Among
 the Senators-The Huge Land swindIes
 at St. Louis-Other Matters.
 WASHINGTON March 19.-The Democrats announce that they will withhold every vote if necessary to prevent the appointment of new Senate officers. This in the absence of Edmunds would leave the Republicans with out quorum and powerless to act The Re- publicans, however, intend to attempt the completion of the organization of the Senate Monday.
 The State department issues warning to capitalists against investing in speculation in the newly discovered Malybdina fields in the Valley of Humber near Bay des Isles, on the west coast of Newfoundland. This tract is included in the. guarantee to the French fish, ermen by the treaty of Versailles in 17s5 and the same declaration expressly forbids the erection of any stationary buildings thereon. The State department deems this warning sufficient to prevent speculators from running the risk which would arise from infringe ments of the right guaranteed the French in this respect.
 The question of an extra session of Con- gress now agitates the public mind and opin- ions are as varied as numerous Considers bIe+ Ie+disappointment is expressed by Washing tonians on the action on the subject in the Cabinet meeting to-day. The impression is gaining ground that an extra session will be called. Funding measures are urged and that speedy action alone can avail. The session is expected early in May. President Garfield is known not to have made up his mind but loses no chance for consultation on the subject. It is safe to say majority of the members do not desire an extra session, but the leaders incline to the contrary and may carrY their point. Blaine is quoted as favoring it. Vice President Arthur and Senators Conkling, Cameron, of Pennsylva- mia, and Logan stand in the same position and claim that public policy demrnds imme- diate legislation on the matter of funding the debt. Democrats, including Senators Pen dleton and Hampton, fail to see why the Re- they once defeated. Senator PendIeton says there never will be better opportunity to refund the debt than that lost in the last session. Senator Hampton could see no use for an extra session and does not believe one will be called. MT. Ransom, of North Carolina, is in the same situation. On the other hand Senator Allison agrees with Conkling and others that another session is needed and is expected. Senator Platt, of Connecticut, can see 4he advantages of an extra session, but doubts if it will be called since it's disadvan- tages are also apparent. Senator MeDill, newly sworn in came from Iowa understanding that an extra session would be called. Sena- tor Anthony is inclined to favor the idea of an extra session. Senator Plumb is one of many Senators who have no more idea of it's prospects than the common people and who seems to be even less interested.
 The superintendent of foreign mails in the Postoffice department proposes that the ex- isting postal arrangement between the United States and Canada be modified to provide for the forwarding of letters from either country to the other which have been prepaid at less than the full rate of postage, deficient post age to be collected and retained by the coun- try of delivery. Under existing arrange ments with Canada the prepayment of post age in full on all correspondence is compul- sorry, and it is found that the rule works hardship by delaying many letters and sub iecting the senders to great inconvenience and sometimes to losses when the omission to fully prepay postage was accidental or caused by ignorance of the postal requirements.
 The following special bulletin is furnished | by the chief signal officer: A storm has moved since Wednesday morning from west ern Texas northeast to Tennessee, where it is now central Heavy and unusual rains have fallen in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia since Tuesday. Over seven inches of rain have fallen at Atlanta and four inches at Augusta. Dangerous floods have occurred in all the Georgia rivers and the Tennessee is rising rapidly. At Augusta the Savannah rose over twenty three feet in thirty hours, doing some damage and causing great anx- iety. The temperature has fallen rapidly in the Southwest, twenty-six degrees at Fort Elliott and twenty degrees at Fort Gibson in twenty-four hours The storm will probably move northwest ward down the St. Lawrence valley, marked by strong east winds along the Atlantic coast and over Lakes Erie and Ontario, possibly being strong enough on the lakes to open them. Colder clearing weather will extend eastward through the Ohio valley and Gulf States during the day and will probably reach the lower lake region and Middle States by Sunday morning.
 Secretary Blaine to-day received Q cable dispatch from Minister Moves stating that the French government had agreed that all pork loaded upon ships before the passing of the from the United States should be admitted only to inspection and with as little delay as such examination permits
 The officials of the general land office in this city regard the land swindling operations recently unearthed at St. Louis the greatest ever perpetrated on the government It's in. ception dates back to 1854. Many of the men who originated the scheme are now living. It is believed at the land of fee that government officials must have been in collusion with the swindlers. Investiga- tions leading to the exposure of the gigantic swindles were instituted by Secretary Schurz over year ago, who assigned Special Agent Terrill to the work The 1atter's story of adventures sounds like romance. The ram i6cations of the swindles extend to Pitts burg, Cleveland and other cities. A number of persons have already been arrested in those cities and others are to be. The swim dIers obtained fraudulent titles to more than a million acres, the larger portion of which they sold to innocent settlers. The question to be referred to the Attorney General is whether civil suits can be begun to vacate the title to these lands. It is safe to say that whatever is done it will be as easy for the settlers as the government can possibly make it. Congress could confirm all the titles and will probably be appealed to.