The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-12-19
WASHINGTON.
conversational Matrars,

congressional MaCt6rS.
WASHINGTON, Dec 17.-Up tc the adjourn
ment of the Senate and House yesterday there
had been introduced in the Senate 592 bills and
16 joint resolutions. The call for States for
presentation of bills in the Houae for refer
ence rests with the State of Pennsylvania. II
is supposed that nearly thousand more bills
and joint resolutions will be introduced when
both houses meet on Monday.
Star Routes.
Senator Lamar and Representatives Money,
Singleton and Chalmers of Mississippi called
at the Postoffice Department today and urged
the restoration of the steamboat mail service
on the Yazoo and Sunfower rivers. The de-
partment in reply to the request of the delega-
ton showed that by transferring the service
from steamboats, to railroads that better
work was being performed at greatly reduced
rates.
Bankruptcy Legislation.
A special hearing was given 5this afternoon
by the subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary
Committee having in charge the subject of
national bankrupt law. Arguments were made
by Morris 5. Wise, counsel for New York COM
mercial organizations, and A. E. Pillsbnry,
counsel for trade associations of Boston. Both
gentle meu argued against the adoption of any
scheme OF procedure which will relegate the
settlement of insolvent estates to the district
courts of the United States, sitting as courts of
equity or courts of chancery, believing that the
ordinary equity pr ictice governing these forms
of actions, known as creditors bills, would be
merely experimental, and certainly very ques-
tionable in their practical results. The former
gentleman, while he did not in terms approve
the various proposed acts Gneuding the Lowell
bili), believed the only desirable aud proper
system to stand the test of experience would
be coditied law which would preserve the
right of the creditors to select their own assig-
nee and also 10 participate in the bankruptcy
proceedings and to be heard at every stage
thereof
The Contingent Fund Investigation.
One of the Democratic members of the Sem
ate Committee which is investigating the
charges into the expenditures of the contingent
fund of the Treasury, says that thus far little
had been developed, although the investigation
might result in the exposure of a ring organic
ed in the Department for purposes of corrupt
ion. There WASH disposition apparent, he
said, on The part OF any member of the com
mittee to wbitewash the case, and there had
been up to the present time no disagreement
as TO the mode OF procedure, the evident desire
OF all being TO get the truth if possible. With
respect TO the report OF the Pitney investiga-
ton, he said if it contained all the testimony
taken and all the facts brought ont, there had
been . great deal of talk about a very small
matter. The further investigation of the COM
mittee alone would prove whether or not any
thing had been withheld in the report of the
Pitney investigation or negligence in their ex-
animation into the custodians case.
The Washington Monument
The Washington Monument Commission
held its annual meeting to-day at the White
House, at which all the members were present
including President Arthur, President of the
commission ex officio. The other members are
Mr.. W. W. Corco.an, Gen. Wright, Chief Of
Engineers, Mr.. Hill, Supervising Architect
and Mr.. Edward Clark, architect of the Capl
toll
Mr.. Corcoran, the Vice President, presided
The annual report of Colonel Casey, in charge
of the work on the monument, was submitted
1t gives detailed statement of the OF the pro
gress OF the work since last December, and
makes satisfactory showing generally. The
matter was freely discussed, and it was decided
to transmit the report to Congress- with al
earnest requst fer Ian early appropriation Of
900, 900 for the continuation Of the work Of
completing the monument.