The Portland daily press., 1882-12-21
WASHINGTON.
The waite Housa Raonanad.


WASHINGTON, Dec 20.-The Executive Mansion
was thrown open to the public to-day for the first
time since last August, when it was cl sed for
pairs. The President received large number of
visitors, who had called TO pay their respects He
will hold his first public reception this season New
De Longs Last Report
Chief Engineer Melville was recalled before the
Jeannette board this morning and identified a re-
port of Lieutenant Commander De Long to tie Sec
retary of the Navy which found with the bodies
of the first cutters party Maiai Siberia. The
judge advocate offered 1t evidence it was ac
cepted by the court and read The report is very
long and gives detailed account of the cruise of
the Jeanette.
Bound to Aave Holiday.
The Senate Committee on Appropriations, to
whom was referred the House resolution providing
struced Mr. Allison to report it to the Senate with
a recommendation for its adoption.
Charges OF Telegraph Companies.
The bill introduced by Mr.. Joyce of Vermont to
regulate the charges of telegraph companies is de-
signed to prevent one telegraph 'mpany from de
Ginning to accept business from another company or
from chargifg higher tolls to such company than
dyiduals. Ihc bill is the outgrowth of the quarrel
between the Mutual Union and The Western Union
companies. 1t has been submitted to eminent legal
counsel. who have expressed the opinion that it is
entirely within the power of Congress to to what
the bill proposes.
The Tariff Commissions Work.
Mr.. Oliver, a member of the Tariff Commission
has explained that The reason why the commission
increased the rates IN the unenumerated asses
those now prescribed by law is that those
classes held out inducements to dfshont st persons
to evade the payment OF proper duties by procuring
improper class fcation, and most of the liti
cation that occupies the courts BY increasing his
class OF duties it had been thought that one indu
menJ for fraud would be removed, ali importers
would then invoice their goods under proper names
instead Of inyenting names in order TO secure
classification in the unenumerated schs ule SIS to
obtain entry az lowest rates OF duty Tomorrow the
committee will consider the sugar duties.
Consolidation of the Pacific Railroads.
The Senate Committee Territories took inn
portant action wi b respect to the proposed conso-
dation OF Pacific railroads between the Gulf Of
Mexico and the Pacific Ocean. A bill which pro-
poses to give the southern Pacific the right to con-
solidate was referred, with all otber bills the
subject, to subcommittee consisting of Saw
yer, Saunders, Brown and sewell, with Instructions
to report bill. This action is understood to be
equivalent to approval of the principle of con
solidation.
The Pacific Railroad Sinking Fund.
Abram S. Hewitt has given notice that he shall
insist upon amendment 10 the Railroad Trans
of the Pacific railroads be increased to so per cent
in order to make better provision for the payment
of the debt to the Government.
Nominations Confirmed.
The Senate to-day confirmed Stanley T. Pullen, of
Maine, Surveyor of Customs for the District of
Portland; j. G. Bancroft Davis, of New York, Judge
of the Court of Claims; Clayton McMichael, of
Pennsylvania, Marshal of the district of Columbia
No Trace OF Chipp's Party.
The Secretary Of the Navy received the following
telegram from Minister Hunt:i
ST. PETERSBURG, Dec 20.
Have just received this teleg am, dated Irkoutsk
to-day, sent there by m all from Yakutsk:
.'Please inform the Secretary of the avy as fol-
ows:-Arrived at Yakuisk Harry Hunts party de-
layed few days. Anequn is il not serious and rest
we'll. Made search of the coast from Lena to Ysge
and Olenek by several routes through the Delta
and communicated with the natives. who during
this summer visited every portion of The Delta. No
trace of Chipps party discovered. Orders to bring
the bodies just received. Must await permission
from the Russian GouernmeI t TO remove the bodies
Hunt and party pr ceed to hkutsk. Schuetze and
l retu, to the Delta. Sixty days are necessary to
bring the bodies here. Send caskets to rkut k.
(Sigued) HARDER. Lieutenant.
write you to-day.
(Signed) HUNT, Minister