The Press., 1883-04-12
The reduction in the national debt dur ing March was over $9,00O,000.

FoR lack of direct evidence Brooks John son, the negro suspected of murdering the Judson sisters at East Hartford, and fire ing their house, has been discharged from custody.
 A HOTEL at Greeneville, Texas, tumbled down last Friday night, supposed to have been caused by powder explosion in 8 hardware store under it. The ruins caught fire, and the whole catastrophe resulted in the death of thirteen persons and injury of many more. The storage of powder in such & place is piece of criminal careless ness. ..<5s
 THE New London Day has unique dic- tionary in its office. It calls the taking of the pardoning power from the legisla- trre and vesting it in board of pardons a Decentralization of power" and says that the bill Sis supported by lobby" The popular impression is that the lobby is working on the other side, and that the move is just the opposite of ''centraliza- tion of power" The Day says: ....
 ''All that Is needed to defeat the bill this year and bury 1t so deep that 1t will not keep again for some time is one good sound speech against 1t in the house. That will kill it in spite of the fact that 1t is support ed by lobby that has been working act ively for it from the beginning of the session.
 This is the nub of the matter A bril- liant speech 1n the legislature of 1881 de- feated the bill, and swayed the members against their better judgment. A brilliant speech has secured the epardon of 8 convict, when 8 calm deliberative commission of jurists would havessdenied it. The lawyers who get good fees out of the prisoners know that they can better secure retention in hearing before a legislative committee, and to do lobby work, than to appear be- fore commission made up as proposed. -%--
 THE Methodist Conferences were held last week and this, and next Sunday the preachers will appear in the pulpits to which they are assigned for the year. Stafford Springs gets new man-Rev. J. B. Hawkins, and Rev. A. P. Palmer goes to Brockton, Mass. W. W. Ellis stays at South Coventry, B. M., Anthony at Staf- fordville and Moose Meadow; O. E. Thayer supplies at Square Pond, J. M Tabor goes to Somers. The presiding elders are Norwich district, H. D. Robinson; Prov idence, W. J. Talbot; New Bedford, w. V. Morrison. Other appointments of To- cal interest are: Danielsonville, J. H. James and G. W. Brewster East Thom- son, supplied by s. V. B. Cross; East Woodstock, supplied by G. R. Bentley Gales Ferry, William Turkington Cur leyville, c. H. Dalryndple Mashapaug, Jacob Betts; Moodus, F. C. Newell; New London, s. O. Benton North Grosvenor- dale, D. l.. Brown; North Manchester, H. H. Martin Portland, R. Povey Putnam, James Tregaskis Quarryville, N. Good rich; Rockville, o. H. Fernald; Holland, Lee church and Wesley chapel, F.A. Crafts; Vernon Depot, c. S. Davis Versailles,L W. Blood; Warehouse Point. VIII. Turk ington West Thompson, c. Hammond Willimantic, D. P. Leavitt H. Montgom- cry, city missionary, Norwich.
 Some of the Providence district appoint ] 1nents are: W. T. Worth, Mathewson-st., Providence; W. H. Stetson, Harris Ave nue, Providence; s. Leader, Central Falls, R. l. ;; A. J. Church, East Blackstone; R. I.
 In the New England conference B. G. Best is appointed to Monson, and W. T. Miller to Wales.