The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-02-28
WASHINGTON.
Cabinet Meeting.


WASHINGTON, Feb. 27.-The Cabinet meet
ing today was devoted to the informal consd-
Grafton of departmental matters requiring
Congressional action. All the members were
present except Secretary Folger, who had
short interview with the President Just before
the meeting but was not strong enough to
remain
The Presidency Of the Senate.
It is understood the Democratic Senators
Will offer no opposition to the prompt election
OF Republican Senator as President pro tenn
pore. The indications are that Edmunds will
be chosen president pro tempore, and the 9TH
or officers of the Senate to hold their positions
until December.
Doings of the House Committee on Com
merce.
The House Committee on Commerce this
morning authorized Mr.. Washburn TO call up,
under the 'tPound Rale,'' the bill for the re-
rnoval of obsructions TO navigable streams in
the United States, such as boems, etc. The bill
aboishing compulsory pilotage was indefinitely
postponed, owing to want of time at this sess-
ion for its consideration; the bill authorizing
the construction II a pontoon bridge at Du-
buque was adversely reported from the sub
com.nittee; the bill obliging vessels to be pro-
vided with certain number of Boytons life
saving dresses was indefinitely postponed and
Mr. Cox's resolution calling upon the Secreta-
~ of the Treasury to furnish TO the House
observations on glaciation, birds, natural his
tory and the medical notes made upon the
crui,es of revenue cutters in the year 1884,"
was authorized to be favorably reported to the
House by Mr. Townsend.
The Mexican Treaty.
The Senate in executive session decided to
postpone consideration of the Mexican COM
mercial treaty until next December.
Nominations Confirmed.
The Senate to-day confirmed John w. Fos-
ter, Of Indiana, as minister to Spain; Wyck-
ham Hoffman, minister to Denmark; Dwight
T. Reed, Secretary of Legation and Consul
General at Madrid; S. G. w. Benjamin, min
lister to Persia: l.. Fl. Foote, minister 10 Corea;
Robert G. Dyenforth, of Illinois, Assistant
Commissioner of Patents; Col. RJbt Murray,
Assistant Surgeon General; and Lieut. Col
Elisha j. Bailey, to be surgeon with rank of
colonel.
Nominations by the President.
The President to-day sent the following nom-
inations:-Jttferson w Sargent to be Collec-
tor of Customs for the district of Kennebunk,
Me-; John L. Pierce, Machias, Me-; Wm. 2.
Hitler. Nantucket. Mass Martin Parry Ken
nard to be Assistant United States Treasurer at
Boston, Mass: Daniel W. Gooch to be Pension
Agent at Boston, Mass +. Edwin Dwinal,
postmaster at Mechanic Falls. Me.
''Richelieu" Robinson's Nonsense.
La the House yesterday "Rcheleu' Robin
son of New York introduced bill "for the
relief of England, the benefit of Ireland, and
the glory of the United States" The pream-
BILE sets forth the situation in Ireland as seen
from ans Irish standpoint, and requests the
President to open negotiations with Great
Britain for the acquisition Of Ireland by pur
chase, as the case of Louisiana and Alaska.
The bill was received with much merriment
and referred to the committee on foreign af-
fairs.
The Pl opposed Sale Of Navy Yards.
The report of the commission appointed to
consider the subject of selling some of the
navy yards says the commissioners have not
had time TO collect data from all doints and
cannot make full report or recommend the
sale of eny navy yard. The report recommends
navy yard and fixes the value at $3.50, 600;
also the sale of the Chelsea hospital, fixing its
value at 100000.