The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-12-15
WASHINGTON.



by Mr.. Ranney OF Massachusetts,, in the House
to-day to establish a marine signal board pro
vides that three commissioned officers may be
appointed by the Secretary of the Navy and
two otf1cers OF the revenue marine service by
the Secretary OF the Treasury, to constitute
marine signal board of the United States. The
board is authorized to draft CODE consisting
OF marine lights and fog signals and reguIa-
tions therefor, providing that steam and sail
vessels underway or not underway, shall sound
steam whistle, or fog horn, or ring bell in
execution and conformity to such code and
system OF signals and rules, and by means OF
such apparatus as said board may adopt.
The New Orleans Pacific Railroad Land
Grant
Fl Skipwith, attorney in fact of the Florida
parishes of Louisiana and West Steever, of
counsel, presented to the Secretary of the In
terror to-day the protest of those parishes
against the granting of lands within their
Company or to any other corporation. The
protest sets forth that the protesting parishes
were formed out of territory which originally
constituted the Baton Rouge district of the
province OF West Florida. which declared its
independence and maintained it against the
King of Spain, Ferdinand VII, in 1870 The
people called convention and formed in that
year the free aud independent State of West
Florida, which had all the attributes of sover-
elgnty, including regularly constituted gov
oHuul0ntS Will cAoCutlVe, Legislative aud 1QQ1-
clal branches, an organized army and dis
tinctive flag on Inc 10th of October, 1870 The
convention then in session extended to the
United States friendly invitation to come in
to the domain and assume jurisdiction, the
government of the State of West Florida he
asS sss;.s "
conquered territory. The government of the
United States thereupon took possession of the
district as requested, and it has since formed a
part OF this country. In view of these facts,
Mr.. Skipworth makes the following protest:
Gas the attorney in fact of the Florida par
ishes of the State of Louisiana, protest
against granting lands now claimed by the de-
scendants of It's former conquerors, and for
which action is now pending before Congress.
ito the New Orleans Pacific Railroad, or to any
other corporation whatever"
The Territory of Alaska.
At meeting of the Senate committee on
territories this forenoon, a bill providing
civil government for the territory of Alaska
was introduced and considered. An amend
to be open to children of both whites and In
dians was adopted, and the bill was ordered to
be reported to the Senate.
Findings of a Court Martial.
Lieut.. Urel Sebree, who commanded the
Pinta at the time of her collision with the
brig Tally Ho of Machias, has been found
guilty, by court martial, of eulpable neglect
and inefficiency in the discharge of his duties
on that occasion. The sentence is that he be
suspended from his rank and duty for three
years, and that he be publicly reprimanded by
the Secretary of the Navy. Tue sentence is
considered to be too severe, and will uGdoubt-
edly be mitigated.
Capt. A. W. johnson, commander of the
Powhat2n, tried by court martial for ineficien-
cy in the discharge of his duties at the time of
the collision between the Powhatan and schoon-
er Druid. was found not guilty and acquitted.
The finding of the court will probably be dis
approved.
Lieut.. Chas. A. Stone, watch officer of the
Powhatan at the time, was found guilty and
sentenced to be suspended from his rank and
duty for period of two years, on waiting or
ders pay, and to be publicly reprimanded by
the Secretary of the Navy, in general orders.
Chinese Restriction Act.
The Pacific coast congressional delegation to-
day agreed upon eeries of amendments
to the Chinese restriction act, which will be
presented IN the HonSe next Monday. The
amendments provide for passport system sub
stantially identical with that contained in the
| vetoed twenty-year bill. All Chinese are re-
| quired before leaving or entering the United
| States to provide themselves with a certificate
containing detailed descriptionszof their perso-
| nal appearance, which must be exhibited to
| customs officers at the ports of entry or de-
| parture. A special Gordon of officers will
| guard the frontier of British Columbia to pre-
| vent unlaWlui lmmlgratlOn OF CnlneSo from
| that country, and every constable, Justice OF
| the peace, sheriff and deputy sheriff along the
border is to have the power and authority oi
| United States marshal to make arrests for vi
| olation of the restriction law. The appella-
| tion "merchant" under which so many Chi.
/ nese recently entered the United States is tc
i be clearly defined, and to be held applicable
| not to peddlers, hucksterse etc., hut only tC
| persons actually engaged in business as the
word is popularity understood. In view of the
| recent decision of Boston judge, to the effec
| that the present law does not apply to Chinese
who are British subjects, it is proposed tt
amend the law so that no native Chinese shal
| enter the United States except under legal re-
strietions The entire series of amendment
| will go before 4he House as the work of tn,
whole Pacific coast congressional delegation.
Crowded Condition of the EHouse.
Representatives already complain of th
crowded condition of the hall, owing to in
creased representation. Expression was giveI
to this feeling this morning by the introduc
tion of resolution by Mr. TownShend, direc
ing the architect of the Capitol, during tn
holidays, to remove the desks to the lobbie
and to make other arrangements for the con
| yepience of members. The House was uE
willing to act on the resolution, which was re
ferred. The proposition will not prevail, bu
| before another apportionment different sys
tenn will have to be adopted if the same rati
of representatives, is maintained.
Prospects of a Very Long Session.
1t is generally understood that there will /
no business transacted in the House until afte
the holidays, and that there will be an unusl
ally long holiday adjournment, unless the Sci
ate shall object. which is not probable. Raj
dali opposes the frequent adjournments, an
will endeGvor to carry out his plan to final
adjourn the session in May, but he meets wit
opposition on every hand One reason is thi
the free traders suspect that he is controlled
desire to prevent. If possible, any dlscussic
of the tariff question. The indications are thI
. the session viii be long, and after the ne
year that political debates will be protracte
and acrimonious There is every reason
suppose that Congress will be in session at ii
time Of both national conventions. In u
last presidential year adjournment did rot tai
place till Aug 18th.
House OmcinIs Appointed.
, Tho Clerk OF the House, Gen. CLARK, mao
, the folluwlag g appointments to-day. Johu 4
Palmer u Virginia, Index Clerk, vice Jpost
Roloolh OF Penn-ylv nia; f. Riohsrdst
, Of Georgia, Assistant Crrs, vice w. Mon
oi PeansylSapa; Gen. Clsrk sys he will 7
tain a few OF the assistant cl rks uu,il tho
/, recently appointed to the offices become q
r.,tu fal xxffff !. faoSr A,rkaa