The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-02-01

committee the passage OF tbs Dorsbemer
copyright bill, with an amendment. The bill
grants copyrights to citizens of foreign coun-
tries for twenty-five years when similar priv
ileges are granted to American citizens. The
amendment offered extends the time to
twenty-eight years with a right of renewal
of fourteen years.
PETITIONS are pouring into both houses of
Congress asking the enactment of n national
diVorc9 law.
THE House committee on agriculture de-
cided to report favorably on the bill to make
the bureau of agriculture a distinct depart
ment and to give its head n seat III the cabi-
net The committee has done this in former
Congresses, but the plan has failed to meet
the approval of the two houses.
THE subcommittee of the House committee
on agriculture agreed to report with two
amendments, the bill prepared by the Cattle
Breeders convention for the extirpation of
diseases among domestic animals. The APP
preparation determined upon is S2j0,000, in
stead of $4,000 and the States are required
to contribute sum equal to that appor-
toned among them by the general govern
ment.
FREDERICK DOUGLASS, recorder of deeds
for the District of Columbia and formerly
United States marshal under President Hayes
and well known as a colored politician and
speaker, was married the other evening to
Miss Helen NJ. Pitts,a white lady about thirty
| SlA years lOIIlelIg d ltNitllO VI AVN, ~
V, who has been copyist f6r several years in
the office of Mr.. Douglass. The ceremony
was performed by Rev. Francis j. Grimke,
pastor of the Fifteenth Street. Presbyterian
church (coloredD, at his residence in Wash
ington There were present, beside the con-
Douglass has been a widower about two
years and is now nearly three
score and ten. He has four
grown children, and his marriage was a
great surprise to them as well as to the rest
of the community. Miss Pitts has been
prominent in Washington as writer on
woman suffrage and moral reform.
/ IMPORTANT amendments to the pension law
are under consideration by the appropria-
tons committee.
A RECENT Washington dispatch says that
since the beginning of the present session of
! Congress eighteen postmasters of the presi-
| dental grade have resigned their offices.
Officials at the postofiice department
declare that such a number of resigna-
| tions in so short time is unprecedented.
The reasons given for the designations are
dissatisfaction with the recent adjustment,
resulting in some cases in lowering of ,sala-
RES, and with the small allowances made by
the department for clerk hire, office equip
ment and other items, which compel the
postmasters to spend their own means in
maintenance of the postal service.
Hon. JOHN c New departed from Wash
| ingtOn for indianapolis, but before leaving
rendered his resignation as assistant secre-
tary of the treasury. His reason for resign
| ing was the urgent pressure of private bust
ness
THE Senate judiciary committee has favor
ably reported the bill devolving the office of
| President upon the secretary of state in the
event of the removal or inability of both
President and VicePresilent.
TIE Senate has confirmed the nomination
of Charles Lyman to be chief examiner of
the civil service commission.
AT meeting of the House committee on
appropriations it was decided to report a
bill for the appropriation of a sum necessary
to fit out a Greedy relief expedition. The
measure covers the recommendations of Sec
retarieS Lincoln and Chandler providing for
three vessels. The President is authorized tC
fit out the expedition as soon as possible.
The bill was subsequently reported to the
House.
THE Senate confirmed the nomination of
John +. Hazeton, of Wisconsin. to be consul
at Hamilton. Canada, and James Fletcher,
| of Iowa, to be consul at Genoa, Switzerland
THE Senate committee on education agreed
to report the Blair educational bill, which
provides for the aDprorr alton of $4,000, 600
the first year, decreasing in the sum of 81 =
0O0, 900 each year thereafter for ten years.
If any State does not accept the provisions Of
the act, or retain the right to dispose of its
allotment, the same shall become n part OF
the general fund for distribution among the
other Stat IS and Territories. The industrial
arts are to be taught in schools to be eStab
lshed by the provisions of the bill.