The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-03-12
WASHINGTON.
The DanviIIe Massacre.

WASHINGTON, March 1.-THE cross. .exami-
nation of Col. W. e. Sims by Senator Vance
In the DSnville investigation this morning
was long one but much of it was repetition
and elaboration of points already brought out.
In respect to the witnesses Danville speech
be admitted that he incidentally called
them (sgners of the circular) liars and incl
dentally called them cowards," but did not
apply these epithets to the signers individually
by name. Witness read over the names Of
the sig1ers of the Danville circular and gave
his opinion that the majority were fairly hon.
orable men in the ordinary meaning of the.
term, but they thought in accordance with the
current sentiment they were doing Gods SER
vice In preventing the negroes from voting
Ii churchmen this was part of their creed.
They would even lie for political ends, doing
evil that good might come"
Am Important Point Decided.
The Secretary Of the Treasury has rendered
his decision sustaining the views of Represen-
tatiVe Dingley, with reference to the owner
ship of an American vessel by an incorporated
company. He holds that under the act OF
1925, as amended in 1858, an alien may be
shareholder in such company without for
feiting the American character of the vessel,
and he diSmisses the petition of the old tug
company that proceedings may be instituted
against the new tug company because some of
the shares of its stock are held by aliens.
Southern FIoO&s.
NEW ORLEANS, March 11.--A Vicksburg de-
spaich states that all the lands from Williams
Landing down to Falsonia, a distance of go
miles, are under water and there seems to be
no doubt that the greater portions of Yazoo
Sharkey, Sunfiower, Bolivar and Coahama
counties, and large portion of Issaquina
county will be overflowed.
CHATTANOOGA, Temp, March IL. The river
reached 43 feet this morning, but is now fall
ing. This is the highest mark reached in nine
years. About $50 families have their homes
xfatt,A kr.N
is light Nearly all the farms are inundated
this section, and the loss will be heavy.
Mr. DingIeys Piloiage Bill.
Representative Dingley OF the shipping COM
mittee this morning presented the majority
report of that committee in favor of his pilot
age bill. The bill provides for the examina-
tion and licensing by United States local in
spectors of masters or mates of American sail
ing vessels to pilot their own vessels and ex
empts from State pilots fees all vessels towed
in or out of barbor by towboat over the
charge of a United States pilot. The report
discusses very fully the whole question of pi-
lotage. Representative Hunt of Louisiana
will present a minority report, recommending
no legislation on the part of Congress.
The Mexican Treaty.
After four honrs consideration today the
Senate ratified the Mexican treaty by II to 20.
The division is believed to have been as fol-
lows:
Yeas-Allison, Bayard, Beck, Blair, Bowen,
Camden, Cameron, Cockerel, Coke, Cullom,
Dawes, Dolph, Edmunds, Fair, Farley, Frye,
George, Groome, Harris, Harrison, Hill, Hoar,
ingalls,, jackson, Lamar, Logan, Mcmillan,
Mcpherson, Mandersop, Maxey, Miller Of
California, Miller of New York, Morgan,
Pike, Pugh, Sabin, Salisbury, Slater, Vest,
Wison,-41.
Nays-Aldrich Brown, Call, Conger, Glib
son, German, Hampton, Hawley, Jonas,
Jones, Kenna, Malone, Michael, Morrill,,
Palmer, Platt Sewell, Shell, Vance, Will
liams,-20.
Miscellaneous.
The vacancy caused by the death of Ken
meth Rayner, late solicitor of the Treasury,
will probably be filled by the promotion of AS
sistant Solicitor Robinson.