The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-01-26
WASHINGTON.
Changing Positions.

Changing Positions.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 25.-B, the consent of
the Speaker of the House of Represent atives,
MIR. w. w. Eaton of Connecticut, member of
the committee on naval affairs, TODAY changed
places with George d. w isa of Virginia, mem
Der OF the committee on foreign affairs. The
change WAS made at the request of Mr.. Eaton,
who expressed desire to Ds connected with
the committe on foreign affairs because OF his
former connection with committees having in
charge subjects pertaining TO forsisn countries.
Invalid Pensions.
The House committee on invalid pension to-
day adopted the following resolutions:
Ii is the sense of his committee that when
eyerer the government had enlisted soldier
and accepted his services, that soldier should
not be required. In order to obtain pension
to prove he was souEd and in good health
when he enlisted, aud that the government
should be st tppped from settling up that oisa-
bi1ty which existed prior to enlistment The
committee will report bill embodying the
sense of the resolution at an early day.
Inspection of steum Vessels.
Tne board OF supervising inspectors OF steam
boats today adopted an amendment to the
rules prohibiting all persons on passenger
steamboats,, excent the proper officers of the
boat and officers of the inspection service frcm
entering the pilot houses while the boats are
under way. The board has decided to meet in
Bost n, Mass, on Feb. 4th, for the puroos5
making practical test of all spring load,
safety valves heretofore approved by tn
board, aud to rate their efficiency as com pared
with the common lever safety valve now in
use on steam vessels.
Postal Matters.
The House committee post offices and
post routes todas sEagr.ed to report favorably on
Re ,resentstive Mones 3 bill fixing the rate of
postage on second class publications deposited
in letter carrier offices at two cents per pound.
Augusta Post Office.
Mr.. MIiliken from the committee ou public
buildings, has made favorable report for a
public building in Augusta, Maine, 1t calls
for $3.50 600. The committee approved it
unanimously. Mr. MitlikeD showed that che
Augusta post office is the seventh in the coup-
try in the amount of business done, and wi h.
out more ado the recommendation was ordered
The Marriage of Fred Douglass.
Hon. Frederick Douglass was married at
the Congregational church at 6 last evening to
Miss Helen Nj. Pitts. The ceremony was per-
formed in the presence of two witnesses. Mr..
Douglass wore a full suit of black, and his
bride costume of garnet velvet and silk
Tndy returned to the lsdy's late residence, and
then proceeded to Mr.. Douglass's country
house in Uoiontown. No one outside OF the
parties Immediately concerned seems to have
known anything about the event before it oc-
Cured, Mr.. Dougiass's faulty being as poorly
Informed as that of the bride. Miss Pitts has
been for some eighteen months clerk or
copyist in MIR. Douelass's office of Recorder OF
Deeds for the district, and he has during
large nart OF that time paid her marked atten-
ton, but no one acquainted with either be-
eved that marriage would result though
the bridegroom has remarked to several lately
that he contem plated remarrying. The lady
Is prominent member of the woman's suf-
frage party, and has been associated with Mrs.
DR.. Winslow in tha conduct of paper called
the Alpha. She was originally from Avon,
N. Y, and is described as of handsome
face and figure, with black hair aud eyes and
about thirty-fve years of age Her family
= ter Hx,oha .o.A
fact of her employment among colored
people and the friendship that existed between
her employer and herself Mr.. Douglass is 65
years of age.
Control of the Sandwich Islands.
The Senate foreign affairs commit 'ee, Sena-
tors Sherman and Brown alone dissen ing, has
reported that our recpi octy treaty with Ha-
waii must be maintained. Their strongest ar
gumeLts are that we must not lose our control
of The Sandwich Islands. They show that the
islands are the key to the North Pacific, and
ths only coaling station within 1000 miles of
our shores. In no Case can any foreign power
be allowed to gain the supremacy which we
now enjoy, as the committee says: "The is
lands are east of the meridian which touches
The northern shore of Alaska, and may be
said to be properly within the physical and
political geography of the United States.
Whether in an honorable and peaceful rivalry
for the commerce of the countries bordering on
the Pacific ocean, or in the protection of our
commerce in case of war with any great power
oar relations with Hawaii, consistently with
its Independence and autonomy, could not ba-
come too intimate for our welfare" These
words have a meaning. The local government
OF the Sandwish islands Ia crumbling to pieces.
Before mauy years some power must step in
and establish formal protec;orate. Our gov
eminent intends that this country shall do it,
aud thus set its dag against the English
possessions in the East
The Greely Relief Bill.
4. ID
House committee on appropriations today to
insist upon the accep' ance of the Greely relief
bill, as passed by the House. The Sena q
passed he measure with amendment pro-
viding thai it should NOS be made compulsory
upon any Gficer to accompany the expedition.
The matter will be adjusted in the conference
committee.
Ben. PerIey- Poore Seriously Ill.,
Major Ben. Perley Poore, the well known
correspondent, is seriously. though not dagger
ously, i'll. He sleeps much of the time.
Contested Election Gases.
There are thirteen COZ t-stsd cases before the
election committee of tho House. The records
of bat two have been priuted and referred to a
sab committee. o. the contests, Virgins has
| three; Ohio two; Kansas, Ala hama, Iowa, IT,
| diana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina,
| New Mexico and Montana, each one.
Educational Matters.
The Senate committee on education today
q
| catioDal bill which is to be modified so that
| funds shall be distributed through stat author
| tiles.
Miscellaneous,
| At meeting of the House committee on
naval affairs today, MIR. Talbot gave notice
| tDat Tuesday next he would favorably report
4 bill providing for the reinstatement Of cadets
| and engineers legislated out of office by the
| naval appropriation act Of June 20th 1882.
| Mr.. Thomas was authorized to report a bill
| urnVidinC for the ahOIi Ii<hm of fha
| known as junior ensign.
| The Mcpherson bill, which has been favora-
| bly, reported to the Senate, provides that upon
| deposit of bonds as required by law, any bank
| ing association shall be entitled to receive from
| the comptroller of the currency, circulating
| notes not exceeding in amount the par value
| Of the bonds deposited.
| The term of Office of medical director P. s.
| Walls as surgeon general of the navy exoires
| tomorrow, and n Notwithstanding the strong ia-
fiuence for his reappointment it is generally
believed medical director II. M. Grinuell will
| be his successor.