The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-12-17
FROM WASHINGTON.
The Bath Committee Hopeful About
the Free Ship Bill.
More Star Mail Route Service Estab
llshed In Maine.
Senator Frye Thinks Commissioner
Morton's Nomination Will be
Confirmed.
Minister Manning's Appointment Not
Yet Sent to the Senate. q
Especial to the Press. ]

loPcOhi W tnc IEcsS.l
WASHINGTON, Dec 16-Collector Torrey
Of Bath arrived here today, and has been
actively engaged with the rest of the Bath
committee against the free ship bill. They
will leave for home tomorrow, well satisfied
that the bill cannot be considered before the
Christmas holidays, and confident that il
Will be ultimately defeated Mr. Morrison Is
quoted as saying he considered 1t hardly
probable that the bill can pass, although he
favored 1t himself. Quite a number Of Dem
ocrats from the Southern States have given
assurance that they viii vote against it, The
Bath committee are well pleased with the
lookout. Mr.. Dingley is in constant receipt
Of kilograms and letters from prominent ship
owners and boards Of trade throughout the
country protesting against the bill.
The House today passed with amendments
Senator Dawes's bill for the allotment of
lands in severalty to Indians. The amend
ment proposed by the House committee at
the last session, requiring the consent of a
majority OF the Indians before the bill be-
came operative in the opinion Of
Senator Dawes would render the bill use
less-has been modified, and the other
amendments are Of such nature that Sem
ator Dawes thinks there win be little diff
Guilty in arriving at satisfactory settlement
In conference, so that the bill will undoubt-
edly become law at an early date.
The following Star service has been estab-
lished in Maine
Route 465-West Oldtown to Upper Saltwater
seven miles, and back, three times a week from
January lst, 1887, to june 30th, 1887.
Henry Penniman has been commissioned
postmaster at Winthrop, Me.
The following pensions were granted today:
stephen H. Foster, Danforth.
Howard Burgess, Canaan.
The following have been granted an in
crease of pension
Chas. W. Hun, Strong
Kennedy smith, New Sharon
Albert o. Baker, Yarmouth.
Collector Leavitt of Eastport is here look
ing after his confirmation.
The Army Appropriation Bill.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 16.-The House COM
mittee on military affairs today completed
the army appropriation bill, and the measure
will be reported to the House tomorrow. 1t
makes a total appropriation Of So, ,557, ,238.
Estimates for service aggregates S25, ,524, ,597.
ana the appropriation for the current wear
was S23, ,794, ,001.
a Proposed Constitutional Amend
nent.
The constitutional amendment introduced
by Senator Van Wyck today provides for the
election of United States Senators by the
people OF the several States, by qualified
electors thereof, whose qualifications shall
be those requisite for electors Of the most
numerous branch Of the State Legislature.
A Tribute to Hancock.
E-s1 l..
have as tribute to his memory raised money
enough to purchase home for his widow.
The committee having the matter in charge
has decided, after consultation with Mrs
Hancock, to buy house here, where she
will hereafter make her home.
Two Nominations.
The President has nominated Commodores
Walker N. Queen and Ralph Chandler to be
Rear Admirals.
Commissioner Morton.
Senator Frye says the confirmation Of Mr..
Morton to be Commissioner Of Navigation
VIII depend upon the reports received from
the shipowneIs along the coast of Maine, the
majority OF whom are Democrats num-
Der Of these gentlemen have been communi-
Gated with land asked to furnish Senator
Frye Their wishes in the matter. Mr.. Frye
believes, however, that no opposition will be
manifested. He has already heard from
Arthur Sewall, one of the largest ship own
ers in Maine, and that gentleman heartily
approves Of Mr.. Morton's nomination.
Payment on the Four Per Cents.
The Secretary of the Treasury has directed
the payment, without rebate, OF the interest
due January l. 1887, on United States pc.
cent. bonds of the loan of 1907, amounting to
about $4,000, 600, and also the interest on the
bonds issued to the Pacific Railroad Com
pany, upon the presentation Of the coupon
and interest checks at the Treasury at Wash
ington or at any OF the Sob s,freasuries
Checks for registered interest will be mailed
to bondholders as soon as prepared.
Two Appointments In Suspense.
The President has not yet sent to the
Senate the nomination of Manning to be
Minister to Mexico, or of Matthews to be
Recorder for the District, and it Is still in
sisted that he will send neither. These state
ments are, however, necessarily speculative
as the President keeps his own counsel The
most thorough inquiries made at the State
Department and the White House fail to
elicit any information. Secretary Bayard
says he knows nothing about the Presidents s
intentions. Mannings friends in the Senate
expect that his nomination will be sent in
II Matthews should be renominated, his re-
lection would undoubtedly speedily follow.