The Somerset reporter., 1886-02-10
GEO. CUSHING,
81 water ST.
AT WASHINGTON.

The FitZ John Porter case will bt
brought before the House on the llth and
a vote taken on the 18th.
The report that Attorney General Gar.
land is likely to leave the Cabinet on &C.
count of the telephone scandal is discred
tied in Washington.
A bill will be reported fayorably to
Congress authorizing the President to APP
point two regiments of volunteer cavalry
to serve for twelve months, if not sooner
disbanded, against the hostile Indians In
Arizona and New Mexico.
| The minority report which Mr.. Ranney
made from the Judiciary Committee to
pay back the war payments of the States
would give Massachusetts $1,000, 1874
Maine 1857, 7o2 New Hampshire Sls5 ,645
Vermont Sl79,407, Rhode Island 500 ,419.
Senator Edmunds is contemplating a
proposition that any person who intends
to participate in the Territorial govern
ment of Utah shall be required to take a
test oath. This oath is one of allegiance
to the United States government as OPP
posed to the institutions of Mormonism.
Mr.. Dingley succeeded in passing his
Shipping bill in the House. The bill is
considered very important one to the
shipping interests. The most important
section is the first one, relating to fees.
1t abolishes from July l., 1886, the greater
portion of fees to customs officers and
commission for tonnage, enrolment,
oaths, etc. This section will lift large
burden from commerce.
Certain employees of the Treasury
classed as "laborers' were found to be
laboring at their desks when Assistant
Secretary Smith was seeking for a force
of able bodied snow shovelers to clear off
the sidewalks. They were thereupon i'm
pressed and set to work at the shovel. 1t
is said that these gentlemen wore CLASH
fled as laborers to avoid a civil service ex-
animation, which is not required of can
didatcs for the place of laborer.
The Senate has passed Mr.. Sewall's bill
for an annual appropriation of 5000, 000
for the purpose of presiding arms, ord
nance stores, quartermaster's stores and
camp cquipage for tho militia of the va
rious States and Territories. 1t is pro-
vided, however, that no State shall re-
ceiye its share of the appropriation unless
its militia force numbers at least one
hundred men for each Senator and Rep
gesentative to which it is entitled in Con:
rress.
According to Washington special a
prominent Senator recently said: "Never
have we been called upon to investigate
criminal charges and penitentiary records
in connection with nominations pending
in the Senate as often as now. 1t is no
eXaggeration to say that we handle two
or three cases of this kind every week.
Among the lesser Postmasters it Is like
an epidemic. Here is man who is ac-
cused of having stolen $1,000 there an
other who has served ten days in Jail
Senator Blair, from the Committee on
Education and Labor, repoi ted favorably
Senator Frye's bill to provide for the APP
pointment by the President of a commits
sion of five persons to investigate the al
coholic liquor traffic. 1t provides that
the members of the commission shall be
selected solely with reference to personal
fitness and capacity for an honest, impair
tial and thorough investigation. 1t stip-
ulates that all of them shall not be advo-
Gates of prohibitory legislation or of to-
tai abstinence, and that they shall serve
without salary. Their duty shall be to
investigate the alcoholic liquor traffic, its
relations to revenue and taxation, and its
general economic, criminal, moral and
scientific aspects IN connection with pau
perism, crime, social value, the public
health and general welfare of the people.
Senator Hale has introduced bills to
provide for tue deposit of savings OF sea-
men 10 the navy; to authorize the secre
tary OF the navy to provide libraries for
the use Of the crews Of vessels of war
and to authorize the granting Of an outfit
Of clothing TO enlisted men Of the navy.
A Washington special to the Boston
Herald states that E. 8. Kimball Of
Thomaston has been selected as the next
United States marshal Of Maine. The in.
cumbsut's term expires In = few dsys,
but It u probable that NO appointment
will DO made until the Senate begins to
make cOnnrmstions again.