The Portland daily press., 1886-07-26
FROM WASHINGTON.
Secretary Bayard's Report to the
United States Senate.
The Work of the Present Week In
Congress Outlined.
A Fair Prospect that Congress viii
Adjourn This Week.
Especial to the Pressl


| WASHINGTON, July 25.-This will be tn
last week of the session unless the Senat
enters on a long debate upon the Morrison
| surplus resolution. The finance committe
| of that body has practically decided to repor
| the resolution amended by proviso that tn
surplus shall be kept at $135,OOO,OOO. 1t
| consideration may call forth a lengthy dis
| cussion upon the general financial policy Of
the administration but as the appropriation
bills will be disposed of early in the week
it is doubtful if the Senate will devote mucl
| time to debate on the measure. which it il
| generally conceded the President will veto
The week will be devoted to conferences
| upon matters in dispute between the two
houses, and a general winding up of the odds
| and ends of legislation.
| The conference committee on the river an(
harbor bill held long meeting yesterday
| but failed to reach an agreement. 1t is moi
| believed that the bill can become a law.
| The bill for the increase Of the navy was
considered in the House Saturday, but nc
| vote was reached. Representative Boutelle
made strong plea for liberal appropria-
tion, but the substitute for the bill as origin
ally reported by the committee on naval
affairs, cutting down amounts to be ex-
pended to three and half millions, is likely
to be adopted.
WASHINGTON, d. c., July 24.-The Presi-
dent to-day transmitted to the Senate re-
port from Secretary Bayard. made in COM
pliance with the Senate resolution respecting
the seizure of American fishermen "In-
stantly, upon receiving authentic informa.
tion, writes the secretary, "of the alleged
seizure from the owners of the vessels OF
their agents, or from the consular officers OF
the United States in Canada, this depart
ment gave instructions to the consular Off
GERS to make full and complete investigation
of the facts in each case, and wherever any
infraction of treaty right or of commercial
rights and privileges of citizens OF the United
States appeared to have occurred, represen-
tation was promptly made to her Britannia
majesty's minister at this capital, calling for
redress, and notification given of demand
for compensation for all loss and injury to
the vessels in question and their owners. In
order properly to assert and MAINTAIN the
rights of our citizens and our international
rights under conventions, and by the law of
nations which might be brought in question
by these proceedings and by the action of the
Canadian government, the professional ser
vices of two gentlemen learned in the law.
Mr.. George W. Biddle of the city of Phila-
delphia and Mr.. William /. Putnam of the
city of Portland, Me-, were retained by the
executive, and since the 20th of May last
these gentlemen have bestowed their careful
consideration upon the circumstances and
the law in connection Herewith in each case.
Proceedings have been commenced in the
vice-admiralty court at Halifax, N. S., in the
name of Her Majesty the Queen as plaintiff
against the schooner David j. Adams and
the schooner Ella M. Doughty, in both of
which cases the complaint is substantially
the same. A copy is herewith appended of
the complaint, signed by the Solicitor for the
attorney-general of the Dominion of Canada,
against the Ella M. Doughty, which sets
forth at length the alleged grounds for the
seizure and detention of that vessel. Con-
current with these events correspondence
has begun, and is still proceeding between
this department and the British minister at
the capital, and also between the minister of
the United States in London and the foreign
office of her Britannia majesty's government,
to obtain suitable recognition and enforce
ment of our rights under treaty and interna-
tional law and the laws and commercial US
ages of both countries which are brought in
question by the action of the Canadian au-
thorities in making seizures and detentions
of American fishing vessels herein referred
to and described. Upon.this corresponding,
which it is believed must soon terminate in
amicable settlement, mutually, just and hon
orable, and therefore satisfactory to both
countries and their inhabitants, the under
signed is unable to recommend the President
to communicate its contents in its present in
complete status. believing that to do so
would not be compatible with the public in
terests as connected with the transactions re-
ferred TO-, Signed