The Portland daily press., 1886-12-10
FROM WASHINGTON.
sc1
The ES f oass the Bill Abolish.
ing c. aIsory Piiotage.
Free Ship Advocates Making a pes-
perate Fight.
Cleveland Thinks He Can Garry the
Country Without the Aid of
New York.
The President Reported to be Much
Better.
Especial to the PRrss.1

Especial to the PREss.l
WASHINGTON, Dec GA strong effort
will be made at this session to secure the
passage of the bill abolishing compulsory
pilotage. The shipping committee stands
well down towards the bottom of the list OF
committees, and it is possible it may not be
reached at all this session. Mr.. Dingley,
however, will endeayor to have it reached
by objecting to the dispensing of the hour
for the call of committees for reports each
day, motion for which is often made. The
friends Of the bill are not very sanguine OF
success in their efforts to secure its passage,
as canvass made last summer showed a
small majority against it, and its opponents,
especially among the New York pilots, are
very active against it. No efforts will be
spared, however, to secures sufficient change
OF votes to secure its passage 1t will not
be reached at any rate before the middle OF
last of January.
Pensions Granted.
The following pensions have been allowed
at the Pension Office to the following Maine
claimants:
Harry Thompson, North Searsmont, re-
issue.
Randall c. Haycock. Cherryfeld; Ira j.
Page, Dexter; Jacob Keene, North Turner
Martin Welch, Togus; and Henry A. j.
Rolfe, East Rumford; original claims.
The Free Ship Bill.
1t is announced that Mr.. Dunn and the ad-
yocates of the free ship bill Will not attempt
to call it up until after the Christmas holi-
days, although it is a special and can be
called up at any time. They are quite conf
dent Of their ability to secure Its passage
through the House. 1t will not be accom-
plished, however, without hard fight against
it by the Republicans. 1t will depend upon
the votes of some Democrats, who, at the last
session. were inclined to oppose it, but who m
Mr.. Dunn thinks have been brought round
to its support. Its defeat in the Senate is
conceded by all. The Republicans will SOL
idly oppose it.
A Belief of MIR. Cleveland.
Cleveland is credited with the belief that
he can carry the country without New York.
a Democratic Senator who recently talked
with him, is quoted as saying this: ''Mr.
cleveland has returned from the Hary ard
Commencement ana declared that he believ-
Ou HC SOul6 CdlIy ludSSdtuuSetlS, New DamD-
snlre and Connecticut, of the New England
States; Maine as against any one but Blaine.
and enough States in the Northwest-M
gan, Wisconsin and Minnesota, possibly-to
carry the. election, with the aid of the solid
South, without New York.
The Benton Case.
The President has said that he shall do
nothing more in the Benton case, and that he
does not believe the reports as to his speeches
The President Much Better.
The President was very much better to-
day. He presided at the Cabinet meeting as
usual, and received several callers on official
business
The Sundry Civil Bill.
The. sundry civil appropriation bill pro-
yides for an appropriation of $19 1874, 112. The
estimates called for S31, $4,000. The appro-
priation for the current year was S22, ,661 ,910