The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-01-17
the NATIONAL CAPITAL.
Secretary Lamar Will Take His Seat
In the Supreme Court.
Senator chandIer's Plan to Make
southern carolinians Vote Fair.
The American Shipping and industrI-
al League In Session.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 16.-The Senate this
afternoon confirmed the nomination of Mr..
Lamar 40 to 2S. 1t also confirmed Villas and
Dickinson.
The Senate spent two and quarter hours
on Mr. Ismar's case. Senators Riddleber-
ger. Stanford and Steward voted with the
Democrats, but all other Republicans voted
or naired against Lamar. All the Democrats
were in his favor The discussion was al
most entirely confined to the Republican
side. The principal speakers were Senators
Fdmunds, Evarts, Cullom, sherman, ALI
son, Hoar, Hawley,. ingalls, Wilson OF Iowa
and RddsbergsFh tne ee Of oppositon s coV
erod the official and political record OF the
nominee his age business habits and legal
qualifications. 1t is understood that no
speeches were made by Democratic senators.
The nomination of Messrs Y las ana Dickln-
inson were at once confirmed.
Interstate Commerce.
The first report of the Interstate Com
merce Commission says that there are now
in the United States 137, 1856 miles Of railroad
owned by 1900 companies, but operated by
about 500 corporations.
The commissioners speak Of the injustice
and mischief oflthe special rates or rebates
to large dealers. The general fact came to
be, they say, that in proportion to the dis
tance they were carried those able to pay the
most paid the least. One without means had
seldom any ground on which to demand
free transportation, while with wealth he
was likely to have many grounds on which
he could make it for the interest Of the rail-
road company to favor him, and he was
sometimes favored with free transportation,
not only for himself and his family, but Tor
business agents also, and even sometimes
for his customers. TIE demand Tor Tree
transportation was often in the nature OF
blaclImail, and was yielded to unwllllngly
and through fair of damaging consequences
from a refusal. But the evils were present
when it was extorted as when 1t was freely
given. - a.
commissioners say: The transc0ntinental
roads have not conformed to general rule OF
fourth section. BY managers of those roads
it is contended that in view OF competltlon
which they must meet, not only OIL ocean YES
sells but of Canadian railways, It VIII De aD-
solutely impossible for them to comply with
the strict rule of fourth section without sur
rendering a very large portion OF thelr
through business, and that such surrender
would be equally ruinious to their own IN
terest and to many other large interests on
the Pacific coast.
Other roads have evaded this sec ton or
only confirmed to it in part. Southern roads
violate the law by refusing certain prlvlleg-
es to the colOred people.
The act under which the commission was
created, has now been IN operation nearly
eight months. One immediate effect was TO
cause inconvenience in many quarters, ana
even yet business of many parts OF the coun-
try is not fully adjusted TO it, Some. carriers
also are not yet in their operations conform
ing in all respects to its spirit and purpose;
Nevertheless the commission feels JUSTIFIED
in saying that operation Of the act has In
general been beneficial, both to the railroads
and the public. The tendency Of rates has
been downward
Some minor changes in the law are recon-
mended.
South Carolina Elections.
A bill was introduced in the Senate today,
by Senator Chandler, to alter the regulations
enacted by the Legislature of South Caroli-
ma, prescribing the times, places and manner
of holding elections for Representatives in
Congress The bill directs the county super
yisors of registration in South Carolina, to
make each July and August before the con-
gressional election, beginning in 1888, new,
full and complete registration Of all the
electors qualified to vote for Representatives
in Congress. If any voting precinct is SO
large that it is more than five miles from the
center to any point thereof, the supervisors
are required to reduce its size. All registra-
ton records shall be public, and the names
of all electors shall he published in one OF
the county newspapers, at the Expense ofthe
county. The Governor of the State is re-
quired, thirty days before each congressional
election, to appoint four commissioners of
election for each county, apportioned equally
among the political parties. The commits.
sioners are, in like manner, to appoint four
managers of election for each precinct
whose duty shall be to conduct the election,
protect the voters and preserve the peace,
and before adjournment declare tne tsn result,
be located at the same place as the state
polling places. All the ballots, to be legal,
shall be distinctively marked by the mana
gers of election. To give all an equal chance
to vote, it is provided that when five MEM
bers of either party cast their votes, oppor-
tunity shall be given to the other political
party to cast five votes. 1t is made mlsde-
meanor for the officers appointed to refuse 10
serve, and made felony for any person TO
attempt to influence an election by fraud or
intimidation, or for the officers of election to
wilfully refuse to register any person or
strike his name from the register, or refuse
a vote to any qualified elector. 1t is further
provided that no elector shall be imprisoned
on election day for refusal to pay his poll tax.
Our Merchant Marine.
The annual convention of the American
Shipping and Industrial League began this
morning at Willard's Hotel 70 delegates be-
ing present. A letter read from Admiral
Porter, who says the motto of the league,
'Don't give up the Ship" opened an issue
more important than the tariff or surplus.
''You come" the letter continues, "for the
purpose of taking measures to revive our
once magnificent ocean commerce and retain
the enormous sum of one hundred and sixty
millions a year, which has passed out of the
country in gold, being taken from the circu-
lating medium to go into the pockets OF for
eigners. The restoration of our mercantile
marine is inseparable from disqualification
of our navy"
Col. S. Witzler, chief of the bureau of sta
tistics, read paper on "The impotency OF
our merchant marine"
Hon. George b. Loring delivered an adj
dress on the relation of the farmer to Amer
lean shipping.
To Protect the Forests.
Senator Hale introduced to-day bill pre-
pared by the American Forestry Congress
to preserve the forests. 1t withdraws from
entry, as forest lands, all the public lands
more valuable for timber than for agrlcul-
ture. institutes the office of commissioner OF
forests and authorizes the appointment OF
four assistant commissioners who are in
structed to form the forest land into forest
res erves and gives power to frame rules and
regulations for the government OF the
reserves, and appoint rangers to see the
rules observed. No forest lands are to be
sold but stumpage may be disposed OF in
the discretion OF the commissioner.
The Nations Gratitude.
Tho folIovine pensions were awarded to
residents of Maine to-day:
IIHuldah, widow of Jos. Abbott. Caribou.
George W., father of George N. Strout, Lewis
ton.
George n Clark, National Military Home.
John W. Elsinmore, Wesley.
Samuel Chang, National Military Home
Notes.
The Senate has confirmed the nomination
of K. S. Bragg as minister to Mexico.
Speaker Carlisle was taken. Ill suddenly
last night with a chill followed by fever and
slight delirium. He afterwards grew better,
but will be unable to preside for some days.
His illness is attributed to oyerwork and q
low state of the system.
Annexation and Universal Peace.
uA1EAx Ian 16-Jeffrey Mccall a