The Portland daily press., 1890-06-16
The PORTLAND COMPANYS CLAIM.
Text Of the Bill In Its Favor Report
ed In the Senate.
Something About Several of the
Prominent Members of Congress.
Mr.. CoWles's Battle Scar-Shirt
Sleeves and Culture.


WASHINGTON, June 15.-The bill for the
relief of the Portland Company. which has
been reported in the Senate, is as follows:
That jurisdiction is hereby conferred upon
the Court of Claims to inquire into and de-
termine how much the steam machinery
built for the United States vessels Agawam
and Pontoosuc, by the Portland Company of
Portland, Maine, under its contracts with
the Navy Department in August, 1862, cost
the said contractor over and above the con-
tract price. and allowances for extra work,
for which payment has been made, and to
Company for the same: Provided, That the
Judgment shall not exceed the sum allowed
by the board convened in pursuance of
resolution of the Senate Of the. United
States, dated March 9th, 1865, of which
Thomas .. Selfridge was the president, the
said allowance being set forth in Senate Ex-
ecutive Document numbered IS, Thirty
ninth Congress, first session. and stated at
$S0,s67.46.
Sec. 2.-That at the hearing or on the trial
of any suit or suits so commenced either
party, plaintiff or defendant, shall have the
right to use before the court any testimony
or documents which may be relative to or
competent upon the issues Joined between
decision, and judgment of the said court
shall be had in the same manner as in all
other cases before the said Court of Claims,
and have the same effect: and that either
party, pldlutiH OT u6l6UuduC, may appeal
from the decision or judgment Of the said
Court of Claims to the Supreme Court of the
United States in the same manner as is now
provided for in other cases.
Congressman khobert r. Hitt of Illinois,
who has served several years in the House
of Representatives, has had little disaffec-
tion in his district, but has succeeded in
composing it. and will undoubtedly be re-
turned to the next House. Mr.. Hit is not
only one of the most useful members of the
House, but Is as we'll one of the most charm
Ing and interesting gentlemen in that body.
this day writes shorthand so readily thai he
uses that method almost continually In such
of his writing as it is not necessary for 9TH
ers to read. AS a shorthand writer Mr.. Hit
ject Of interest whenever his connection
with the work is mentioned. In the days
when Abraham Lincoln was starting out in
Illinois to preach the doctrine. of the perish
ability OF the political house divided against
itself, Mr.. Hitt was starting out in life as
stenographer. AS such he was sent to the
famous debates between Lincoln and Ste
phen A. Douglass, and made the reports of
those debates, which were at the time read
the nation over, and have since been read
considerable service abroad with the diplo-
matte corps, and is recognized authority on
questions relating to foreign affairs As
chairman of the committee on foreign affairs
he is most useful member of the House
Congressman Cowles of North Carolina, is
one of the marked men in the House of Rep
resentatives. He is an ex-Confederate, but
unlike many ex-Confederates. his mark does
not consist of an empty sleeve or trousers
leg. Cowles's mark is dent ON the side of
his shiny bald head. That dent shows
where Union bullet penetrated in one of
the last battles around Petersburg. How
could have TOggh mans
mystery of all who see Congressman COwles.
But that wound Is very valuable to its DOS
SCISSOR, since bullet marks are good political
capital In North Carolina, as were sears Of
as have been scars of war in many other
places since. But one day when the North
Carolinian was showing his scar to an au-
taineers he got tremendous laugh turned
on himself. His competitor was an old
Unionist m0untaineer, of that class of loyal
men who were so numerous and so valuable
to the national government in Western
the war. 1t was a joint debate and Cowles
had just held his head down to the noun
taineers to prove to them bis gallantry by
showing where the bullet went through.
The view was very effective and brought
forth tlattering round of applause. Then
the old Unionist arose. He had perceived
that Cowles's wound was in that part of the
head where the brains are supposed to be,
and he began as follows:
Ladies' and gentlemen, 1t is true that l
can show no such wound as that just dis
played by my opponent. Had ever re-
ceived such wound as that | should not be
here. A bullet through the head would
have hurt me-"
The mountaineers were not so dull as to
miss the point, and all of C0wles's political
capital went into air in tremendous laugh.
Massachusetts, is still the state of Lexing-
ton and Bunker Hill, and she carries herself
proudly in the persons of the Senators and
Representatives whom she sends to Wash
ington. But the other day fellow from the
rank West managed to get in fling at Mas
sachusetts that made the grand old common
wealth the subject of many a quiet laugh.
During the silver debaIe Congressman
Walker, who has survived the bitter faction
al fights In the Worcester district, and still
has not had so much fighting that he cannot
hold his own against all corners, made long
and very vigorous speech. He was inter-
rupted, questioned and applauded until he
got thoroughly warmed up and nerved up.
Then he took his coat off and proceeded to
harangue the house in his shirt sleeves, an
unprecedented performance IN Qlrect ulSODe-
dience OF rule of the House, which DEGREES
that the representatives of the American
people shall keep all their outside garments
on while addressing the House. But the
Speaker happened to be out of the chair, and
the member who was acting as Speaker does
not seem to have recognized the breach of
the rules. So Mr.. Walker continued to lay
down to the House sound financial doctrine
with all the untrammeled vigor of man in
his shirt sleeves. When he had finished his
speech he put his coat on and sat down, once
more the sedate and silver haired and we'll
dressed representative of Massachusetts.
Nothing was said about it until the next
day, when Hatch of Missouri, a Democrat
from the state of the lone gallus" Demo-
Gratis, took occasion to refer to "the exhibit
tion Of Massachusetts culture which we have
lately seen upon this floor" The loud ap-
plause and laughter which followed showed
that the exhibition had been enjoyed.
The Pension List.
WASHINGTON, June Extensions have
been granted to the following Maine peo-