The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-01-23

OF interior waterways ami urging the en-
actment Of national bankruptcy law
for uniform operation in all states. This
portion Of the report WAS adopted unanl-
mously.
Mr. Platt, Republican of Connecticut,
member of the finance committee, said
he would suggest the payment OF GUS
toms duties in gold. Mr.. Teller said
that such q plan would destroy the
parity of metals, and it indicated, place
on the finance committee did not neces-
sarily imply knowledge of finance.
There was no reason, MIR. Teller deolard,
for the present financial troubles, but the
wicked financial policy was adhered to
to the extent of running a country into
debt indefinitely
. MIR. Sherman, Republican of Ohio. de-
clared that the whole trouble In the Sem
ate grew out Of desire OF debating the
Old worn issue Of free coinage of silver,
instead of applying the remedy which the
Presldent asked for. aud which the Re-
publican House had oheerfuliy granted,
and which the Republican side of the
Senate chamber was ready, any moment
TO grant, The Republican Senators COM
paint was that this free coinage was
thrust i'll the way OF m measures deemed
Dy the executive department absolutely
necessary to carry on the government
Inc discussion was brought to a close
by the adjournment until. tom orrow.
The President sent to the Senate his
reply to the resolution OF Mr.. Caffrey,
asking what action had been taken in
regard to the payment Of the appropris-
t1on for the bounty on sugar He trans-
mits communication from the Secretary
of the Treasury which contains he says,
all the information he has. The Secre-
tary's letter details the action taken in
the case of the Oxnard Beet Sugar COM
oluit IL n
was sent to the United States court Of
claims for judgement. The Secretary
refers to DEGREES entered against the
United States in two suits for sugar
bounty instituted in Louisiana, and says
that steps are being taken for an imme-
diate prosecution of appeals to the Su-
preme court of the United States, in order
that final and authoritative adjudication
of the questions involved may be had at
the earliest possible date.
IN THE HOUSE.
Two thirds of three hours' session
was occupied in the consideration Of the
Senate joint resolution authorizing the
expenditure of 500, 900 for the employ
ment of outside assistance to the super
vising architect OF the treasury in the
preparation of the plans and specifioa-
tions and supervising of the Chicago
public buildings. In the course of the
debate the conduct of the architects office
was the subject of considerable criticism.
The joint resolution was passed as was
the House bill providing for the appoint
ment of a chaplain at West Point from
civil life.
The message of the President transmit
ting the report of the Secretary Of State
on the matter of the firing by the Santa
Domingo troops upon the American
schooner Henry Crosby, December 10,
1893, was laid before the House and re-
ferred to the committee on foreign
affairs
The President sent the House today,
in answer to resolutions, all correspon-
dence relating to the attack on mombers
of the crew of the American schooner
Henry Crosby of Bangor, Maine, by
troops of the Dominican government on
December 10, 1853. 1t appears from the
documents that she anchored OF the
closed portsof Azua, San Domingo, the
week after the government of the state of
that name WAS assassinated, when the
Crosby was looked on with suspicion as a
vessel designed to carry the assassins out
of the country. A beat was selt ashore
and was warned off.by the soldiers. Mis-
understanding this awarning, the. boat s
crew went nearer until the number Of
soldiers was greatly increased, when the
crew becoming alarmed started to pull
back to the schooner. This excited sus-
picion, and the soldiers fred, wounding
two men.
A memorial of the owners, master and
crew of the vessel claiming indemnity
from San Domingo, was sent tC the State
Department. in April, 1894 in which the
point was made that the schooner was
flying the Stars and Stripes when the at
tack was made. Representations by the
department. resulted in an apology and a
% ,4~ ~
mingo
ACTING Seoretary..Uhl, April 10. 1894,
wrote the memoralisits letter in which
he held that the owners of the vessel
were not entitled to any claim for dam
ages excepting the small amount con-
traoted through a few days delay. 81
am, however, Of the opinion" he said,
that whatever expenses the vessel was
put to, directly on account of the action
Of the soldiers in firing upon 1t. should
properly be reimbursed by the Dominican
government.
The correspondence closes with letter
from Mr. Uhl to Congressman Pitcher,
dated Decent ber g, 1896, in which he says
nothing further has been done in the
caes since his letter Of April 10, 1894, in
which 1t WAS stated that the department.
could not present the claim to the Do
minican government in the shape in
which it was formulated by the memoir
ialists, or present 1t at all, except to the
limited extent indicated in that oom-
munication.
The House at 8 p. m. adjourned.
Washington Gossip.
The House committee on pensions to-
day ordered faoravbly reported the bill
for the relief of the survivors of certain
Indian wars and their widows. The
measure extends to this class the provis-
ions Of the act of July, 1892 which will
give pension of So per month. The ex-
tension of the act will benefit those who
served In the Seminole war of 1915
Fevkre River, Illinois war of 1897, the
Sabine Indian disturbance Of 1885 and
1887, Oayuse Indian war Of 1847, Texas
and New Mexico war of 1S49 and. 1866;
California Indian disturbances of 1851
and 1862; Utah Indian trouble of 1850 to
1853 Oregon and Washington war Of 1851
to 1858.
A private telegram received here states
that the Republican convention held in
the eighth Texas district yesterday elect
ed two Reed delegates to the St. Louis
sThis Isl the third congress
sional district convention thus far held
in Texas at which the delegates elected are
Reed men.