The Portland daily press., 1896-01-22

o.
case of Campbell against H. G. Miner
from the ninth New York district in fav-
or of Miner, the sitting mem ber The re-
port was unanlomous
The House went into committee of the
whole to consider the urgent deficiency
bill. A brief general debate ensued upon
the subject of the fee system in paying
officials of the United States courts and
the necessityf for it's reformation If not
aboliShment.
Mr.. Swanson, Democrat of Virginia,
stated that in the last fiscal year, nearly
IL 900 persons had been brought into
court who ought not to have been there,
imposing an unnecessary expense Of So, :
600, 900 upon the government.
Mr.. Lacey Republican of Iowa, discus
sed the necessity for reform of the fee
some striking figures. Some evil could be
cured. he said, if the Judges of courts
would dismiss, as they had the power to
do the offending officials.
The consideration of the bill having
been concluded. several unimportant
amendments and one appropriatin $4,000
for the survey of the Chippawa Indians
lands being added. the committee rose
and the bill as amended Was passed. The
House then adjourned.
Washington Gossip.
Mr.. Cannon, chairman Of the House
committee on appropriations, in his re-
port on the urgency deficiency bill now
pending before the House calls attention
to the enormous expenses entailed by the
fee system of paying United States com.
missioners, marshals, district attorneys
and clerks. The abuses of Justice perpe-
trated under this system have been CON
demned by overy attorney general sinc
1878. but each Congress when appealed to
has declined to apply the remedy by es-
tablishing a sl stem of fixed salaries.
Chairman Cannon states that the def
cheney for expenses Of United States
courts for the current year amounts to
over three million dollars, Indicating a
growth of expense in this branch of the
service of over one hundred per cent.
The report adds that these expen Ii
lures are abnormal, and some reform in
the law should be instituted, but under
the rules of the House the committee has
no power in the premises, otLer than to
recommend the appropriations necessary
to meet the demands Of this branch of
the public service as they arise under
existing law.
The House Judiciary committee today,
considered the Boatner resolution, which
recites the action of the comptroller of
the treasury, in refusing to oountersign
warrants in payment OF money appropri
ated for sugar bounty, as far as earned,
and directing the judiciary committee
to report to the House whether this ac-
tion was justified under the provisions
of any statue, and whether any such
power could be lodged in any executive
money appropriated, on the ground that
the law or appropriation is unconstitu-
itonal, also what action should be taken
by Congress to vindictste it's authority.
After some discussion the substitute
prepared by Mr.. Ray of New York, was
adopted, which gives the Judiciary COM
mittee, authority to inquire as to the
condition of the law on the subject of the
rights of the executive officers of the
government III the several departments
thereof, to refuse to enforce, execute or
comply with the provisions of any act of
Congress, on the gorund of it's alleged
uncosntitutionality, or for other reasons
and to report to the House bill or other
wise.
The cabled announcement that Sails
bury's notice presented to the govern
meDt at Rio Janeiro, demanded that
Brazil should accept arbitration to decide
the ownership of the island of Trinadad,
before January IL, in default of which
the island should be considered belonging
to Great Britain, has caused serious
comment here 1t is not diminished by
the report that Brazil has refused the
proposal and has demanded that Great
Britain should restore the island to Bra
Zil Nor was the situation rendered less
acute by the news from Buenos Ayres,
that the. Argentine government has can
celled the English Gable companys con-
cessiOns, and made a common cause with
Brazil. Tt is learned from number of
the Dip llomatic corps, who has the conf
dence OF South American representatives,
that the Argentine action in cancelIinQ
the English Gable company's concession
is due to President Cleveland's message.
and has inspired by that hope that the
United States will recognize the right of
Argentine to the Falkland islands. focri-
bly, taken by Great Britain with the ac-
quescence of the United States subse-
quent to the Monroe doctrine enuncia-
zion. The islands were owned and set
tied by Spain, and thus became. part of
Argentine. Argentine protested when
they were seized by England, and has
adhered to it's claim to the territory.
The treasury gold reserve is now re-
duced to $51, ,O00, 900. Since the COM
menoement of the present fiscal year,
July /, 1885, the treasury has lost $S9,-
622, 600 gold, since January l, 1895, $145,- :
600, 900.
Maine Pensions.
Washington. January 21.-The follow
ing Maine pensions have been granted:
ADDITIONAL.
Michael Cash, Togus
INCREASE.
Thomas B. Smith, Brownville; George
E. Crosby, Orland; Elijah 5. Smith.
Bradford; William G. Hatch, South
Windsor.
REISSUE.
John Heard, Carmel.
ORIGINAL, WIDOWS. ETC.
Rebecca W. Linnell, mother. West
Levant.
Son of President Tyler Dying.
Washington, January 2l.-John Tyler,
eldest son of President Tyler, is lying at
the point of death at his home IN this
city. He is 80 years old and for the past
nine years has been partially paralyzed.
Maine Patents.
Washington, January 21.-Patents have
been aagranted the following Maine men:
L. Dyer, Millbridge. Me-, wire solder
machine; fS.a FL. Rodick, Bar Harbor,
Me-, car fender.
The Explorer Found Dead.
Christiana, January 21.-Tbe marty
hat i'm oF