Rensselaer Union, Volume 5, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 February 1873 — General News summary. [ARTICLE]

General News summary.

CONGRESSIONAL. In the Senate, on the 23d, Mr. West Aas appointed to fill a vacancy on tile Committee on Pacific Railroads, and Mr. Ames on the Committee of Commerce. ..A bill passed appropriating $30,000 to the expenses of the investigations in regard to tho elections In Kansas, Louisiana and Arkansas .. Petitions were presented—for the repeal of the Bankrupt law? from soldiers, for the passage of the Bounty Land bi 11.... An amendment to the Appropriation bill, for increasing the pay of members of Congress to SB,OOO, was tabled -31 to 15. In the House, on the 23d, a bill was .passed relieving from taxation all alcohol used for scientific purposes... .-A resolution was passed reciting the allegation that members of the Honse who have been interested with -the Dubuque fc Sioux City—Railroad, which has received a subsidy in lands, had been managed by the Credit-Mobflier, ahd directing that the Select ComintUee, the first Committee appointed (Poland’s), investigate the matter and report what members have been interested with the Dubuque A Sioux City and the Central Pacific Railroads.. - In the Senate, on the 24th, a hill was Introduced to authorize the construction of a pneumatic tube road from New York to Chicago. ... .The Legislative, Executive and Judicial Appropriation hill was taken np, and several amendments were offered and debated relating to the recovery of the interest paid by the United States on the bonds issued for the benefit of the Pacific Railroads. .. .Adjourned to' the 27th. In the House, on the 24th, a report was made from the Committee oil Elections, and adopted, that neither DeLarge nor Bowen, is entltlcd to a seat as Representative from South Carolina... .A large number off bills relating to the District of Columbia were passed. In the House, on the 25th, several reand private bills of no public interest were disposed 0f.... The President was requested to furnish Information concerning the occupation by British subjects of land-in San Juan Island, or other islands acquired under the recent award, and whether legislation on the subject is necessary. —- In the Senate, on the 27th, among the bills introduced were—relating to navigable streams; appropriating $2,000,000 for the promotion of education in the Southern States....A bill wasjeportod from the Committee on Commerce authorizing the Secretary of War, In the name of the United States, to receive from the State of Michigan all the latter’s right and title to the St. Mary’s Falls Canal, the bill not to take effect until the tolls received Bhall have reimbursed the State for expenditures or liabilities incurred on account of said canal ...A bill was passed to require the National Banks to restore their capital when impaired, and to amend the National Currency act.... The Legislative Appropriation bHI was taken np. and an amendment was adopted directing the Secretary of the Trcasnry to withhold all payments from any railroad company, or its assignees, on account of fretght or transportation of any kind over their respective roads to the amount of the payments made by the United States of the interest upon the bonds of the United States issued to any such company, which shall not have been reimbursed, together with five percent, of the net earnings due and unpaid, as provided by law, and providing that such company may bring suit by which the right to recover shall he determined. In the House, on the 27th, among the hills introduced were—authorizing the construction of a railroad at La Crosse, Wis.; for the enlargement of the James River and Kanawha 'Canal: for the appointment by the President of three Commissioners to Inquire into the general management of railroads engaged in transportation between the several States.... Bills were Sassed— declaring the meaning of the amendatory ankrupt act of Jnnc 8 to be to exempt from judgment against bankrupts the amount allowed by the Constitution of each State respectively, as existing in the year 1871; granting the right of way over the public lands and territories to railroads, cxccptover the military and Indian reservations; Senate amendments to the llonse bill abolishing the franking privilege—l 33 to 48. lii the Senate, oil the 28th, the VicePresident, In a few remarks relating to the CredltMobtlier Investigation, requested that a committee of Senators, a jpajority of which should be politically ojtpeeeS" to him, be appointed, to make a most thorough and exhaustive investigation into the charges against the Vice-President, with authority to send for persons and papers. Mr. Pratt, of Indiana, moved the appointment of such committee, in accordance with tho wish of the Vice-President, and took occasion to say that, having known the Vice-President from liis youth, he had the most perfect confidence in his truth, his integrity and his honor; it would require a great deal more evidence than he had seen or heard to convince the people of the State of Indiana that he, the Vice-President, is a dishonest or dishonorable man. Mr. Thurman argned against the appointment of the committee on the ground that the Vice-President was not a member of the Senate, and that body had no power over him tq expel or censure him. “If he has been guilty of anything that subjects him to punishment, it Is by impeachment, and that can only originate in tho llonse of Representatives. If evidence is produced that satisfies the House of Representatives that he ought to bo impeached, it Is the duty of the llonse to impoach him, and It is the duty of the Senate not to form any opinion as to his guilt or innocence until the evidence is produced, and we are called upon as judges- to deliver our verdict. We cannot enter into an investigation of his conduct, and forestall the judgment.” The question as to the appointment of the proposed committee was then put and lost, Mr. Pratt alone voting In the affirmative... .The amendments of the House to the Vienna Exposition bill were concurred In . Bills were introduced—repealing the act of June 4, 1572, regulating the construction of bridges across the Mississippi River; amendatory of the act Of April 1, 1872, authorizing the construction of a bridge at Clinton. lowa, and other bridges across thi* Mississippi .The Legislative Appropriation bill was taken'up aitd an amendment was agreed to requiring that no judgment of the Court of Claims shall he paid, except to persons whose loyalty has been proved. Other amendments were disposed of, one to raise the salaries of Congressmen to $7,000 being tabled.

In the House, on the 28th, the Senate amendments to the Indian Appropriation bill were disposed of, and a Committee of Conference was appointed on disagreeing votes The bill for the admission of Colorado was debated . The death of Julius S. Strong, late Representative from Connecticut, was formally announced and eulogies were delivered. In the Senate, on the 29th, a bill was reported to amend the fifth section of the Mining act of May 10,1871, bo that the time of the first annual expenditure on claims located prior to the Sassage of said act shall he extended to the Ist of 'ecember, 1573... The Secretary of War was directed m Inquire into the expediency of enlisting a company of Indian scouts to serve against the Modocs... .The Legislative Appropriation bill was further considered, and several amendments were disposed of: one (adopted! further reducing the clerical force in the Poet-Offlcc Department. In the House, on the 29th, a bill for the adniissien of Colorado as a Stale was, after an animated discussion, tabled—ll 7to 6... .The Committee on the Florida Contested Election Case reported that Niblack, the contestant, was entitled to a scat, which report was agreed to, and Niblack was (worn tn .. A report was made by the Chairman of the Select Committee on the l nlon Pacific Railroad and Credit-Mobilter Investigation, that a witaess, who had been called before the Commit--1 e«, Joseph B. Stewart, of Washington,- bad refused to answer certain questions as to the disposition made by him of a large amount of bonds, which had been given .him in 18*4, for an arrangement of the pending difflcnltiee with other companies. The witness grounded hie refusal on the principle of communications between counsel and client being privileged. A motion was adopted to have Stewart Drought before the Douse forthwith to show cause why he should not be committed to answer for contempt.

THE OLD WOULD. A London dispatch of the 23d'says the emigrant ship Nortbflcet, bound for Australia, with 412x>assengers on beard, was run down in the English Channel on the night of the 22d by an unknown vessel, and only 97 persons were known to have been saved. The London Board of Trade offered a reward of £IOO for the discovery of the vessel which caused the fatal catastrophe. The rinderpest has broken out In Shangbae, China. - Cable dispatches of the 27th announce. that'RuesEla had sent an army across the borders of her possessions in -)si,a Into Turkestan, to puuish the Khan of Khiva, the ruler

of that country, for .hating sold Russian subjects into slavery. England protested, suspecting. Russia’s designs, and it was feared that the controversy would resultTn a war between Russia and England. Tile Indignation excited by what was thought to be the heartiest conduct of the steamer that ran down the North fleet, the other day, In the English Channel, is giving way to quite a different feelibg. It was believed, on the 27th, that the steamer itself sank, with all on board, immediately after the collision. A Royal decree has been promulgated in Italy whereby the State formally takes possession of sixteen convents in Rome. According to a Bombay dispatch received on the2Bth, the Russians, notwithstanding the energetic protest of England against the invasion of Afghanistan, on their expedition to Khiva, had struck the first blow of the campaign by the capture of Fort Hissar, in the suburbs of Cabul, the residence of the Chief or Governor or Cabul, who was taken prisoner and sent to Russia. Cabul is the capital of Northern Afghanistan. A London telegram of the 27th says it “was reported that Russia had proposed establishing a neutral zone, guaranteeing the independence and neutrality of Afghanistan. It was rumored In London, on the 29th that the differences between Great Britain’ and Russia on the Khivan question were increasing, and that tne Governments of France, Austria, Italy, Turkey, Denmark and Sweden had determined to support the British Government in its position. THE NEW WORLD. Goldclosed in New Tork on the 29th at 113%@t14. : Secretary Bontwell has sold the remaining $800,060,000 of the 5 per cent, bonds to a Syndicate of America and foreign bankers on substantially the same terms as to the preceding Syndicate. A Washington dispatch of the 28d says the Spanish Minister had learned direct from Madrid that no dispatches had been communicated to his Government by Minister Sickles wherein the United States insist on the fulfillment of the Spanish promise lor the emancipation of all the slaves in Cuba. Foster, the car-hook murderer, has been sentenced to be hanged March 7. The Greeley National Statue Committee, which met in New York a few days ago, report that $15,000 had been subscribed for the statue to Mr. Greeley’s memory. They needed $40,000, and would take no action until that sum is raised. Contributions of any amount are solicited. The Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention has decided that the State elections be held on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November, and city and township elections on the third Tuesday in February. At Doon on the 23d General John L. Beveridge took the oath of office as Governor of Illinois, and formally took possession of the Executive office, Governor Oglesby’s resignation taking effect at that hour. The new Governor’s first official act was to sign the credentials of Senator Oglesby. The Chicago Journal of the 24th learns “from fruit-growers and others in the St. Joseph fruit region, in Michigan, that a earefui examination of the many peach, apple and pear orchards thereabout sjiows that .neither the trees nor the buds have been killed by the recent cold spells. Similar reports reach us from Southern Illinois.” A bill passed the Kentucky Senate on the 24th prohibiting the sale of liquor on Sunday. A'Washington dispatch of the 25th says Senator Sumner was still quite feeble, and it was doubtful if he would appear in his seat in the Senate again this session. His attending physician visits him twice daily, his last call being at ten o’clock in the evening, when he injects morphine into the Senator’s arm to enable him to sleep. The Secretary oi the Treasury has informed inquirers that the terms with the Syndicate are the same as heretofore, with the addition that the financial parties have agreed to insure the Department, against loss in exchange. The arrangement will go into effect on the 26th of February. Indictments were fonnd by the Grand Jury of the United States District Conrt in session in Albany, N. Y., on the 2oth, against Susan B. Anthony and fifteen other ladies, charging them with voting illegally in Rochester. They are to appear before the Court in that city in May next. Indictments were-also found against the three Inspectors who received their votes. A dispatch from Jefferson City, Mo., on the 26th, says the Senatorial Bribery Committee would report on the 29th, and would exonerate all the Senatorial aspirants except General Dorris, and would state further that no member of the General Assembly received any money for votes.

The lowa House of Representatives has parsed a resolution —03 to 23—directing the Governor to telegraph to the President of the United States the earnest desire of the General Assembly that he would interpose his veto to the bill, recently passed by the United States House of Representatives, making or confirming additional grants of land to railroadß in lowa. The Governor of Arkansas has given the certificate of election to W. J. Hynes, the Reform candidate for Congress-at-Large. Recent Mexican advices say that the festivities attending the opening of the Vera Cruz & Mexico Railroad lasted a week, and were participated in by all the distinguished officials. The epizootic was recently prevailing extensively in parts of Utah and Nevada. The streets of Salt Lake City were almost deserted, and every furnace in the Eureka mining district, and every mine but two, had suepended operations on account of the distemper among the horses. Laura D. Fair lectured at Sacramento the other night, in a lager bser saloon, having been unable to obtain any public hall. Her subject was-*‘Wolvea in the Fold.” Finding no one paid to enter the cellar, she ordered the door thrown open for a free lecture. f Several Illinois citizens in different sections of the State have recently, while traveling on the railroads, tendered the rates of fare established by law, which were refused by the companies, the passengers in many cases being carried free. In a few Instants men have Keen ejected from the cars on refusing to pay the fare demanded by the companies. It is thought test cases-Will be brought before the courts. v Letters recently sent, to the Internal Revi enueoffice in Washington,from North Carolina show that some parties In that State are engaged In the business of falsely representingthemselves to be in authority as revenue

-officials . even to the of leaning bogus commissions and letters of instructions to people unwary enough to be their dupcC. The Legislature of Georgia has made the birthday of Robert E. Lee a legal holiday. By an accident on the Grand Trunk Railway, In Canada, on the 24th, the English mail from Chicago on the 22d was destroyed by fire. The mail consisted of five bags of letter mail, five bags of paper mail and thirtythree registered letters. The National Theater in Washington was destroyed by fire on the 28th. Lpss, SIOO,OOO. The Imperial Hotel, adjoining the theater, was damaged to the extent of $39,000. In the Tw,eed trial, the case of the prosecution was closed on the 28th, and the defense was opened by the calling of witnesses to impeach the evidence of A. J. Garvey. It was reported on the 28th that the Secretary of the Treasury had offered to take half a million of dollars from the house of Phelps, Dodge fit Co., of New York, in payment of the revenue of which they had defrauded the Government, and that a Compromise had been effected on these terms, and Wm. E. Dodge, the senior partner, then caused an immediate dissolution of the firm, expelling the junior partners, who were the principal agents in swindling tho Custom House. Colonel John M. Bradley, Republican candidate for Congressman-at-Large in Arkansas, has commenced a contest against Hydes, Reformer, who received the certificate of election.

Prince Lunailo was elected King ot Hawaii by a popular vote,-which was unanimous, at the election held on New Year’s Day. The President, in an official ord«r issued through the State Department, says the Executive order of December 17, relating to the holding of State or municipal offices by Federal officers, applies to the offices of Alderman, Councilman, and to all offices nndet- *ll town or village governments, with or without salary or compensation. On the contrary, positions on Boards of Education, School Committees, Public Libraries, religious or eleemosynary institutions, incorporated, established, or sustained by the State or municipal authority, and professorships in colleges, are not regarded as offices within the contemplation of .the Executive order. Judge Keiley sent a letter to Mr. Poland, Chairman of the Credlt-Mobilier Investigating Committee, on the 29th, enclosing a check for S3OO, with the statement that it is for the balance of a loan due from him (Kelley) to Ames, but which the latter disclaims. He asks that this, together with the ten shares of Credit-Mobilier stock which Ames handed by his request to Mr. Poland, the other day, be transferred to the United States. Ames, he says, disclaims the stock, nor does it belong to himself. Therefore, he tenders it to the Government, to •whom, in the light ol recent revelations, he believes all said property belongs. - The Massachusetts Woman Suffrage Association held its annual meeting at Boston a few days ago. The old board of officers was re-elected, and resolutions adopted containing the customary appesl to the public. A New York dispatch of the 29th says Phelps, Dodge & Co. had withdrawn their offer of a compromise made to the Government, and would allow the case to go to the courts. Ex-Governor Bross, of the Chicago Tribune, and one of the members of the Greeley Monument Association, requests the press and the people of the Northwest to send to him such sums as they may wish to contribute to that object. He adds: “It would be best to send the money by check on some Chicago bank, by Post-Office order, or draft on New York. All such sums received will be acknowledged in the newspapers of Chicago. It is hoped that every newspaper office will contribute something, and that some one who honors the name of Mr. Greeley will take up a collection—be it ever so small—in every town and city in the Northwest, and forward the amount as soon as possible. Probably no man ever contributed so much to the settlement and the prosperity of the Northwest as Mr. Greeley. Her people will be glad to contribute their full to honor his memory.” The Kansas Legislature met in joint session on the 29th and voted for United States Senator. The Senate stood: Ingalls, 26;' Lowe, 4; Harvey, 2; York, 1. The vote of the House stood: Ingalls, 89; Lowe, 3; Clarke, 2; Robinson, 1; Langmay, 1; York, I; blank, 1. Ingalls was declared elected, and the joint convention adjourned. Immediately after adjournment complaint was entered in the court against Senator Pomeroy on the charge of bribery, and he was arrested and gate bail in the sum of $5,000.