Rensselaer Union, Volume 5, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 February 1873 — General News summary. [ARTICLE]

General News summary.

CONGRESS. January SO.—Smote—A bill was in-' troduced—lncorporating the Mississippi 4 Ohio Tunnel and Tube Company, with s' cipHht Of $10,000,000, to constrnct tnrnelsunderthe Mfselseippt and Ohio Rivera, to be med for connecting railways centering near their Junction... .The bill exempting mineral land* in Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota from the operation of the general act to promote the development of the mineral resources of the United States, was passed... A motion was agreed to to reconsider the amendment to the Legislative Appropriation bill, prohibiting the payment, unless by special act of Congress, of judgments of the Court of Claims to claimants whose loyalty daring the rebellion has not been proved,.and the amendment was again adopted—9s to 28—and the bill was passed. House —A Dill was passed directing restoration to the pension rolls of the names of snch pensioner* of the war of 1812 as were struck from the rolls under the act of Feb. 4,1872, on account of navlng aided or encouraged the rebellion, the pensions to be paid from the passage of this act; also, entitling such parsons to the benefits of the act of the 14th of February, 1871, granting pensions te the survivors of the war of 181*... .The Fortification bill, approproprtating $1,999,000, waa passed Mr. Stewart, the recusant witness, was produced and spoke in bis own defense denying that he was in contempt, saying that matters were not hie own but his client’s, ana that he was not advised of any law which cons erred even upon Congress the right to question him upon them. Resolutions were then agreed to declaring Btewart in contempt of the Honse, and remanding him to the custody of the Sergeant-at-Arms. to he detained until further order of the Honse, unless he declared hia willingness to appear and answer before the Committee. Mr. Stewart, still persisting in his refusal to answer, was removed from the hall in custody of the Sergeant-at-Arms. January 81.— 8 mate —A message was received from the President vetoing the bill .... A Conference Committee was appointed on the Indian Appropriation bi 11... .Bills were Introduced—authorizing the Northern Pacific Railroad Company to construct a bridge across' the St. Louis River; authorizing the Columbus, Payette A Decatur Railroad Company to enter public lands; a Joint resolution for a Constitutional amendment electing Senators l»r a popular vote ...The Webb Australian Steamship Subsidy hill was called up and debated... .Adjourned to the Bd. Abuse—The whole of the session waa devoted to the consideration of private bills. February I.— House —A Mil was passed to secure more efficient administration of Indian affairs.... A sub-committee of the select committee on the condition of the Pacific Railroad and Credlt-Mobiller, was authorized to take testimony in Philadelphia, New York and Boston. ... .The bill for the payment of expenses incurred in the suppression of Indian hostilities in Montana in 1667. according to the examination and report of the Inspector-General, James A. Hardie, waa debated in Committee of the Whole and reported to the Hone*. •. February Petitions were presented from leading businessmen of New York against the repeal of the Banking 1aw.... Joint resolutions of the Legislature of lowa were presented, aaking for the passage of a MU to relieve the people from oppressive railroad freight charges, and also to favor liberal appropriations for the improvement of navigation of the Mississippi, Wisconsin and Fox Rivers.... A biU waa introduced to divide Ohio into three Judicial Districts, and for other purposes... .The Webb Australian Steamship bill was tabled—33 to 81.... The substitute reported from the Committee on Finance for the Buckingham Banking hill was taken np, and, after debate, an amendment waa agreed to making it mandatory upon all banking associations, on and after January, 1874, to redeem their notes at such localities as are now or may he hereafter designated by law, either in coin or united States legal-tender notes. House —Among the bills Introduced were—for a day of National Thanksgiving; recommending the President to communicate with foreign Governments with a view to protecting non-combatants, to secure compliance with civilized warfare, encourage emancipation, and promote peace between Cuba and Spain; granting right or way through the public lauds to the Kansas A Colorado Company, and to the Atchison, Topeka A Santa Fe Railroad Company; for a removal of disabilities from all citizens of the United States; for a Board of three Commissioners to inquire and report at the next regular session of Congress the condition of all railroads that have received aid in land ana bonds. ...A resolution was adopted declaring it to he the opinion of the House that it is not wise or expedient, or for the public interests, that any part of Goat Island, San Francisco, shall be coded for railroad purposes ... The hill to divide the State of Ohio Into three Judicial Districts waa PMMd. February 4. Senate. Bils we» Introduced raising the salary of the President of the United States to $50,000, and that of the Vice President to $10,000; to authorise the consolidation of two or more National Banks..*..The consideration of the Finance Committee’s substitute for Buckingham’s banking bill was resumed, and amendments were offered and rejected.'.. .A message was received from the House transmitting a copy of the testimony taken In the Credlt-Mobiller investigation, and a motion waa agreed to for a Select Committee of five-to consider the matter* in the testimony relating to the members of the Senate, with power to send for persons and papers. House— Mr. Poland, of the Credlt-Mobiller Investigation Committee, presented the evidence taken, and it was ordered printed, and aresolntion was adopted that the evidence affecting members of the Senate he referred to that body... .The Conference Committee on the Indtsu Appropriatton bill, made a repdh. which was adopted. - - .Thebill for the payment of the Montana war claims was passed. • , j ■ -.- |- - * . February s.—Amongst the petitions presented were several for and against the repeal of the Bankrupt law... .Conference reports were mad* and concurred in, on th* Indian Appropriation bill,and on the bill for the construction of six new sloops of war.. ..A bill wss introduced to extend the time for filing claims for additional bounty under th* act of July, 1866... Messrs. Morrill, es Maine, Scott. Wright, of lowa, Stockton and Stevenson were appointed by Mr. Anthony, President pro tem., to investigate the charge* against Senators made in the Credlt-Mobiller investigation... .The Finance bill reported by Mr. Sherman was further considered and laid on the table—*9 to 27. Heuse—k bill was passed—repealing the provision of the act of the 4tn of July, which prohibits the allowance of pension claims, unless prosecuted to a successful issue within fve years from th* date of being filed, and allowing claim* so barred to be granted and allowed withfa two years from th* passage of this act upon satisfactory parol evidence. ...The Poet Office Appropriation MU, appropriating s3*,508,767, waa considered la Committee of the Whole. THE OLD WOULD. A Bt. Petersburg dispatch of the 80th ult. saya public opinion waa In an excited state over the aceouuts of the atrocious cruelties enacted by the Khlvans on the Kuaelaue, who have fallen into their hands. The people were heartily in favor of the expedition against Khiva, and demanded the exemplary punishment of the Khan. Military preparations for the campaign were being pushed forward with vigor. The total force wonld f priltraWy' Utinthfer SJ.OW Men. The Pribee, and others high In rank were volunteering to accompany the army. It seems that it waa the Spanish steamer Murillo which run into and sunk the emigrant ship Norths set, off DungCnea# Lighthouse on the night of the 83d ult. The steamship, however, was not sunk, as waa at (mm time believed, but arrived at Cadis In safety. The Murillo sustained no damage by the collision. On the night of the Ist the British Isles were visited by one of the most violent storms everexperieneed there, even at this season of the year. The snow fell to extraordinary depth In-London and tnrrounding country. On the morning of the 2d it waa •lx inches deep fe the city. Travel was almost wholly suspended. In that province* th* e&ow-fall waa much heavier, and in the extreme north there were drifts several feet deep. The gale wfged with great fury all •round the English and Irish coast*. Many wreeka are reported, and there waa a fearful lost of life, especially off Torquay and around the Sicily Islands. The report that Sirdar Abdul Rahem had captured Fort Hlsear, at the Instigation of

the Russians, and was making other aggressive movement* fe Afghanistan, was contradicted fe London on the 3d. The Berlin VetsiscJu Zeitung at the Ist argues that the Basslan forces In Central Asia are strong enough to defy any attempt of the British te check their progress, and England is powerless. Russia was only waiting for a false step on the part of England. A dispatch from tile south of France on the 3d says that remnants of the Carljat bands were crossing the frontier, and seeking refuge on French soil. A London dispatch of the 4th says the new United States funded loan, which was about being placed on the market, promised to be a great success. A dispatch from Calcutta informs us that .tile city of Lehree, Beloochtatan, has been nearly destroyed by an earthquake. Upward of 500 persons were killed. Lehree was a wailed city, having a total population of about 6,000. The colliery owners in South Wales announce their intention of importing Chinese laborers to take tbe place of strikers in the mines. It is stated that over one hundred persons have been frozen to death in England during the recent cold weather. The English Parliament reassembled oh the 6th. The Queen, in her speech, expressed regret at the rapid rise in prices, and the consequent disputes between the workmen and employers, and promised that bills.would be introduced improving the system of higher education in Ireland, the reconstruction of tbp Supreme Appellate Courts, and for the ''prevention of corrupt practices at elections. Robert Bowles, of the firm of Bowles Brothers, American bankers in Europe, has been tried In London for the fraudulent conversion of securities deposited with the firm, and acquitted, i -■ The cholera has a gain, broken out in a virulent form In .several places in Russia and Hungary. The earthquake shocks on the Island of Samos, which caused so great a destruction of property and loss of life, continued four days.

THE NEW WORLD. Gold closed In New Tork on the sth at Edward Simmons, of New Tork city, states that when he was the Superintendent of Rolling Btock of the Union Pacific Railroad, from 1865 to 1871, second-hand locomotives were sold to the Company by G. P. Butler, of Boston, as first-clasf engines, the Company paying $16,000 or $17,000 apiece for them, notwithstanding his report that the engines were dear at $5,000, and, besides, unfit for any decent road. Other secondhand atoek was also purchased fe thiawsy. The following are the particulars, aa given by telegraph, of the excitement in the Kansas. Legislature on the occasion of the election of United States Senator: “The Joint Convention had just assembled, when Senator York, of Montgomery Coanty, arose to a question of privilege, and stated that he came to the Legislature as an anti-Pomeroy man,’ and took an active part in the opposition to the Senator’s re-election. Pomeroy, he said, made several requests for Interviews, and, at length. Colonel York says, with the advice Of Ben. F. Thompson, of Miami County, W. H. Johnson, of Anderson County, and James Horton, of Douglas County, he consented to the interview for the sole and single purpose of nnmasking the villainy of the old corruptionist. Abont midnight on Monday, in Senator Pomerov’e room in the Tlfft Honse, the bargain and sale of Senator Yorks vote and influence were made in consideration of the sum of $8,006, of which sum $7,0G0 was paid down. Pomeroy promising to pay tha remaining SI,OOO after the electlen. Colonel York then handed the money, in SI,OOO packages, to the Secretary of the Senate, and invited members and Senators to examine it York held nphlshanda to and awore before heaven that every statement waa true in substance and detail, and promised to make public other revelations. What Pomeroy unfolded to him, he said, Wonld excite the whole people of the nation, “The confusion that followed was intense. The cry of ‘Hang Pomeroy 1’ and motions for recess rendered it impossible to transact business. The supporters of Pomeroy were staggered and confounded. When order was restored, the motion for a recess was voted down, and the first ballot in feint convention was taken, which ballot resulted in giving Ingalls, of Atchison, 118 votes, and Pomeroy none. The remaining votes were divided between Lowe, Harvev endßtarke.” President Grant has signed the bill abolishing the franking privilege. In his testimony before the Wilson CreditMobilier Committee, Horace F. Clark, present President of the Union. Pacific Railroad, asserts most positively that Since he-has held that position not a dollar has been paid by the Company to Influence legislation or election. He also intimated that, when the present management have assured themselves of all the facts fe relation to the frauds committed on ihe road by the CredltMobiller, they wonld take measures for the recovery of their property. A Washington dispatch of the 31st ult. announces that the Government would send a peace commission to the Modoc Indiana, charged with ample power to hear and adjust all tbe troubles. The Pennsylvania State Senate, on the Slst, by a vote of 25 tod, adopted a resolution instructing tbe United State* Senators from Pennsylvania to vote against the purchase of the Control of the telegraphs by the Government. The jury fe the Tweed caee failed to agree, and were discharged op the 31st ult. The Hon. Joel A. Matteson, ex-Governor of Illinois, died at the residence of his son-ta-law, R. E. GooHll, fe Chicago, on the Slst ult. Hon. John J. Ingalls, the successor to Senator Pomeroy, in the Kansas Senator ship, la a lawyer, a native of Essex County, Mas*., 38 years old. He ia a graduate of Williams College, Massachusetts, and went Senator Pomeroy appeared by counsel before the Judge of the District Court, on the Slat ult. Waiving examination, he gave ball la $20,000 for hia appearance at the Jane term of Court. The Florida Legislature, on the *lat nit., elected 8. B. Conover, Republican, United State* Senator, on the fifth ballot, twentyseven Democrats voting with tha Republicans. « It is stated that the Secretary of State at Washington has recently received a dispatch from Minister Sickles, to the effect that the latter had been officially Informed by the Spanish Government that no steps wonld be taken to abolish slavery in Cuba until tha Insurrection fe that Island had been suppressed. The motion for the Immediate re-trial of Tweed was denied by Judge Davis on the Ist. A juror 1b the recent trial says the jury stood eight for acquittal, throa for conviction. and one blank. A San Francisco dispatch Of the 8d says little prospect rotated of a peaceable adjustment of the Modoc difficulties. At New Jefferson, lowa, a few nights ago, the house es Alex. Cairns Was destroyed by

fir* The bodies oil Alex. Cairns, Henry Cafrna, and two little children were found burned ton crisp, The fire U supposed to have been caused by an incendiary. Tlm following la the public dabt statement, February 1: Total cola b0nd5....... ..$1,766,016400 lawful money debt,........... $16.609400 Matured debt 8,538,420 Legal-tender notes 868,09^188 Certificates of deposit 28,985,000 Fractional currency 46,067,896 Coin certificates 94.246,500 Total debt 1488.494,758 Interest 27,446,886 Total gross debt... $2,960,943,639 Cash In TreasuryCoin $82,819,604 Currency 7,007,454 Special deposit* held for redemption es certificate* of deposits, ae provided by law 28,986,000 Total in Treasury.. -$98488458 Debt lees cash In Treasury....... .. $5,162,656,581 Increase daring the month 406,248 Bonds Issued, to the Pacific Railroad Companies, Interest payable In lawful money, principal outstanding.. 64,623,512.00 Interest accrued and not yet paid.-... 8W.i17.00 Interest repaid by United States 18,509,280.90 Interest repaid Dy transportation of mails, etc..... 4,118,482.75 Balance of interest paid by the United Btates 14.89A848.15 The reason for the increase in the public debt is stated at the Treasury Department to be on account of the payment during tbe past month of interest on Pacific Railroad bonds over the amount retained from pay for services rendered of $1,828,274. There were also disbursed from the Treasury during January, in addition to,the ordinary expenses, $1,240,000 to the Board of Public Works in Washington, and $1,000,000 bn account Of deficiencies in the postal revenue, making the total amount of extraordinary expenditures during January $4,066,274. A Topeka dispatch of the Slst ult. says Senator Pomeroy’s friends claim that the Charge of bribery against him is a put-up job to defeat his re-election, and that his innocence will yet he plainly established. It was reported on the Ist that there was not a bushel of coal for saledt Memphis, and many families were burning oil-cake a 6 a substitute. On (he Sd Commissioner Davenport decided to hold Woodhull, Clafiin and Blood to await th« action of the Grand Jury, on the charge of sending obscene matter through the malls. At the opening of the Greeley will case, on the Bd, Jnd ge Hart stated that he had received a note from Miss Ida Greeley, which had been approved by her sister, in which they begged to withdraw from the content, which their opponents were determined to wage over their father’s grave. The contestants then proceeded to prove the will made by Mr. Greeley in 1871, without further opposition. It was stated that Mr. Greeley left property estimated to be worth $906,000, which, with the estate of Mrs. Greeley, Would amount to $235,000. Four boilers fe the American Iron Works at Pittsburgh, Pa., exploded on the 3d, killtog seven persons and wounding several others:’ The explosion was so tremendous that throe seettais of the building, Of some fifteen feet each, were completely chattered, the roof being carried entirely away and scattered in all directions.

Two murderers were lynched at Bozeman, Montana, on the night of the let, one, an old maw named Triplet, for a murder committed -three months before; another, a young man called Steamboat Bill, for murdering a Chinese woman two days before. Senator S. C. Pomeroy was in Chicago on the Ist, en route for Washington. In an interview, he told a reporter cd the Inter-Ocean that he was the victim of a villainous conspiracy, and only asked a suspension of Judgment till the whole matter is made public through the courts. The jury in the second Wharton murder trial, at Annapolis, Kd., were unable to agree, and have been discharged- They stood eight for a verdict of guilty, and four for not guilty. a Vice-President Colfax delivered an address on temperance at Baltimore, on the night of the 3d. The audience was large and enthusiastic, and on coming on the platform Mr, Colfax was greeted with hearty cheers. In tkeeijniee of his remarks he said (hat the greeting which he had received was gratifying, because It showed that they believed that during his public life, that would close next month, he had sought to stand right in the sight of Cod, whether the world judged him wrongfully or not. The Legislative Council concurring, Prince Lunalillo was inaugurated King of the Sandwich Islands on January 8. Coal has advanced In England to fortyeight shillings per ton, and many furnaces and mills have suspended. The Government has extended to Pebraary 30 the time within which it will receive applications from those who wish to become exhibitors at Vienna. Near Harrodabnrg, Ky., a few nights ago. four men attempted to rob the mail stage. As the leader, Teburn McAnelly, after having Intimidated the driver, was climbing up to get the mail, an inside passenger, named Roberts, shot him dead. The other robbers lied, but were pursued, and two of tham arrested. Senator Caldwell, on the 4th, submitted a statement to the Committee engaged in investigating the chargee against him, He emphatically denies thst his election cost ♦BO,OOO, or 370,000, or any other large sum. He admits having paid Mr. Carney 318,000 to withdraw in his (Csldwell’s) faVor, saying that Carney was willing to pay twice or thrice that sum to haver him (CatAwt&y withdraw. He denies that he paid any sum of money to any member of the Legislature to secure his tote. He details his relations with ex-Represeatuttva Clark during and after the contest, and claims that the erigln of the chargee against Mm. was his refusal to submit to an extortionate demand from that gentleman. He aays he never promised or paid, or ■ authorised any one to promise to pay money or other reward for the purpose or with the design of corruptly Influencing any act in his favor. He paid the usual and legitimate expenses ordinarily Incurred by candidates on such occasions, and In payment of such hills he did not deem he wss guilty of corrupt or Immoral acts. This statement was not sworn to. Ancrew Dalryrapla* living agar Ttdoute, Pa., waa clandestinely engaged )a filling a torpedo with nitro giy oertne at his house, on the 6th, when ft exploded, blowing him to atoms, killing his wife and fatally injuring his children, Who were in an ad joining apartment. The hou<e was totally wrecked. The Postmaster-General has lsauad advertisements for bids for the new penny postal, cards.' it is the Intention of the Depart-^

ment to hate toe cord* ready lor Issue by the Ist of May. The second trial of Christopher Rafferty for the murder of Policeman O'Meary, at Chicago, In August last, trail terminated at Waukegan on the sth, the Jury bringing ha a verdict of gntlty, and fixing the penalty death by hanging. The BUte Republican Convention of Connecticut, on the sth, nominated Henry P. Haven for Governor; C. L. Griswold, Lieutenant Governor; John M. Hall, Secretary of State; Daniel P. Nichols, Treasurer, and John I. Rockwell, Comptroller. The Kansas Legislature has authorised a Joint Committee to Inquire Into the ebargee against Senator Romero/. It also resolved that It wps “due to the dignity and bohor of the State that Senator. Pomeroy should immediately resign.’V .