Rensselaer Union, Volume 5, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 March 1873 — General News Summary. [ARTICLE]

General News Summary.

CONGRESS. *Fbbbuaby 20.— Senate— A bill was passed authorizing the President to Invite the International Statistical Congress to hold their next meeting in the United States.... Bills were mtrodneed—directing the establishment of telegraphic connection between the Capitol and all the Government buildings In Washington City, to be operated exclusively for public business, and appropriating |slo,ooo for that purpose: to remit the duties upon goods destroyed by the Boston fire... .Mr. Carpenter, from the Committee on Privileges and Elections, made a report on the credentials of Messrs. McMillan and Ray, each claiming to be legally elected Senator from Louis iana, accompanied by a bill, providing for a new election for the purpose of establishing in Louisiana a republican form of government. Mr. Trumbull concurred in most of the views of the majority of the committee, bnt did not concur in their recommendations, or favor the passage of the blllreported by them; he recognized the authority of the McEnery Government. Mr. Morton dissented from the report of the majority, recommending that the recent election in Louisiana be set aside and a new one ordered, under authority of the Government of the United States; he recognized the legality of the Kellogg Government. Mr. Hill dissented from the majority report and recommended that the members of the Louisiana Legislature declared elected by both “Returning Boards” be called together as the Legislature of the State, and that they then proceed to count the election returns, and declare who are legally elected State officers. Mr. Anthony agreed with the majority in their relation of the tacts, and also In their conclusion that there waA no legal State government in Louisiana, bnt he would reserve his judgment as to the course to he pnrsued. The several reports were ordered printed. House— Mr. Wood offered a resolution to refer to the Judiciary Committee the evidence Jaken before the Poland Committee, with instructions to report articles of impeachment against Vice-President Colfax, if, In the judgment of the Committee there is evidence warranting such impeachment. The question as to whether the resolution would be then considered was decided in the negative—yeas, 105; nays, 109.... A resolution was adopted referring the testimony taken before the Poland Committee to the Judiciary Committee, with instructions to inquire whether anything in such testimony warrants articles of impeachment of any officer of the United States not a member of the House, or make it proper that further investigation should be ordered In his case.... Mr. Wilson,Chairman of the Select Committee on the Union Pacific Railroad and CredltMohllier, made a report, which was ordered printed. February 21.— Senate —A resolution of the South Carolina Legislature, stating that the withdrawal of Government troops from that State would endanger publlc peace," wa* presented/... The Committee on Public Lands reported adversely on the Soldiers’ Bounty Land bill, and on the hill for the incorporation of the European and American Emigration Company.. .A bill was introduced extending until August 10,1873, the time for restoring to market the lands of the Ottawa and Chippewa Reservations in Michigan. A hill was fiassed to punish and prevent traffic In obscene lteratnre....An amendment to the Postal Appropriation bill, repealing all laws authorizing the free transportation of any mail matter whatever, was agreed to. House— Bills were passed—authorizing the construction of arallroad bridge across the Missouri Rivenat St. Lonis; to authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to dispose of the old Post-efflce property at Chicago; donating aix bronze cannon for the statue of General Kearney. ....The Senate amendment to the House bill to enforce the stipulations of the Convention with Venezuela was concurred in.

February 22.— Senate —The report of the Centennial Commission was presented. The subscriptions public and private, in Pennsylvania alone would amount to about $4,000,000. This start wonld insure the success of the Exposition, and would justify an appeal to other portions of the country... .The House bill for the distribution of the Geneva award was reported adversely ~, ~. The Post-Office Appropriation bill was farther considered and amended, and passed. House—Hi. . E. H. Roberts, from the Committee of Wavs and Means, 1 reported the evidence taken in tne matters pending before it in reference to Judge Sherman. He stated that the evidence Implicated no member of either House, bnt exonerated individual members of both Houses. The Committee-offered a resolution, which was adopted, referring to the Judiciary Committee the evidence taken, with instructions to examine and see how mnch there is that relates to Judge Charles T. Sherman, of Ohio, to determine whether further investigation should not be had with a view of present ing articles of impeachment, If such investigation Bhall jnstlfysuch action.... The Sundry Civil Approprition hill was passed... A resolution was adopted reciting the testimony taken before the Senate Committee on Elections, to the effect that J. H. Syphcr, member from Louisiana, before the general election last year, while he was a candidate for election to Congress, had unlawfully and corruptly procured to he made false and fraudulent registration, and false and fraudulent votes to he cast for himself, and other gross frauds to be committed in connection with such election, and .referring the matter to the Committee on Elections, with power to take testimony... .The River and Harbor Appropriation bill, appropriating $5,507,400, was considered. February 24.— Senate— A bill was passed granting right of way to the Walla Wall* and Columbia River Railroad Company... The credentials of General Gordon, Senator-elect from Oregon, were presented.... The Agricultural College bill was taken np and debated, and a motion to lay cm the table was rejected—yeas, 2*; nays, 82—and amotion to refer was also lost—yeas, 17, nays. 30. Amendments to the bill were offered and rejected. House— A message was presented from the President urging legislation to bring into operation the articles of the Treaty of Washington, of Mays, 1871, relative to the fisheries and other matters touching the relations of the United States wlth the British North American provinces ... .The report of the Judiciary Committee on the matter or impeachment arising ont of the report of the Poland Credit-Moblller Committee was presented, and is to the effect that the only two impeachable officers Involved In the matter are the Vice-President of the United States and James Brooks, in the capacity of Government Director of the Union Pacific Railroad Company. The tetter having long since ceased to be such officer the case against him has been considered no furthor. The report then cltCs the facts and circumstances In the case of Mr. Colfax. Assuming the facts as alleged to have been proved, the Committee are of the-opinlon that the action of impeachment can be taken only when the acts done have been committed while the officer was In office. Proceedings of Impeachment should only be applied to high crimes and misdemeanors committed while fn office and which affect the officer In the discharge of his duty as such, whatever might he the effect ol these acts oh the officer as a man. The Commute are further of the opinion that «o far as receiving and holding an Interest In Credit-Moblller stock is concerned there Is nothing in the testimony submitted which would warrant the Impeachment of the Vice-President. A minority report was presented and read denying that a man cannot be impeached nr expelled for acts done before he was In office. After! • uolderable debate the farther consideration oif the subject was postponed to the 28th.... The River and Harbor hill was further considered, amended and passed.... The Senate amendments to the Legislative. Executive and Judicial Appropriation hill were called np, and a motion was adopted as an additional amendment to the bill—Bl to 88—Increasing the salaries after the 4th of March, 1873, as follows: President of the United States, $50.000; Vice-President, Justices of the Supreme Courts, heads of Departments, and Speaker of the House, slo.oooeach; Chief Justice of the Snprezqp Court, $10,500; Assistant Secretary of State, Of the Treasury, and of the Interior, $8,500 each; Senators, Representatives, and Delegates, Including the Forty-second Congress, $7,500 each; and, in Ifen of mileage, they are to he allowed their actfia! expenses to and from Washington each session, including the Forty-aecond Congress. February 25.— Senate—' The President’s message relative to the fishery clause In the Treaty of Washington was received .. -The credentials of Mr. Bogy, of.jMlseouri, were presented,.. .The bill authorizing the sale of a portion of the military re»«Viuon at Ft Ripley, Minn., was passed.. A discussion took place on the Louisiana case, and the message of the President relating thereto was received and read, . The Agricultural Collie bill was debated and referred to a Conference Committee .... Several amendments to the Army Appropriation bill were agreed tin and the Bill as amended was passed. House— The report of. the Prtand Credit-Moblller Committee was considered. The galleries were crowded and all the available space on t he floors of the House was occupied by visitors, many of whom were ladies. Judge Poland opened the debate and entered Into *' lengthy defense of the report of the Committee. He was followed by an address of Oakes Aihes wluch was read by the Clerk of the House, In which Mr. Ames gave a detailed htstory of the Credlt-Mohiller transactions,and solemnly declared that he haij never entertained the motive

and purpose of corrupting members of Congress. The actual cost of building the road, Mr. Ames said, was about $70,(TO,000, and the actual profit was lees than *10,000.000. So far as he was pecuniarily concerned, it would nave been Setter for him had he never heart of the Union Pacific Railway. Mr. Farnsworth argued In favor of the accused and against the report, and was followed by Mr. Merrick, In defense of the Committee. The debate was carried Into the evening session without reaching a vote on the report.... The President’a message relative to affairs in Louisiana was referred to the Judiciary Committee. February 26. —Senate The House amendments to the hill for the distribution of ths Geneva award were non-concnrred In, and a Committee of Conference was ordered. Bills were passed—to extend the time for the completion of the Bt. Paul A Pacific Railway: House hill to carrv Into effect the fishery clause of the Treaty of Washington: to aid in the execution of the tews In Utah, with several amendments; House hill authorizing the exchange of the old Post-office property in Chicago for other property in that city; to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to survey and dispose of certsln Indian lands in Nebraska and, Kansas, for the benefit of the Indians. A majority report was made from the Select Committee ts Investigate the charges against Senator Clayton, accompanied by a resolution declaring that the charges were not. sustained .. The Sundry Civil Expenses Appropriation bill was reported, with amtndments, Jhnm— The entire session was occupied In discussion of the Poland Committee report and the resolutions for the expulsion of Messrs. Ames and Brooks.

THE OL1) WORLD. A Berlin dispatch of the 24th says the Russian Government is forwarding large reinforcements to Tnrkestan and Khiva. Merchants are withdrawing from Orenberg for fear that a continuance of the Khlvan war will brlng them tnto bad relationa. Madrid advices of the 24th state that the Government is reinforcing the troops operating against the Carlists. The insurgents continue to bnrn railway stations and bridges. In an action at the heights of Miravell between the royal forces and the Carlists under Otto, the ■ Carlists, who numbered 1,500, fought with great stubbornness, bnt were finally repulsed. Many repnbllcans have volunteered to assist in repelling Carlists and have been supplied with arms. A New York Herald cable dispatch from London, 24th, says: “An agreement has been made between Duke de Montpensler and the adherents of ex-Queen Isabella to place Prince Alphonso upon the throne of Spain; the Duke to he Regent during the minority of Prince Alphonso, and the latter to marry the youngest daughter of the Duke. Isabella accepts the programme, and two important parties, therefore, will act together in the present crisis.” The English Secretary of State for the War Department has presented to Parliament the army estimates for the year 1873-4. The total expenditure is £14,416,000. The regular army at home and abroad numbers 125,000 men, of whom 63,000 constitute the home force. Besides these the estimates provide for 139,000 militia, 13,000 yeomanry, 161,000 volunteers, 10,000 of first reserve, and 20,000 of second reserve. The recruiting service is in a satisfactory state of efficiency. The total number of .desertions. from the regular forces dnring the past year wae 4,000. The Secretary concluded by recommending legislation to prevent the pay of privates ever becoming less than a shilling per day. Madrid advices of the 25th, state that the ministerial crisis had terminated by the election of Figueras ad President of tht Council, and Castqlar as Minister of State. Figueras declared, in an address to the Assembly, that there would be no change in the management of affairs. On the 24th, John Bright took his seat in the House of Commons for the first time since hie prolonged illness, and was loudly cheered on entering the Chamber. Charles Reade, the English novelist, has obtained a verdict of £2OO damages in a libel suit bronght against the proprietors of the London Morning Advertiser. Advices from Spain, received In London 26th, say that Gen. Zoballq, the Carlist leader,was marching on Madrid with four battalions. Foreign man-of-war we*cruising off the Spanish coasts, to protect the subjects of their respective Governments. Italy, Austria, and a majority of the European powers maintain semi-official relations with Spain; pending the formation of a regular government. Russia is not disposed to recognize, in any manner, the present government. The government was organizing an army of 20 battal ions to fight the Carlist insurgents. The leading governments of Europe had agreed to protect Portugal againat aggression from Spain. The Swiss government had formally recognized the Republic of Spain. The American club of Liverpool gave a graud ball in celebration of Washington’s birthday. The steamship Grecian from Liverpool for Palermo, with 40 hands on board, U supposed to he lost. A London dispatch, 26th, aay* that Sir Rowland Stephensep Is acting as mediator between the masters and men in South Wales for the settlement of the strike. It is probable that the coal miners in North Wales will strike in a fortnight, if the Increase of wages they demand is not conceded. The mining districts are qnlet. A dispatch from Vienna, 26tb, says that a socialist insurrection 1» reported among the peasants in the Russian provinces of Valhynia and Podolla. The insurgents are said to be murdering their opponent#, plundering and burning property. A force of Russian troops sent to snppress the insurrection was-defeated. The Government of Rusnjfi forbids the transmission of any dispatches relative to the trouble.

THE NEW WORLD. Gold closed In New York on the 25th at H4^U4M. At New York, on the 20th, the jury in the Jumel wilt case es Bowen against Chaae, rendered a verdict in favor of the defendant, and added further, that Eliza B. Jumel had no Interest in the land* claimed which was descendable to her heirs. The case Involves property valued at $6,000,000. Chase has brought antt againat Bowen to have him enjoined from fringing additional suits to recover the estate. A dispatch from New York, 20th, says that the counsel of Stokes claim to “have fonnd the woman who picked up the pistol dropped by Fisk at the Grand Central Hotel, and .(that other important evidence can now be supplied. It is.also stated that Judge Davis was aware of this evidence when he granted the stay of proceedings. The following nominations were made by the Democratic State Convention of Connecticut which met at Hartford on the 19th: For Governor, Charles R. Ingersoll; Lieu-tenant-Governor, George G. Bill, Liberal Republican; Secretary of State, Martin H. Sanger; Treasurer; William E. 'Raymond; Comptroller, Dr. A. R. Goodrich.

The Maine House, on the 18th, pawed a resolution In favor of woman suffrage by a vote of 64 to 6*. ' _ —-b ______. The lowa Legislature adjourned hum dit on the 20th. A dispatch from New Tork, 21st, says that Rosenzwlg, the alleged murderer of Alice Bolwsby, who was recently taken from Bing Sing on a writ of error, and granted a new trial, though he had been sentenced to seven years, has been indicted by the Grand Jury for murder in the first degree. The annual meeting of the Illinois Women’s Suffrage Association was held at Chicago on the 21st, Mrs. Fernaado Jones, President. Addresses were made by Susan B. Anthony and others, aßd resolutions passed. It la. said that the pres sand the people of Cuba generally favor a Republic. The Spaniards in the interior are nearly all Republicans. The Wilson Credit-Mobllier Committee in their report to Congress, say the Union Pacific Railroad cost $50,000,000, which was wholly reimbursed from the proceeds of Government bonds and first mortgage bonds, and that from the income bonds and land grant bonds, the builders received in cash value at least $23,000,000 as profit, being a percentage of about 48 per cent, on the entire cost of the road. In the opinion of the Committee, the Company had no right, as against either its creditors or the 'minority of its stockholders, to distribute any portion of its capital as dividends; Still mereunjustifiable was it to squander in dividends money borrowed of the Government, or on first mortgage bonds. There is no evidence of mismanagement by the present Directors of the Road, and the Committee see no way in which those who hold stock which they have bought in good faith can be disturbed. The report closes with a bill directing the Attorney-General to begin a suit immediately for the protection of the interests of the Government in the Road, and the recovery of the sums of which both the Road and the Government have been plundered. Mr. Swann, of Maryland, agrees With the Committee, so far as they go, bnt thinks they fall short of their duty in not making recommendations for the treatment of the Congressmen who had dealings with Oakes Ames. The recent charter election at Syracuse, N. Y., resulted in the election of Mr. Wm. J. Wallace, Republican, for Mayor. The Common. Council is a tie, four Democrats and four Republicans. The whole city ticket is Republican. The lowa Legislature, during its recent session, adopted a Railroad law limiting the rates for passenger travel to 3% cents per mile upon all roads whose gross earnings exceed $4,000 per mile per year. A petition has been presented in the Massachusetts Legislature asking that the resolution censuring Senator Sumner ior his action relating to the battle-flags be expunged. Three new indictments have been fonnd against Ingersoll and Tweed. "The House on the 20th adopted • resole tion, directing the Ways and Meanß Committee to investigate the charges that money had been used last session to secure an additional subsidy to the Pacific Mall Steamship Company. A pronnnclamento has been issued, signed by a large number of revolutionary leaders in San Domingo, protesting against the transfer of the government of that island to the Semina Bay Company. President Grant announced at the Cabinet meeting, on the 21st, that the press of public business which wonld attend the inauguration of his second Administration wonld prevent his visit to the Bonth he had hoped to make in March. ____ The position of Government Director of the Union Pacific Railroad has been tendered to the Hon. Richard Yates, of Illinois. . 'A Justice of the Peace of Tolono, 111., has fined a conductor on the Illinois Central Railroad fifteen dollars for having put off his train a passenger who refund to pay the Company’s schedule l ate of fare, tendering the legal three-cent-a-mlle rate instead. The case was appealed. The village of St. Petersburg, Pa., has been visited by a destructive fire. Gov. Warmoth has published a long reply to the majority report on the Louisiana case, in which he assails the evidence of the witnesses for the Kellogg party as false and untrustworthy, denies the statement of the Committee that the black voters are in a majority in the State, and that they went unanimously for the Republican ticket. He claims that, making every allowance against the Fnslonists, they elected McEnery by 3,500 majority, and demands that he be recognized as Governor.

Robert Champion, colored, was hanged at Fayette, Mo., on the 21st, for the murder es his wife *ln July last. He stoutly and persistently protested his innocence to the last. A Salt Lake City dispatch of the 23d says the Mormon leaders were greatly elated by the reception of the mews that it had been suggested to provide for the appointment, by the President, of a Commission to visit Utah, and make a thorough investigation, during the recess of Congress, of the whole Mormon question. The Illinois Bupreme Court has decided the law for the regulation of railroad freight i charges, as it now stands, unconstitutional. The Court is unanimous in deciding that “while the Legislature has an unquestioned power to discriminate in railway freights, prosecution can be maintained under the existing act until amended, because it does not prohibit unjust discrimination merely, but discrimination of any character, and because it; did not allow the company to explain the reason es the discrimination, but forfeits their franchise upon an arbitrary and conclusive presumption of guilt, to be drawn from the proof of an act that might be shown to be perfectly innocent.” A train on the Jackson, Lansing Sc Sag! naw Railroad ran off a bridge near Jackson, Mich.,' on the 24th, injuring several passengers severely, among them Representative Blackman, of Van Buren. ~ ; President Grant’s residence near St. Louis —the old Dent mansion—has been destroyed by fire. Loss $5,000. A Washington dispatch says that $4,000 worth of bonds,, and coupons were recently stolen from the residence of Vice-President Colfax. President Grant has pardoned Charles Howard and James Banks, of Alabama, convicted of Ku Ktux outrages and sentenced to imprisonment in the Albany Penitentiary. At New; Orjeahs, Memphis, and other Southern cities, the Mardi-GraA festlvitles were very'generally celebrated on the 25th. The new Temperance law pasted by the

Indiana Legislature provides that any penon desiring a permit to sell intoxicating liquors must present a petition signed hy a majority of the legal votera of the town in which he lives, or of tbe ward in which ha resides, In case of a city organisation. The Board of Commissioners moat decide that the petition has been signed regularly as required, before Issuing tbe permit. The applicant nrast further furnish a good bond of SB,OOO, which may be sued upon in ar7 court of civil jurisdiction, except Justice's courts. No* permit shall be granted for a longer term than one year. In other particulars the law is similar to that of Ohio. . The Governor of Arkansaa has issued a proclamation offering SI,OOO reward each for the assassins of Dodson and Harriott. A Sait Lake dispatch of the 25th, says, “ the severest snow storm known hera for ten yean occurred last night and to-day.” The steamer Chas. 8. Hardee, on the 20th, struck an obstruction four miles below Savannah, On., and sunk. Six men were reported drowned. ’:2 ■ :iL Near Green port, L. 1., the schooner Surf, of Trenton, N. J., went to pieces on the 21st, and all on board were drowned. A meeting of prominent business men of Chicago was held on the 27th, lor the purpose of making the preliminary arrangements for a grand industrial exposition in that city, to be held on the anniversary of tbe great fire, about Octobers. At Beaehbnrg, Canada, a few mornVqgg ago, Mrs. Trasher and; five children were burned to death in their house. The $4,000 In bonde of which Vice-Presi-dent Calf ax was robbed In Washington on the 22d bsve been recovered in Baltimore.