Rensselaer Union, Volume 6, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 May 1874 — THE LATEST NEWS. [ARTICLE]

THE LATEST NEWS.

Reported Raising of the Siege of Bilboa. A Terrible Famine Prevailing in Asia Minor. Religious Persecution In Russia. Public Debt Statement for the Month of April. Proclamation of Gov. Taylor Concerning the Wisconsin Railroad Lav. The President’s Idea of Compromise Finance Measures. Murder and Incendiarism In Home* stead, Pa. Arkansas Revolutionists Have an Engagement. Louisiana Agriculturists Homeless and Penniless—Help Wanted. Etc., Etc., Etc., Etc., Etc. TEDB OLD WORLD. A letter has been recently received from St. Petersburg which states that the priests of twenty-six parishes in Siedler, Russia, had been thrown into prison for refusing to obey the orders of the Russo-Greek Church. The peasants had refused to recognize the Russian priests or attend the churches, whereupon they were sent there by force. In some places the peasantry stoned the priests, and during the disturbances several of the former were killed by the soldiery. Besides the arrests which were made, the Inhabitants of the troubled districts were sentenced to be beaten —the men with fifty blows and the women with twenty-five, while children received ten blows each, without distinction of age or sex. Some of the women who were violent in their language received as many as 150 blows. Three buildings in Newgate street, London, fell on the 28th, killing and maiming a number of persons. .. A temperance crusade was begun at Manchester, England, on the 27th. Several signatures to the pledge were obtained. a Constantinople dispatch of the 29th announces the overflow of the Tigris, involving great destruction of property at Bagdad and the loss of many lives. A decree by Capt.-Gen. Concha, of Cuba, issued on the 29th, calls for 19 per cent of all Incomes exceeding SI,OOO annually. The proceeds of the tax are for the payment of the public debt and the redemption of the paper currency. The Franco-American postal convention was signed by the French Government on the 28th. * On the 29th and 80th ult. fighting was resumed around Bilboa, and some of the advanced positions of the Carlisle were captured by the Republicans with slight loss. The lock-out In Warwickshire, England, has induced a large number of agricultural laborers to leave that country for Canada and the States. A Constantinople telegram of the Ist says that information had reached there that a famine prevailed In Asia Minor, and -it was stated that in the town of Angora alone 100 deaths were occurring daily from star vation. The report of the departure of Carlists before Bilboa was confirmed by official dispatches on the 2d. On the 3d dispatches from Carlist sources denied the correctness of the report. They stated that Fortugalete was occupied by Serrano on the Ist, and that he immediately marched toward Bilboa. A desperate battle began on the morning of the 2d, the result of which had not been ascertained on the 3d. A decree had been issued by the Spanish Government, calling for a levy of all persons liable to military duty over nineteen yearsbf —' ' - 1 ■ THE NEW WORLD. On the 27th the Secretary of War directed the issue of 20,000 army rations daily for twenty-five days, and also a proper supply of army clothing, for the destitute pw le in tho overflowed region about the Mississippi. The 27th was very generally observed by the Odd-Fellows throughout the country as a holiday, in commemoration of the fltty-fifth anniversary of the introduction of the Order in the United States. The Chicago Inter-Ocean of a recent date publishes a list of 260 (principally Western) newspapers, of which number 213 are given as being in favor of, and forty-seven opposed to, expansion of the currency. The Chicago Tribune of the 30th ult, gives a list of 172 journals, ninety-seven sustaining the President’s veto, sixty-three opposing it and twelve being “ on the fence” in regard to the currency question. According to a Topeka (Kan.) dispatch of the 27th the old man arrested at Salt Lake, and supposed to be Bender, had been brought to that city, and had been viewed by hundreds of curious people. It was thought certain that he is the true Bender. A call has been issued for an Anti-Monop-oly State Convention to beheld at Dea Moines, lowa, on the 24th of June. The call states that all persons whose political views are in accordance with the principles announced at the convention held in Des Moines on the 25th day of February last are cordially Invited to johTln sending delegates to the convention. The ratio for representation will be one delegate to each county, and In addition thereto - one delegate for every 250 votes and fraction thereof over 100 cast for Hou. J. G. Vald for Governor. April 27 was observed as memorial day in many of the cities at the South. At Augusta

,and -Atlanta, Ga., and Montgomery, Ala., there was a general suspension of business during the ceremony of strewing the graves with flowers. Charles Wasner, the proprietor of a saloon in Columbus, Ohio, advertised a grand opening on the 27th, proposing to sell several liquors bearing the name of “ Crusade water,” and giving special prominence to the names of many ladies connected with the temperance crusade. Upon seeing this advertisement seventy ladies marched to his saloon and said they woiila like a little “ Crusade water.” Wagner ordered them from his premises, and when they refused to go put them out. During the melee one of the ladies was quite seriously injured, and Wagner and his wife were arrested and held to bail. Quirino Rubio, another of the murderers of Rev. Mr. Stephens, at Mexico, has been condemned to death. The attorneys representing both parties in the Arkansas dispute for the Governorship called on the Attorney-General in Washington on the 29th, and submitted written arguments in support of their respective claims. It was stated that the decision of the President would be made after a thorough consideration of the arguments thus presented. O. H. Kelley, Secretary of the National Grange, sent a telegram from Washington on the 28th to H. N. S. Lewis, Master of the Louisiana State Grange, to the effect that he had sent by express, by order of the Executive Committee of the National Grand Lodge, SI,OOO for the benefit of the suffering members Of the orderin Louisiana. A Washington special of the 29th ult. states that there seemed to be much doubt whether the Senate Finance Committee would be able to report any compromise currency bill, and both sides were disposed to think that the chances of securing anything beyond withdrawing the $25,000,000 from the East were very slight. At the request of the city authorities of Boston, Carl Schurz delivered a eulogy on the late Senator Sumner in that city on the 29th ult., in the presence of an Immense audience. A colored man named Hood was hanged at Cleveland on the 29th for the murder of his stepson, a boy twelve years of age. Mrs. Nancy Clem who was four times tried and twice convicted of complicity in the murder of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Young at Indianapolis, several years ago, has at last been released, on a motion made by the prosecuting attorney to enter a nolle prosequi, on the alleged grounds of the death of an important witness, the absence of others In California, and the want of funds to continue the prosecution. The Ohio Constitutional Convention has agreed to submit an article relating to “License" or “No License” to a separate vote of the people. If “License” prevail, the Constitution will provide that licenses to traffic in intoxicating liquors may be granted, but the section shall not be bo construed as to prevent the Legislature from making laws to restrain and regulate sales and to compensate for Injuries arising therefrom. If “No TOP cense* prevail, the Legislature will have power to prohibit the sale by whatever penalties may be deemed appropriate. Tub following dispatch from Washington was received in New York on the 30th ult.:

Allusion having been made to President Grant about a compromise finance measure that would be acceptable to both sides, the President replied that he did hot know what force was intended to apply to the term “ compromise,” unless it was an agreement to carry out the pledges Of the country. That might be considered a compromise by those who originally defeated every proposition offered during the discussion in Congress, and by so agreeing he has reason to believe that such legislation would meet with his approval. It has been said that he promised in his last annual message heartily to support any measure that Congress might decide upon. He did not Intend such con slruction to be put upon his language. If he had not made himself understood his more recent message would clear up anything like ambiguity. One tiling that he had endeavored to make plain during bis administration has been that he was for carrying out the solemn pledges of the Government at the earliest day possible, and reach a specie basis. The establishment of our currency on gold and silver had been uppermost in his mind whenever he sent to Congress his annual messages. He had not said what kind of a bill he would approve. It was his earnest hope that Congress would dispose of the question. The redistribution of $25,000,000 of banking currency, with $5,000,000 of notes belonging to broken banks and banks in liquidation of the South and West, ought to furnish, for the present, sll thst was asked for. and he had been assured, since the veto of the Finance bill, that New England banks were anxious to reduce their circulation, inasmuch as the bonds now held for circulation would be released and furnish them with a larger currency capital for loan than they now have. While our securities were worth in legal tenders sixteen and seventeen cents above par, and National Banking notes were bound to be secured under existing law at so much sacrifice to hanking capital, he aid not wonder that the New England banks were anxious to cancel their notes and get their bonds. In fact, this suggestion came to him early last fall, during the stringency in the money market, and he thought it worth calling the attention of Congress to it in his last message. Since then he had heard nothing to change his opinion on this point. According to the provisions of the Louisville <fc Portland Canal bill passed by Congress the canal becomes the property of the United States, subject to a lien established by mortgage. Only such tolls are to be charged as may be necessary to meet running expenses. The New York Legislature adjourned sine die on the 30th ult. Senator-blect Washburn, of Massachusetts, resigned the Governorship of that State on the 80th ult, and started for Washington. The house of Henry Pennington, at Hautzville, Pa., was burned on the morning of the 29th ult, and three persons were consumed in the flames. Murder and incendiarism are suspected. * ' The residence of John Hamnet, near Homestead, Pa., was destroyed by fire on the morning of the 30th ult., and the entire familysix persons in all—were burned. It was thought that they were first murdered and that the house was then set ofi fire by Ernest Love, the hired man, who is missing. A Milwaukee (Wia.) dispatch of the 30th ult says that “ Gov. Taylor has appointed as Railroad . Commissioners, under the tew of last winter, J. H. Osborn, a Granger, for three years; George H. Paul, of the Milwaukee News, for two years, and Dr. J. W. Hoyt, of Madison, a scientist, for one year.” Letters written by Albert Keep, President of the Chicago A Northwestern Railroad, and Alexander Mitchell, President of the Milwaukee A St. Paul Railway, to, Goy, t Taylor, have been published, giving the alleged reasons why their respective roads cannot conform terthe new tariff of rates fixed by the recent session of the Wisconsin Legislature. These gentlemen claim that if the rates fixed by law are enforced the roads cannot pay expenses, while the receipts would talbtar below the amount required for the payment of running expenses, the Interest on the hooded indebtedness of the roads, end

dividends to stockholders. They will decline to adopt the tariff fixed, and will Contest the constitutionality of the law in the courts. The opening of the Straits of Mackinac and the passage through of vessels was announced in the Chicago papers of the Ist. Both houses of the Texas Legislature have passed a joint resolution instructing their Senators and Representatives in Congress to support Col. Tom Scott’s Texas Pacific Railway bill. The General Assembly of Virginia adjourned sine die on the 30th ult M. D. Whetmore, Secretary of the State Grange of Louisiana, has sent the following telegram to the Prairie Farmer, of Chicago, under date of April 30 : “A large portion of our agriculturists, including many Patrons, in the overflowed districts are homeless and penniless. Immediate aid is needed. Please make our necessities known to the farmers of the Northwest. Contributions should be forwarded to New Orleans to H. L. Lewis, Master, or to myself.” A girl supposed to be Katie Bender and a man supposed to be John Bender were recently arrested near Balt Lake, and would be held for identification. According to a Little Rock (Ark.) dispatch of the 80th Gen. White, who had charge of the Baxter forces at Pine Bluff, hearing that a party of Brooks men were assembled at New Gascony, in Jefferson County, moved a column of 200 men down to that point for the purpose of dispersing them. A dispatch to Gen. Newton, from Fine Bluff, says that White sent forward a flag of truce to order the men to disperse, but they were fired upon and a regular battle ensued, in which nine of the Brooks party were killed and twenty wounded. The remainder were taken prisoners, disarmed and sent home. Gen, White reports seven of his own command wounded and three horses killed. Gen. Churchill, of Baxter’s forces, withasquad of ten men were capturedby a party of fifty Brooksites, but were subsequently released. The following is a recapitulation of the public debt statement for the month of April: Six per cent b0nd551,214,234,500 Five per cent, bonds 509,802,250 Total coin b0nd5.51,724,086,750 Lawful money debt $14,678,000 Matured debt 6,164,770 notes... . 382,076,777 Certificates of deposit 51,860,000 Fractional currency 47,436,620 Coin certificates 38,710,800 Interest.,. 37.181,584 Total debt-.-$2,297,145,301 Cash in Treasury: Coin $90,801,952 Currency 5,258,074 Special deposits held for redemption of certificates of deposit as provided bylaw■ 51,860,000 Total In Treasury $147,420,026 Debt, less cash in Trea5ury52,149,725,275 Decrease during month $2,965,451 Bonds issued to the Pacific Railway Companies, interest payable in lawful money, principal outstanding.. Interest accrued and not yet paid... 1,292,470 Interest paid by United States 22,386,691 Interest repaid by transportation of mails, etc 5,051,418 Balance of interest paid by United States 17,335.273 Senator 1 Boutwell testified before the Ways and Means Committee in the Sanborn investigation on the Ist. He said he was sure the Sanborn business was never a matter of conversation between himself and Secretary Richardson, and he never bad any personal relations with Sanborn, only hearing of him at the Chief of Special Agents’ Bureau when inquiring into the qualifications of several special agents. The fact that Sanborn had a contract was not brought to his knowledge, officially or personally, nor had he officially or personally a knowledge of the contract made with anybody else under the law. Mr. Bbutwell, in his testimony, sustains Messrs. Richardson and Sawyer in the assertion that Solicitor Banfield knew more of Sanborn and the details of his contract than any other officer of the Treasury. Mr. Boutwell’s attention was called to an order signed by him and addressed to Collectors and Assessors, directing them to assist Sanborn in such a way as he might ask in the examination of official records. Mr. Boutwell said be stood by this as legal and proper ; it merely allowed him to see the records in Assessors’ and Collectors’ offices with reference to persons who have withheld taxes due to the Government, so as to avoid going after those who have already paid their taxes. Joseph Waltz, who murdered a scissorgrlnder on the night of May 2,1873, was hung at Hudson, N. Y., on the Ist. The day before his execution he assaulted Charles Ernst, his keeper, with an iron bar, and wounded him so seriously that he would probably die. Gov. Taylor, of Wisconsin, issued a proclamation on the Ist warning the railroads not to Violate the new law, and declaring that he will employ the whole power of the State to enforce it The following is the concluding portion of the proclamation:

Now, therefore, I, William R. Taylor, Governor of the Stats of Wisconsin, do proclaim and make known that the law of the land must be respected and obeyed. While none are so weak as to be without its protection, none are so strong as to be above Its restraints. If the provisions of the law be deemed oppressive, resistance to its mandates will not abate, but rather multiply, the anticipated evils. It may well be that the law is defective in some of its details; but it is still the law of the land, enacted by the Legislature in the exercise of Its conceded powers, and In accordance with the clearly-defined sentiment of the people of the State. It is the right of all to test its validity through the constituted channels: but with that right Is coupled the duty of yielding a general obedience to its requirements until it has been pronounced invalid by competent authority. I am not without hope that belter counsels will yet prevail with the railroad companies of the State: but If they, or any of them, are fixed in the determination to pursue the policy announced, upon them will fall the penalties of the law and the consequences of a severe popular condemnation. I therefore enjoin all railroad corporations, their officers and agents peaceably to submit to the law;'for, since the Executive is Charged with the responsibility of seeing that the laws are faithfully executed, all the functions of his office will be exercised to that end; and for this purpose he invokes the aid and co-operation of all good citlxens. Gzn. J. F. Fagan, a Major-General In the Confederate army, on the let assumed command of Brooks’ forces throughout Arkansas, and issued ah address calling upon his old comrades to rally to his standard. Both parties seemed to be waiting for some definite news from Washington before precipitating events. Th> trades-unions of New York have decided to resist any attempt to make ten hours instead of eight a day’s Work. Thb shop men of the Allegheny Valley Railroad, in Pittsburgh, Pa., to the number of 400 struck work on the 2d to obtain four months’ back pay due them. EnN st Mintzino, aliat Love, the murderer of the Hamnet family near Pittsburgh, Pa., who was arrested in Allegheny City on the night of the Ist, has made a full confession

Of the terrible crime, and says he murdered the family with an ax, the object being to obtain possession of Hamnet’s money, he supposing that a considerable" sum was in the house. He says he only got about fifteen dollars. On the evening of the 2d, as the employes in a large paper mill (Condlt’s) in the village of Shawangunk, N. Y., were about leaving that establishment for the day, a large rotary boiler exploded, nearly demolishing the buildtog, and burying many laborers in the ruins. Seven persons were killed and three fatally wounded. The explosion was terrific, the boiler, weighing five tons, being thrown 600 feet Intense excitement prevailed, and a mob threatened to lynch the superintendent on account of alleged criminal carelessness in using a condemned boiler. Council Bluffs has been designated as the legal terminus of the Union Pacific Railroad by the House Committee on Pacific Railroads. The following is a summary of the leading information furnished by the National Crop Reporter (Indianapolis) of the 2d: The unusual backwardness of the season has delayed very, much all kinds of spring work, and at the date of the last full reports, prepared April 15, there had been practically no seediig at all In the Stateof Minnesota, and out little plowing in Wisconsin. At the dato mentioned about 40 per cent, of the estimated area had been sown in wheat, and but little more than one-fourth of the oats. The average area sown In wheat in the States of Illinois, lowa, Missouri and Wisconsin was 87 per cent of the estimated probable total, 62 per cent, of the oats, and of potatoes 30 per cent The prospects of the fruit crop to date are of the most encouraging character. The condition of the roads at the date of reports was: South of the forty-fifth parallel uniformly had, owing to the prevalence of wet weather". North of that line the ground was generally frozen and the roads in fine condition. Prices of leading articles the first half of April in the States of Illinois, Indiana, lowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin show a slight advance in com, oats and hay, and a decline on swine and potatoes, wheat remaining unchanged. The General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church In the South convened on the 2d in Louisville, Ky. An address was sent to the church in Great Britain. ~ ~~ A Little Rock (Ark.) special of the 3d says leading reform Democrats of that city had issued an address, taking strong grounds in favor of Brooks. It was thought this address would have a damaging effect upon Baxter’s cause. Brooks’ army numbered three full regiments in the field and several regiments in reserve, subject to immediate orders.

CONGRESSIONAL. The Senate galleries were densely crowded on the 27tb, the day having been fixed upon for the eulogies upon the late Senator Bum ner. The bust of the deceased Senator recently finished by Preston Powers was placed in a conspicuous position afid appropriately draped. Mr. Boutwell submitted a resolution, which was agreed to, that as an additional mark of respect to the memory of Charies Sumner, long a Senator from Massachusetts, business be suspended. that the friends and associates of the deceased might pay a fitting tribute to his public and private virtues. Eulogies were then pronounced by Messrs. Boutwell, Thurman, Spencer, Morrill of Vermont, Pratt, Sargent, Sherman, Wadleigh and Anthony.... Adjourned. In the House, on the 27th, several bills were introduced and referred, Including the following: To facilitate resumption et specie payments and to prevent fluctuations in the value of United States notes; repealing all laws Imposing a tax on State banks; to impose a tax of 5 per cent, on all incomes of Individuals and corporations exceeding $5,000; .declaring it oppressive to impose additional taxation and inexpedient to retrench on necessary appropriations already made in the interests of commerce, and providing as a measure of temporary relief for the issue of an additional $50,000,000 of legal-tender notes; to provide a free system of national banking and for the resumption of specie payments. A bill was passed amending the Shipping Commissioners’ act so as not to apply to sail or steam vessels engaged in the coastwise trade or in the lake trade, touching at foreign ports or otherwise, or in the trade between the United States and British North American possessions, or in any case where seamen are by custom or agreement entitled to participate in the profits or results of a cruise or voyage....A message being received from the Senate in reference to the death of Senator Sumner, business was suspended as an additional mark of respect to the deceased, and eulogies were prononneed by Messrs. E. R. Hoar, Dawes, Lamar, Orth, Rainey, Butler, Kelley, Nesmith, G. F. Hoar, Conger and Phillips.... Adjourned. In the Senate, on the 28th, a preamble and resolution of the President and Directors of the Louisville & Portland Canal Company were presented, denying that they were opposed to the Government paying the bonds and taking possession of the work, but that they were legally advised not to surrender their possession until all the debts should be paid by the Government... .After considerable discussion a motion was agreed to—Bs to 27—to lay aside the Louisiana bill and take up the Finance bill with the President’s message, and the question being as to whether the bill should pass, notwithstanding the President's veto, it was decided in the negative—yeas 34 nays 80—two-thirds not voting in the affirmative. The following is the vote in detail: Yeas—AUlaou, Bogy, Boreman, Cameron, Carpenter. Clayton. Conover, Dennis, Dorsey, Ferry (Mich.), Goldthwait, Gordon, Harvey, Hitchcock, Ingalls, Johnston, Lewis, Logan, McCreery, Merrimon, Mitchell, Norwood, Oglesby, Patterson, Pease, Pratt, Ramsey, Robertson, Spencer. Sprague, Tipton, West, Windom, Wright —34. Nays—Anthony, Bayard, Boutwell, Buckingham, Chandler, Conkling, Cragin, Davis, Edmunds, Fenton, Ferry (Conn.), Flanagan, Frelinghuysen, GUbert, Hager, Hamilton (Md.), Hamilton (Tex), Hamlin, Howe, Jones, Kelly, Morrill (Vt.), Sargent, Scott, Sherman, Stevenson, Stewart, Stockton, Thurman, Wadleigh—3o. Messrs. Morton and Ransom, who would have voted for the bill, were paired off with Messrs. Morrill (Maine) and Schurz, who would have voted against it.... Executive session and adjournment In the House, on the 28th, the bill appropriating $90,000 for the purchase of rations to be used in the relief of persons suffering from the inundations of the lower Mississippi was passed.... The Legislative, Executive and Judicial Appropriation bin was taken up and the several amendments adopted in Committee of the Whole were disposed of, the one striking out the items for horses and carriages for the Department,of Justice being rejected—yeas 100, nays 103—and the bill was passed... .Adjourned. In the Senate, on the 29th, bills were introduced—to facilitate and regulate commerce among the several States and with foreign nations; in relation to salaries and civil service, providing for a reduction of 10 per cent in the compensation of nearly all the officers and employee of the Senate and 30 per cent in the case of some of said employes, and also repealing the law of March 3, 1871, under which the Civil-Service Commiselonertr were appointed and 7 now hold office, and providing that clerks shall be appointed to the various executive departments subject to such examination as the heads of the respective departments may prescribe; to repeal the law which allows Pension Agents thirty cents for each voucher prepared and paid by them. .. Bills were passed—House bill to amend the 81st section of the act of March 8,1863, for enrolling and Calling out the National militia; Senate bill amendatory of the act for restoration to homestead entry and to market of certain lands in Michigan, approved June 10, 1872.... The Supplement. anr Civil Rights bill was reported to the Senate with the amendments msde by the Judiciary Committee, and the provisions of the bill were explained by Mr. Frelinghuysen. and a motion was made to strike out the second section, imposing fine or imprisonment for the violation of the act, on the ground that the punishment was too severe. .... Executive session and adjournment. In the House, on the 29th, bills were introduced and referred—to amend the act for the redemption of the 8 per cent temporary loan certificates and for an inc rease of National Bank notes; to amend the National Currency acts and to establish free banking... .The bill to carry into execution the" provisions of the fourteenth amendment to the Constitution and to define certain rights of United Slates citizens in foreign countries was taken up and debated. . .The River and Harbor Appropriation bill was reported from the Committee on Commerce.. .The Indian Appropriation bill was considered in Committee of the Whole. ....Adjourned. In the Senate, on the 80th, a bill waa

introduced and referred to promote commerce among the States and to cheapen transportation of persons and oroperty between the Atlantic seaboard and the Western States and Territories ... The Legislative, Judicial and Executive Appropriation bill was received from the House and referred and ordered printed.... The Senate bill to increase the pay department of the army, fixing the number of Paymasters at fifty, with rank, pay and emoluments of Majors of Cavalry, was passed —2l to 18.... A number of private bills were also passed ...The Civil Rights bill was further discussed.... Adjourned. In the House, on the 30th, the Senate amendments to the House bill relative to the Louisville & Portland Canal were concurred in, and the bill goes to the President... .The bill to carry into execution the provisions of the fourteenth amendment to the Constitution, and to define certain rights of American citizens residing in foreign countries, and the duties of diplomatic and consular officers, was debated.... A report was made from the Election Committee on the Utah contested election, that Mr. Cannon, the sitting member, is entitled to the seat, and that Mr. Maxwell, the contestant. Is not, and notice was given of a resolution declaring that Mr. Cannon is practicing polygamy, to the great scandal and disgrace of the people and Government of the United States, and providing for the appointment of a committee to inquire into the matter and to recommend such action as shall seem just and proper.... Adjourned. In the Senate, on the Ist, the credentials of William B. Washburn, elected as Senator from Massachusetts to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Mr. Sumner, were presented, and Mr. Washburn was sWorn in....8i11s were passed— House bill appropriating $90,000 to enable the Secretary of War to carry out the act to provide for the relief of persons who are suffering by the overflow of the Mississippi River: Senate bill enabling claimants to lands within the limits of the Territory of New Mexico to institute proceedings to try the validity of their claims....At his own request Mr. Boutwell was excused from further service on the Committee on Claims, and Mr. Washburn, of Massachusetts, was appointed to fill the vacancy. . . .The bill to extend for five ?ears the time for the completion of the railway rom St. Croix River or Lake, between townships twenty-seven and thirty-one, to the west end of Lake Superior and to Bayfield, Wiß., was reported favorably from the Committee on Public Lande, and placed on the calendar.... Adjourned to the 4fli. In the Hoqge, on the Ist, the Indian Appropriation bill was considered in Committee of the Whole, and several speeches were made on the general Indian question and concerning the policy to be pursued toward the Indians.... Adjourned. . No session of the Senate on the 2d.... In the House several private bills were passed, including one authorizing the application for an extension of the patent of John M. Marsh for trimming attachments to sewing-machines....A bill was reported from the Ways and Means Committee to amend the customs revenue laws and to abolish mole ties.... Adjourned.