Rensselaer Union, Volume 10, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 May 1878 — General News Summary. [ARTICLE]

General News Summary.

the Bth, issued a call for 93,000,000 coupon and *2,000,000 registered 6-90 bond* on account of subscriptions to the 4-per-ceot- loan. Tn Home Committee on Education end Labor agreed, on the oth, upon a Mil making It a misdemeanor for the Master of a reeael to take more than fifteen Chinese passengers, or female, to the United States after ami. in*. Tn President, on the oth, nominated exOor. Packard, of Louisiana, to be Consul at Liverpool, Bag., and ex-Gov. Lucius Fairchild, of Wisconsin, to be Consul-General at Paris, Prance. Bac’x Evabts has appointed Bret Harte, the author, aa United States Commercial Agent at Crefeldt, Prussia, at a salary of •*,OOO. Harte aspired to the Chinese Mlsstoa. TUB BART. A qcsjmrr of «• oil-executed counterfeit trade dollars hare lately been captured In Cincinnati. They are composed of block tin, bismuth and pulverised glass. They are pretty nearly the standard weight and bare the color and ring of the real dollars. The only moans of detecting them from the genuine Is by weighing them, or biting them with the teeth, when the glam of which they are composed gives forth a cracking sound. Ur to the 7th, the New fork Syndicate had actually taken *30,000,000 of the *80,000,000 new 4%-per-cent. Government bonds, which it moently contracted for with the Secretary of the Treasury.

The thirteenth annual meeting of the National Temperance Society was held In New York, on the 7th. Wm. E. Dodge was reelected President. The annual reoort says that in many of the Btste Legislatures, ss well as In Congress, the liquor traffic has occasioned much discussion, but there has been few important changes in the statutes. Tu flftyAhlrd anniversary of the American Tract Society was held in New York on the Bth. The annual reoort of the Treasurer shows a total expenditure during the year of *400,993; receipts, Including balance in Treasury April 1, 1877, *415,018. During the past year 335 colporteurs have labored In the United States and two In the British Provinces, circulating 198,838 volumes and addressing 788 meetings. The fifty-second anniversary of the American Home Missionary Society was held on the same day. The number of ministers in the service of the Society is 996. With the exception of filling vacancies, caused by death, the officers of the previous year were elected. The Pennsylvania Nationals met in State Convention at Philadelphia, on the Bth, and nominated 8. R. Mason for Governor, Christopher Shearer for Lieutenant-Governor, James L. Wright for Secretary of Internal Affairs, Benjamin 8. Bentley for Judge of the tapmme Court. scs Mr. Shearer, nominated by the Nationals for Lieutenant-Governor of Pennsylvania, declined the nomination, on the 9th. The platform adopted by the Convention embodies the principles contained in the resolutions of the Toledo Convention. Gold closed in New York, ou May 10th, at 100%. The following were the closing quotations for produce: No. 2 Chicago Spring, Wheat, *1.19%<g1.20; No. 3 Milwaukee, *1.21% @ 1.23. Oats Western and State, 34@86c. Corn, Western Mixed, 48@54c. Pork, Mess, *9.80. Lard, *7.17%. Flour, Good to Choice, *5.06(8.5.85; Winter Wheat, *5.90(86.50. Cattle, *8.50(810.25 for Good to Extra. Sheep, *4.00(3662%. Hogs, *3.75(3 3.85.

At East Liberty, Pa., on May 10th, Cattle brought: Best, *5.00(85.50; Medium, *4.40(8 4.80; Common, *4.00(84.20. Hogs sold— Yorkers, *3.60(33.70; Philadelphia*, *3.75(3 3.90. Sheep brought *3.00(34.70 —according to quality. At Baltimore, Md., on May 10th, Cattle brought; Best, *5.12%@5.75; Medium, $3.87%@4.63%. Hogs "sold at *[email protected] for Good. Sheep were quoted at *4.00(35.50 for Good. ~ ; WEST AND SOOTH, A state Convention of the National party will be held at Grand Rapids, Mich., on the sth, of June. A call has been issued for the meeting of a State Con vention of the Independent Greenback party, at Emporia, Kan., on the 3d of July next, to nominate candidates for State offices, etc. A violent tornado passed over Memphis, Tenn., on the morning of tbe Bth. The Peabody House and a number of other structures were unroofed—the total damage aggregating about *50,000. Senator J. D. Cameron, of Pennsylvania, and Miss Elizabeth B. Sherman, daughter of Judge Sherman, were married at Cleveland, on the evening of the 9th. The ceremony, which took place in the St. Paul’s Protestant Episcopal Church, was witnessed by fully 1,000 guests, including distinguished persons from Washington and Pennsylvania, among whom were General and Sec’y Sherman, brothers of the bride’s father. In Chicago, on May 10th, Spring Wheat No. 2 closed at *1.09%@1.10 cash. Cash Corn closed at 39%c for No. 2. Cash Oats No. 2 sold »t 26%c; and 26%c seller June. Rye No. 2, 58c. Barley No. 2, 51%@52%c. Cash Mess Pork closed at *8.45. Lard. *6.85. Beeves— Extra brought *[email protected]; Choice, *4.75 <35.00; Good, *4.25(84.65; Medium Grades, *[email protected]; Butchers’ Stock, *2.75(33.75; •toe* Cattle, ekt, *6.25(84.00. Hogs—Good to Choice, *3.20(83.75. Sheep-Poor to Choice, *2.75(86.50.

VOKBION INTKLUOEKCK. A Bekux dispatch’ of the sth Bays Prince Bismarck had announced that Germany would observe strict neutrality in case of war between Russia and Great Britain. Th* British Government has ordered a million pounds’ weight of lint and other appliances for wounded soldiers. As Alexandria (Egypt) dispatch of the sth says preparations were making to disembark Indian soldiers at Port Said and Baez. Th* Grand Duke Nicholas reached St. Petersburg, on the sth. He was enthusiastically received. Os the Bth, the British Parliament' was in aeesion for the first time since the Easter recess. In reply to the questions of lesding Liberals, Bir Stafford Northcote, Chancellor of the Exchequer, said the negotiations with Russia continued, but declined to discuss them on the ground that the public interests would be prejudiced thereby. A sractAL from Lyra, in Turkish Armenia, published on the Bth, says that ninety-one Armenian villages had been plundered by the Derain Koords, and that the Ottoman authorities were unable to afford protection. Roumabll has issued another circular to the Powers protesting against the Russian occupation of her territory, and announcing that Roumanian officers had been ejected from their posts In Bessarabia. Buux dispatches of the Bth say that Russia .had determined not to liberate the Turkish prisoners at war, numbering about 80,000, because of doubt as to the course of the Porte In the event of war with Great Britain. Vaunts, telegrams of the Bth say anarchy lUtoned in the newly-annexed district of ycßtetlflgra Albanians, Moslems and Chris-

thus united In refusing to ackrowlodge the authority of the reigning Prince, and armed insurrection was momentarily exported. A TBUBiBU tornado swept over Canton, China, on the tlth of April last, which destroyed or seriously Injured thousands of dwelling* and caused the loss of 500 lives. The foreign settlement suffered severely from the wind and water-spout, but lost no lives. B*tard Taylor, United States Minister to Berlin, presented his credentials to the Emperor on the Bth. He was very cordially received. According to Constantinople dispatches of the 9th, the Russians had evacuated all the positions they held near the insurrectionary district*, so as to give the Porte’s Commissioners full liberty of action. It was reported tb«* the insurgents bid issued a proclamation addressed ts» the Christians of Thrace, Macedonia and Epirus, to mike a vigorous effort to repel the common enemy. A Belgrade telegram of the same date says the Mohammedans and Albanians in Old Servla were rising in rebellion, and that an insurrectionary fermentation was also perceptible among the Mohammedan population of Nisch. A trlcokam from Rome (Italy) of the 10th •ays the Pope was seriously til from Inflammation of the liver. The negotiations for the resumption of diplomatic relations between Great Britain and Russia and the Vatican had come to naught. Ex-President Grant was In Paris on the 10th. A Berlin telegram of the 10th says the German Government had declined the invitation of the United States to attend an International Coinage Congress. Belgrade dispatches of the 10th say the Insurrection in Bosnia was assuming large proportions. The insurgents were compelling all Christians to join them and forcing them to burn their villages. According to a Constantinople telegram of the 10th, Gen. Todleben had decided to make Adrianople his base of operations In the event of war. It waa being strongly fortified and was believed to be Impregnable. An explosion of gas occurred, on the afternoon of the 10th, at the entrance of the harbor of Londonderry, Ireland, on board the Steamer Sardinian, of tbe Allan Line, from Liverpool to Quebec, by which three persons were killed and from forty to sixty more or less injured. The ship was set on fire and was still burning on the morning of the 11th. Tbe passengers were mostly Germans and Italians, although there were some English aud Scotch emigrants on board.

FORTY-FIFTH CONGRESS. Senate not in session on the 4th. In the House, bills were reported from the Committee on Coinage, and recommitted, to retire the five and three-oent silver pieces, and to stop their farther coinage, and providing that fractional or subsidiary silver coin shall be a legal tender to the extent of twenty dollars, and shall be exchangeable at the Treasury for other legal-tender money when presented in sums of twenty dollars or over... .Several amendments to the Legislative Appropriation hill were adopted, among them being one requiring agricultural seedr. to he distributed proportionately among the Congressional Districts, and one appropriating *185.010 for the re-establishment of the New Orleans Mint The bill, aa amended, was then passed. A PFrrripN was presented in the Senate, on the 6th, signed by a large number ol persons, praying that Gen. John C. Fremont be included in the bill to plaoe Gen. James Shields on the retired list of the army... .Mr. Gordon spoke in favor of the repeal of the Resumption act... .The House bill making appropriations tor the payment of invalid and other pensions or the United States for the year ending June 30,1879, waa called up, and several amendments were agreed to. Bills were introduced in the House —declaring that all propositions to change or modify the Tariff law are injurioua and detrimental to tbe general welfare of the people; giving to all religions denominations equal rights and privileges in the Indian reservations; for the appointment of a commission to be called the Farmers’ and Stock-Breeders’ Commission, and to consist of a veterinary surgeon and two practical stock breeders, at an annual salary of *2.600 each, to have charge of the investigation of the contagions diseases of farm stock, their causes, means of prevention, cure, etc., and to report from time to time measures to prevent the importation of such diseases from abroad and the spread of the co rtagion; to indemnify Illinois and other States in regard to swamp lands; to enable soldiers of tbe late war to pre-empt land to the extent of 160 acres.... A motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill reducing the tax on snuff and tobacco to sixteen cents per pound, on cigars to five dollars per thousand, etc., was lost—yeas, 120; nay*, 115—not two-thirds in the affirmative. In the Senate, on the 7th, the Postoffice Appropriation bill was repertedback from committee, with sundry amendments, and placed on the calendar.. . The House bill to forbid further retirement of United States legaltender notes was, on motion—3B to Spreads second time.... The Pension Appropriation bill was further amended and finally passed.... The Indian Appropriation bill was taken up and several unimportant amendments were agreed to.

a permanent foim of government for the Die trict of Colombia was paaaed.... A motion to go into Committee of the Whole on the Tariff bill was agreed to—lo 9to 108—and Mr. Banka spoke in opposition to the bi 11.... A bill was introduced and referred to provide for a Tariff Commission. In the Senate, on the Bth, the House bill to forbid the further retirement of United States legal-tender notes was referred to the Committee on Finance... .The House joint resolution to amend the joint resolution of July 3, 187$, authorizing the Secretary of War to issue aims, so as to provide that arms shall be issued to the Te*ritoneß as well as to the States, not exceeding 600 stand of arms to each Territory, was amended so as to provide that the present quota of the States shall not be diminished on account of such additional issue, and the resolution, as amended, was passed ... Several amendments to the Indian Appropriation bill were disposed of. In the House, the Speaker announced the Committee on Census as follows: Cox (N. Y.). Mills, Stenger, Lignon, Smith (GaJ. Carlisle, Hatcher. Ballou, Jorgensen, Ryan and Williams (Ore.).. The Committee on Elections reported in tlje contested-election cases from the Seoond South Carolina and the Sixth Mississippi Districts and Oregon, declaring the sitting members, Cain, Chalmers and Williams, entitled to the seats, which report was adopted.... The Tariff bill was taken up in Committee of the Whole, and Messrs. Tucker and Robbins, of the Waya and Means Committee, spoke in its favor. In the Senate, on the 9th, the bill to provide for the distribution of awards made under the Convention between the United States and Mexico, concluded on the 4th of July, 1868, Was considered in secret session and afterward paaaed... -Several amendments to the Indian Appropriation bill were agreed to, and the bill was passed... The conference report on the bill regulating the advertising of mail-lettings was agreed to . ■ .The bill to repeal the Bankrupt law was further debated. In the House, a joint resolution was passed for the enforcement of the Eight-Hour law in all departments of the Government.... The Senate bill authorizing the citizens of Colomdo, Nevada and the Territories to fell and remove timber on the public l*mk [ . for mining and domestic purposes, was passed, with an amendment providing that such lands shall not be open to nulroaid corporations for the cutting of timber... Further debate was had on the bill to regulate inter-State transportation by railroad. ■. -The Tariff bill was taken np in Committee of the Whole, and Hr. Kelley, of the Ways and Means Committee, made an argument against the measue, and Mr. Harris (Ga ). of the came committee, moke in favor of the bill. The House joint resolution authorising the expenditure of 836.000, of the 8300.000 appropriated, to give greater stability to the foundation of the Washington Monument, was passed in the Senate, on the 10th.. . The bill to repeal the Bankrupt law was taken up, and an amendment was agreed to—27 to 21-providing that the repeal shall take effect Bcpt. 1 1878, and the bill,as amended, was passed.... Adjourned to the 13th. A bill was passed in the House providing that the notice of contest, under the Pre, eruption. Homestead and Timber-Culture laws, moat he printed in newspapers in the dbunty where such contest lies. ...A bill appropriating 83,800 to Richard Heater, of Virginia, for stores and supplies taken by the United States Army during the war, gave rise to considerable discussion on war claims in general, and heated remarks were indulged in by Messrs. White (Pa.), and Hue.ton (Va.) Toward the close of thecontrovezay, Mr. White having been called to order, and paying no attention to the call. Mr. Turner (Ky.) approached him with clenched fist and demanded to know why he (White) did not take his seat. The two gentlemen were )<-d to their by their friends, and the j