Washington Notes And News

The President has signed the Pacific Eailtoad Kefnnding bill, compelling the Union, the Central and the Kansas Paciüc roads to contribute 25 per cent. o their net earnings toward paying the in terest on the Government second-mort gage bonds. Szceetaby Evabts has at last found a place for Bret Harte, the author. It is a commercial agency at Crefeldt, Pmssia at a salary of $3,000. Thisis considerec as considerable of a come-down fo Harte, who, a year or moro ago, aspirei to the Chinese miesion. The Western Emigration Society (col ored) have adopted a memorial to Con gress, aeking an appropriation to trwas port emigrants West and fnrnisli an out fit of farming utensils, seeds, etc, fo the first year or two, when, it is calcu lated, Ihey will be able to support them selves. The President has issued a pardon for Ferd S. Winslow, of Chicago, for complicty in the treaaury robbery in 1877 and sentenced to eighteen months' imprisonment in the Albauy penitentiary. The pardon does not relieve Winslow of any of the time of imprisonment. It si mply relieves him of his subsequent disabilities as a eitizeu. He was sentenced to eighteen monihe in Febiuary, 1877, and has gained two months' time by good behavior. A Bill has passed the House providing for cutting timber in the miniDg regions of the country. It provides that timber may be cut npon tho mining lands of Colorado, Nevada, Wyomiug, Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, Montana, Idaho, and other mining districts, without cost, for mining, agiicultural and domestic purposes, under such restrictions as may be adopted by the Secretary of tho Interior, to protect the undergrowth and timber from waste. The Public Lands CommHtee of the House of Kepresentatives recommend tho passage of a bilí for the payment of 5 per cent. on the minimum price of public lands located upon military landwarrants, to the States in which the lands are situated. The list of States to be beneflted by tho bilí embraces all the Western and Southern States except those of the "original thirteen" and CaÉfornia. Gen. Shebman préposés some ver radical chnnges in the equipment of th regular troops. He is in favor of doing away with the bayonet, the eergeant's sword, the cartridge-box, belt-plates anc knapsack, and substituting in their stead a good revolver, a leather poucl for cartridges, a knife, a rubber blanke' and saok. He says that tlie blanket will contain all the clothing necessary for a long march, and shouk be worn acroes the body frorn shoulder to waist. The Attorey General decides that a Postmaaier cannot withhold from the mails letters suspected to contain advcrtisements oí lotteries, for the reason that, under the Revised Statutes, except in case of letters on which the postage has not been prepaid, there is uo power conferred on a Postniaster to withhold letters trom the mails. Ho further states, if the Postmaster General is satisfied by the evidence that any person is conducting any frauduleñt lottery through the mails, he may instruct the Postmaster at any office at which the registered letters arrive directed to any such person to return the letters to the postoffice at which they were mailed. A becent Washington telegram says the Philadelphia contractors for the South American railroad are unsuccessful in endeavoring to secare colored laborers about the capital, from the fear of the colored men that they will be sold into slavery, the Brazilian Minister having been called uponby the colored men, and stated that, althongh slavery has not been fully nbolished in Brazil, it is in process of abolition by gradual emancipation, which will make the country free in twenty-one years. There is a law in Brazil prohibitiug colored men from settling in that country, and they can only be taken in by contract under a special act. Tuk House was honored, the other day, by the presence of tho venerable Peter Öooper. The old gentleman visited the Capítol, says a correspondent, and occupied the Clerk's office in state until a resolution was adoj ted according him the privileges of the floor. He did not have to wait long, and tho aged Greenbackor was escorted to a seat in the area in front of the Speaker just as Mr. Kelley arose to mako his tariff speech. Peter turoed in his chair, faced Kelley, and kept this position throughout the long speech which followed. Peter Cooper in general appearance verymuch resembles the patriarchs of old. He was treated very reverentially bv members of the House. The Senate and House Committees on the Electoral Count held a conference meeting one day last week. The Senate Committee, telegraphs a Washington correspondent, does not seem disposod to favor a constitucional ímendment that will favor a law regulating the subject. A statutory rule governing Congresa in ascertaiuing and declaring the electoral vote will probably be agreed upon by both committees. The House Committee will, however, report an amcndment to the constitution, making a radical change in the whole systero of electing the President and Vice President. They will at the same time favor a statutory rule designating the method of declaring the result of the election, thi8 law to bo enforced pending the ratificatiou of the amendment by the States. At the close of 1875-6 Euglish cities and towns owed for local debt nearly $500,000,000. By 1877 it had increased more f han 5 per cent. ; by the closo of 1878 it was estimated that it would reach 6 per cent, more, and a bilí now before Parliament provides for a further increase of $34,000,000. Since 1873 the ratable value of Englaud hns iucreased from L109,200,1)00 to L121,500,000. The death of another explorer in East África is announced. Capt. Elton, who was accompanied by Mr. Cotterill, has died of sunstroke in Ugogo. He was engaged surveyiug the country between the upper end of Lake Nyassa and the Indian ocean, ?u(l h.nd traversed sections most interesting iu thojnBelye gnd new to geography.