News Of The Week

'1 lie nionth of December saw a decrease u 111.' public debt of $15,413,23:5. CONGKKSS. Senate. -Jan. 2.- At 1 :25 the Fitz John Portcr case was resumed, and Senator Logan continued his speech, making strong pointsagamst l'orter. Gen. Porter was present in the ente, and heard Logan speak. jlOL.SE._A bill was introduecd byMr. Hanïs to transfer the administration of the KeYenue (Jutter Service to the Navy Dopartment. . . .At tlie conclusión of the cali of States the House proceeded to the consideration of bilis touchfngthe administration of tas laws. heveral were taken up. Mr. Calkins moved that the House proceed to the consldtratlon of the business on the Speaker's tp.ble. Agreed to-Yeas, i„, r,7 Tlm tïi-t liill iin tliP l.ilhlti WÜS the House bill f or the extensión of the Capítol north to ü street and south to the Washington ftailway, with a Senate amendnieut relativo to pavement laid between the tracks. The amendment was rejeeted and the House adjourned. Sexate- Jan. 3.- A number of petitions were presented for a constitutional amendment to prohibit the manufacture and sale of alcoholic liquors Logan concludcd his speech on the bill for the reinstatement of Fitz John Porter. A general discussion followed, participated in by Hawley, Sewell, Hale aud others. A test vote taken showed that the bill would probably pass the Sonate, unless iilibustering should prevent. No further action was taken and the Senate adjourned. House.- A memorial was presented froni the 8t. Louis mercantlle exchange, asking that imuiediate action bc taken on the "Sherman Extensión" bill, and Mr. Sherman of Illinois, presented a memorial from the American social BCience association asking eongress to distribute money among the several etates for educational purposes. At this point congress went into eommittee of the wholc on the army appropriation bill. An aniniated debate ensued, during whlcb Mr. Hiscock made a statement denying the existence of a pre-eoncieved plan to créate deficiencies to be provided for by the next congress, though the appropriation eommittee of the 46th congress had iutentionally left a large deficiency to be shouldered by the 47th eongress. This statement caused a eommotion among the Democratie members, and a general dispute aróse. SScathiug speeches were made, closing with a eauntic retort by Mr. Reed of Minne. No action was taken upon the bill. The District of Columbia appropriation bill was reported. The amount of the appropriation is f3,000,(XX), ahout $30,000 less than the amount appropriated f or the current year. Senate, Jan. 4.- The House bill to reduce the Internat revcnue tax, with an amendment embracing an en lire revisión of the tariff, and abolishing some of the machinerv now used for its eollectkm, was reported by Mr. Morrill of Vermont Mr. Edmunds submitted a bill for ndditional oomnensation to neeses in United States courts Fritz John Porter's bill laid over one week The West l'oini appropriation bill was passed Bonded Whisky bill was taken up, and after an earnest debate, was passed. House. - A petition of citizens of Ohio was presented by Mr. Neal asking that the civil service bill be so amended, that persous aeting asattorneysof railroador steamship companies he ineligible to hold a position in either branch if Congress or chief of department or bureau. licfurrud The House went into eomraittee of the whole and diseussed the army appropriation l)il!. The bill was passed. It contaius a provisión for gradual abolition of the pay corps of the army . . . .Pendleton's civil service reform bill was report ed back to the House. Debate ensued, and after the question had been thoroughly diseussed, the bill was then put to vote and passed. The vote stood ; yeas, 155 ; nays, 47. Sexate.- Jan. 5.- Petitions for the passage of the bill to increase the pensions of one-armed and one-legged and for speedy aetion on the same, were presented by Mr. van Wyck, o1 Nebraska A petition for the admission oJ Dakota, was presented by Mr. Ingalls of Kansas, who expressed as his opinión that the cpposltion to such admission was wholly malignant and partlean. The remark occasioneel considerable discussiou, but no aetion was taken The bilí asking íor an appropriation for a survey to ascertain the practicability oí uniting theaíHuents of the Missouri and Columbia rivers by a canal, was passed The Preeident ial succession bilí carne up in the House as unfinished business. The bill was diseussed at considerable length, various amendments were oflered and considered but the Senate adjourn(d without taken any action on the bill. House. - The entire session was devoted to the consideration oí the District of Columbia appropriatiou bill. After a short debate the bill was passed. It appropriates $3,443,847, this amount being $81, (Há less than the estimatee. Senate. - Jan. 6. - Mr. Slater of Oregon, in behalf oí his eonstituents, asked for an appropriaíion to improve the cntrance of Columbia rtTer. .The House bul was passed permitting exportation of tobáceo in various f orms in bonds free of tax to adjaeent foreign territories The Presidential succession bill was taken up. Mr. Maxey of Texas, addressed the Senate in etrong, forcible language. The discussiou occupied nearly the whole of the session, and after a short exeeutive session the Senate adjourned. Hovse. - A communication from the naval advisory board askiug an appropriation of $20,000 to provide íor testicg defective armor, and one from the President submitting a commuuication from the superintendent oï the census, urgingthe neetl of $100,000 to complete the lOth eensus, were luid bcfore the House, and referrod to the proper eommittees The shippiug bill came up for consideration, and Mr. Cox o -ev ioik uemereu aeareiuiiy prepareu speeci in support of the bül. He gave a detailed account oL the navigation laws, and depeicted the deplorable eondition oí our merchant marine. Other speakers followcd in the same strain, but no action was taken, and the meaeure was laid over for future action Mr. White of Kentucky off ered a resolution reciting that large quantitics of distilled spirits were now in bonded warehouse owned by Illinois capitalista, and urging upon the commissioner of internal revenue to ascertain the amouut now in warehouscs of that state. The resolution was the outcome of a petition presented by the said capitalists, asking for an extensión of the bonded period The fortiflcation and pension appropriaiion bilis were re ported and referred to committee of the whole Mr. Steele introduced a bilí to equallze tlu bounties of BOldlers, sailors and marines, wliich was also referred. Sexate, Jan. 6.- Mr. Pendleton of Ohiq, presented a petition from merchants of Cincinnati asking for inmediato íiction on the national bankrnpt law. . . .The bill was passed prohibiting the use oí the capital for other than legitímate purposes The bill to afford relief for congress and the departments in investigating claims came up, but was tábled without action .. . .Consideration of the Presidential succcsfiion bill was resumed. An animated debate followi'd in which the pros and cons of the bill in all lts hearings was mostthoreughly dlscussi d. Mr. Edmunds made a rousing "speech in opposition to the bill, and urged strongly the poficy of re-committing the bill. Without reaching a vote the Senate adjourned. Hocke.- The attempt to pass the Senate bill increating the fees of star route witnesses from the west of the Mississippiwasdefeated Mr. Fisher of Pennsylvania submitted a bill to limit the coinage of the Standard silver dollar to the requirements of the people Mr. Anderson of Kansas offered a bill to créate a postal telegraph, and for the construction of a bridge across the Missouri river at Y UI 111 1LI . VdllllCI UI. liUUlMailil, MlUCUr ber oL the committee on agrieulture, reported a Iiill appropriating $30,000 to defray the expenses of exhibttorB oL the United States who desired to particípate in the exhibition of domestic animáis at Hampurg in July, 1S83 The shipping bill was taken up, the consideration of which occupied the remainder of the sesslon. Mr. Reagan oï Texas opened the 3iscusRion, and was followed by Messrs. Lord, McLane, Chandlers and otherg. The discusslou was very earnest, but without aetion the bill was lald over A bill was introdueed by M Crowley of New York providing for the construction of a bridge aeross the Niágara river. NEWS NOTES. CAPTCRED. Marshall Polk, the defaulting state treasurer oí Tennessee, has been arrested at San Antonio, Texas. CASAUIAX MISHAPS. A dispatch dated St. Thomas, Ont., Jan. 8., says : The boiler in Waugh's stave factory at Bismarck station, on the Canada Southern railway, exploded this morning, shattering the mili and frightfully scalding the night watchinan, besides injuring nine others more or lesa. Benj. Parke, a brakcman oí this city, was eaught between the bumpers while makine; a ooupling at Nell's Corners and terribly cruehed. He will probably die. FOKEIGN AFFAIRS. BIOGAR COMMITTÏD. Biggar, M. P., has been committd for trial on the charge ofhigh treason for utteraneea In a recent speech. Bail was accepted. BISMABCKTO RESION. At the imperial reception New Year's Bismarck said that in the preeent position of politics, and now that the Parliamentary institutions are working Katisfaotorily, it would cause .110 misfortune to the country ir he gure place to other men. A 8ICK lMtICMIi:i(. Mr. Gladstone's illuese is causing inuch un easiness in offlcialclrcles. The right honorable gentleman has been ordered by hia physicians to abandon bis Midlotliian trip. All work or excitement is forbidden, and public peaking. A TERKIBLE 0OIXISION. A Liverpool rtispatch of January 8, gives thiparticulara of a collision betweenthe Bteamship (,'lty of Brussels, of the Inman line, and the Kirby Hall whieh oecuxed in the estuary of the Mersey river during af og, on the morñing of lanuary 6. The fog was so dense that Capt. Frank 8. I.and of the City of Brussels, deeided not to attemrrt to make headtray, but to rema u under steam near the UghteWp. Every preeaution was taken to warn approaehing vessels ol her position, luit BuddenTy the sound of an oncomfng vessel was heard, and a large vessel, moving rapidly was dimly yteable through the fo'K A collielon seemed inevitable, and in a moment more the Kirby Hall Btruck tlie starboardbowoftheCItyof Brussels with fearful force, cutting her down to the watt-r" s cdgo. Wheu itwasfoundto be impossible to ftvoid the collision, everything was done to save tbc Uves of passengere and crew, but the emergency was more critical and Unmedlate than was anticipated. All of the passengers hud been put in boats, manned by members of the hout 's crew. In about 20 minutes aftcr the Impact t hc vessel plunged into the depths with a fearful noise. The 6cene was heart-reuding beyond di scription. The darkness was intense, and many were in the water without help. The Kirby Hall was unable to lower her boats or render othcr assistance. The boats of the City oí Brussels picked up all that it was possijlc to do, and placed them on board tlic Kirbv Hall. When they were mustered it was íound that two paseengers and eight oL the crew were missing. A tliorough search was instituted, the men going as near the sunkeu steamer as it was possible without danger of being sueked down with her. As a resultof the search the bodies of seeoud ollieer Young and carpenter Woods have been reoovered. There were 18 cabin passengers and 38 steerage passengers on board the ill-íated vessel. The vesscl was valued at $800,000, and was one of the seven run in the service of the Inman line. Up to a few years ago shewas considered the fastest vessel on the Atlantic. All „- 1 . , 1 A-t Ac Ir 4- +Tïrt Yi rvVl Oef tiVÏTlO i"f tïiO All uu uuiii yi P[jctfc iu .iiv, iiit,in 'i ivi mu va ..uv presenee of miud, eoolness and brarcry displayed by Capt. Land and his crew, the captain and flreman, Ja?. Todd, being the last to leave the wreek. DE LESSKP9' SCHEME. DeLesseps wlll accompany the expedition to Algcria to decide upon the feasibility of converting a portion of the desert of Sahara iuto au iuland sea, as plapned by him. BITS OF NEWS. S1W. K. Vanderbilt, the "Railroad King," haa been chosen as president of the Nickel Píate ruilroad company. The pension appropriation bilí has been reported to the committee on appropriations. It appropriates $81,000,000. Secretary Frclinghuysen says Chinese laDorcrs may pass through "this country, but they can't stay here. Germans in New York are eontributing liberally for the relief of sufferers by the reeent floods in Germany. The funeral of Gen. Chanzy, the most eminent military man of France, was held in Paris, on Monday, the 8th inst. A life-saving corps is to be trained for work in the New Yorkfire department. Papers are said to be in possession of the state department at Washington showine that the bodies found by Dr. West's expedtiion in Siberia, were those "of Lieut Chipp and party of the Jeannette. South Carolina people will not allow the performance of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" in tbat state. A bilí will shortly be introdueed in Congress for one cent letter postage aftcr Jan. 1, 1884, and the total abolition of the f ranking privilege. ■. - . .