The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-03-06
THIRD EDITION
WASHINGTON.
Special Dispatches to the Evening Telegraph.
WASHINGTON, March g.
RIver nnd Mnrbor Imprevementa.


The report of Chief Engineer Delafeld, of the
War Department, gives the following estimates
of expenditures for the improvements and re
pair of harbors and rivers for the fiscal year
Notwithstanding breakwater at Portland, Me-,
$105, ,111O5; improvement of the navigation of
Hudson river, S5O,000 Provincetown Hsrbor,
Mass, S43 o6S st. Clair Flats, $50 900; Delaware
Breakwater, SlO7,9lO; st. Marys river, $50, 900;
Erie, Penn, $4,000; Cleveland, $25,O0o; st.
Josephs, $4,000; Chicago, $2o,Ooo Keno3ha,
$4,000; Racine $4,000; Milwaukee, $4,000;
Sheboygan, $4,000; Manitonoe, $4,000; oswego,
N. Y, $4,000; Lodna Bay, CayugA county,
$4,000; sodue Bay, Wayne county, $4,000;
Genesee river, $4,000; Buffalo, $4,000; COM
pleting seawall at New York, $40, ,OOO
The Iron. .cIHds.
The Naval Committee have received q COM
munication from Admiral Porter, insisting that
our iron-clad vessels should be taken out OF
water while net in use, for the purpose of pre-.
servation. This necessity was urged by an
official board early as 1862, aud is OF interest
in settling the vexcd question as to the relative
merits of salt or fresh water in which to lay up
iron-clad vessels
II Is stated that Auditor Wilson is about to
resign his position in the Treasury, to accept q
position elsewhere.
The semmes Case.
The statement is in general circulation here,
that the President has ordered the discharge Of
the pirate Semmes. Counter to this, the Navy
Department, by whose authority he was arrested
and is held, have no information on the subject
beyond the general rumor and discredit its
truth. 1t is certain that strong pressure has
been brought 10 bear upon the President and
that he has not declined to interpose his Execu-
tive authority.
General AsbOtb.
General Asboth, who came to this country as
the Adjutant Of Kossuth, and who has fought so
bravely for the Union cause throughout the late
war, has been appointed Minister to the Argen.
tine Republic, instead of to Venezuela, as first
reported.
Claims.
During the month of February last 1871 claims,
involving the large amount of 81, A,2O6,s27 were
settled by the Fourth Auditor of the Treasury
Department The claims were divided into
Navy Agents and Paymasters' accounts, and
pension, marine, naval storekeepers, prize, and
general CLAIMS
The Number of acquisitions
upon the Treasurer during the month for cash
settlement of claims amounted 20 $2,247,70S.
The Disbursements
of the Treasury for the month of February last,
on account of the War, Navy, and Interior
Departments, were as follows:-War, $15, ,4O1 1896;
Navy, $3,O32,OO6; Interior, $2,938, 0S5; total,
| $2l, ,371, ,4S7.
Extra Duty Pay.
The Third Auditor of the Treasury has issued
| a circular concerning extra duty pay to nom
commissioned officers and soldiers of the army,
In which he says that misapprehension exists
relative to the legality of paying the per-diem
authorized by the army regulations Of 1861.
| The Auditor therefore decides that extra duty
| pay cannot be allowed, except to enlisted men
employed as clerks in the military offices in
Washington, at the several geographical divi-
sions, department headquarters, and at the West
Point Military Academy, to whom such payment
is not prohibited. With the exceptions men,
toned, no soldier will hereafter receive extra
| duty pay and payments made by dsbursing
officers in violation of this decision will not be
allowed 10 their credit on the settlement of their
| accounts at the Treasury.
The Equal Suffrage Association.
The Hon. William D. Kelley, member Of Con-
gress from Philadelphia, has expressed his will
| lingness to accept the Presidency of the Equal
Suffrage Association of this city, in place of
Postmaster Bowen, resigned and will be unani-
mously elected.