The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-01-01
WASHINGTON.
NEW MODE OF SMUGGLING DISCOVERED.

NEW MODE OF SMUGGLING DISCOVERED.
New YORK, Dec. 31.-Washin gton specials
state that the detective agents of the Treasul v
have unearthed another mode of smuggling
goods into the country from foreign ports. A
gentleman living in France notified the De-
partment that large quantity of silks were
about being struggled in the United States,
and stated the name of the vessel carrying the
cargo. When the information was received
the vessel had discharged her cargo, and on
inspection it was found that the labels had
been removed from great portion of the silk
goods, but eighty pieces were discovered that
were not manifested, which were accordingly
seized. Investigation has proved that the firm
in question had been conducting this contra
band business for the last year.
SOUTHERN DEsTrrUTIoN
1t is quite probable that the President will
send to Congress, when it reassembles, spec
ial message on the subject of the restitution
in the South, and suggesting some kind of
legislation to relieve the suffering there. The
President has received a large amount of evil
dence from all parts of the South, prese nting
state OF affairs well nigh bordering on anar-
chy and famine, and demanding at the hands
of the Government or the charitable prompt
and liberal relief.
POSTAL AFFAIRS.
The General Post Office at Washington is
nowtengaged in revising the affairs of large
number of post offices throughout the country
and making final settlement of their accounts.
1t has been discovered that in many of the
offices the business has greatly increased,
which being shown to the satisfaction of the
Department, the salaries of postrnasters at
such offices will be increased. In other offices
where the business has decreased cores
ponding reduction will be made in the salary
OF postmaSters.
THE BAY OF SANTANA.
Senior Puiol, who is on his way to Washing.
ton from Havana, is coming to transfer the bay
of Samana and to receive the last instalment
of the 100000 in gold, which the United States
Government has agreed to pay for the bay
The feeling for retrenchment, which prevails
in both Houses of Congress, will probably de-
feat this measure.
REDUCTION OF WAGES.
By order of the Secretary of the Navy the
salaries of all the mechanics in the navy yard
here will be reduced 35 per cent. after the LIST
of January next. They will accept this modi-
tication, as they are afraid their places will be
filled by other mechanics who are out of en-
ployment. 1t is understood that reductions
will be made in other localities of a similar
kind.
REMOVAL OF COMMANDER THORNTON.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 31.-Commander James
5. Thornton has been detached from the Ports
mouth Navy Yard and ordered to the command
OF the Kearsarge.
U. S. DISTRICT COURT.
In the District Court for the District of Col
umbia to-day, Hon. b. f.. Butler asked leave
to file a libel of Information on the part of Ad-
mirai Farragut and officers and men of the
Western Gulf Squadron, of April, 1852, to re-
cover bounty of $500 for each man, under the
statute for the destruction of the force of con-
federate vessels in front of Fort st. Phillip
and Fort Jackson On the Odd day of April,
1862. He said that the superior force of the
enemy's fleet might be shown from the records
of the late confederate government In regard
to the fall of New Orleans which was fnlIv in
vestigated by the courts of Justice thereon in
the trial of Gen. Lowell, the libel prayed for,
monition to issue to all parties to show cause.
and the court directed monition to issue, and
made it returnable on she first Monday of Feb
ruary, 1868, after the usual publication of TWEEN
ty days. =
During this afternoon snow fell to the depth
of about three inches.