Evening star., 1869-10-02

will not be able to take his seat in the Senate at
the opening Of Congress.
WM. MCGARRAHAN has commenced leea,
proceedings against VIM. ]. Murtagh, propri.
etor OF the National r. publican OF this city, on
account Of the structures Of that paper last
winter on the celebrated "McGarrahan Claim
then pending in Congress.
COLONEL s p. LEE, Military Commander of
the Nineteenth DIVISION OF Virginia, and sta.
toned at Alexandra, was relieved yesterday
by Captain J. J. Hoff, and ordered to duty
at Fort Sill, Indian Territory, as Acting Com.
missary.
NAVAL APPRENTICBs.-Despatc received
AT the Navy Department from the East India
squadron give very unfavorable reports of the
apprentice system, many apprentices having
deserted, while majority OF those who remain
are all the time under pI nishment.
The WHITE HoUsE-A very large number
OF visitors were at the Executive Mansion this
morning, nearly all Of whom We're admitted to
the Executive Office Among them delega.
tion of EirgInIans, consisting of A. NJ. Crane,
q. G.. Curtis, and Col. Robt. Boiling. A delega.
ton Of Pennsylvanians, consisting OF Hon. ].
Il. Morhead, Capt. Dean, w. H. Brown, ard
N. J. Bigley.
GOVERNOR PILE, of New Mexico, Is here for
the purpose Of obtaining permission from the
President and Secretary OF the Treasury to
issue certificates of Indebtedness to members
of the Legislature, in order to pay their
expenses, and enable him to call the Leeis
lature together to enact such measures as NAV
be deemed best 70 advance the interests OF the
Territory.
THB OHIO RIVER BRIDGE SPAN QUESTION.
delegation of steamboat men, headed by
Hon. James K. Moorehead. is in the city, and
Will appear before board of engineers In refer
ence TO the construction Of bridges over the
Ohio river. They want all the bridges to be
Of four hundred feet span, and it is their inten.
ton to get evidence to lay before Congress next
winter, showing that navigation will be in
tsrtered with If the bridges are less than four
hundred feet span.
THE ARMY NOT TO BE FURTHER REDUCED
AT PREsENr.-General Negley, of Pennsyl-
vania, a member Of the House Committee On
Military Affairs, has had an interview with
the President and Secretary of War concerning
further reductions in the army. In the present
Copdition of affairs General Sherman thinks
IL unadvIsable TO make further reductions at
least until all danger from Indian troubles
is over.
VIRGINIA CITY, MONTANA TERRITORY
The Commissioner Of the General Land OHice
has authorized the entry of the town site of
Virginia, under the act OF March I'd, 1867. The
city is the capitol of Montana Territory, and
the evidence taken before the local of1cers az
Helena show population of 500 Inhabitants
and that business to the amount of 81, 900 900 is
annually transacted within the corporate
limits OF the town. The tract claimed by the
town covers 569.72 acres, and over 500 houses
have been erected thereon.
The SOLAR EcLIPsB.-Commodore b. +.
Sards, Superintendent Of the Naval Observa.
tory, has received letter from Prof Asapn
Hail, U. 5. N, who was sent 70 Behring's
Strait to observe the eclipse which took place
on the 7th of August last. The sky was par.
TALLY covered with low cumulous clouds
drifting rapidly TO the East, but Prof. Hall
says: when we get all our data together 1
think that we shall make out pretty good OBJ
servation Of the last contact, and perhaps of
the totality. We have observations for geo.
graphical position, and magnetcal observa-
tions."
SPANISH INTERFRRRNCE WITH UNITED
STATES MAILs.-Dispatches received at the
State Department yesterday from our Consul
General at Havana, give Information OF q
contemplated interference on the part OF the
Spanish Government with the United States
mails. No open act of violence had then been
committed, but Mr.. Plumb had knowledge of
improper interference on the part of Spanish
officials. which he believed would be followed
up by an open seizure OF the mails unless
proper step be taken by the Government here
TO prevent it, The dispatches were referred to
the Postmaster General.
THE RBAssEssMENr OF tn. INCOME TAX
1t is stated that the Commissioner of InrernaI
Revenue has prepared q circular of instrue.
tions, 70 be sent TO the deputy assessors Of each
district, in reference to the assessment Of the
income tax. A thorough recanvass Of each
division is 70 be made after October Ist. Every
house must be visited, aud the names Of the In.
mates obtained. Persons who have income to
be taxed must make an ahidavit OF that fact.
and those who have made no returns are to be
summoned to appear at the ofiics Of the asses
sor. and in case Of failure to respond are SUBJ
ject to a penalty. The duty Of the energetic
action Is impressed upon the assessors.
INrHRHAi REVENUE TAX on TRlAfRIcAL
ExHIBIrIoNe-In reply to q letter from Msssrs.
Ford, Spalding and Rapley. theatrical mana.
gers, an opinion has been furnished from the
Internal Revenue Department, which decides
that all rooms, halls, &C., rented occasionally
for theatrical representations are liable 10 the
TAX or Incense Of elO0 per annum; also tina.
exhibitions given In other places-rooms or
halls fnot arranged and rented for theatrical
purposes,-under canvass or In temporary
buildings, are liable to the license imposed in
paragraphs q, 80, section 10, act June 30th,
1854, in each State.
POSTAL NEGOTIATIONS WITH F1ANcI.-The
Postmaster General has received comm uni.
caton from Senator Ramsey, now In Europe,
In which ne gives an account OF his interviews
with the ofiicers Of me postal department Of
France relative to changes In our postal treaty
with that country. Mr.. r. finds the French
ofhcials very difncult TO move, but though hs
has not an assurance Of IN agreement upon the
basis Of the propositions from the United States
government, he does hope TO succesd In per.
fectiEe some material changes in our present
arrsn cement for delivery Of the mails between
the two nations.