Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-05-19
Washington Items.

WASHINGTON, May | |.
Secretary Boutwell, desires it to be understood
that in issuing the order for the purchase Of
bonds, the bonds 50 purchased are not 10 be 4et
aside as a sinking fund, and that it has no con-
nectiOn whatever with that matter. His purpose
is simply to use the surplus money in the Treas
ury to purchase the six per cent gold bonds in
order to stop the interest 1t is not his intention
to cancel the bonds. but TO allow them 10 remain
in the Treasury. 1t mag become necessary for
the Department TO dispose of them again il there
should be a falling of in the receipts. Respect
ing the carrying out Of the sinking fund law no
conclusion has yet been reached.
Information coming to the knowledge Of Gen.
Smith, second assistant Postmaster General that
certain contractors We're in the habit Of throwing
oil the mails in order to make room for passen-
gers, he has fined two Of them in the sum Of
$1,000 each, and will apply this rule in all sim
liar cases. The department will also withhold
pay in every instance where the trip is not per
formed, no matter what may be the cause.
The condition Of affairs in Cuba, and the man
ner in which the American residents are treated
by the Spanish authorities, are such that our
Navy department has decided to send two more
war vessels to Admiral lIoh The Galena which
is at Norfolk Navy Yard, viii leave in a very few
days and the Seminole, now Mt Hampton roads
will follow soon after.
The post-ofice department has received tee-
gram from Promontory Point, stating that the
mails have been delivered ~ the Pacific road. and
that the through line has been regularly estab-
lished. The cost by the Butterield route i0l
transporting the mails was Sll0O mile By the
railroad it will cost $500 mile per annum.
Secretary Boutwell, has sent orders to the col
lectOr of customs at New York TO prevent the
sailing of several vessels in violation Of the ncu-
trality law Of April 90 1913.
A movement is on foot in Washington to in.
duce the President to take steps manifest
ing his approval Of annexing st. Domingo to the
United States When this is done, President
Baez Of ST. Domingo, viii recognize the belligpr-
ency of the Cubans, and extend such aid as will
secure their success.
WASHINGTON, May II.
The commission of Daniel Z. Sckles as Min
lister to Spain, which was prepared at the State
Department on Saturday was signed by President
Grant to-day.
Since the opening Of the Pacific railroad the
government departments have regularly received
their daily mails from the Pacific coast
There is great muss about the employment
OF colored printer-son of Fred Douglass-in
the Government printing Office, The end is moi
yet.
One hundred and twenty thousand copies OIL
the Globe with the private letters printed BY
Senator Spngue have just been sent 10 Mr.
Spngue in New York, where he is said to have
opened some sort OF a bureau. The papers sent
free by post filled thirty-nine Of the largest sizec
mail bags.
The Presidents proclamation appointing tn,
9th day of July for the election in Virginia, i,
printed in the Washington press dispatches