Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-01-14
BY TELE R A P q
LArKsr ro NOON TODAY.
Dispatches to the Southwestern Press
Association.
WASHINGTON.


nine illicit distilleries have been visited;
twenty-five stills destroyed and three
seized; about one hundred and twenty
gallons of brandy were seized; four hun
bred and fifty gallons Of low wines de-
siroyed, aud twenty five men were ar
rested during the raid upon the Illicit dis
tilleries, lasting forty-six days, during
which ov,r one, thousand miles were
travelled by the cavalry.
The President to-day nominated Chas.
s. Cooper for Surveyor of Customs for
Memphis, Tenn.
There seems to be an inclination in the
Ways and Means Committee to reduce
the duties on all sugars. The Commit
tee have agreed to change the duties on
lumber from ad pdlorem TO special, re-
tanning substantially the present duty.
Private advices from Jackson indicate
the election for United States Senators
from Mississippi of Mr.. Eggleston and
General Ames.
The Postmaster General to-day sent
communication to the House in reply to
a resolution, enclosing o letter from
Senator Ramsey, in which the latter says
be spent SPA dollars in gold IN neces-
ssry expenses during bis stay in Paris
of several months, including payments
for ocean telegraph messages, etc. lie
is sure his expenses we're in excess OF
this amount. His clerk received $1,000
in gold, and another person $500 for IN
terpreting and translating during the
postal negotiations.
The Postmaster General says there is
no express authority TO appoint special
agents, except by his general authority,
to superintend the welfare Of the Depart
ment; this, however, has always been
considered necessity incident to the
Office of Postmaster General, and is 80
recognized by act of July 5ih, 1886,
An army bill has been prepared at the
War Department entitled IAN act to
reduce the army" II provides that all
regiments Of cavalry, artillery and in
fantry shall have the same number of
officers. The Secretary of War is author
lied to assemble board OF three general
officers to examine the full qualifications
and general fitness Of all officers who
may be mum really in excess of the
organization, awaiting orders and recom-
mendsd for transfer or appointment
to office such Of the number as may &c
determined on by the board as best ff,
as well in view of previous active SER
vice as continued willingness to do duty,
to fill the same. Tae report is to be sub
mitted to Grant, who, if he shall approve,
will make appointments aud transfers by
and with the consent of the Senate, and
all officers not recommended are to be
separated therefrom, and cease to be
officers Of the army. The present pro-
vision of the army laws, that seven Per
cen,um of officers may be retired TO be
repealed, and hereafter the number shall
be left to the discretion Of the President,
provided the whole number retired shall
not exceed ESQ
Mr.. L,ganis bill, introduced to- day,
adopts the above mentioned provision,
adding that all officers mustered out
shall be entitled to one years. pay and
allowances. The Offices Of General
and Lieutenant General shall continue
only as long as vacancies may
occur. The brevet rank is 9bo!-
ished. Officers, as to Sitle, are to be
confined to their proper grade. The
regular pay is fixed ss follows. General,
el6 0O0i Msjor General, 81 OOOi B'Rs-
der General. $4,000 Colonel, 81 500;
Lieutenant Colonel and Major, 80 500 (;
Captain, mounted, $1,000; Captain, not
mounted, $500; Aijatsut, 81 800;
Regipeptal ouartermaster, 81 800;
First Lieutenant. pogutsd, 81 e0li
Second Lieutenant, mounted, $500;
Second Lieutenant, not mounted, 81 400;
Chaplain, $1,000. The pay Of Abide
camp 10 asjor General, 800; pay Of
Aid-de-Camp to Brigadier General, $50,
and A ,iing Commissary $3.50 per anuum
in addition TO pay of rank. The fore
going schedule il to be in lieu Of all
con- pEtstien sus alloYances,
After further debste, aud without dis
posing Of the SUBJECT, both Houses
adj ournEa,
WASHINGTON, Janulry 1.-The Post
masters Of some of the large cities held
an adjourned meeting at the Post Office
Department. yesterday, and resumed
their expressions Of mind relative to re-
forms and improvemon's in America
Nothing is likely to be accomplished hJ
them, further than that the POSTMASTER
General Fill profit by their suggestions
A special meeting of the House Judi
ciary Committee was held to day. A re
port from The Secretary Of the lnieriol
on the NC .rohau mining case was re
ceived, and Bingham was instructed to re
port & resolution to the effect ihst n'
patent shall hereafter be issued on liant
in controversy until the hual disposition
ofthe claims by Congress.
Eleven Of The striking telegraph opera
tors have gone TO work