Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-12-09
ITO the Associated Press. |

ECUADOR POSTAGE.
WASHINGTON, Dec. S.-rhe new postal ar.
rangements with Ecuador fix letter postage at
twenty cents per half ounce.
NO SPURIOUS BONDS.
committee of experts and engravers has
been examining the purchased redeemed and
exchanged bonds, TO ascertain if any spurious
issue is being redeemed, but has not found any
such.
WOMAN SUFFRAGE.
The American woman suffrage convention,
representing thirteen auxiliary societies and
many thousands of active friends of woman
suffrage throughout the United States, held a
session tonight at Masonic hall,
MINOR MATTERS.
congress not beingin session to-day, senator's
and members arc attending to departmental
business.
The signal office has received applications for
the establishment of stations at Newport
Woods Hole and Highland Light
Leading republicans are confident that the
duties on salt and on coal will be abolished by
congress during the present session.
Gen. Capron, who went TO Japan to act as
agricultural commissioner there, has sent to this
country large orders for machinery, implements
and seeds, and has also ordered a few sheep and
swine.
The prospect Of the passage of general am
ncsty bill is very good. and unless more kuklux
outrages occur, measures will probably 20
through both banchcs of congress without very
serious opposition.
Interchange of opinion between the democratic
leaders is unfavorableto the proposed "passive"
policy, by certain democratic journals. Very
few prominent democrats now here favor any
scheme which necessitates the abandonment
of their party organization.
The civil service commission has established
four general rules, viz: Applicants for office
who may be selected are to undergo prelimi-
nary examination. There is TO be probationary
term of service, with competitive examination
for promotion to vacancies, and all civil offices
are to be held during good behavior. These
rules the president can adopt without further
congressional legislation.
The report of the civil service commission is
nearly completed, and will be submitted to the
president before many days 1t is officially
stated that their recommendation will be such
as TO require little legislation the part of con.
gress, but will leave to the discretion of the
president the inaugural of reform.
The official report of the secretary of state of
the contingent expenses of his department dur
ing the past fiscal year show that there was
drawn as what is called secret service money.
S29,29S. The contingent expenses of foreign
missions were S54,S77 of the department of
state, S33,O35; and of the American and British
joint high commission, S1S,007
II is said very positively that Mr.. Bristow,
solicitor general of the department of Justice is
the presidents choice for attorney general upon
the retirement of Mr.. Akerman. Mr.. Bristow
is from Kentucky, and his appointment would
give entire satisfaction to the legal fraternity
here, as well as to western and southern poll
ticians.
The amount required under the bill to carry
out the provisions of the treaty of Washington
is two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. The
foreign affairs committee are disposed to report
the recommendations of Secretary Fish. When
the matter comes before the house it is under
stood that Gen. Butler and Others will oppose
the appropriation for certain services under tbe
treaty. The secretary's recommendations will
be adopted by large majority, Notwithstanding
Buffers opposition TO the fishing clause.