The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-10-23
WASHINGTON.


WASHINGTON Oct. 22-There is reason to be-
]ieve that the Secretary of the Navy will, in his
forthcoming annual report to Congress, recon-
mend an additional appropriation to construct
floating iron dock for the repair of vessels OF
the Navy. Congress at the last session appro-
priated million dollars for that purpose and
the Secretary in accordance with the provisions
of the act appointed board consisting of Capt.
Napoleon Collins, Naval Constructors w. L.
Hanscom and Geo. A. Murch, Chief Engineer
E. D. Robe, and Civil Engineer Chas. Hastings
to prepare plans and invite proposals for the
construction of the dock These officers agreed
upon plan which was approved by the Secre-
tary of the Navy, but when the specifications
were issued it was found that the dock could
not be constructed for million dollars, the
lowest responsible bidder was over 81, 900,
and others were as high as $1,700000 Since
then the price of iron has advanced and the
dock will now cost nearly 100000. The Sec
rotary, however, believes 1t to be necessity
and will therefore urge the appropriation for
its construction. ks.a
The Cadet TrOuble-Dis missaI.
The circumstances of the cadet trouble at the
Naval Academy at Annapolis as reported to
the department are that Robert d. Diggs of
Maryland, Cadet Midshipman, met colorsd ca
Diet Conyers on the grounds of ,,the Naval Acad
envy and after some words between them q
fight ensued, Digs getting the best of Conyers.
The representation being that Diggs was in
fault, an order was issued last night dismissing
1SSS lIOul 1ACdicuy |
Circular Relative to French Duties Re-
called.
The Secretary of the Treasury has directed
that the circular recently prepared for the gui
dance of Collectors imposing discriminating
duties on French bottoms, in retaliation
for, the new French law imposing
differential duties ON foreign bottoms shall be
cancelled The French Minister has represent
! ed to the State Department that it was not the
purpose of his government to so change the
law that it should be construed as imposing
| differential or discriminating duties. The sub
joct will at once be automatically considered
| and dispatches exchanged. If however, in op-
GRAFTON the French enactment is found to i'm
pose discriminating duties on American bottoms
! the President will by proclamation at once put
French vessels entering American ports on the
same footing. -ar
| COmmissiO err Walker and the Indians
The Commissioner of Indian Affairs had a
| talk with the Keowa, Kamanche and Apache
delegations of Indians to-day, at the Depart.
| ment of the Interior. Gen. Walker INDUCED
in very plain talk in accordance with the views
of the administration, as recently expressed by
the President and members of the Cabinet
The ultimatum of the government was stated
to these Indian representatives substantially as
follows: The government has ceased to accept
mere professions of friendship and good faith
and now requires evidence of their honesty OF
purpose The terms dictated were: First, the
Kiowas and Camanches who were represented
must be before the 10Th OF December in camp
every chief, haed man, brave and family com
plete within ten miles of Fort Sell. They mus
remain there till spring without giving any
trouble, and shall not then leave unless will
the consent of their agent. They shall before
that date give up to their agent all the animals
they have stolen from the government or any
person in their neighborhood, military authori
ties agents and traders, and when they canno
return the same stolen animals they mus
restitution from their own stock. All thes
things it is represented the Indians promised Il
do. Gen. Walker informed them that the gov
eminent does not propose to treat with tina
portion of the tribal bands who have decline
to send representatives to Washington, an
they would soon hear that United States troop
had been directed to operate against them
Every man belonging to any tribal band no
1T the place named by December 10th, is to b
t considered an enemy of the government Sue
; persons are to receive no further benefit fror
7 the government, and the troops would hit theI
wherever they are found. The COMMISSIONS
S assured those who complied with the require
ments of the government that they should /
g provided for. The Indians remaining silen
4 they were asked whether they had anything t
say, when one of the Indians after short col
e ference with his fellow chiefs, said: eve can
e in to do what our great father wants us to d
s We told you what our council did. If we d
: not intend to do well we would not have CON
:: here from the plains" Several of the IndiaI
! said they would do all in their power to Undue
r the stragglers to come to the meeting but the
e did not express confidence in their success.