The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-11-27

WASHINGTON, Nov. ga large lobby inter-
est has developed relative to the collection of
claims under the decision of the Geneva Tri-
bunal.
Bureau Reports.
The reports of the different bureaus under the
Secretary of the Interior are satisfactory The
Land Office business has all been brought up to
date. The Pension Bureau has very few COM
plants of diatoriness, and the amount needed
for the next fiscal year is $3.50, $780, 900. The
Patent Office report shows that the fees of the
year were $77, 400 in excess of the expenditure,
and the Commissioner recommends a new gem
eral patent law and separation from the Inte-
rior Department
Supreme Court.
The Supreme Conrt adjourned to-day for the
Large Disbursemcncs.
The Sd auditor of the treasury states that the
disbursements of Gen. Robert Allen as Assist
ant Quartermaster General, between April,
nous sum of Sill 1887 ,143 of which but $3O77
the result of clerical errors, is all that is unac-
counted for
The Presidents Message.
A rough draft of the Presidents annual mes
sage, though not quite finished, was read to the
Cabinet to-day, all the members being present.
1t will be somewhat perhaps one-ffth longer
copies to be sent to Congress, five will be made
in manifold for the use of the city press and for
telegraphing.
In response to the question asked by the
writer OF this dispatch, the President remarked
that he had no objection to saying that the
message would not show change of policy on
his part, as his endeavor was now, as it had
been in the past, to perform his entire duty to
the extent of his ability, and in such a manner
as would best subserve the interest of the coun-
try.
He was not certain that he would recommend
to Congress an extension of amnesty to the two
or three hundred persons excluded by recent
legislation, but if he should it would be with
proposed condition that the benficiaries merely
take an oath to support the constitution of the
United States. Congress, however, had ample
authority in the premises and could act with
regard to the matter without repetition of his
views on the subject contained in his former
annual message. He said there was no more
necessity as had been asserted, for making a
declaration of a more friendly policy towards
the South than for such declaration towards
the North, as he sought as President under the
obligation of his oath to execute the duties of
his position without favor or Partially in ac-
cordance with the law.
He would in his message endorse such recon-
mendations of legislation as may be presented
by the heads of the several departments and
which experience had shown to be necessary.
He would recommend to Congress that &C.
ton would be taken with regard to the award
made by the arbitrator. The money will he
paid by Great Britain to the Department of
State and be deposited in the Treasury OF
course it cannot be drawn therefrom except in
accordance with the law for the purpose speci-
fed
In the course of conversation on the subject
OF civil service reform, the President said that
while competitive examinations were desirable,
he did not think it right Offices should be given
to enemies of the administration to the exclu-
sion of friends.
He was now examining an application for
pardon, taking up the case singly with a view
to conclusions upon them. He intended to par
don Col. Bowerman, who about IS months ago
was convicted of embezzlement while he was
an officer in the Baltimore Custom House. He
added that in addition to other reasons Col
BOwerman was brave and faithful officer dur
ing the late war
The Signal Service.
With view to diminishing the expense of
the signal service and at the same time possess
ing the power of suddenly increasing the num-
Der of stations from which reports can be had
in any section of the country, which may at
any season be especially threatened by storms
which at the different seasons seem to pass
more frequently over particular portions of ter
rtories of the United States, the organiza-
ton of modified corps of observers has been
commenced.
The Indian Tribes more Peaceable.
Information has been received that the Ara
pahoes, Caddos, Wachitans and affiliated tribes
of Indians have fully sustained their delega-
oiOhc doCCuiIi5 w tuo pIUpUSiGlOHS VI UQe
government for the location of considerably
diminished reservations. The Kiowas, Com
manches and Apaches have surrendered to their
agent the last of the captives held by hem and
declare their intention to give up stolen animals
in their herds, and otherwise fully comply with
the demands of the government. Shaking
Hand, the most important of the disaffected
Commanche chiefs, with his band, and Kick
ing Bird, with nearly all the Kiowas, have
come again to their reservation and camped
fhA Of Eort A
known Kiowa braves, with small number fol-
lowing, express their determination to defy the
authorities, but this was expected. The men
have long been outlawed and their own chiefs
disclaim all responsibility for their deeds, and
assure their agent that the government will be
sustained by the tribe in any action it might
take in regard to this faction.
The Experiments with the Torpedo Il oats
Success.
The report of the Chief of Engineers of the
army says: The trials with torpedoes at Will
let's Point have been marked success, and
Investigations have gone so far as to enable the
department to pronounce upon the special sys-
tenn on which it will arrange the details of the
parts a. well as the methods of handling and
operating the torpedoes. The total cost of APP
plicatlon of this powerful auxiliary to the de-
fence of our coast will be about 80, 900, 900. An
estimate is submitted of $50, 900 for the torpedo
defence of some of the most important ha T.
bors. The report also sets forth in detail the
progress made and anticipated upon the several
works along the coast, Great attention is also
given of the Improvements in the river and
harbor Notifications and inland offences
Naval Orders.
Lt.-Commander A. G. Caldwell is ordered as
Executive Officer of the Canandaigua at Key
West. Lt.-Commander E. G. Merriman is de-
tailed from the Canandaigua, and ordered 10
the command of the stcre-ship Pawnee, at PEN
sacola.