Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-01-27
Go the Associated Press,


| REDUCTION OF FORCE.
| WASHINGTON, Jan. 26.-Thc commissioner of
internal revenue has given instructions to the
| supervisors throughout the country to cause a
reduction to the lowest practical standard of the
clerical force in the offices of assessors.
COMMITTEE WORK.
The representative of the rice and leather in
| tercst had bearing before the ways and means
cOminttce this morning.
The senate postal committee gave a hearing,
to-day, to the agents of the Cunard line and the
Williams Guon line, and afterwards decided
to recommend contracting with the Williams &
Guion line for carrying the ocean mails during
| the years 1872 and 1873.
There was Joint meeting of the committees
| on commerce and post offices and post roads of
| both the house and senate this morning at the
| request OF the postmaster general, for the pur-
| pose OF conference with him in relation to
| awarding the contract for carrying the Europe-
| an mails, and after a full discussion it was de-
| cided to give the contract TO the Williams &
| GuiOn line,
The house committee on appropriations this
| morning, finished the Indian bill, which appro-
| PIRATES over S. 100000. The bill increasing the
salary of the chef clerk of the state department
| to 5000 per annum was agreed TO and will be
reported TO the house. Gov. Hamilton and Rep
reSentatve Clarke of Texas were before the
| committee in relation to a claim of that state
for repelling Indian hostities.
The committee of ways and means to-day con-
unued the hearing OF persons interested in the
rice trade. John f. Halmadge of New York
SAID that, although the reduction of the present
duties would benefit his trade, yet he believed
that in four or five years, under the duties, the
article would be as cheap as if they were now
removed. The consumption of rice is not di-
minished by the present duties. Senator Nor
wood OF Georgia spoke OF the number of rice plan
tatiOns now unused for want OF CAPITAL. If This
branch of industry is DESTROYED about fifty
Thousand labOrerS will be turned loose the most
Ignorant of all negroes.
Inc ways and means committee heard the
leather delegation to-day, representing large
interests IN Massachusetts, New York, New Jer-
sery, Pennsylvania, Delaware and MARYLAND
Various firms in those states saw they are mann.
iactuTerS of leather from goat and sheen skins
and are against the abolition or reduction of the
present duty on leather, and the manufacturers
OF leather IN memorial to the committee they
say their industry amounts to the production OF
over twenty millions OF dollars year, ciyinr
employment to fifty thousand operatives. In
putting their goods into the market they nav
from fourteen to seventeen for common and
twentyonc dollars a week for skilled labor.
while the same goods are made in France and Ger
many with labor at from four dollars for un.
skilled and six for skilled labor q week IL il
against cheap European labor they want to be
protected.
MINOR MATTERS.
The Anaostan boat club are in correspond
cnce with prominent oarsmen about having an
Potomac, opposite this city, next summer.
1t is reported that a project to sell part of
Texas TO the federal government for an Indian
reservation will be introduced in the house on
Monday, under the title of a cession of plot
OF land as large as New York state, about one
half of which comprises Staked Plains, at the
rate OF fifty cents an acre. The "Plains" are
commonly known as the desert.
The supreme court of this district in general
term, has affirm ID the decision of Judge Wylie
in equity, that the heirs OF Linus Child have no
Just claim upon N. z. Trist. 1t was claimed
that the late Mr.. Child was entitled TO twenty
I'VE per centum of $4,000 appropriated to Mr..
Irist for his services in negotiating the treaty of
Gaudaoupe Hidalgo, which terminated the Mex
lean war, by his having made such statements
OF the case to senators and representatives us
secured its passage. Judge Wylie decided that
such services formed no adequate consideration,
being contrary TO public policy, and the full
bench Endorsed this decision.
The congressional temperance society will
hold its sixth annual meeting in the Congrega-
tional church, Sunday evening. Senators Nor
ri OF Maine, Logan OF Illinois, Pomeroy of
hanSas, and Representatives Moore of Illinois
and Lamport of New York will make speeches
M, me Cunard company has offered TO take a
m,'ssunesuay mail to England free of charge,
which would enable the postmaster general 10
reduce the rate OF postage to four cents.
James T.. Legate has been confirmed as gov
ernor oil washington territory.
A. M. ferett, chairman of the executive COM
mlttee OIL tue national labor reform party, after
considering the mooted question OF the most.
ponement OF the convention to meet in Coium
pus, Ohio, on the 21st of February, finds that he
mas no right TO postpone the meeting and tho
convention VIII be held on the day appointed.