The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-10-17
WASHINGTON.
Steam Boiler Explosions.

Steam Boiler Explosions.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 16-The Supervising In
spector General of Steamboats, says the boiler
experiments at Sandy Hook and elsewhere are
progressing, and in a few days the commission
will be able to make tests with view of re-
porting the general causes of boiler explosions
aud also recommending boilers for adoption.
A thorough investigation is being made into
local inspectors departments. Dismissals of
local inspectors have been made. Other cases
are now pending upon complaints that local in
spectors are unworthy.
The Treasury.
No appointment of Chief Clerk in the
Treasurers Office will be made at present, but
the duties of Chief Clerk will be discharged by
Mr. Gilfillan of the Treasurers office The va
cant Chief Clerkship will be filled after q COM
petitive examination.
Report of the Bureau of Engraving.
The annual report of Superintendent McCar-
tee OF the Bureau of Engraving and Printing
OF The Treasury Department has been made to
Secretary Richardson. 1t states that the Bu-
reau delivered during the year completed and
perfect bonds, notes and other securities amount
ing to $3.50, PA, 300, and $224, 440,745 customs
and internal revenue stamps amounting to
S131 1914, 472, besides sundry other work for the
various Bureaus of the Treasury and other de-
partments of Government. All this work has
been accomplished without the loss of a note
or stamp or sheet OF paper, or any portion
thereof, The attempts at initiating the Gov
eminent special or ercalized fibre paper have
been unsuccessful thus far.
The Postal Department and the Railways
A table in course of preparation for the an
nual report of the Postmaster General shows
by the recent readjustment of pay on the rail-
the annual amount of compensation to all rail
road companies, it being increased S223, 1923, be-
ing now 81, O15,508 per annum The readjust-
ment is made on 81 railroad routes.
Six hundred different railroad companies re-
ceiye pay for carrying the mails. THE aggre-
gate length OF railroad service in the United
States being now nearly 5000 miles, and in
creasng at the rate of over 5000 miles per an
mum.
The Fourth Auditors Report
The annual report of the Fourth Auditor.
which has been completed, contains no items of
interest beyond the presentation of in tabular
form OF the statement showing the operations
OF that office during the last fiscal year, in
which the cash disbursements in the Naval
Paymasters division is shown to have been ST.
791, lS9. The amount disbursed on account of
the Navy pension fund was S464, $40. The
amount of prize money paid was 1896, 165.-
THESE with the record of the office b usiness
form the bulk of the report,
His Accidency.
A large crowd assembled at the Metropolitan
Hall last night, it having been announced that
ex-President johnson would be serenaded and
case and the recent statements of Judge Advo-
cate General Holt, concerning the action of
johnson while occupying the Presidential chair
At the request of johnson the serenade was
postponed suntil some future evening, he not
being fully prepared at present to make any
reply to the statements of Holt
Customs.
The report of the Commissioner of Customs
for the past year contains the following ac-
counts of which are settled in his office: Amount
paid into the treasury on account of customs
81, 169, 5153S; labor, drayage and storage $475,-
74137; steamboat inspections $259, O92 IS;
marine hospital tax 1888 0O3O31; amount of
fees earned by collection $611 1854; total $780,
938, 400 48. Amount paid out of the treasury
on account of collecting revenues 81 ,079, 743 40
refunding excess of deposits 3,705, O67. 81; de-
bentures $1,176,055.1S; public buildings 49,
74S, 1So. Is; construction and maintenance of
lights $2,910857 81; construction of revenue
cutters 81 137; distributive shares of lines
PENALTIES and forfetures 1926, 156.74; marine
hospital service 1896, 1850; life saving stations
1912, 1853 0S; miscellaneous accounts $117 46S so;
total $21, 100, 1917
An Umpire.
The American and Mexican Claims Commits
sion having named Sir Edward Thornton to
act as umpire, he has accepted provided his
government consents. Meanwhile the COM
missioners are engaged in the examination of
cases.
The Polaris Affair.
The examination of DR.. Emil Bessil took
place to-day on board the Tallapoosa. He gave
an interesting account of his scientific researches
and detailed an account of Capt Halls Illness
He explained his medical treatment of Capt.
Hall, and said he had no doubt whatever but
Capt. Hall died q natural DEATH