The Portland daily press., 1873-03-12
Washington Matters.
SEEDS AND BULBS BY Mali


4. The Post-ofice Department, in circular
requires postmasters to carefully observe the
following instructions, based on the amend
ments to the 133d section of the new Postal
law: Packages of seeds, roots, bulbs, and
scions, not exceeding four pounds in weight,
are to be mailed at a prepaid postage of one
cent for each two ounces or fraction of an
ounce. First-Said packages must be put
up so that the contents can be readily exam
ined, without destroying the wrappers. Sec
ond-Sealed bags, made of material sufficient
ly transparent to show the contents clearly
without opening, may be used for such mat
ter. Third-This, as well as all other third
class mail matter, must be fully prepaid by
postage stamps affixed, otherwise the same
shall no: be forwarded.
THE STATUE OF THOMAS.
The friends of the Society of the Army of
the Cumberland will be pleased to learn that
among the last acts passed by the Forty
erection ct an equestrian statue to the mem
ory of Major-Gen. George FL. Thomas. The
statue is to be erected in Washington. The
act appropriates eighty-eig condemned can
non for the statue, which is to be erected I'M
der the direction of the Society of the Army
of the Cumberland. This society will meet
on the 10th of next September, in Pittsburg,
Penn, when proper steps will be taken to
expedite the completion of the statue.
THE INTERNAL REVENUE DISTRICT CONsoL-
IDATION.
The commissioner of internal revenue is
preparing list of collectors under the new
law. As yet the western States have not
been definitely arranged, except as qualified
promises have been given to congressman
and others as to the final disposition. IN
Pennsylvania, New York and some other
eastern States, the consultations have been
agreed upon and selections made from among
the collectors and assessors for the new dis
tricts.
OUR FISH AND FISHERIES,
Prof Spencer J. Baird, United States Com
missioner of Fish and Fisheries, is now COM
pleting his second annual report, which will
be even more interesting and valuable than
that of last year, which gave full history of
the animal and vegetable life of Narragansett
Bay, Buzzard's Bay and NarragansettS Sound.
The forthcoming report will contain an ac-
count of the present condition of the cod,
herring and salmon fisheries of New England,
accompanied by statement of the measures
taken to introduce shad, salmon and other
useful food fishes into the rivers and lakes of
the United States.
VARIOUS MATTERS.
The expenses on account of the Inaugural
ton ball are still twenty thousand dollars in
excess of the receipts, and series of enter
tainments in the building is projected to re-
duce the deficiency.
The Ohio friends of Judge Bingham say
that they have good reason to believe he will
be appointed minister to Japan.
The resignation of Collector Miller of the
Mobile, Alabama, custom house, has been
asked by the Treasury department and will
be rendered at once. A deficit of between
$25, 900 and $4,000 exists in the accounts of
the Office, but the surties of the collector will
protect the government from loss.
The Journals Washington correspondent
says Senator Caldwell of Kansas ''will be
aided in retaining his seat by the certainty
that in case his seat is declared vacant, York
or some OF the equally miserable hounds who
have pursued Pomeroy will be elected to sue
coed him.