Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-12-23


adjourn until the 9Th prox.
President GRANT returned from 81. Louis
this morning accompanied by his son Frederick
and Gen. Babcock.
The OTHER CALIFORNIA SRNAroRsHlP.-
At Sacramento yesterday the legislative joint
convention voted for United States Senator for
the short term follows: Hsger, AZ Shafter
p; Cole, s; Haight, 10; Phelps, 1. There were
seven abseDtees.
THE DESIGN for the engraving of the cartif
Gates of stock for the Centennial exposition.
after official approval h as been placed in charge
OF George Is. McCsrtee, the Superintendent OF
the Treasury Printing Bureau, who has given
directions to the engravers to commence work
upon it at once.
HoLIDAYIN THE DEPARTMENTs.-The Treas
ury department and all of the bureaus of the
Interior department, except the Patent Office
will run on half time during the holidays, ex-
cept on Christmas and New Years when they
will be closed all day. The same rule will be
observed at the Post Office department.
ORDERS have been received at Philadelphia
navy-yard from Washington directing the sus
pension Of work at the hayward and League
Island on extra time. The workmen, however
will he continued on the re gular hours for labor
The L. s. monitor Terror, Capt. Geo. Cooper ;,
was put in commission on last Friday morning.
and, after receiving provisions and other stores,
viii sail.
SPECIAL AGENTS OF THE 2. o. ID. TO BE Ex-
AMIEKD.-The Postmaster General has ordered
that hereafter appointments of special agent
of the department will be made subject to ex-
animation by board of examiners TO be duly
appointed, whose duty it shall be to examine
special age nts and report in writing, particu
larry as to their qualifications. Persons found
not qualified will be dismissed the service.
A COMPLAINT AGAINST THE SIcUx.-Jason
Il. Brown, secretary and acting governor o.
Wyoming, has addressed telegram to the Sec
tary of the Interior stating that portion of the
Sioux Indians are off their reservations, killing
stock and committing other depredations. The
communication was referred To Commissioner
Smith, of the Indian bureau, who recommends
that II any portion of the Indians referred TO
are really off their reservations and committing
depredatous, that they be struck by the mill
tary and driven back.
The SQUARE or GROUND and the extensive
mansion, in Washington, now occupied by Mrs
Briggs ("Olivia"), will soon be turned over for
educational purposes. A national college of the
most advanced order, for women. will be estab-
lished within six blocks of the Capitol, in which
will be taught all branches OF learning, in
Guiding the four iaculties-theology, medicine,
law, and the sciences and art. Whilst Mrs
Briggs is firmly opposed to what is called the
"woman's rights movement" she earnestly be-
licves that the fruit Of the tree of knowledge is
as good for the woman as for the man, and in
view of the weaker organization of her sex, she
urges the sharpening of the mental qualities in
order to fully equip women for the battle OF life
Such an institution is national necessity in
Washington.-Phila.P Press.
CONDITION OF THE UNION PACIFIC r. r.
The government directors of the Union Pacific
railroad, in their report just rendered to the
Secretary of the Interior, say the condition of
the road has improved. The earnings of the
last fiscal year were Sl0,000,000, and with. good
manage ment the road can be made to nav
S12.JOO,000 a year. Estimating the running ex-
penses at IS per cent, they say this will paw
the expenses OF operating the road, and pay the
interest on the income, first mortgage and sub
sidy bonds, besides the five per cent. sinking
fund for redemption of the subsidy bonds, and
leave 100000 as dividends on the stock. This
presUmes that the land grant bonds will TAX,
care Of themselves. They believe the road il
completed within the meaning of the act, which
requires that live per cent of the net earning
be set aside each year after its completion.
THE BANKRUPT LAW is commanding the
attention of nearly every member of the Senate
and the Judiciary Committee will report bill
on the subject after the holiday recess. Senator
Hitchcock recently addressed letter to Sena-
tor Edmunds upon the point whether it was
feasible TO make the repeal of the feature OF
involuntary bankruptcy retroactive, and
whether there was any probability of such &C.
ton being taken at an early date. An answer
upon these points was begged upon the ground
that an affirmative answer would go so far to re-
heve public anxiety, and prevent useless and op-
pressive litigation. Senator Edmunds replied
that SO far as his voice goes the repeal shall be
made retroactive in such way that no person
will gain anything by any oppressive steps to
wards debtors, and feels confident that this will
be the opinion of the Senate.
NAVAL ORDERS-Commander Rush Il. Wal
lace, as inspector of ordnance at the navy yard
at Norfolk, Va. Detached-Capt. s. b. Luce.
from the command of the Minnesota and or
dered to resume his duties at the navy ward
Boston; Lieut.: Commander John G. KeRnett,
q nd MI n, xuaif iEsy lave
Lieul. Commander H. L. Robeson, from the Min
nesOta and ordered to the iron clad steamer
Dictator as executive; Leuts. A. V. Walhams
and Z. ID. Stockton, from the Dictator and Or
dered to Newport, X. l., for instruc tion in tor
pedo seIvice; Lieuts. Charles NJ. Thomas and +.
j. Drake, from the Terror and ordered to
Newport, X. for instr 0ctOn In torpedo vice.
Lieuts X. M. Berry, UIiel Sebree and F. p.
Gilmore, from the Minnesota and ordered To
the iron clad steamer Dictator; Lieut. Com.
mander q. +. +. Wilde, from the Minnesota and
ordered to resume duties at the navy yard, Bos
ton; Lieut.. A. Il. II. Lille and Chaplain j. j
Kane, from the Mnnesota, and placed on wait
ing orders.
IMPORTANT BANKRUPT DECIsIoN.-The L..
s. Supreme Court yesterday rendered deci-
sion in the case of Wilson, assignee in bank
rnptcy, vs.. the City Bank OF st. Paul, on GER
tifcate Of division from the Circuit Court OF
Minnesota. firm owing money to the bank
suffered their entire stock to be seized on a
judgment by default obtained against them by
preferred the bank over other creditors against
the provisions of the bankrupt act. On these
facts the following questions arose on which the
court divided, and they were certified to this
court for answer: First, whether or not an in
tent on the firm to suffer their property to be
taken on execution with intent to give prefer
enee to the bank, or with intent to defeat or
delay the operation of the bankrupt act, can be
inferred from the facts stated? Second,
whether under the facts the bank in their pro-
ceedings had reasonable cause to believe that
fraud on the BANKRUPT act was intended by the
firm; and third, whether under the circum-
stances the bank obtained by the levy and
execution q valid lien on the goods as against
assignee in bankruptcy. The questions are
now answered, the first two in the negative and
the third In the Affirmative. This decision
overrules or largely qualities what was said by
Mr.. Clifford in delivering the opinion OF the
court In Buchanan Va. Smith at the last term.
INDIANS RAIDING In TRxAs.-A private let
ter received here from DIR. Thomas kearney,
dated Laredo, Texas, December 5, says: Owe
have had terrible Indian raid here this week.
The mail-rider from Corpus Christi reported