The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-11-26
WASHINGTON.
Instruction to DIsbursinx Officer.

AMotEuCAVA ~ DASVMEHAM8 sIMCeI9.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 25.-The War Depart
ment has issued a general order requiring that
all dsbursing officers Of the army SHALL SO tar
as practicable, keep the bulk of all public funds
advanced to them in the independent treasury
Offices, and remit the deposits in local deposito-
ry banks to such amounts only as may be alb
solutely necessary for small local payments.
Treasury Balances.
The following are the Treasury balances to-
day:~Currency, $2,513,733; special deposit Of
legal tenders for redemption of certificates of
deposit $1S, 800 900; coin, $82 5S3 669, including
coin certificates $29, 264 800; outstanding legal
tenders, 1856, 036,O69.
Indian Affairs.
1t. Gen. Sheridan will arrive here in day
or two for consultation with the President, Sec
Rotary of War, Secretary of the Interior and
| the Commissioner of Indian Affairs in regard
| to the government of the indians.
The frequent raids by Indians during the
past summer rendered it necessary that more
| stringent measures be adopted to prevent fur
| ther outbreaks and it is thought the proposed
| conference will result in severol important
| changes of present policy for their govern
ment
| At present the military cannot follow the
marauding Indians on their reservations and
| they being oware of this fast frequently COM
init depredations and return to their reserva-
| tOns to escape
| Bank Reform.
The Comptroller of the Currency in his an
nual report says the effect of legislation by
Congress to abolish the evils of payments Of
| interest upon deposits would apply only to ma
tional banks and bring State and savings banks
in competit on with the former The proposed
action of the Clearing House of New York city
would do more to prevent the payment OF IN
terest on deposits than any Congressional en-
actments This custom pervades all towns and
| villages as well as cities, and has done more
! than any other thing to demoralize banking
business. The result is an increase in the rates
of interest, and losses to banks and individuals.
| The Comptroller recommends law prohibiting
the payment of interest on deposits in national
banks to be passed by Congress, to be followed
by its adoption by all the States to be applied
to all State banks. The internal revenue tax
upon deposits in State and private banks, and
| the currency act taxing deposits half OF per
cent. in national banks, he recommends should
be repealed so far as it relates to demand de-
posts.
The Comptroller says the law compelling ma
tional banks not to certify checks unless there
| is money in the banks to cover said checks, will
| be rigidly enforced.
Department Reports.
The Postmaster General was the first of the
Cabinet officers to finish his report, and contra
| ry to custom furnished copies to the press in
| advance of its transmission to Congress.
The report of the Secretary of War is print
| ed but awaits Sheridan'S and several other &C
companying papers
The Secretary of the Navy has commenced
but has not yet finished his report.
Thatof the Secretary of the Interiors in for
| wardness.
The report of Attorney General Williams will
soon be published.
The diplomatic correspondence is partly in
type and will make several printed volumes.
The report of the Comptroller Of Currency is
nearly ready for the press.
| All the other reports of the heads of bureaus
are either in type or ready for the printer.
The Presidents message will not be printed
in advance of iJs transmission to Congress 1t
ill be manifolded as heretofore under Presi-
dent Grants administration, and copies given
only to the local press and for telegraphing.
The report of the Secretary Of the Treasury
ON finance will be printed but net distributed
before the message shall be sent to Congress