The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-06-05
WASHINGTON.


WASHINGTON, June 4.-The Commissioner of
Agriculture reports that the total estimated
production of wheat in the United States in 1872
was 249,997 900 bushels, an increase over the
preceding year of L., 275, 900 bushels. The larg-
est production of any single State was Califor-
Mag, 800 900 bushels. Illinois, Minnesota,
Wisconsin and Iowa ranked next in the order
named, ranging from q, 900 600 to 247OO, 900
bushels. The total production in the North
western States named for 1872 was 92.29S, 600
bushels, an increase of 26, 100000 bushels over
the previous year.
Treasury Balances.
The following are the Treasury balances to-
day. Currency Sc, 061 1878: special deposits of le-
gal tenders for redemption Of certificates of de-
post S29. 420, 900; coin SIG, 482, 731; including
$50, 719,600 in coin certificates; legal tenders
outstanding $3.50, 100000.
Internal Revenue Decision.
The Commissioner of Internal Revenue de-
cides that retailers of cigars on railroad trains
must pay special tax of So,
The ModOe Question.
1t il said by the highest military authorities
that the Modocs could not surrender as prison.
ers of war in the sense known to nations where
war is dec AIRED in accordance with constituted
FORMS Not having teen SO received. they are
not entitled to consideration as prisoners of
war. The orders issued to the commanding
General directly after the assassination of Gen
Candy and Rev. DR.. Thomas were NOT tn ex-
terminate the Modocs, but it was said that their
conduct had been such that their extermina-
ton would be justifable, leaving the matter to
the discretion of Gen. Davis. Therefore, if he
had ordered the killing of the Indians, he would
As to their final disposition, no one questions
that they will ultimately be delivered to the
government of Oregon for trial.
The Transportation Committee.
The Senate select committee ON Transports
ton have thus far gathered large amount of
substantial information. Within week or ten
days Senator Window, chairman. will leave
Washington for Baltimore, Philadelphia, New
York. Albany, Boston, Buffalo. Montreal and
other cities to make preparations for facilitat-
ing the committee.
Modification of the Civil Service Rules.
The advisory board of civil service met the
President and Cabinet to-day by invitation and
submitted Their report maturely considered, pro-
posing modification of some of the present
rules and adding several new ones These i'm
provements are designed to make the civil SER
vice more efficient being based on strict adj
herence to its principles, and will aid in RENE
dying such such defects as experience has
shown to exist. One of the notifications will
serve to facilitate the filling of vacancies by the
prompt examination of applicants. 1t is I'M
derstood that the board has given careful con-
sideration to the subject of securing all equita-
the views of the Cabinet SO far as expressed are
in accord with those of the board. The modi-
fed rules will not be promulgated by the Presi-
dent until after the next meeting of the Cabi-
net.
Important Decisions.
The Court of Claims to-day rendered decis-
ion OF general interest and of very great iul-
portance in the case of William A. Haycroft
vs.. the United States, which is precisely identi-
cal in principle and conditions of the fact with
the well known EImira j. Kelley case likewise
pending. The Haycroft suit was brought on
July 81, 1872, for the proceeds Of certain cotton
seized and sold by agents of the United States
government. The captured and abandoned
property act limited the time within which the
suits co, Id be brought for the proceeds of such
seizures to Aug. 90 1868, being two years from
the date of the termination of the rebellion as
fixed by the Presidential proclamation August
~. 1866 The Supreme Court decided that the
amnesty proclamation of Dec. 25 1868, relev-
ed all persons in the Southern States from OBJ
legation to prove their loyalty in the Court of
Claims, and Haycroft in filing his clam in
1872 contend that in consequence of said am
nesty proclamation and the decision of the Su-
preme Court, disloyal cotton claimants like
himself had right to commence their suits at
a"y time within six years after date of the pro-
clamation of Dec. rs, 1868, under the general
Statute of limitations applicable to suits brought
IN this Court, for the reason he had no standing
IN the Court prior to the issuance of said am
neSty proclamation, and that his cause of &C.
ton occurred at that date, although his proper
ty was taken in 1863
Inc Attorney General filed plea as to juris-
dic.'ion on the ground that all the suits for cot
tom were required to be brought within two
years of the limitation of the captured aud
lsaniO ned property act. Counsel for the claim
an t Aeaaanded and the court to-day overruled
the demurrer and sustained the plea OF juris-
dictic u Counsel for claimant then appealed to
the 81, 'Uneme Court. This decision, it SUSTAIN
ed by tn >sSapKeme Court, will bar and exclude
claims ay, Nnast the government for the proceeds
cotton to tn, >2nnouat Of about $I5, 10000
An import. ut decision was also rendered in
the case of Wa ter D. Spratt of Mississippi, to
the effect that I, ve claimants who purchased
cotton from the a. xants of the Confederate gov
ernmsut. knowing st toe time that the pro-
ceeds were to be ast din the prosecution of war
title to their purchases aspa therefore have no
right Of action p AGAINST I've D,;i.ed States for
tn subsequent capture ard sale IT such cotton
This dec isIon governs :lnd incls'ts claims to
the amount of about S3,000,000. An appeal
was taken To the Supr ome COurt.