Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-03-17


Charles Sumner, issued by the New York
Graphic company-a fair likeness.
THE CABINET SESSION o-day was BRIEF and
not Of unusual Importance. All the members
were present excepting the Pos:msst General,
who was represented by First Assistant Mar
shall.
PERsoNAL.-The condition of Judge Dent
remains unchanged. Admiral Porter, who
has been quite sick for day or two, is better
'''' Hon. Nathan Sargent was considerably bet
ter today, and his recovery is hoped for.
Gen. F. f. Spinner, U. S. Treasurer. has
returned to Washington after an absence of two
months, and, we are glad to say looking in the
full enjoyment of restored health and yiyor
He was received at the Treasury to-day by his
subordinstes with expressions of welcome and
congratulation.
kILBoURN q LATTA say that they are recev-
ing sealed proposals for the removal of their
safe filed with"private papers,, Weighing Is, 900
pounds, (the safe, not the "papers," weighing
that much, although they say their private
papers" are supposed TO be very sshefty," and
these do not include 'their bank account with
Riggs & Co" to the Capitol for the special
inspection of Columbus Alexander and other
patriots OF the ''independent press"
HEARING FOR PATENT CASES BEFoR.
CoNeREss.-The House Committee on Patents
have set the following times for the hearing of
arguments in cases of applications for extern
SION or certain important patents: Tuesday
next, at 1880 a. M, case of widow of III. w.
Wells. patent for forming hat bodies; TUESDAY,
next, p. m. Wickersham wax thread sewing
chine: also, Atwood car wheel, and on Sat
urday next, at 1890 a. m, the Rollin White fire.
arms case. The Aikens and Felthousen sewing
machine case, an application for extension, was
before the committee to-day, but no conclusion
was reached. The committee to day adopted
resolution that all applicants and remonstrauts
be notified by the clerk to put their cases in
writing or printing, and that if this is not done
in ten days the cases will be considered aban-
dOned.
The BILL FOR THE REDUCTION OF THE
ARMY was finally perfected by the House Com
mittee on Military Affairs to-day, and will be
reported 10 the House to-day or to- morrow. 1t
provides for the gradual reduction of the regu-
lar army to 25,000 enlisted men, and for the cut
ting of of one regiment each of cavalry and
artillery, and i've regiments of infantry before
January L, 1915, so as TO leave the army COM
posed of four regiments OF artillery, nine of
cavalry, and twenty of infantry. The reduc-
ton will be accomplished so far as possible bv
transfer and consolidation. The bill provides
that no new commissions shall be gwen, or en-
lstments made prior to the date mentioned. 1t
does not anticipate the muster out of any officer,
put any ohcer reslgning before January |, 1875,
will receive in addition to an honorable dis
charge one years extra pay.
A MAMMOTH STEAMER.-The Pacific Mail
Steamship ccmpany's new iron steamship, the
City OF Peking," the largest vessel ever built
I'D this or any other country with the exception
OF the Great Eastern, is to be launched at
chester, Pa, tomorrow at 80 p. IN. An ex-
curslOn train, with journalists and other in
vlted guests, will leave the Baltimore and Pc
tOmac railroad depot, in this city, to- morro7
morning, arriving at Chester at II 80 p. IN.
Returning the train will leave Chester at D.
M, and arrive here at $50 u. H. The peIS
steamer has been built exclusively of American
material, and another of the same size is to be
launched in thirty days, but no excursion train
Is contemplated for that. The sCity of Pc
KING was to have been launched next Satur-
day, but tor the convenience of invited guests
frolA Washington, Wednesday (the only day
when high tide is at midday was fixed for the
launching.
GOVERNMENT ADvERrIsKMENTs.-Th fol-
lowing, introduced by Mr.. Cox, of New York,
was passed in the House this morning.
Where's the act OF Congress approved july
18th, 1870, contained the following provision.
THAT 10 advertisement, notice, or proposal for
any executive department Of the government
or for any bureau thereof, or for any Office
herewith connected, shall be published in any
newspaper whatever except in pursuance of
a written authority for such publication from
the head of such department, and no bill for
any such advertisement or publication shall be
paid unless there be presented with such bill
copy OF the written authority aforesaid" and
whereas 1t is alleged that bill or bills of ady YER
Using done in defiance of the provisions of the
act OF July 18th, 1870, is now pending before the
accounting officers OF the Treasury department:
4 Therefore, Be 1t resolgsd, That the Secretary of
the treasury be, and he is hereby, directed TO
FURNISH the House with said bill or bills and
also copies OF all correspondence on the subject.
OBJECTIONS TO THE PROPOSED "CUTrINe-
DOWN" PROCESS IN THE DEPARTMRNTs.-A
number OF the bureau ficials in the various
executive departments object strongly to the
reduction in the clerical force contemplated BY
the legislative, Executive, and Judicial APP
preparation bill, now before the House of Rep
resentatives. in the Second Auditors Office
alone, the reduction since October 1, 1868, has
been 213, leaving now in the bureau 269 Clerks
which, 1T is claimed, is the least number with
which the current work can be performed with
out serious detriment to the public service ana
causing large accumulation of work
The present bill, however, provides,
as =; was mentioned in THE STAR some
Of 81 clerks. During the late war the accumu-
lation Of public business required large in
crease OF clerical force in all the departments,
Third Auditors led Off in reducing the force TO
correspond with the decrease of business In
that month. from the Second Auditors were
about so clerks, again in April 1850
about 50, and in the July succeeding 10 more:
making in eight months 1i3, which number has
been since reduced by leaving vacancies caus I'd
by resignation, death, and removals, untitled,
TO the present number, 269, above stated.
These officials claim that a further reduction
will be "pennywise," &c., because the force
must be ultimately increased to clear away the
The AMERICAN MINISTER TO RUssIA.-An
american lady, In late letter from st. Peters
burg, speaking OF the American legation in
hat city, says
"The Americans residing here have reason to
congratulate themselves upon the accession of
Minister Jewell In their midst. In him we have
q representative truly American. Upon the
recurrence Of two Of our national holidays since
bis arrival, Thanksgiving day and the 22d of
February,) he has gathered the Americans I'M
der his tent, as he expressed it, and celebrated
both in wonderfully charming manner. At
the latter reception it was my good fortune to
be present, and q most enjoyable occasion il
was Aside from the bright, genial face of Gov.
Jewen, which makes one feel at home at once,
be was ably assisted in doing the honors of his
apartments by his most agreeable
family. About fifty comprises the American
colony here, none OF whom were forgotten; all
were there to celebrate the birthday of Wash
Ingt0n, with as much or as little patriotism As
they pleased. IL they were not enthusiastic, it
was not the fault Of their patriotic host, who
in his happiest manner, while the toasts we're
being drank, expressed his happiness in hav-
ing been born an American, and condoled with
those gentlemen present who had not been 90
"a hnt vhnh had ahnrv