The Portland daily press., 1874-04-21


The following are the Treasury balances to-
day:-Currency, So $50, 357; special deposit OF
legal tenders for REDEEM ption of certificates OF
deposit $55, $50 900; coih SIS, 075, 1861 including
tenders, 1882, 100000.
Internal Revenue receipts to-day, SIS, 79O.9S.
The District Investigation.
WASHINGTON, April 20.-In the District In
vestigation Henry s. Dawes testified that he
thought the value of old material taken am
ounted to upwards of 100000; that private
property was injured fifteen per cent. and the
measurements generally were ten per cent. in
excess of the actual work done.
Personal Items,
An effort to remove the political disabilities
of the rebel Semmes failed Saturday, as he had
not complied with the rules which demand that
prior to such removal the applicant therefor
shall make petition to that effect.
The Tribune's Washington correspondent
states that the Consul General at Havana has
interposed in behalf of Dockray, and the Con-
suls report is expected shortly. 1t is hoped
that measures have been taken to save Dock
rays life, and the Consul will telegraph prob
ably in day or two.
Message ON the Civil Service.
The President to-day sent the following mes
sage to Congress:
To the Senate and House of Representatives
Herewith transmit the report of the Civil
Service Commissioners authorized by the act of
Congress of March Sd, 1871, and invite your
special attention thereto If sustained bv Com
gress, l have no douot the rules can, after the
experience gained, be so improved and inforced
to still more materially benefit the public SER
vice and relieve the executive, members of
Congress ard the Heads of Departments from
influences prejudicial to good administration.
The rules as they have heretofore been enforced
have resulted benefcially, as is shown by the
opinion of the members of the Cabinet and
their snbordinates in the departments, and in
that opinion concur, but the rule applicable
to the officers who are to be appointed by and
with the advice and consent of the Senate are
in great measure Improbable, except insofar
as they may be sustained by the action of that
body. These must necessarily remain so I'M
less the direct sanction of the Senate is given
to the rules.
1 advise for the present only such appropria-
tons as may be adequate to continue the work
in its present form and would leave to the fu-
ture to determine whether the direct sanction
OF Congress shall be given to rules that may
perhaps be devised for regulating the method
them who need to be confirmed by the Senate.
The same amount appropriated last year would
be adequate for the coming year but I think
the public interest would be promoted BY the
authority in the executive for allowing small
compensation for special service performed he
yond the usual Office hours under the act of
1871 to persons called into the service of the
government
(Signed) o. S. GRANT,
Executive Mansion, April Goth, 1874
Seizure of Merchants Books
Representative E. H. Roberts. of the SUBJ
committee Of Ways and Means, made report
to the full committee to-day on the subject of
the seizure of books and papers It proposes
to repeal tho law which gives the authority to
place the seizure of books and papers of mer-
chants on the same ground that such seizures
are made as to other classes of citizens; also to
repeal all the provisions Of the law under
which moieties of any fines, penalties or for
fe lures or any share therein are paid to in
formers or officers of the customs or other Of
fcers of the United States, and requires the
proceeds of all fines, penalties and forfeitures
to be paid into the Treasury. The Secretary of
the Treasury is authorized to make suitable
compensation to informers and other persons
aiding in the detection OF smuggling and other
offences against customs revenue laws or aiding
in connection of same.
Confirmed
The Senate to-day confirmed Thomas Russell
of Massachusetts, Minister resiuent to the Re-
public of Venezuela, vice William A. Hill. re.
signed.
Various Matters.
The House Committee on Public Lands
agreed to recommend the passage of the bill
providing that all lands heretofore granted by
Congress to railroad companies be subject to
local taxation the same as SIMILAR property of
| individuals.
Representative Luttrell to-day submitted to
the House Committee on Post Offices and
| Post Roads a list of witnesses and detailed
specifications of his charges relating to alleged
| Irregularities in the Post Office Department,
| connected with private contracts, payments to
mail contractors, ETC. The committee will
| pro eed to a thorough investigation. Congress
| man Stone will submit his charges tomorrow
Hon. Samuel Mulligan, one of the Associate
Justices of the United States Court of Claims
| died to-day. He was native of Tenne see and
received his appointment in 1865