The Portland daily press., 1874-12-04

The establishment of profe :sorship of rhet
orc aud English literature at West Point is
recommended.
W, citing of the Alaba ma CLAIMS Commits
sion.
The Court of Commissioners of Alabama
Claims reasSemtled to day. All were present
except RyersuD, who is defa ned at home BY i'll
ness. A large number of attorneys were pres
cut The calendar was called 10 ascer' ain the
condition of each case, and several demur,ers
will be argued TO morrow. No case IS vet
ready to be tried on testimony Several new
rules Were proposed by the counsel, effrctipg
the sufficiency of evidence, and are now open
tor argument. Another point to be determined
is, whether British subject serving as a sea-
man aboard a captured vessel is entitled TO
indemnity.
Attorney Generals Report.
The Attorney Generals annual report shows
there were judgments during the fiscal year in
civil suits, in favor of the United States. of
$2,021, 729. The amount actually realized was
1885,, 1872. Of the criminal CAGES 601S were ter
minated, including 2 623 convictions, of which
1902 out of 966 were under the enforcement acts,
Total suits to which the United States is NOT n
party is 10, 1914, of which II 490 are terminated,
judgments being to the amount of $10,508. 624.
The expenses of marshals, commissioners
&c, for the year are $2,669730 or 1851 ,13S less
than the previous year. The amount awarded
BY court claims $2,4lS,S0 against total claims
Of 81, 054, 1866.
The Attorney General recommends that the
U. S. District Court be given authority to issue
subp9nas directing the attendance of witnesses
before the Court Of Claims, and that the Latter
be given power to punish for contempt any
failure to obey; that the heads of departments
be given authority for use, in the court of rebel
records in possession of the Government: that
the police force of the District of Columbia be
increased; that all the district ATTORNEYS and
marshals be paid by salary, only few being
abolished; that penitentiary be erected in the
District of Columbia for the confinement of
conyicts instead of that at Albany; that a
uniform mode be provided for the selection Of
Jurors Tor United States courts, and the enact
ment OF law regulating fees and costs of
clerks, marshals and attorneys of the United
States courts. -
Report OF tue Lighthouse Beard.
The annual report of the Lighthouse board
reviews the organization, character and history
OF that branch of service; dwells at some
length on the magnitude of the sysIrm under
us jurisdiction, and the consequent carelessness
OF the work for the board, and says that larg-
or sum will be required to meet the exigencies
OF the coming year than was demanded for the
last. 7sl7a---
RiAed Cannon.
The Chief of the Bureau Of ordnance in his
annual report recommends the Tournament of
the navy with breech loading rifled cannon,
which can be done at very small cost, in view
OF the reduced number of ships and guns re-
quired. He says that cruising ships car nv
from q to inches of armOr, aud at present
we have no guns except the Is inch in the
monitors, which will seriously injure the light.
est OF these armored vessels. Substitute Z OF
inch rifle for the II inch smooth bore, which
even our smallest ships carry and few of them
would come off. withoutsgreat damage. 5
The chief OF ordnance says that recent ex-
periments on the conversion of the smooth
bore to rifle cannon has developed no unex-
pected results. and he does not deem it possible
TO convert cast iron smooth bore into an eff
Gent rifle by any system of fifling.
s Various Matters. $50 f.-.-.
The President has completed his message and
it will be read at the Cabinet meeting to-mor-
row. 1t is longer this year than last, covering
about eighty pages of foolscap.
A communication from Gen. Sheridan saws
that after thorough examination it is found
that Big Tree has not violated his parole, and
therefore remains unmolested in the Indian
country
1t is known in diplomatic circles that Spain
has paid to Great Britain only part of the in
demnity on account of the Virginius affair,
leaving the remainder and other questions to
be hereafter adjusted.
No one doubts that the President will accent
the resignation of District Judge Durrell of
Louisiana, just rendered Judge Durrell thus
terminates the proposed impeachment pending
IN the House Committee on Judiciary.
The following were the customs receipts for
the the week ending Noy; %: New York. $1,645,-
953; Boston, $173, 1923; Philadelphia, SS4, 1874 ;
Baltimore, $77, JIG. For the week ending Nov.
S165, 1913
The internal revenue receipts to-day were
$316,51S.