Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-02-06

covering.
A PETITION will be presented to Congress in
short tine praying that body to make the Y h
of February, the birthdsy Of Abraham Lincoln,
a national holiday.
The CABINET SESSION to-day was brief
Several members Of the civil service board were
present, and talked over several matters in
connection with taat branch OF the government
WTea the President and Cabinet cfhceTs.
DEATH OF JUcGE CoNKLING.-Senator Conk-
ling received a telegram late yesterday an
nouncing the sudden death of his father, Judge
Conkling, at Ctics, n. Y. The Senator left the
city for home last night.
THE DISTRICT INvRsrIe.rIrs CoNNrrrFv
COMPLETE AGAIN.-At 2X o'clock this after
noon the vacancy of chairman of the Senate
committee to investigate District affairs
caused by the declination of Messrs. FEELING
huysen and Conkling. was filed by the appoint
ment by the chair of Mr.. Morrill,, of Maize.
SENATOR HAMILTON, of Maryland, with a
delegation of thirty members of the Washing
ton county Agricultural society of Maryland,
yesterday invited the President to attend the
annual fair of the society, to be held in Hagers-
town next October. The President said he
would attend if his business engagements would
permit.
NoMINATIoNs.-The President sent the fol-
owing nominations to the Senate to-day: Chas
A. Tweed to be associate justice supreme court,
territory of Utah; John q. BOYLE, attorney of
I. s., eastern district Texas; Harrison Osborn
to be pension agent, Baltimore, Md; Manuel
francisco M0nteiro, of Massachusetts, consul
L. s., Santiago, Cape Verde Islands; Newton
crane, OF Missouri, consul of the U. S. at Man
chester.
ThEODoR KAUFPMANN's PAINTING of CO.
lumbus before the Council of Salamanca,
which has for some time since been on exhibit
ton at the Smithsonian Institution, has taken
the corner OF the old House of Representatives
which was formerly monOpolized by the Alex
andrla patent agent with his improved locomO-
tive. A resolution of Congress should dedicate
this space TO the exclusive use of the fine arts
and sciences.
PROTECTION FOR INDIANS AGAINST CHEATS
The House Committee on Indian Affairs this
morning agreed 10 report a bill the main
features of which make il a penal offsnse To
cheat or defIaud an Indian, or to frsudulently
obtain his signature or mark to a receipt for
money which has not been fully explained D.
him. The bill generally has the effect OF pro
tecf1ng the Indians from swindling agents. con-
tractors, &c, who have heretofore grown rich
at their expense.
WANTS CLERKs-Judge Martin. Sixth An
ditor OF the Treasury, was before the Senate
committee on Appropriations this morning In
relation TO the estimates of his office. The COM
mittee wanted to know if he could not reduce
the expenses OF MS ON ce, and The Audit
Piled in the negative, and stated that, on the
contrary, he wanted additional employes to
keep up the current business OF the Office, which
IL such III at it cannot be delayed without mate
rial detriment to the public service.
PENsIoNs.-The House Committee on Invalid
Pensions hold special meeting tomorrow, 70
consider the memorial of the veterans or the
Mexican war asking for q pension. This COM
mittee has also bill before il, introduced bv
Mr.. Bright, which provides ''thst the soldiers
OF the United States who served in the Indian
var OF 1885, and the soldiers of the United States
who served in the war between the govern
ments of the United States and Mexico be- and
they are hereby, placed upon the same footing,
spects as the soldiers of the war of 1872 be-
tween the United States and Great Britain.
RErRKNCHMENT.-The House Committee on
appropriations are still looking in every direc-
tiCn to administer blow with the economic
axe. This morning all of the auditors of the
treasury department and the commissioner of
customs were heard with reference to the pres
ent condition of the work in their respective
bureaus; the clerical force employed, and how
II compares with the numbers employed prior to
the war. Most OF these officials took the ground
mat TO reduce the clerical force OF their offices
would tend TO destroy the eff cheney of the pub
lie service. Judge Martin, sixth auditor OF the
treasury, indicated that, in view of the in
crease OF business pertaining to his bureau he
would be constrained at an early day to recon-
mend an increase Of at least twenty additional
clerks.
The FOLLOWING CHANGES in the stations and
duties ofofficers Of the United States engineer
corps have been made. Captain G. j. Lydecker
is relieved from duty on the staff of the COM
handing general military division of the Pa
cic, and win report to Major ID. g. Houston
for duty under his immediate orders Captain
j. w. Cuyler is relieved from duty under the
S STaers 80 OF Major Houston and will report for
Heap is relieved from duty under the orders OF
Major Gilmore and will report to Major H. L.
abbott for duty upon the fortihcations in his
charge. First Lieutenant j. G. ID. knight is
relieved from duty under the orders of Major
Abbott and will report for duty to the com
handing general military division of the Pa
citc.
MICROSCOPIC EcoNoMY.-Hon. j. H. Ella,
Filth Auditor Of the Treasury, was among those
who were interviewed blythe House Appropri-
atoms Committee this morning in the interests
of reIenehment. All save Mr.. Ella declared
they couldn't cut down a single clerk. Mr.. Ella
gave the committee to understand that he
joy. The pleasing emotion was OF short dura-
ton, Tor when he was asked what number of
clerks he could dispense with, and Col. Stevens,
me Poftiy clerk OF the committee, was ready to
DOT IL down, he said: " Well, you can take away
from my force one female cspyist but no more.
gentle men; II you do, il will cripple the publjc
ter begin early to look after their ConeressionsI
fIlencs, Tor even II one must go the eduanimitv
OF the others will be disturbed until IL is ds6
nitely settled whose services Mr.. Ella is willing
70 dispense with.
The IsTHMUs CANAL CONMIssIoN.-The
commission appointed by the President In March
last to examine and consider all SURVEYS and
plans, proposals or suggestions of routes of con-
necti0n by canal or water communication be-
tween the Atlantic and Pacific oceans occur
Ilng over or near the isthDus connecting North
and South America, &C., met at the NAVY de-
Partment and organized yesterday. The or
ganlZanon OF the commission has been delaved
until TINS time awaiting the completion of the
surveys OF Captains Lull and Selfridge The
EepoIS OF these officers are now before them
capt LUZ appeared before the Commission YES
Ieruay, ana gave brief detail of his route Tba
commission adjourned till TODAY wban e.
ta1ns SeIridge and shufeldt are expected
The commission met at noon to-dav hit "a
journed without further action to awsit sha 81
rival OF Captains Shufeldt and SeIfrid 1e ~,
will be present at noon to- morrow, VIM
How GOTHAM ROLLS UP DKNocRAr,c NJ
JoRITIEs--Mr. Davenport, q United States
Commissioner for the city of New York, was
heard by the House Judiciary Committee to-
day IN advocacy of q bill recently introduced
In the House looking to . reform in the registra-
ton voters and nj fur 81 afian af farafonars