The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-12-17
WASHINGTON.


WASHINGTON, Dec. 16.-The bill introduced
by Senator Ingalls, authorizes the Secretary o.
the Interior to appoint forty special agents.
who shall be employed under the direction IF
the Commissioner of Pensions to investigate
suspected attempts at fraud in connection with
pensions, and to aid in the prosecution of
offenders. These agents are to have power to
administer oaths, &C., and to be paid $1,000 a
year, together with travelling expenses, and 81
for subsistence. The Commissioner of Pen.
sions is also authorized to detail clerks from
his Office for duty as special agents in case this
one should prove inadequate, and to allow the
additional compensation provided for special
agents.
The Liquor Traffic.
Senator Howes bill to provide for com.
mission on the subject of alcoholic liquors
traffic requires the President to appoint, subject
to confirmation by the Senate, a commission of
five persons, neither of whom shall be federal
Office. holder, nor an advocate of prohibitory
legislation or OF total abstinence, in relation to
alcoholic liquors, who shall serve without
salary and within two years investigate the
liquor traffic, its relation to revenue and taxa
tion and its general economic, criminal, moral
and scientific aspects in connection with
pauperism, crime, social vice, the public health
and general welfare of the people. and also to
enquire and take testimony as to the practical
results of license and prohbtory legislation
for the prevention of intemperance in the
several states of the Union The bill appro-
requires the commission to report the result of
their investigation to the President, to be by
him transmitted to Congress.
The Sugar Drawback.
The report of the Treasury Agent on the
subject of the sugar draw back has been COM
pleted and is now in the hands of Assistant
Secretary of the Treasury Burnham, who is
giving to it close attention, with a view of
framing tne CUuC1uSfUnS- of- the Department.
Many kilograms have been-reeeived- hy-thc
Secretary, making inquiries on the subject.
The Department will, as soon as practicable,
issue regulations for the guidance of collectors
of customs and all others interested.
Nominations Confirmed.
The Senate has confirmed the following
nominations: WIN. Mckee Dunn, to be Judge
Advocate General of U. s. Army; Curtis E.
SurHham of KY, to be Assistant Secretary of
ernor of New Mexico; David P. Thompson of
Oregon, Governor of Idaho; John W. Babson,
Deputy Commissioner of Pensions.
Who Prevented the Transfer Of Super
visors.
Supervisor Tuition has addressed long letter
to the President in which he claims the whole
credit or discredit, as the case may be, of in
fuencing the latter to revoke the order trans
ferriug the supervisors which Attorney Hen
derson intimated in his speech was the work of
Babcock. Mr.. Tuition says that he argued
that the proposed transfer having been an.
nounced would be of no advantage in unearth-
ing the operations of the whiskey rings, as
they would have ample time to set their
houses in order. The argument appeared to
the President SO strong one that the order
was revoked on the spot. He acquits Gen.
Babcock from all completely in this affair.