Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-03-23
EVENING STAR.
Washington News and Gossip.

dSulHSIUn NeWS duu UOSSlp,
GOVERNMENT RECEIPTS To-DAY-Inter.
nal revenue, s225.i9e,22; customs, sGOs. OS7.2T,
MAJoRLrwIs MERRILL has been relieved
from his duties connected with the Centen-
NAL.
THE u. s. STEAMER LACKAwANNA ar
rived at San Bias, Mexico, from San Fran
cisco, February 10Th, and sailed on the 18th
for MazRtlRn. She expected to leave the
latter port for Guysmas February sd.
NEW IDRIA QUICKSILVER MINES NOT
SOLD.-We are authorized TO say that the
New Idria quicksilver mines have not been
sold 10 Montgomery Blair; nor has any com
promise been made with McGarrahan.
THE Secretary OF the Treasury denies the
7 VOrt that he has received a proposition
from the Consolidated Virginia Mine to fur
niSh sixty millions OF gold and silver within
eighteen months.
DUTY ON CoTTON.-The House Committee
of Ways and Means have completes the first
section Of the Morrison tariff dill. The duty
on bleached cottons is increased from &. to 4
cents.
DEPRECATED VALUE OF SILVER IN
ESGLAND.- The Treasury department to
d4y received a telegram from London Civ
Ing the price of silver at 52k pence. British
standard. corresponding with 1867 cents per
ounce, United States standard. making a
dollar in silver coin worth s. 2-1O cents in
gold com.
Mr.. DANA GRATIFIsD The nomination
Of Mr.. Richard ii. Dana, jr., to the English
mission was reported TO the Senate yesterday
with the adverse report Of the Foreign AT
fairs Committee. On molten of Mr.. Came
ron. n was laid over for future action. MesSrs
L. II. Hill, formerly assistant attorney gene
RAJ, and W. q. Russell, of Boston, will soon
be here TO represent Mr.. Dana's interests.
RFPRT SENTATIVE HAYS ExoNERATED
The sub Committee OF the Judiciary, to
whom was referred the charges against Hon.
Charles HAYS. of Alabama, of selling a
Cadetship 10 West Point, have concluded
treir Investigations and find nothing in the
testimony 10 show that Mr.. Hays received a
p my To make the appointment. The report
or The committee will exOneIste Mr.. Ii avs
from all responsibility.
POLICE COMMISSIONER SMITH RENoMr-
NATED.-The President to-day sent to the
Senate the nomination of VIM II Smith to
-. police commissioner OF the District of
Columbia, y &c John a. Gray. whose nOmin-
alton the Pre- ;dent withdraws. Mr.. Smiths
b. the Pres dent with the Others some time
p q. hut was subsequently, withdrawn. oW-
lag 10 the opposition TO mis- confirmation.
GIN. WIZ +. BURT. the Boston exp. NJ g,
while settling his quarterly accounts at the
Post Office department the other day, intro
duced anioIrS hfs .--..c,ers sOroe claims against
the government for expenses Incurred
amounting in all to neatly sis 200. The
claims were all old, some running back four
o. i've years, one being claim against the
government for rebuilding the Old South
uTch three wears ago. The claims were
promptly disallowed.
Arr NIGET-The public Will be glad TO
know that. In addition 10 keeping it open
uTiug the day lime, the Artists Club have
decided to open their Club and Reception
Room, IN Vernon Row, on Thursday even
ing of each week, when all corners VIII be
welcome. without the fOrmality of an iDVl.
talon or admittance card.
II viii be remembered that the Co-cOrau
Art Gallery Is also open on Thursday even
'ngs during the winter season.
SCHOOL TRUSTEE APPOrNTFD.-The re-
sigr8tiOn OF sir. a. Hart, as school trustee,
was accepted yesterday by the District Com
missioner and the appointment rendered
To DIR. Robert Rey burn. prominent and
successful physician in the west end OF the
ci1y, and for many years surgeon in charge
o. The Freedman's hos pital, ana professor OF
anatomy in the medical department Of
Georgetown college. The friends OF our pub
lie school system will learn Win satisfaction
that n man OF his attachments ard high
personal character has been selected.
THE RATES on THIRE-CLAss MAIL MAT
TER.-The Senate Committee on Post or
fees and Post Roads to-day heard a COM
mittee consisting of Messrs. Wallace p.
Groom, 7. Far.elly, b. X. Bliss, Henry Ar
thur and Peter Henderson,, merchants,
| leather dealers, seed dealers, &C., represent
| ing the New York Board OF Trade, and
| MeSsrs. BiIdsey, Blakeman (of Ivison,
! u. :. Appleton, of the firm of ID. Appleton 4
| C. representing the school book and pub
Isnlng trade, IN reference TO Mr.. Hamlin's
Oil hxiEg the rate OF postage on third class
mail matter, and for other purposes. Mr..
| Farrelly made the main argument, protest
| Ing against any dissemination in regard TO
rates upon printed matter, and setting forth
| The difficulty of determining between Cir
1 culaTs and advertising sheets containing In
| formation, and irregular publications, the
| postage on which would be arbitrarily de-
| tfrntDcd by the 5000 pOStmasters in the
| United states, and who would decide 20
| what Class each particular print be-
| longed. He said that different Post
| masters Generals ruled differently on
| the same subject, and that freq GENTLY the
| law officer of tue government reversed the
| decisions. He urged uniform system OF
| postage which should be so simple that II
could not possibly be misunderstood. He
! opposed that feature OF the bill which makes
| mail matter OF the third class pay according
| 10 distance. and pointed out the injurious
| effects 10 the United States of our inter
national postal treaty with Canada. which
/ allows circulars TO be printed there and sent
| 20 me states al saving OF thous lnds ofdoi-
| Mr.. Appleton, on behalfof the book trade
/ wanted hound and INBOUND books 70 pay tie
| same postage, and saw no reason wny a
| bound WebsTer'S speller Should not ga
| through the mails "a cheap as u novel with a
J yellow paper cover.
| THE SPENCER INVESTIGATION was COR
| tinued this morning by the examination OF
| Hm. II. HmIeT, who concluded his testimo-
| ny, which was merely corroborative of his
| evidence OF yesterday. The pext witness
| was Jackson Morgan, (colored y WHO testified
/ that he was the BODY servant OF Francis
| WIdmer, late collector OF internal revenue
| who died ten months after the election oil
| Spencer with yellow fever; that about III I
/ II days before Widmer was taken sick, be
| was arrested by Special Agent LutZ as a
defaUlter; that Widmer separated his pri-
! waite and public papers before his sickness