Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-04-17
Postal Matters.

The Postmaster General issued an order provid-
ing that hereafter all original appointments OF
railway post Office clerks. route agents, mail route
messengers and local agents shall be made only
Tor the probationary term Of six months. ~
Parade.
This afternoon Companies A. and d, of the
colored Dist. Militia, paraded in honor of the
niversary of the emancipation proclamation, and
called on Marshal Douglass, who made speech.
The Commission.
The President received only one communication
from the Louisiana commission, and that was on
Thursday last, giving an account of the progress
OF affairs to that time and asking additional in
structions, which were promptly forwarded. They
did not modify the orig inal Instructions, but were
merely explanatory ia certain portions, In regard
to which the commission desired further ipioIma-
ton. The President has no intimation when the
commission will return to Wash ngton, bnt thew
are some expected by Saturday or Moursy II etc
Is no doubt the troops will bv wilhdIa"L av.n
New Orleans, as the intimate friends of the Presi-
dent say that it Is not to be expected that he will
pursue course different from that in South Caro-
lins, but it is an open question when it will be
be best to act. II Is the desire Of the President
that the commission shall have time to complete
their work.
DECISION.
The supreme court decided to-day the case in
which Charles Fox Of the city Of New York de-
vised his entire property to the government of the
United States for the purpose Of aiding 10 the dis
charge of the debt created by the war for the sup
preston Of the rebellion. The surrogate held
that the United States could not take real estate
under the statutes of New York, and that the will
was void as to the devise of lands but that the
government could take the personal estate.
The instrument was admitted to probate as a
viii OF the personal estate The court of appeals
affirmed this Judgment. There is no question but
that the United States may hold real property in
the state whenever needed for the use of the gov
eminent in the execution of its powers, and in
such case, If il cannot be acquired by voluntary
arrangements with the owners, it NAV be taken
against their Will by the government in exercise
OF the power of eminent domain
but the power Of the state to regulate the bust
ness OF real property within its limits aud the
means of its acquisition and transfer, and the
rules OF its descent and the extent to which tes-
tamentary disposition of it may be exercised by
the owners, is held to be undoubted.
The right of the state in this respect follows
from It's sovereignty within its limits to all mat
tiers over which jurisdiction has not been express
ly or by necessary implication transferred to the
federal government. As the statutes OF New
make them.
The Judgment Of the court of appeals is affirm
Court Matters.
The supreme court 10 the case of Clapp, collect
or, vs.. Mason, terror to the circuit court for the
district of Mass, decided that SUGGESTIONS to real
estate are only taxable upon the successor becom-
ing liable to possession.
The chief justice announced that the term will
close on the 9Th Of May. The insufficiency of the
appropriation for printing the records is the cause
# this early adjournment.
Military Matters.
Major Reno recently tried by court martial on
the charge of insulting the wife OF a brother Off
Ger and sentenced to be dismissed the service, as
forwarded to the war department request for de-
lay in the presentation of the case to the pres-
dent, claiming he has additional evidence which
will tend to the mitigation Of the sentence. The
request was granted.