Evening star., 1877-11-20

TIE METRIC SYSTEM.-Tle Secret ny of
the Treasury, in reply to a resolution of the
House requesting his views as TO when the
metric system can he adopted by the govern
ment. VIII reply that By the beginning OF the
next fiscal year II can be safely used in the
customs and post Office service; but that by
the fiscal year beginning III 1881 IL can oe In
trOcuced safely lis all branches OF the public
service and all classes OF bust less.
THE INDIAN CITIZENS BILL GONE OVER
TO NEXT SEssIoN.-At the close OF the
morning hour in the Senate TO day, Mr.. In
slls called up his bill for the Aura izstion
II IndlaHs. Nearly y two hours We're occ Jpiet
de bate on the bill, and at . u. m. mo.
ion of Mr- ingalls,, at the suggestion of Sc l.
ator Coke, further debate on the subj ect was
postponed until December 10Th, the seconi
Monday in the regular session.
AN EXCITED IoUIsIANIAN in the cloak
room In the House this morning was depre
eating the fact that Louisiana held no prom
1nept position in national politics. TnIs he
attributed TO the dissensions among her own
people "Why, Sir" said he, 80 knO them
nave lived among them for forty years, and
II is my judgment If all its people were trans
ported 10 Heaven to- day they would be in
quarrel before night concerning the distri-
button OF seats"
a WARNING To ARMY OFFICERS WHO
Triple. - The President desires il to be
made known TO the army, (and the fact is
Just promulgated in General Orders No IOl
rom army headquarters that he cannot be
leo 10 underrate The magnitude of the evil
which the crime of drunkenness is likely to
produce in the public service. mo person
aodicted to II can expect 10 be trusted with
any responsible duty: and a person who
cannot be trusted had better not be continued
in office. 1t must, therefore, be understood
that any cleEaency which may have been
heretofore extended, by mitigation or COM
mutation of sentence, cannot hereafter be
relied upon as a basis of hope for like IA
vorable action. After this solemn warning,
posed In due course by courts martial may
be expected"
THE GOVERNMENT Four PER CENT.
BoNDS.-The Secretary OF the Treasury has
replied to the resolution of the House re
questing him to furnish copies of the con-
tracts m ade with the syndicate of American
and foreign bankers for the funding of the
four per cent. bonds, etc. The Secretary says
that be met the contracting parties both in
New York and Washington, and discussed
at some length the feasibility of placing the
four per cent. bonds upon the market, aud
that on the 9th OF June, lSI,, he perfected the
arran cement sor the purpose of executing
said contract The business of refuniing
proceeded satisfactorily, and arrangements
had been perfected for the continuance OF the
sale of the four per cent. bonds and a call was
about 10 be m ade when the fears of the effect
OF the proposed legislation by Congress re-
mone tiZlDg silver arrested for the time the
sale OF these bonds and caused TEN porary
pOstI Ionement. The sutscri ptiOns received
for The four per cent. bonds of 1897 up to
November IL, 1877, were S55. .496. $50; the
amount of the calls for the six per cent. five
o. account OF the Resumption act OF S25,-
/ q So.