The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-06-26
GENERAL WASHINGTON DISPATCHES.

WASHINGTON, June rs, 1877
TEMPORARY ABSENCE OF THE SECRETARY OF
TheEssrsary OF War will leave hero this evening for
. visit to his home IN Iowa Forss Leavenworth and
other places in the West
CONSUL GENERAL no CHINA
Ex-Congrcssman J. Wiley Wells, Of Mississippi.
to-day commissioned Consul General to China, vice
John c. Myers. or Nebraska, suspended under the
Tenure OF Once act
TOLLS FOR GOVERNMENT TELEGRAPHING.
Tho committee OF officials OF the Post ONCE Depart
ment recently appoiutedt TO gather information In
gard to the OF elegvaphinR &C. Tor the OF tho
Postmaster General, who by law is authorized at the
beginning OF each fiscal year, fix the rates tolls for
government tcegraghing, have submitted report 1t
10 probable that official representatives OF tho main
lines will be invited conference At the Post once
Department on Saturday
TRIBUTES TO FORMER GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS
RECENTLY DEcEAsED-HoN. DANIEL D. PRATT
AND A. s. GAYLORD.
Al n meeting Of the officers clerks and other en-
poyes Of the Internal Revenue Bureau Com missioner
Raum IN tho chair resolutions we're adopted formally
expressive Of the which the sad and uncx-
pectcd death OF Hon. Daniel d. Pratt, lately Commits
Of Internal Revenue has occasoned and TO give
and public services OF the deceased and offer their
coincidence to his afflicted family aud friends.
meeting Of the officers and employees Of the In
terror Department was held this afternoon to take
action in reasion to the death OF Hon. A. s. Gaylord
tho late Solicitor for the department. The meeting
was held IN the room formerly occupied by Mr.. Gay
lord. Mr. Aonzo Bell, Acting Secretary OF tho Inte-
ror, was called to the chair, aud Mr.. F. N. Marble.
Assistant Attorney General for the Interior Depart
ment, chosen secretary. Mr.. Bell, taking the
chair a very feeling manner spoke OF tho occasion
which bad called them together and paid glowing
tribute to the memory Of their deceased associate.
committee resolutions, consisting OF Mr.. Marble and
the several heads OF bureaus was appointed, and
ported u sercs OF rcso utions which were adopted,
after appropriate aulosstic remarks by Mr.. Marble,
Commissioners Speer, Smith, Bentley and Williamson,
and Mr. W. H. Champion. of tho Secretary's ofcc MIR.
Ames, Librarian. and Mr. Howell OF the Land Oncc.
OFFENSIVE MERCHANDISE By MAIL--How WEST
EnN MERCHANTS REDUCE THEIR TRANsPoRTA-
TON BILLS.
Several packages OF smoked nsh In various stages
decomposition, which had COMO through the mails IRON
some OF the Atlantic seaboard cities TO Arizona via Sar
Francisco, woro received the Post ONCE Department
to-day, accompanied with an interrogatory from thu
Arizona maj, contractor whether he is compelled ts
transport Objectionable merchandise OF this Tn,
department has already taken stops 10 prevent such
violations OF the postal laws and will shortly issue
circular notifying postmssters that offensive and dam
aging matter Of kind should DO excluded from tn,
mails and that thcy Will be held responsible for pass
ing such articles
The use OF the postal facilities for tho transportation
ri maablo merchandise TO remote points in tho West
cru states and Territories Is constantly becoming more
general and II Is said good authority that some o
tho merchants Arizona receive fully threcfourlhs o
their Eastern goods through the mails, at cost o
eight cents per pound for transportation by the gov
eminent, as against thirty to forty-hve cents pei
pound which they would otherwise have to pay for
press transportation from the terminus oil tho California
Railroad to Tucson Among the articles thus received
in large quantities through the post Offices arc pistols,
clothing Of all descriptions, Knives forks, spoons,
Shoes stockings rubber and bono ware, family goods,
and, as certain mail contractors declare, ''almost
everything except oil and molasses"
Agents OF some large Eastern houses are said to be
meeting with great success In obtaining orders from
relatives In many remote places Tor direct trade based
on tho superior chcapncss OF mail transportation but,
Of course. the government Indirectly pays for much
at n