Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-03-08


THE POSTMASTER GENERAL has refused to
allow the disputed contract case of Mr.. Chi
dester to be carried before the Attorney
General. He adheres to his opinion that Con-
gTeSSmen are eligible as surefisS on bonds,
and awards the cOntractto Mr.. Chichester.
MR.SAYLER's WHISKY TAX BILL.-The Joint
resolution to be reported from the ways and
means committee by Mr.. Sayler. to extend the
bonded period for spirits provides that from
and after the passage of the resolution the
period in bond for whisky thereafter bonded
shall be three years, and for ali whisky now
IN bond an extension of two years. 1t further
provides that spirits remaining in bond one
year after the time thus specified shall pay in
iereS! at D per cent. on tax of 80 cents for the
time it remains thus bonded over the time pre-
scribed by the resolution. The resolution, it is
said meets the approval of the Commissioner
of Internal Revenue. Mr. Sayler will report it
at the first opportunity which presents itself.
THE CABINET MEETING ToDAY.-The State
department was represented at the cabinet
meeting today by Assistant Secretary Seward
Secretary Evarts being still absent in New
YORK. All the other members were present.
!, MI: Moods tariff bill came up for some unfa-
vOrable discussion. Secretary Sherman sub
mitted estimates that under the operation of
the bill the revenue of the government would
fall off annually from fourteen to fifteen NIL
hons OF dollars. The passage of such q bill, it
was thought, would be ill-adviSed. unless the
deficiency should be made up by tariff on
tea, coffee and other articles now on the free
list.
The RECENTLY PUBLISHED STATEMENT that
the Treasurer of the United States will redeem
stolen national bank notes, when unsigned
and put III circulation with forged signatures,
Is incorrect and unauthorized The Treasurer
has no authority to redeem such notes.
THE WEST POINT APPROPRIATION Bill
The Senate committee on appropriations to-
t,pnpraI Il in Z tl,a
Military Academy at West Point, in explana-
non OF the military academy appropriation
Dill now before the committee. Consideration
OF the bilI was completed, and il will be re
ported to the Senate Monday. The committee
recommend the restoration of items which
were reported favOrably from the House com
mlttee on appropriations, hut were struck
from the bill in the House providing for the
longevity pay of professors. The committee
also insert items of $2l 900 for the hospital
building: $500 for water supply, and S., ,6l5 is
House for pay OF cadets. The section pTohib-
iting the appointment of graduates of the
academy TO second lieutenantcieS in the army
except when vacancies actually exist in regi-
mental organizations, is stricken out. If the
Senate passes the bill as amended by the com
mlttee, a conference between the two houses
VIII probably be made necessary.
IN THE STEAMBOAT MAIL SERVICE there are
plenty of Speculating bidders at low rates and
some actual owners of vessels at high rates
Between the regulation of the department
that only the latter shall be eligible as bidders
and the provision that no advance on preced-
ing contract prices shall be paid few bidders
are left who stand chance of getting con
tracts.
THE DEBATE IN THE HOUSE Toby on a
report to pay the employees in the cloak rooms,
developed the fact that up to a recent period,
the two BARRIERS who ply their tonSorial call
ing in the cloak rooms, have been paid $50 per
month, as "SuperintendentS of the cloak
rooms They lather and save"
SOME AWARDS FOR TEXAs. are now all that
remains to be made by the P. .. D., in the
western mail lettings.
The FLOODS. IN CALIFORNIA Col VAIL sll-
perlntendent OF the railway mail service has
received from the mail superintendent at San
cause OF complaints in respect to mail delivery
III his division. 1t appears that nearly ali the
railway lines have been broken by the storms
and and mood: Roads are impossible, streams
swollen. bridges and ferries carried away. and
in some instances mail matter has been i'll
Jured or totally destroyed through exposure to
ram. ON the star routes. delivery is also in
telfupted 1Or the same reasons.
THE PRESIDENT AND THE CHINESE CUES
TION.-The President has ii is understood.
given up his idea of sending special mes
sage to Congress on the Chinese question He
migration, and OF some such action by Con-
gress as that proposed by the House committee
on education and labor, directing the Secre-
ty tafy Oh S'aie TO enter into negatiationS with
emma with view to some change in existing
treaties with that country by which the i'm
migration of her subjects to the United States
can be limited.
APPROPRIATION BHLs.-A member of the
House appropriation committee said to-day
that the naval, pension and legislative. execu-
tive and judicial appropriation bills will be
reported to the House within the ensuing two
weeks.
A GENERAL COURT-MARTIAL is appointed
to meet at Fort Columbia, NY. Harbor, on the
18th instant, for the trial of such prisoners as
may be brought before it.
GEORGIA MOONsHINERs. Collector Edwin
c. WOode reports from Savannah, Georgia:
Have broken up nine distilleries and cap
tured several distillers IN Ebert county,
THE EIGHT HOUR LAw-The House commit
tee on education and labor have agreed to re.
port fayOrably a resolution restoring the eight
hour law and providing that the same be re-
cognized as day labor throughout the entire
government service.
MISSISSIPPI IMPROVEMENT CONvENTIoN.-
Senator COckrell's bill for Mississippi i'm
prOyement commission directs the President
10 appoint HVe engineers to make SURVEYS
from st. Louis to the gulf and devise plans for
the permanent improvement of the river, its
leVeeS. channel, &C.; the salary of the preSi-
dent OF the commission to be 5000, and assist
ant commissioners $1,000. The bill appropri-
ateS 100000 for the salaries and EXPENSES of
the commission, which will be under The direc-
tiOn of the Secretary of War.
THE ARLINGTON CAsE.-Judge Hughes. of
the United States district court for the eastern
district of Virginia. will render his decision in
the Arlington estate suit Oh Friday, the 18th
inst, instead OF this week, as expected.
THE MOTION FOR NEW TRIAL of the An
dersOn case in New Orleans has been post
pOned for two weeks. In the meantime An
dersOn remains in the parish prison and there
is no prospect OF pardon.
PROGRESS IN JAPAN.-The United States
Minister to Japan, Mr.. Bingham, sends to the
Department of State budget of dispatches
showing the steady progress of Japan in mod
ern civilization. The third annual report OF
the ministry Of education for 1875 shows that
within an area of ia, 900 square miles. with
population of 81, 4,0O0,OO0. there were 24275 ele-
mentary schools, employing l4,000 teachers
and having an attendance of 92j, 900 scholars
OF whom only one fourth were females The
income OF the public school fund for the wear
was so,2}SUsS, OF which S1l40,000 was by yO
untary contributions, and the expenditures
were only ~, l,2l0,4I3 leaving a handsome bal
ance; An agricultural college was naugU.