Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-12-24
The Emitted States Taking the Lead
in Commerce.

MI. Nimln0. chief Of the Bureau OF Statistics,
IS busily engaged in the preparation of his an
nuai report on commerce and navigation TO the
Secretary Of the Treasury, Which viii be ready
for members OF Congress soon after their re-
assembling after the HOLIDAYS The report will
embrace a statistical abstract showing the
present condition and progress OF the commerce
ol the nlted states with each foreign nation
during the last twenty years, with special refer
ence 10 the increase OF our domestic exports,
ana the FALLING OF OF our imports from foreign
countries.
There seems to be- said a STAR reporter TO
MI Nlmmo this morning. "a general feeling
that the United States is destined at no distant
day to be the leading commercial nation OF the
world.
.'There are good reasons for that belief re-
piled Mr.. Nimmo. Everything is pointing in
that direction. our commercial importance is
Increasing every day, and it seems very likely,
with the present condition OF affairs existing in
Europe, that we will soon lead in the worlds
commerce"
THE BLAINE COMMITTEE may not begin the in
IeSugation Of election frauds until after Con-
gress reasSembles. 1t will be Impossible for ii
to do much without money. and the FrSt Comp
trolier OF the Treasury decides that il cannot
use any portion OF the $4,000 appropriated to
pay the expenses OF the Matthews investiga-
uon. Consequently when the committee meets
on Thursday next il Will probably be to ad iOtlrn
until after the ,th ult. Judge Porter. Comp
'troler OF The Treasury to-day decided thar the
appropriation contained In the second section
oil the act OF June 18th last. entitled an act to
provide for the expenses of the select committee
on alleged fradS n the late Presidential eIecrioa
is applicable only to defray the expenses dl-
1ecied by the Senate OF alleged fraudes in The
Presidential election, and not TO deffaying the
expenses OF the committee appointed uudei. the
Blaine resolution.
EVER SINCE GOLD WENT DOWN 10 !. pc )ple
entitled 10 coin interest on government bonds
have in many Instances preferred 10 receive
hoo
interest. There have also been many Instances
stree The decline in gold where the internal
revenue tax, which is payable in lega-tenderS
as well as gold, has been paid in coin by parties
having 1t on hand. The receipts Of gold from
IEeSc sources have varied In amount. Some
days they have gone as high as Slo,000 and ut
other times, like to-day, they have only amount
ed 10 about S10o. 1t Is little singular that such
transactions as these, the most important OF
which have been noted in The STAR as they
occurred, have not increased since gold fell t.
par. They have been neither greater nor less.
of the amount Of gold which the department
has gained by parties taking greenbackS in its
stead on paving it in instead OF @reenbac!ls no
record has been kept. IL makes. however, Il
handsome total.
THE NATIONAL MUSEUH.-The proposed new
building for the national museum is. Ii author
Hed by Congress-, to De situated 10 the east of
the Smithsonian building, at the foot OF OH
street. 1t was proposed in the original bill to
place il to the west OF the Smithsonian But
the congressional committee on visiting the
grounds come to the opinion that II the build
ing were placed next To the Smithsonian. and
between il and the Agricultural department it
would destroy the pleasing effect produced by
the uniform distance OF the two existing build
inpS from 18th street and that a site on the
ether side OF the Smithsonian and at the foOi OF
9th street would obvilte TINS objection and also
give better view OF the new building itself
For the erection Of the latter, fire-prOof Struc-
ture, aeo feet square, s250.ooo Is asked The
model or the building bears general resem-
Diance TO the government building at the CEN
!ennial exposition. The new museum would
have but single t!OGr. and be entirely OF brick
and iron. It's 90,oG0 square feet of floor would be
lignted by 12W feet OF glass equal TO II of floor
space for glass. II is said That according TO the
beSt authorities 19 OF floor space for glass IS re-
CURED TO exhibit art matter properly The
great r0tlnda OF the Vienna exposition build
ing had for iloOf space of 100000 square feet 4
glass surface OF l2,G}0 square feet This was
considered an excellent light. although til, sill,
OF the gigantic windows We're lSH feet from the
moor. There Will be ample room in the bui!d
ing for Ill the collections of The mt,~eu,o iha,
are Low boxed and hid away and In their
new quarters they win be safe from verinin aud
Ire. toiUred plans and a large model of the
plonoHtd Duiuing are al The Smithsonian blili-
inr.
PER*ONAI.-Iir. f. II. Thompson, formerly n
teacher in our public schools. and who is now
successfully engaged in teaching in Florida. is
in Washington on "a brief visit Mrs. W.
y,
holidays with her parents, Mr. ana Mrs u. C.
Folney. Hon. John $. Thompson Sergeant
alarms OF the House Of Representatives. left
for Columbus Ohio, last night TO spend the
Christmas holidays. -. Mr.. Tnos. o. Towles.
printing clerk OF the House of Representatives.
mas gone TO st. Louis to spend the holiday re-
cess. congressman Walker. OF virginia. has
entirely recovered from his indspostfon. 80.
Representative Thornburgh OF Tennessee, is iln-
proving rapidly. ... Congressman Riddle of
tennessee. has gone to his home for the holi
nf TnIi
nned to his room with carbuncle Oh his nose.
He Will not leave for Indiana until next week
=. .',. W. FellIt reading clerk OF the House Of
Representatives. has gone TO Kentucky for the
holiday recess. =. Senator Ferry OF Michigan.
has gone TO Detroit to attend eN-CongreSsl,lln
Williams funeral. which takes place in that
CITY to-day.
ILLICIT DISTII.I.ING IN SOUTH CAROIINA.--t' ON
missioner Raum has received a detailed report
from collector Brayton. of South Carolina. OF
the operations carried on in Abbeviiie co. in that
S1;te; by the special revenue force under COM
inailu oi Deputy Collector Hoffman. from the Sd
10 Inc lstn inst. The report shows seven Illicit
StliiS seized. of capacity ranging from 80 to 90
gallons day, and ten illicit distlllers arrested
i've IN The very act. The report conclude, as
lolio"s:-In accomplishing the above work the
force has travelled Sis miles since November
2>tH, frequently both night and day. with but
nltic resi-. We were also put TO considerable eS-
renSe on account of our horses. being rreuueut-
~ compelled to leave our broken down Stoch
ard fitle fresh horses. IL affords me pleasure Il,
add that the sentiment OF the Inhabitants OF
thlS locality has undergone a great change On
our arrival here we were looked on with dis
trust ard dislike. 1t was claimed that There
was no Illicit distiling in these counties bur
our discoveries. the determination TO discharge
our duties and the character ana good conduct
OF the men employed have wrought q change I'm
their feeling, and most OF the better class or elf
HenS have expressed regret at our departure
iEtlt Is no doubt that our operations in the
mountains have had the effect OF cutting off th.
blockade whisky supply in these lower coun-
Ties, and unless occasional raids are mad. To
these parts. Illicit di5tillng viii be again made
The KEY HEIKS.-A statement published in
one OF the Cincinnati papers, giving the impress
sion that Postmaster General Key believed that
he had established himself as one OF the Martin
hey heirs, who claim a large part OF BROOKLYN
was "ldeIy copied. and now two or three letters
Il day are received at the Post Office depart
lnent from key heirs all over the country ask
lnS 1Or lnformafIon, assistance. etc. etc. Judge
Key Is diScIalinlng all connection with the mat
Ter. as fast as his secretary can write letters to
thai effect.
SERIOUS CHARGES, lately preferred against
the Commissioner OF Pensions relative To his
administration OF his Office, have been invest
gated by the Secretary OF the interior, who say
he 5 satisfied they have no valid foundation
but he has no objection to Il Congressional in